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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 217 records · Page 12
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2025

Thermal and mechanical performance of gypsum composites containing fly ash cenosphere encapsulated phase change materials

Utilizing phase change materials (PCMs) within construction materials improves the thermal energy storage capabilities in the built environment. Notably, integrating PCMs into drywalls presents a promising avenue to reduce building energy use. However, incorporating PCMs into drywalls poses challenges, particularly reduced mechanical properties and workability limitations as it can adversely affect the hardening and cohesiveness of gypsum composites. To address these challenges, this study explores a novel strategy to incorporate PCMs into gypsum composites through fly ash cenosphere-encapsulated PCM, namely CenoPCM, aiming to enhance the mechanical properties and thermal conductivity over existing commercial counterparts. An experimental program was conducted to study the impact of the inclusion of CenoPCM on the mechanical and thermal performance of gypsum composites, and the results were compared to those of commercially available polymerencapsulated PCM benchmark (Micronal). The findings highlighted that PCM-charged samples exhibited up to 95.90 J/g (CenoPCM) of latent heat with 70 % CenoPCM loading. The results of mechanical tests also showed that CenoPCM outperformed its polymer-encapsulated counterpart, achieving 55 % higher mechanical strength on average. Here, this improvement is attributed to the rigid shell of fly ash cenosphere (FAC) serving as a PCM carrier, providing a skeleton-like structure to gypsum composites for higher load-bearing capacity. Additionally, hotbox tests demonstrated that the CenoPCM-charged wall panels yielded a 20 % higher thermal conductivity and a 22 % increased time lag compared to Micronal PCM-charged panels, indicating its potential to shift the peak load in buildings.

Ceno PCM↗
DOE OSTI2022

Low dose rate γ-irradiation protects fruit fly chromosomes from double strand breaks and telomere fusions by reducing the esi-RNA biogenesis factor Loquacious

Abstract It is still continuously debated whether the low-dose/dose-rate (LDR) of ionizing radiation represents a hazard for humans. Model organisms, such as fruit flies, are considered valuable systems to reveal insights into this issue. We found that, in wild-type Drosophila melanogaster larval neuroblasts, the frequency of Chromosome Breaks (CBs), induced by acute γ-irradiation, is considerably reduced when flies are previously exposed to a protracted dose of 0.4 Gy delivered at a dose rate of 2.5 mGy/h. This indicates that this exposure, which is associated with an increased expression of DNA damage response proteins, induces a radioadaptive response (RAR) that protects Drosophila from extensive DNA damage. Interestingly, the same exposure reduces the frequency of telomere fusions (TFs) from Drosophila telomere capping mutants suggesting that the LDR can generally promote a protective response on chromatin sites that are recognized as DNA breaks. Deep RNA sequencing revealed that RAR is associated with a reduced expression of Loquacious D (Loqs-RD) gene that encodes a well-conserved dsRNA binding protein required for esiRNAs biogenesis. Remarkably, loss of Loqs mimics the LDR-mediated chromosome protection as it decreases the IR-induced CBs and TFs frequency. Thus, our molecular characterization of RAR identifies Loqs as a key factor in the cellular response to LDR and in the epigenetic routes involved in radioresistance.

Porrazzo, A.↗
DOE OSTI2025

X-ray free-electron lasing in a flying-focus undulator

Laser-driven free-electron lasers (LDFELs) replace magnetostatic undulators with the electromagnetic fields of a laser pulse. Because the undulator period is half the wavelength of the laser pulse, LDFELs can amplify X rays using lower electron energies and over shorter interaction lengths than a traditional free-electron laser. In LDFELs driven by conventional laser pulses, the undulator uniformity required for high gain necessitates large laser-pulse energies. Here, we show that a flying-focus pulse provides the undulator uniformity required to reach high gain with a substantially lower energy than a conventional pulse. The flying-focus pulse features an intensity peak that travels in the opposite direction of its phase fronts. This enables an LDFEL configuration where an electron beam collides head-on with the phase fronts and experiences a near-constant undulator strength as it co-propagates with the intensity peak. Three-dimensional simulations of this configuration demonstrate the generation of megawatts of coherent X-ray radiation with 20 × less energy than a conventional laser pulse.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2025

Bats flying through a Y-maze are visually attracted to wind turbine surfaces

Wind energy’s rapid expansion has led to unintended consequences for wildlife, with migratory bats among the species most at risk. The behavioural mechanisms underlying collisions remain poorly understood, but one hypothesis is that bats are attracted to wind turbine structures. Vision is important to bat orientation and obstacle avoidance, yet it has been relatively understudied in the context of bat–turbine interactions. We hypothesize that light reflected off turbine surfaces could attract bats, acting as a sensory pollutant that may increase collision risk. To test whether reflective turbine surfaces elicit attraction, we flew 242 Lasiurus cinereus and 154 Lasionycteris noctivagans through Y-maze assays. Bats were at least twice as likely to fly towards white turbine blade sections compared to less reflective black ones. This attraction intensified when the alternative exit was a dark, empty flyway, with 74% of L. cinereus and 97% of L. noctivagans flying towards the white turbine blade. These findings provide evidence that visual sensory pollutants could underlie bat–turbine interactions, and if so, wind turbines could be ecological traps.

