Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “Shell Growth”

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.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 217 records · Page 12
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2026

From PAH to fullerenes: Closing a nano bowl with a nano lid

Quantum chemical DLPNO-CCSD(T)/cc-pVDZ//B3LYP/6–31G(d) calculations have been performed to unravel the formation mechanism of buckminsterfullerene (C 60 ) via the reaction of the C 40 nano bowl (C 40 H 10 ) and corannulene (C 20 H 10 ). The generated potential energy surfaces and molecular properties were further utilized to evaluate equilibrium constants and rate constants of elementary chemical reactions involved in the C 60 synthesis. The overall C 40 H 10 + C 20 H 10 → C 60 + 10H 2 reaction is shown to be highly exoergic and hence thermodynamically favorable at temperatures above 700 K and a kinetically feasible pathway under high-temperature conditions was revealed. This route involves hydrogen atom abstraction steps to activate closed-shell reactants/intermediates alternating with cyclodehydrogenation reactions eventually zipping the edges between the reacting C 40 and C 20 units by consecutive closures of six- and five-membered rings between them. The reaction is driven/catalyzed by hydrogen atoms which carry out the hydrogen abstractions from C 60 H x and are later recovered on the cyclodehydrogenation stages. The initial association reaction, C 40 H 9 + C 20 H 10 → C 60 H 18 + H, linking the two units by a covalent C-C bond appears to represent the kinetic bottleneck of the whole multistep process. This reaction is fast at low temperatures but slows down and has its equilibrium shifted toward the reactants at high temperatures. Here, the feasibility of the proposed mechanism corroborates the hypothesis that C 60 can be produced through a series of elementary reactions typical for the PAH growth.

Equilibrium constant↗
DOE OSTI2025

Minimal implicit-solvent coarse-grained simulation of Pluronic block copolymers with ionic liquids

Pluronic block copolymers, composed of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) and poly(propylene oxide) (PPO) in a triblock structure (PEO–PPO–PEO), are well known for their amphiphilic character and ability to self‐assemble into micelles in aqueous solution. The addition of ionic liquids (ILs) can further modulate the core–shell structures of these copolymers, influencing their stability, critical micellization temperature, and size. However, fully atomistic simulations often become prohibitively expensive due to the size and complexity of these systems. In this work, coarse‐grained simulations using a minimal implicit‐solvent model were performed to examine how two classes of ILs, namely, 1‐alkyl‐3‐methylimidazolium ([C n C 1 im]) and 1‐alkyl‐3‐methylpyrrolidinium ([C n C 1 pyrr]), change the micellization of Pluronic block copolymers in aqueous solution. The effects of IL concentration and alkyl group length were investigated, and the model greatly improved the efficiency of simulating large‐scale micelle systems. Furthermore, the numerical simulations are qualitatively compared with experimental investigations. Our results show that adding ILs expands the micelle core by embedding IL tails among the PPO blocks, thereby increasing overall micelle size. Less polar ILs generally induce more pronounced micellar growth. However, the effect of IL tail length on conformation and micellar packing is non‐monotonic. Up to moderate chain lengths (around C8–C10), the IL tails can extend sufficiently to increase local separation within the micelle; at longer tail lengths, enhanced hydrophobic clustering and steric hindrance cause the tails to bend or fold, capping further expansion. In addition, although block copolymer chains tend to pack more closely in the presence of longer‐tailed ILs, the random coil size of an individual polymer chain does not necessarily shrink. Meanwhile, these insights provide a deeper understanding of how Pluronic/IL systems interact, informing applications in drug delivery, cosmetics, food, and environmental engineering. Finally, our minimal implicit‐solvent model can be applied to larger systems and longer timescales, substantially reducing computational cost while reproducing key structural trends observed experimentally.

Atomistic simulations↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

An Investigation on the Accuracy of Delamination Analysis Predictions for Unidirectional Laminate Configurations

The state-of-the-art methodologies for predicting delamination growth in composite laminates make use of the concept of mixed-mode fracture mechanics. In mixed-mode fracture approaches the individual Mode I, Mode II and Mode III components of the strain energy release rate (SERR) need to be determined under general loading conditions. Through the use of mixed-mode fracture, the individual components are used in combination with the critical strain energy release rates (interlaminar fracture toughnesses) for each fracture mode in a mixed mode criterion in order to predict delamination extension. These interlaminar fracture toughnesses are traditionally obtained by testing of unidirectional laminate coupons. This work presents an investigation on the accuracy of Double Cantilever Beam (DCB), End Notch Flexure (ENF) and Mixed-Mode Bending (MMB) delamination analysis predictions by comparing measured total strain-energy release rates obtained experimentally to results for structural analysis from closed-form expressions, shell finite element analysis, and continuum two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) (solid) finite element analysis.

