Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “STOCKPILES”

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 289 records · Page 16
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2019

Expansion of the surrogate method to measure the prompt fission neutron multiplicity for Pu 241 [Prompt Fission Neutron Multiplicity for Pu-241 using the Surrogate Method]

Fission neutron multiplicity data are imperative for nuclear models that support criticality safety, nuclear nonproliferation, and stockpile stewardship. This work presents the first experimental measurement to determine the average neutron multiplicity ($\bar{ν}$) and the neutron multiplicity distribution using a surrogate reaction. 241 Pu has a short half-life of 14.3 yr. To circumvent experimental difficulties, inelastic scattering of 53.96-MeV α particles on 242 Pu served as a surrogate for 241 Pu (n , f). The present text reports and discusses the average neutron multiplicity, in addition to the neutron multiplicity moments and distribution for equivalent neutron energies up to 20 MeV. Finally, the $\bar{ν}$ measured in this experiment agrees with previous measurements until 12 MeV, where discrepancies arise due to preequilibrium neutron emission.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2019

Towards Neutron Capture on Exotic Nuclei: Demonstrating ( d , p γ ) as a Surrogate Reaction for ( n , γ )

The neutron-capture reaction plays a critical role in the synthesis of the elements in stars and is important for societal applications including nuclear power generation and stockpile-stewardship science. However, it is difficult—if not impossible—to directly measure neutron capture cross sections for the exotic, short-lived nuclei that participate in these processes. We demonstrate a new technique which can be used to indirectly determine neutron-capture cross sections for exotic systems. This technique makes use of the $(d,p)$ transfer reaction, which has long been used as a tool to study the structure of nuclei. Recent advances in reaction theory, together with data collected using this reaction, enable the determination of neutron-capture cross sections for short-lived nuclei. A benchmark study of the $^{95}\mathrm{Mo}(d,p)$ reaction is presented, which illustrates the approach and provides guidance for future applications of the method with short-lived isotopes produced at rare isotope accelerators.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2013

Building flexibility into the design of a pilot plant for the immobilisation of Pu containing residues and wastes

NNL and ANSTO on behalf of Sellafield Ltd have developed a process for the immobilisation of a range of Pu containing wastes and residues. Following the inactive demonstration of the technology the project is now focusing on the design of an active pilot plant capable of validating the technology and ultimately immobilising a waste inventory containing around 100 kg plutonium. The diverse wastes from which it is uneconomic to recover Pu, require a flexible process with a wide product envelope capable of producing a wasteform suitable for disposal in a UK repository. Ceramics, glass ceramics and metal encapsulated waste-forms can be delivered by the process line which incorporates size reduction and heat treatment techniques with the aim of feeding a hot isostatic pressing process designed to deliver the highly durable waste-forms. Following a demonstration of feasibility, flowsheet development is progressing to support the design which has the aim of a fully flexible facility based in NNL's Central Laboratory on the Sellafield site. Optimisation of the size reduction, mixing and blending operations is being carried out using UO{sub 2} as a surrogate for PuO{sub 2}. This work is supporting the potential of using an enhanced glass ceramic formulation in place of the full ceramic with the aim of simplifying glove box operations. Heat treatment and subsequent HIPing strategies are being explored in order to eliminate any carbon from the feeds without increasing the valence state of the uranium present in some of the inventory which can result in an unwanted increase in wasteform volumes. The HIP and ancillary systems are being specifically designed to meet the requirements of the Sellafield site and within the constraints of the NNL Central Laboratory. The HIP is being configured to produce consolidated product cans consistent with the requirements of ongoing storage and disposal. With the aim of one cycle per day, the facility will deliver its mission of immobilising the identified waste and residues inventory within 3 years. During that period it will also be used to demonstrate the potential of this technology to deliver the immobilisation of a proportion of the UK plutonium stockpile that may not be suitable for use as MOx fuel should that decision be taken. (authors)

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗
DOE OSTI2022

Countering the future chemical weapons threat

After decades of difficult negotiations, the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) was adopted in 1993 and entered into force on 29 April 1997, banning the development, production, stockpiling, transfer, and use of chemical weapons (CW). As the CWC celebrates the 25th anniversary of its entry into force, it can document considerable success, much of it attributed to the CWC implementing body—the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). However, facing a volatile international security environment and an everchanging chemical industry, the OPCW must transform to meet its mission and remain an exemplar for multilateralism. As the next CWC review conference approaches in 2023, a next-generation OPCW 2.0 can be effective and credible only if it reinforces international norms against CW, anticipates future challenges posed by advancements in science and technology (S&T), incorporates more qualitative elements into the verification and compliance system, and keeps pace with technological change.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2024

GeoCricket

SAND2025-12229O Geospatial Critical Infrastructure and Census Data Stockpile Tool (GeoCricket) is a set of functions that collect critical infrastructure and census data for use in the Resilient Node Cluster Analysis Tool (ReNCAT) and Quantum Geographic Information System Social Burden Calculator. It can also act to inform other place-based work. The code queries public-facing Representational State Transfer (REST) servers to collect geospatial data related to a specific area. It then exports that data as standard geographic information system file types or as a .csv file. Sandia National Laboratories is a multimission laboratory managed and operated by National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Honeywell International Inc., for the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration under contract DE-NA0003525.