17 WIND ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2026

Flying focus with arbitrary directionality for spatiotemporal control of laser intensity

Flying focus techniques produce laser pulses whose focal points travel at arbitrary, controllable velocities. While this flexibility can enhance a broad range of laser-based applications, existing techniques constrain the motion of the focal point to the propagation direction of the pulse. Here, we introduce a flying focus configuration that decouples the motion of the focus from the propagation direction. Here, a chirped laser pulse focused and diffracted by a diffractive lens and grating creates a focal point that can move both along and transverse to the propagation direction. The focal length of the lens, grating period, and chirp can be tuned to control the direction and velocity of the focus. Simulations demonstrate this control for a holographic configuration suited to high-power pulses, in which two off-axis pump beams with different focal lengths encode the equivalent phase of a chromatic lens and grating in a gas or plasma. For low-power pulses, conventional solid-state or adaptive optics can be used instead. Multi-dimensional control over the focal trajectory enables new configurations for applications, including laser wakefield acceleration of ions, nonlinear Thomson scattering, and surface-plasmon emission of THz radiation.

Classical optics↗
DOE OSTI2025

Laser wakefield acceleration driven by a discrete flying focus

Laser wakefield acceleration (LWFA) may enable the next generation of TeV-scale lepton colliders. Reaching such energies will likely require multiple LWFA stages to overcome limitations on the energy gain achievable in a single stage. The use of stages, however, introduces challenges such as alignment, adiabatic matching between stages, and a lower average accelerating gradient. Here, we propose a discrete flying focus that can deliver higher energy gain in a single stage, thereby reducing the number of stages required for a target energy. A sequence of laser pulses with staggered focal points and delays drives a plasma wave in which an electron beam experiences a near-constant accelerating gradient over distances beyond those attainable with a conventional pulse. Simulations demonstrate that a discrete flying focus with a total energy of 150 J can transfer 40 GeV per electron to a 50-pC beam in a single 30-cm stage, corresponding to 50 dephasing lengths.

laser wakefield acceleration↗
DOE OSTI2023

The structure of fly Teneurin-m reveals an asymmetric self-assembly that allows expansion into zippers

Teneurins are conserved cell adhesion molecules essential for embryogenesis and neural development in animals. Key to teneurin function is the ability of its extracellular region to form homophilic interactions in cis and/or in trans. However, our molecular understanding of teneurin homophilic interaction remains largely incomplete. Here, we showed that an extracellular fragment of Teneurin-m, the major teneurin homolog in flies, behaves as a homodimer in solution. The structure of Teneurin-m revealed that the transthyretin-related domain from one protomer and the β-propeller domain from the other mediates Teneurin-m self-association, which is abolished by point mutation of conserved residues. Strikingly, this architecture generates an asymmetric oligomerization interface that enables expansion of Teneurin-m into long zipper arrays reminiscent of protocadherins. An alternatively spliced site that exists only in vertebrates and regulates homophilic interaction in mammalian teneurins overlaps with the fly Teneurin-m self-association interface. Our work provides a molecular understanding of teneurin homophilic interaction and sheds light on its role in teneurin function throughout evolution.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2020

Economic Extraction and Recovery of REEs and Production of Clean Value-Added Products from Low-Rank Coal Fly Ash