Patrick Enjuto↗
DOE OSTI2025

Transforming the Process Industries through Electrification: Challenges and Opportunities

For the more than 70 years, the process industries have provided essential fuels and materials for global growth. Increased manufacturing production comes with substantial environmental impact. Reducing environmental impact through process electrification, carbon capture, and other emerging technologies would require large changes throughout the process industries. We review opportunities and challenges related to electrification, focusing on technical, operational, and economic considerations. Here, we conclude that electrification could completely eliminate scope 1 CO 2 emissions, increase product quality, and reduce the equipment size and cost. On the other hand, it calls for a significant expansion of power generation capacity, as well as new paradigms for process design and operations.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
DOE OSTI2025

3D Convective Urca Process in a Simmering White Dwarf

Abstract A proposed setting for thermonuclear (Type Ia) supernovae is a white dwarf that has gained mass from a companion to the point of carbon ignition in the core. In the early stages of carbon burning, called the simmering phase, energy released by the reactions in the core drive the formation and growth of a core convection zone. One aspect of this phase is the convective Urca process, a linking of weak nuclear reactions to convection, which may alter the composition and structure of the white dwarf. The convective Urca process is not well understood and requires 3D fluid simulations to properly model the turbulent convection, an inherently 3D process. Because the neutron excess of the fluid both sets and is set by the extent of the convection zone, the realistic steady state can only be determined in simulations with real 3D mixing processes. Additionally, the convection is relatively slow (Mach number less than 0.005) and thus a low Mach number method is needed to model the flow over many convective turnovers. Using the MAESTROeX low Mach number hydrodynamic software, we present the first full-star 3D simulations of the A = 23 convective Urca process, spanning hundreds of convective turnover times. Our findings on the extent of mixing across the Urca shell, the characteristic velocities of the flow, the energy-loss rates due to neutrino emission, and the structure of the convective boundary can be used to inform 1D stellar models that track the longer-timescale evolution.

Boyd, Brendan (ORCID:0000000254199751)↗
NASA NTRS1998

Fracture Analysis of the FAA/NASA Wide Stiffened Panels

This paper presents the fracture analyses conducted on the FAA/NASA stiffened and unstiffened panels using the STAGS (STructural Analysis of General Shells) code with the critical crack-tip-opening angle (CTOA) fracture criterion. The STAGS code with the "plane-strain" core option was used in all analyses. Previous analyses of wide, flat panels have shown that the high-constraint conditions around a crack front, like plane strain, has to be modeled in order for the critical CTOA fracture criterion to predict wide panel failures from small laboratory tests. In the present study, the critical CTOA value was determined from a wide (unstiffened) panel with anti-buckling guides. The plane-strain core size was estimated from previous fracture analyses and was equal to about the sheet thickness. Rivet flexibility and stiffener failure was based on methods and criteria, like that currently used in industry. STAGS and the CTOA criterion were used to predict load-against-crack extension for the wide panels with a single crack and multiple-site damage cracking at many adjacent rivet holes. Analyses were able to predict stable crack growth and residual strength with a few percent (5%) of stiffened panel tests results but over predicted the buckling failure load on a unstiffened panel with a single crack by 10%.

Seshadri, B. R.↗
NASA NTRS1999

Fracture Analysis of the FAA/NASA Wide Stiffened Panels

This paper presents the fracture analyses conducted on the FAA/NASA stiffened and unstiffened panels using the STAGS (STructural Analysis of General Shells) code with the critical crack-tip-opening angle (CTOA) fracture criterion. The STAGS code with the "plane-strain" core option was used in all analyses. Previous analyses of wide, flat panels have shown that the high-constraint conditions around a crack front, like plane strain, has to be modeled in order for the critical CTOA fracture criterion to predict wide panel failures from small laboratory tests. In the present study, the critical CTOA value was determined from a wide (unstiffened) panel with anti-buckling guides. The plane-strain core size was estimated from previous fracture analyses and was equal to about the sheet thickness. Rivet flexibility and stiffener failure was based on methods and criteria, like that currently used in industry. STAGS and the CTOA criterion were used to predict load-against-crack extension for the wide panels with a single crack and multiple-site damage cracking at many adjacent rivet holes. Analyses were able to predict stable crack growth and residual strength within a few percent (5%) of stiffened panel tests results but over predicted the buckling failure load on an unstiffened panel with a single crack by 10%.

Seshadri, B. R.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Combined energy and pitch angle diffusion of pickup ions at Comet Halley

It is well known that cometary pickup ions, e.g., H2O(+), OH(+), O(+), CO(+), H(+), initially form a ring-beam distribution in the solar wind reference frame, which is highly unstable to the growth of MHD waves (such as ion-cyclotron waves). The low-frequency magnetic fluctuations (or waves), which were observed upstream of Comet Halley, cannot only pitch-angle-scatter the pickup ions so that the distribution becomes at least partially isotropized, but also stochastically accelerate the ions, resulting in the energetic ion populations observed in the vicinity of Comet Halley. Here, numerical solutions of the quasi-linear diffusion equation were used to investigate the cometary ion pickup process at Comet Halley. Both pitch angle and energy diffusion are taken into account. Many quasi-linear models of cometary pickup ions exist which involve one type of diffusion or the other but not both types at once. It is found that the pitch angle scattering occurs faster than the energy diffusion, as expected. Moreover, the results demonstrate that the distribution of accelerated energetic ions is more isotropic than that of ions which have just been picked up. In fact, the ion distribution function on the initial pickup shell is quite anisotropic, even close to the Comet-Halley bow shock.

Ye, Gang↗
NASA NTRS1996

Computational Methods for Frictional Contact With Applications to the Space Shuttle Orbiter Nose-Gear Tire

A computational procedure is presented for the solution of frictional contact problems for aircraft tires. A Space Shuttle nose-gear tire is modeled using a two-dimensional laminated anisotropic shell theory which includes the effects of variations in material and geometric parameters, transverse-shear deformation, and geometric nonlinearities. Contact conditions are incorporated into the formulation by using a perturbed Lagrangian approach with the fundamental unknowns consisting of the stress resultants, the generalized displacements, and the Lagrange multipliers associated with both contact and friction conditions. The contact-friction algorithm is based on a modified Coulomb friction law. A modified two-field, mixed-variational principle is used to obtain elemental arrays. This modification consists of augmenting the functional of that principle by two terms: the Lagrange multiplier vector associated with normal and tangential node contact-load intensities and a regularization term that is quadratic in the Lagrange multiplier vector. These capabilities and computational features are incorporated into an in-house computer code. Experimental measurements were taken to define the response of the Space Shuttle nose-gear tire to inflation-pressure loads and to inflation-pressure loads combined with normal static loads against a rigid flat plate. These experimental results describe the meridional growth of the tire cross section caused by inflation loading, the static load-deflection characteristics of the tire, the geometry of the tire footprint under static loading conditions, and the normal and tangential load-intensity distributions in the tire footprint for the various static vertical loading conditions. Numerical results were obtained for the Space Shuttle nose-gear tire subjected to inflation pressure loads and combined inflation pressure and contact loads against a rigid flat plate. The experimental measurements and the numerical results are compared.

Tanner, John A.↗
NASA NTRS1996

Computational methods for frictional contact with applications to the Space Shuttle orbiter nose-gear tire: Comparisons of experimental measurements and analytical predictions