The University of North Dakota (UND) Energy & Environmental Research Center (EERC) teamed with Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) , the North Dakota Industrial Commission Lignite Research Program, and commercial partners Basin Electric Power Cooperative, Great River Energy, and Southern Company to execute a Cooperative Agreement funded by the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) focused on identifying unique pathways and pretreatments to extract rare-earth elements (REEs) from low-rank coal (LRC) ash in a more economical and environmentally benign manner than current methods. The EERC drew upon the unique and deep knowledge of the team regarding LRC geochemistry, ash transformation mechanisms during combustion, and fly ash chemistry in the approach to understand the portioning of REEs in LRC ash. A comprehensive characterization effort was undertaken to fully establish the form, associations, and partitioning of the REEs and other elements/minerals of interest in fly ash, as well as the ash chemistry, mineralogy, and morphology. Using this information, the team tested methods of REE extraction to take advantage of the unique and advantageous properties of LRC ash. Multiple complementary approaches were evaluated that combined both novel and proven methods to develop an extractive process for REEs and other high-value metals from LRC ash that provide technological and economic progress on the current state of the art. Methodologies were also evaluated for the potential to synergistically remove toxic metals while extracting other high-value metals from the ash, generating a clean, safe ash material as a value-added product. This would eliminate waste and offer significant additional revenue potential. Based on laboratory-scale testing, an initial high-level technical and economic analysis to estimate operating expenses and product revenues to guide future phases of technology development was implemented. By focusing on minimizing process steps and consumptive use of extraction solutions, a tunable, economically viable process for REE extraction from LRC ash was developed. The tunable process has the ability to be adjusted to adapt to the differing ash chemical and physical properties that are characteristic of LRC ash. This is key to deployment as a commercial process. In demonstrating the process, the EERC was able to illustrate mixed REE concentration greater than the goal of 2 wt%. High-level economic analysis of the process with LRC ash of moderate REE levels demonstrated the potential of the process, but recovery of just the REEs was insufficient to cover operational costs. With the additional extraction of other high-value metals found in LRC ash, the process economics approach would break even, and it is anticipated that with process optimization, the developed process could potentially be economically sound. The same economic analysis performed utilizing LRC ash with high levels of REEs showed the recovery of the REEs alone would make the process economically viable even without further optimization.

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT↗
DOE OSTI2022

Adaptive-in-temperature method for fast on-the-fly sampling of thermal neutron scattering data in MCNP6 [Slides]

The project objective and motivation is to develop thermal data libraries for selected isotopes in MCNP6 to support on-the-fly S(alpha, beta) sampling for temperature ranges applicable to nuclear criticality safety, thereby enhancing the physics treatment in MCNP6 so that it can perform fast on-the-fly sampling of S(alpha, beta) data at arbitrary temperature.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Beneficial Use of Harvested Ponded Fly Ash and Landfilled FGD Materials for High-Volume Surface Mine Reclamation

The overall motivation of this project was to demonstrate at laboratory, bench-scale, and full-scale demonstration levels that (a) coal ash surface impoundments can go through closure by removal as per USEPA and state regulations so that the material can be used as is (other than draining free water using CCRs piles) in high-volume beneficial applications, (b) FGD material from closed out FGD facilities can be excavated and recompacted for coal mine reclamation, and (c) harvested CCRs can be beneficially utilized (providing a net environmental gain) in large-volumes for reclamation at abandoned coal mine sites across the US, especially in the Eastern and Midwest coal mining regions. The objectives of this project were to: 1) promote the safe and cost-effective closure by removal of coal ash impoundments, 2) harvest landfilled FGD, and 3) promote the high-volume beneficial use of these harvested CCRs in the reclamation of abandoned surface coal mine sites across the eastern and midwestern coal mining regions of the United States. The major tasks carried out for this project are summarized below: 1) Conesville Full-Scale Demonstration Project: About 2 million tons of harvested CCR materials from the closure by removal of an inactive fly ash pond and an adjacent old FGD landfill were used for the full-scale demonstration project to fully reclaim a nearby partially completed abandoned surface coal mine. Site monitoring for the project duration was carried out and results are discussed. 2) Laboratory Testing: Geotechnical and environmental testing of harvested ponded fly ash and landfilled FGD material at the former Conesville power plant were carried out. Completing the laboratory testing allowed for QA/QC for the full-scale site construction and informed the formulation of the risk analysis. 3) Risk Analysis: We developed a reliable computational model for fate and transport. We used these models and the rich set of monitored data for the Conesville site to analyze risks to human health and ecological risks associated with high-volume surface mine reclamation using harvested CCRs. 4) GIS Siting Study: A Geographic Information System (GIS) study was carried out for three states in the Eastern coal mining region and two states in the Midwest coal region. This effort provided site specific GIS information for five states and allowed us to establish protocols that other states can follow in implementing their own state specific GIS study.

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT↗
DOE OSTI2024

Transcriptome analysis and immune gene expression of channel catfish ( Ictalurus punctatus ) fed diets with inclusion of frass from black soldier fly larvae