A computational procedure is presented for the solution of frictional contact problems for aircraft tires. A Space Shuttle nose-gear tire is modeled using a two-dimensional laminated anisotropic shell theory which includes the effects of variations in material and geometric parameters, transverse-shear deformation, and geometric nonlinearities. Contact conditions are incorporated into the formulation by using a perturbed Lagrangian approach with the fundamental unknowns consisting of the stress resultants, the generalized displacements, and the Lagrange multipliers associated with both contact and friction conditions. The contact-friction algorithm is based on a modified Coulomb friction law. A modified two-field, mixed-variational principle is used to obtain elemental arrays. This modification consists of augmenting the functional of that principle by two terms: the Lagrange multiplier vector associated with normal and tangential node contact-load intensities and a regularization term that is quadratic in the Lagrange multiplier vector. These capabilities and computational features are incorporated into an in-house computer code. Experimental measurements were taken to define the response of the Space Shuttle nose-gear tire to inflation-pressure loads and to inflation-pressure loads combined with normal static loads against a rigid flat plate. These experimental results describe the meridional growth of the tire cross section caused by inflation loading, the static load-deflection characteristics of the tire, the geometry of the tire footprint under static loading conditions, and the normal and tangential load-intensity distributions in the tire footprint for the various static vertical-loading conditions. Numerical results were obtained for the Space Shuttle nose-gear tire subjected to inflation pressure loads and combined inflation pressure and contact loads against a rigid flat plate. The experimental measurements and the numerical results are compared.

Tanner, John A.↗
NASA NTRS2005

Overview of Biomineralization and Nanobacteria

Biomineralization is a frequently used term in nanotechnology, astrobiology, geology, and medicine. In the process of biomineralization, a living organism provides a chemical environment that controls the nucleation and growth of unique mineral phases. Often these materials exhibit hierarchical structural order, leading to superior physical properties, not found either in their inorganic counterparts or in synthetic materials. Biomineralization is widespread in the biosphere and hundreds of different minerals are produced or assisted by a variety of organisms from bacteria to humans. Teeth, bones, kidney stones, and skeletons of algae, mussels, and magnetotactic bacteria are all examples of biomineralization. We do not fully understand the control mechanism of biomineralization either in primitive or in developed organisms. The presence of organic molecules, among other characteristics, can influence the coherence length for X-ray scattering in biogenic crystals. Control over biomineral properties can be accomplished at a myriad of levels, including the regulation of particle size, shape, crystal orientation, polymorphic structure, defect texture, and particle assembly. In the latter case, cellular processes enable control in both the spatial and temporal domain in such a way that hierarchical composite structures can be built which increase the toughness and durability of the material, which is invaluable for load-bearing materials such as bones, teeth, mollusk shells, etc. Durability of biominerals produces remarkably preserved bacterial and cyanobacterial microfossils from billions of years-old samples. The differentiation between microfossils and nonbiogenic artifacts has been a lively discussion subject in astrobiology especially in the last decade. Clearly, more detailed information on the mechanism of biomineralization, and the effect of organic matter on crystal formation/fossilization would help focus such discussions.

Ciftcioglu, N.↗
NASA NTRS2003

Radial Clearance Found To Play a Key Role in the Performance of Compliant Foil Air Bearings

Compliant foil air bearings are at the forefront of the Oil-Free turbomachinery revolution, which supports gas turbine engines with hydrodynamic bearings that use air instead of oil as the working fluid. These types of bearings have been around for almost 50 years and have found a home in several commercial applications, such as in air cycle machines, turbocompressors, and microturbines, but are now being aggressively pursued for use in small and midrange aircraft gas turbine engines. Benefits include higher operating speeds and temperatures, lower maintenance costs, and greater reliability. The Oil-Free Turbomachinery team at the NASA Glenn Research Center is working to foster the transition of Oil-Free technology into gas turbine engines by performing in-house experiments on foil air bearings in order to gain a greater insight into their complex operating principles. A research program recently undertaken at Glenn focused on the concept of radial clearance and its influence on bearing performance. The tests were conducted on foil bearings with different radial clearances. As defined for a foil bearing, radial clearance is a measure of the small amount of shaft radial motion that is present from play that exists in the elastic support structure, such as between the top and bump foils and the bump foils and bearing shell (see the drawing). With an insufficient amount of radial clearance, the bearing imparts a high preload on the shaft, which when excessive, can reduce the loadcarrying capability of the bearing. On the other hand, systems using foil bearings with excessive radial clearance may experience rotordynamic instabilities because of low bearing preload. Therefore, without a more thorough understanding of radial clearance, it is difficult to accurately predict the performance of a given bearing design. The test program demonstrated that there is a direct correlation between radial clearance and the performance of foil air bearings. As shown in the graph, an optimum radial clearance exists that will maximize the amount of load that the bearing is capable of supporting. With respect to this optimum, two different performance regimes were observed that are a function of the amount of radial clearance. Tests showed that bearings with radial clearances below the optimum in regime I were susceptible to sudden seizure, a failure mode indicative of thermal runaway caused by high preload. The high preload is in response to an insufficient amount of radial clearance available to accommodate the thermal growth of the bearing and shaft. However, radial clearances greater than the optimum in regime II resulted in low bearing preloads that did not cause any heat-related problems, and the failure mode was due to fluid-film breakdown. In fact, bearings operating with radial clearances twice as much as the optimum suffered a decrease in the maximum load capacity of only about 20 percent. Therefore, special attention has to be given to the range of operating conditions expected in the bearing/shaft system since changes in temperature, centrifugal, and hydrodynamic effects can all affect radial clearance. This enhanced understanding of foil air bearing behavior will greatly aid our efforts to transition Oil-Free technology to future aircraft engines.

Radil, Kevin C.↗
NASA NTRS1999

Combustion of a Polymer (PMMA) Sphere in Microgravity

A series of low gravity, aircraft-based, experiments was conducted to investigate the combustion of supported thermoplastic polymer spheres under varying ambient conditions. The three types of thermoplastic investigated were polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), polypropylene (PP). and polystyrene (PS). Spheres with diameters ranging from 2 mm to 6.35 mm were tested. The total initial pressure varied from 0.05 MPa to 0. 15 MPa whereas the ambient oxygen concentration varied from 19 % to 30 % (by volume). The ignition system consisted of a pair of retractable energized coils. Two CCD cameras recorded the burning histories of the spheres. The video sequences revealed a number of dynamic events including bubbling and sputtering, as well as soot shell formation and break-up during combustion of the spheres at reduced gravity. The ejection of combusting material from the burning spheres represents a fire hazard that must be considered at reduced gravity. The ejection process was found to be sensitive to polymer type. All average burning rates were measured to increase with initial sphere diameter and oxygen concentration, whereas the initial pressure had little effect. The three thermoplastic types exhibited different burning characteristics. For the same initial conditions, the burning rate of PP was slower than PMMA, whereas the burning rate of PS was comparable to PMMA. The transient diameter of the burning thermoplastic exhibited two distinct periods: an initial period (enduring approximately half of the total burn duration) when the diameter remained approximately constant, and a final period when the square of the diameter linearly decreased with time. A simple homogeneous two-phase model was developed to understand the changing diameter of the burning sphere. Its value is based on a competition between diameter reduction due to mass loss from burning and sputtering, and diameter expansion due to the processes of swelling (density decrease with heating) and bubble growth. The model relies on empirical parameters for input, such as the burning rate and the duration of the initial and final burning periods.

Yang, Jiann C.↗
NASA NTRS2007

Coupled Groups of g-Modes in a Sun with Mixed Core

Groups of linear g-modes can sum to create long-lived nonlinear oscillations in small "hot volumes" very deep in the Sun that help drive the modes. In these volumes (dimensions -10 Mm), the time average rate of He-3 burning doubles as temperature fluctuations exceed 10% and rises by an order of magnitude for fluctuations of 25%. To be consistent with locally large motions, we impose a mixed shell on an otherwise standard solar model before computing g-mode solutions. Mixing in the assumed shell r = (0.10+/-0.03) R(sub sun) is rapid (<<10(exp 6) yr) with slower mixing somewhat beyond. If l is the principal spherical harmonic index, a set of g-modes for any single l less than or equal to 15 with five consecutive radial harmonics can be excited with nearly linear thermal amplitudes, A(sub T) less than or equal to 0.053, throughout the star and a fractional temperature fluctuation in its hot volume of (Delta)T/T less than or equal to 0.18. These thresholds for excitation will become smaller when sets for several values of l are computed simultaneously. There is some evidence for the rotation of g-mode sets in the long solar activity record and g-mode upward wave flux has been suggested to explain the 1.3 yr reversing flows tentatively detected below the Sun's convective envelope (CE). The large local amplitudes needed for excitation implies that g-modes may transport a non-negligible fraction of the solar luminosity, yet their near linear amplitudes outside the hot volume suggests amplitudes over most of the solar surface that would be barely detectable for l > 3. A formalism is presented for summing the g-modes and estimating growth rates under the approximation that modes are strictly linear except in a hot volume which holds only a few percent of mode kinetic energy. Finally over the range 2 less than or equal to l less than or equal to 30, we summed all zonal harmonics, m, for a given l and computed the relative angular orientations that would release the most nuclear energy. This should be close to the physically preferred angular state of such a family and a few examples were displayed.