The larval waste, exoskeleton shedding, and leftover feed components of the black soldier fly and its larvae make up the by-product known as frass. In this study, we subjected channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) to a 10-week feeding trial to assess how different dietary amounts of frass inclusion would affect both systemic and mucosal tissue gene expression, especially in regard to growth and immune-related genes. Fish were divided in quadruplicate aquaria, and five experimental diets comprising 0, 50, 100, 200, and 300 g of frass per kilogram of feed were fed twice daily. At the end of the trial, liver, head kidney, gill, and intestine samples were collected for gene expression analyses. First, liver and intestine samples from fish fed with a no frass inclusion diet (control), low-frass (50 g/kg) inclusion diet, or a high-frass (300 g/kg) inclusion diet were subjected to Illumina RNA sequencing to determine global differential gene expression among diet groups. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) included the upregulation of growth-related genes such as glucose-6-phosphatase and myostatin, as well as innate immune receptors and effector molecules such as toll-like receptor 5, apolipoprotein A1, C-type lectin, and lysozyme. Based on the initial screenings of low/high frass using RNA sequencing, a more thorough evaluation of immune gene expression of all tissues sampled, and all levels of frass inclusion, was further conducted. Using targeted quantitative PCR panels for both innate and adaptive immune genes from channel catfish, differential expression of genes was identified, which included innate receptors (TLR1, TLR5, TLR9, and TLR20A), proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1β type a, IL-1β type b, IL-17, IFN-γ, and TNFα), chemokines (CFC3 and CFD), and hepcidin in both systemic (liver and head kidney) and mucosal (gill and intestine) tissues. Overall, frass from black soldier fly larvae inclusion in formulated diets was found to alter global gene expression and activate innate and adaptive immunity in channel catfish, which has the potential to support disease resistance in this species in addition to demonstrated growth benefits.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
NASA NTRS1970

Rationale for proposed flying-qualities specifications

The NASA Flight Research Center is reviewing the applicability of flying qualities experience to the shuttle mission for the purpose of preparing a shuttle flying qualities specification. This paper is a progress report on this review; the results presented are, of course, preliminary.

Euclid C Holleman↗
NASA NTRS1972

Shuttle free-flying teleoperator system experiment definition. Volume 3: program development requirements

The planning data are presented for subsequent phases of free-flying teleoperator program (FFTO) and includes costs, schedules and supporting research and technology activities required to implement the free-flying teleoperator system and associated flight equipment. The purpose of the data presented is to provide NASA with the information needed to continue development of the FFTO and integrate it into the space shuttle program. The planning data describes three major program phases consisting of activities and events scheduled to effect integrated design, development, fabrication and operation of an FFTO system. Phase A, Concept Generation, represents a study effort directed toward generating and evaluating a number of feasible FFTO experiment system concepts. Phase B, Definition, will include preliminary design and supporting analysis of the FFTO, the shuttle based equipment and ground support equipment. Phase C/D, Design, Development and Operations will include detail design of the operational FFTO, its integration into the space shuttle, hardware fabrication and testing, delivery of flight hardware and support of flight operations. Emphasis is placed on the planning for Phases A and B since these studies will be implemented early in the development cycle. Phase C/D planning is more general and subject to refinement during the definition phase.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1972

An experimental investigation of STOL longitudinal flying qualities in the landing approach using the variable stability X-22A aircraft.

The first in-flight flying qualities experiment using the variable stability X-22A aircraft investigated longitudinal flying qualities requirements for STOL aircraft in terminal area operations. Emphasis was placed on defining minimum requirements for the short-term response in VFR and IFR landing approaches at representative steep STOL approach conditions of 65 and 80 knots. Evaluation flights were conducted in negligible and moderate turbulence for a wide range of short-term frequencies and dampings. The results were compared with the short-term requirements of MIL-F-83300. The specified Level 1 and 2 VFR boundaries were found to be approximately valid in moderate turbulence for both VFR and IFR flight conditions. In negligible turbulence, the specified VFR Level 2 boundary was also approximately valid but the Level 1 boundary was found to be too stringent. Pilot rating gradients with damping were more apparent than with frequency for the range investigated.

Schuler, J. M.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Development and flight test of a digital fly-by-wire F8.

The objective of the F-8 digital fly-by-wire program is to establish a technology base for the implementation of advanced flight control systems. The central element is the Apollo Lunar Guidance Computer (LGC). This versatile computer ran over 2000 hours in support of fly-by-wire without a failure. Difficulties encountered in the first flights were corrected rapidly and simply by changes in the erasable software memory. Control-configured vehicles offer significant weight-saving possibilities.

Peterson, B. A.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Conference on General Aviation-Business Flying, University of Tennessee, Tullahoma, Tenn., August 17-19, 1972, Proceedings.

The papers deal with safety measures, commuter airlines, charter and lease flying, pleasure flying and private travel, technology for the next decade, avionics, and the airport network. Attention is given to transfer between general and commercial terminals, airport standards, traffic control, increasing training effectiveness through simulation, proposed revision of Part 61 of FAA regulations, and accident prevention. Individual items are announced in this issue.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1974

Flight investigation of effects of a fan-in-fin yaw control concept on helicopter flying-quality characteristics

Flight-test results which describe flying-quality factors related to the fan-in-fin yaw control concept as utilized on a pre-production version of a European helicopter are presented. Design compromises to be considered with this concept are also presented. The large, fixed vertical fin associated with the fan-in-fin system was helpful in maneuvering flight, but introduced several flying-quality problems when combined with the fan.

Kelley, H. L.↗