Wolff, Charles L.↗
NASA NTRS2011

Initiating Molecular Growth in the Interstellar Medium via Dimeric Complexes of Observed Ions and Molecules

A feasible initiation step for particle growth in the interstellar medium (ISM) is simulated by means of ab quantum chemistry methods. The systems studied are dimer ions formed by pairing nitrogen containing small molecules known to exist in the ISM with ions of unsaturated hydrocarbons or vice versa. Complexation energies, structures of ensuing complexes and electronic excitation spectra of the encounter complexes are estimated using various quantum chemistry methods. Moller-Plesset perturbation theory (MP2, Z-averaged perturbation theory (ZAP2), coupled cluster singles and doubles with perturbative triples corrections (CCSD(T)), and density functional theory (DFT) methods (B3LYP) were employed along with the correlation consistent cc-pVTZ and aug-cc-pVTZ basis sets. Two types of complexes are predicted. One type of complex has electrostatic binding with moderate (7-20 kcal per mol) binding energies, that are nonetheless significantly stronger than typical van der Waals interactions between molecules of this size. The other type of complex develops strong covalent bonds between the fragments. Cyclic isomers of the nitrogen containing complexes are produced very easily by ion-molecule reactions. Some of these complexes show intense ultraviolet visible spectra for electronic transitions with large oscillator strengths at the B3LYP, omegaB97, and equations of motion coupled cluster (EOM-CCSD) levels. The open shell nitrogen containing carbonaceous complexes especially exhibit a large oscillator strength electronic transition in the visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum.

Bera, Partha P.↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Development of a Cold-Walled Molten Regolith Electrolysis Reactor for Lunar Oxygen Production

On the lunar surface, production of commodi-ties to support human presence, such as water, food and oxygen, and sustain the growth of a per-manent outpostwill likely require the use oflocal resources. The moon is covered almost entirely withfragmented oxide minerals known as regolithhundreds of meter thick.As a resource, it is rich in oxygen (> 42 wt.%) bound in a solid state with a variety of metals. The molten regolith electrolysis (MRE)reactor is a promising technology for the production of gaseous oxygen from the lunar reg-olithin a simple, single-stepreaction that requires minimalconsumable materials, produces oxygen and metals with high electrical efficiency and high yields from any regolithcomposition.This process involvesmelting regolith to~1600°C then electro-lyzing the molten pool to separate metal and oxy-gen ions that are then collected as liquid metal and gaseous oxygen at the respective electrodes. Lab-scale demonstrations of the MRE technology have previously reliedon external heating sources to bring the entirety of the reactor up to the operating temperaturewhich creates corrosive interfaces be-tween the molten regolith and the containment ma-terial in the reactor, limiting the overall lifespan of a reactor[1]. The Gaseous Lunar Oxygen from Regolith Electrolysis (GaLORE) project is focused on the development of a “cold-walled” or “Joule-heated” reactor design in which an internal heating source is used to selectively melt a pool of regolith between the electrodes of the reactor, leaving a shell of solidified regolith between the molten pool and the containment vessel of the reactor. This next generation reactor concept has been under development as molten oxide electrolysis (MOE) by MIT and Boston Metal for the production of iron from pure ores for terrestrial application [2]. The GaLORE project in engaged in early development of the technology for use with varying lunar regolith compositionsin the lunar environment. Thermal modelling of a proposed cold-walledreac-tor design were used as a scaffold to develop pa-rameters for a feasible reactor shape and size as well as target energy consumption[3]. The current development effort for the cold-walled reactor de-sign will be presented as a trade study of the most promising techniques for melting regolithwithin the constraints imposed by the lunar environment.Heater devices are designed to accommodate lim-ited electrical power availabilityon the moon, a wide range of regolith compositions that may be seen on the moon, limited metals available for re-placing consumed parts,and the low thermal con-ductivity of granular regolith in vacuum.Heater de-vices will be down-selectedbased on performance measurements within the above operationalcon-straints,and selected devices will be integrated into a reactor with electrodes to begin producing oxygen. [1]Sibille,L.,Sadoway, D.R.,Sirk, A., Tripathy,P.,Melendez, O., Standish, E., Dominguez, J. A., Stefanescu, D.M.,Curreri, P.A., Poizeau,S.,2009. “Recent Advancesin Scale-up Development of Molten Regolith Electrolysis for Oxygen Production in support of a Lunar Base.”AIAA 2009-659, 47th AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting, 5 -8 January 2009, Orlando, FL. [2] Boston Metal, https://www.boston-metal.com/moe-technology/#moe-process[3]Schreiner, S.S.,Sibille, L., Dominguez, J.A., Hoffman, J.A., 2016. "A parametric sizing model for Molten Regolith Electrolysis reactors to pro-duce oxygen on the Moon." Advances in Space Research 57.,7,1585-1603.

K D Grossman↗
DOE OSTI2026

Flaw Tolerance Assessment for DOE Standard SNF Dry Storage Canisters - 26550

The U.S. DOE has designed four spent nuclear fuel (SNF) dry storage canisters for storing DOE standardized SNFs. The DOE standard canisters are cylindrical shells with a diameter of 24 inches (610 m) or 18 inches (457 m), a wall thickness of 0.5 inches (12.7 m) or 0.375 inches (9.53 m), and a length of 15 feet (4.57 m) or 10 feet (3.05 m). These DOE canister geometries are completely different from commercial canisters. The latter may experience chloride-induced stress cracking corrosion (CI-SCC) because they are stored near coastal regions. The former may not experience CI-SCC but face different challenges because they are stored in the SNF storage facilities. Because of large residual stresses, mechanical flaws may occur in the DOE canisters during long-distance transportation or lifting handling. To date, only limited structural integrity analyses were carried out through drop tests on the DOE canisters, but a more general flaw tolerance assessment has not been performed. Therefore, the failure assessment diagram (FAD)-based fracture mechanics method, as codified by the latest API 579-1/ASME FFS-1-2021 Edition, is adopted in this work to assess surface flaw tolerance for DOE canisters under operation loading and welding residual stresses (WRS), where the new code-recommended WRS distributions are used. To more adequately consider the transverse distribution of WRS, an equivalent WRS distribution is proposed to account for the WRS reduction with distance from the weld centerline. Moreover, the closed-form solutions of stress intensity factor K, which serves as the crack driving force during subcritical crack growth, are developed from the tabular data of the K factors provided in API 579-1/ASME FFS-1 and used to determine more accurate flaw sizes at flaw instability. Subsequently, the Level 2 assessment procedures with 12 assessment steps, as codified and detailed in API 579-1 and ASME FFS-1, are followed to assess the flaw tolerance for the surface flaws in the DOE standard canisters with consideration of normal or accident operation loads combined with WRS. The assessment results show that the four designs of DOE standard canisters can tolerate all surface flaws that meet the code permitted maximum sizes of a flaw length of 8 inches (i.e., 200 mm) and a flaw depth of 80% wall thickness. This demonstrates that all designs of DOE standard canisters are robust and reliable.

DOE standard canister↗
NASA NTRS2000

Microgravity mediated changes in phytoferritin accumulation in soybean root cap cells

Phytoferritin is an iron-protein complex analogous to the ferritin found in mammalian, bacteria and fungi cells. Phytoferritin molecules are large proteins, about 10.5 nm in diameter, visualised in an electron microscope as discrete, electron dense particles with iron-containing core, where several thousand atoms of iron lie within the proteinaceous shell (apoferritin). In higher plants, a plastid stroma is the site of phytoferritin storage. Phytoferritin is seen in all types of plastids. It is considered to be a mechanism used by cells to store iron in a non-toxic form. Phytoferritin-bound iron may subsequently be used to form iron-containing components. It was shown that low levels of phytoferritin are synthesised in normal green leaves, whereas chlorotic leaves do not have a measurable amount of phytoferritin and leaves of iron-loaded seedlings contain a high level of total iron, and phytoferritin well-filled by iron. Phytoferritin accumulation was observed in photosynthetic inactivity chloroplasts during senescence and disease. In this study we analised the effects of microgravity and ethylene on production of phytoferritin in the root cap columella cells of soybean seedlings.

short duration↗