Haines, John↗
DOE OSTI2017

Overview: Development of the National Ignition Facility and the Transition to a User Facility for the Ignition Campaign and High Energy Density Scientific Research

The National Ignition Facility (NIF) at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory has been operational since March 2009 and has been transitioning to a user facility supporting ignition science, high energy density stockpile science, national security applications, and fundamental science. The facility has achieved its design goal of 1.8 MJ and 500 TW of 3ω light on target, and has performed target experiments with 1.9 MJ at peak powers of 410 TW. The National Ignition Campaign (NIC), established by the U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration in 2005, was responsible for transitioning NIF from a construction project to a national user facility. Besides the operation and optimization of the use of the NIF laser, the NIC program was responsible for developing capabilities including target fabrication facilities; cryogenic layering capabilities; over 60 optical, X-ray, and nuclear diagnostic systems; experimental platforms; and a wide range of other NIF facility infrastructure. This study provides a summary of some of the key experimental results for NIF to date, an overview of the NIF facility capabilities, and the challenges that were met in achieving these capabilities. Finally, they are covered in more detail in the papers that follow.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2021

Recent developments in filtration media and respirator technology in response to COVID-19

Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic triggered a surge in demand for N95 or equivalent respirators that the global supply chain was unable to satisfy. This shortage in critical equipment has inspired research that addresses the immediate problems and has accelerated the development of the next-generation filtration media and respirators. This article provides a brief review of the most recent work with regard to face respirators and filtration media. We discuss filtration efficiency of the widely utilized cloth masks. Next, the sterilization of and reuse of existing N95 respirators to extend the existing stockpile is discussed. To expand near-term supplies, optimization of current manufacturing methods, such as melt-blown processes and electrospinning, has been explored. Future manufacturing methods have been investigated to address long-term supply shortages. Novel materials with antiviral and sterilizable properties with the ability for multiple reuses have been developed and will contribute to the development of the next generation of longer lasting multi-use N95 respirators. Finally, additively manufactured respirators are reviewed, which enable a rapidly deployable source of reusable respirators that can use any filtration fabric. Graphic abstract

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2014

Nuclear Arms Control, Nonproliferation, and Counterterrorism: Impacts on Public Health

Reducing the risks of nuclear war, limiting the spread of nuclear weapons and reducing global nuclear weapons stockpiles are key national and international security goals. They are pursued through a variety of international arms control, nonproliferation and counter-terrorism treaties and agreements. These legally binding and political commitments, together with the institutional infrastructure that supports them, work to establish global norms of behavior and have limited the spread of weapons of mass destruction. Beyond the primary security objectives, reducing the likelihood of the use of nuclear weapons, preventing environmental releases of radioactive material, increasing the availability of safe and secure nuclear technology for peaceful purposes, and providing scientific data relevant to predicting and managing the consequences of natural or human-caused disasters world-wide provide significant benefits to global public health.

98 NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, SAFEGUARDS, AND PHYSICAL P↗
DOE OSTI2012

Internship at Los Alamos National Laboratory

Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) is located in Los Alamos, New Mexico. It provides support for our country's nuclear weapon stockpile as well as many other scientific research projects. I am an Undergraduate Student Intern in the Systems Design and Analysis group within the Nuclear Nonproliferation division of the Global Security directorate at LANL. I have been tasked with data analysis and modeling of particles in a fluidized bed system for the capture of carbon dioxide from power plant flue gas.

20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS↗
DOE OSTI2012

Twenty-Five Year Site Plan, FY2013 - FY2037

Los Alamos National Laboratory (the Laboratory) is the nation's premier national security science laboratory. Its mission is to develop and apply science and technology to ensure the safety, security, and reliability of the United States (U.S.) nuclear stockpile; reduce the threat of weapons of mass destruction, proliferation, and terrorism; and solve national problems in defense, energy, and the environment. The fiscal year (FY) 2013-2037 Twenty-Five Year Site Plan (TYSP) is a vital component for planning to meet the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) commitment to ensure the U.S. has a safe, secure, and reliable nuclear deterrent. The Laboratory also uses the TYSP as an integrated planning tool to guide development of an efficient and responsive infrastructure that effectively supports the Laboratory's missions and workforce. Emphasizing the Laboratory's core capabilities, this TYSP reflects the Laboratory's role as a prominent contributor to NNSA missions through its programs and campaigns. The Laboratory is aligned with Nuclear Security Enterprise (NSE) modernization activities outlined in the NNSA Strategic Plan (May 2011) which include: (1) ensuring laboratory plutonium space effectively supports pit manufacturing and enterprise-wide special nuclear materials consolidation; (2) constructing the Chemistry and Metallurgy Research Replacement Nuclear Facility (CMRR-NF); (3) establishing shared user facilities to more cost effectively manage high-value, experimental, computational and production capabilities; and (4) modernizing enduring facilities while reducing the excess facility footprint. Th is TYSP is viewed by the Laboratory as a vital planning tool to develop an effi cient and responsive infrastructure. Long range facility and infrastructure development planning are critical to assure sustainment and modernization. Out-year re-investment is essential for sustaining existing facilities, and will be re-evaluated on an annual basis. At the same time, major modernization projects will require new line-item funding. This document is, in essence, a roadmap that defines a path forward for the Laboratory to modernize, streamline, consolidate, and sustain its infrastructure to meet its national security mission.

45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEF↗
DOE OSTI2012

EDS V25 Containment Vessel Explosive Qualification Test Report

The V25 containment vessel was procured by the Project Manager, Non-Stockpile Chemical Materiel (PMNSCM) as a replacement vessel for use on the P2 Explosive Destruction Systems. It is the first EDS vessel to be fabricated under Code Case 2564 of the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, which provides rules for the design of impulsively loaded vessels. The explosive rating for the vessel based on the Code Case is nine (9) pounds TNT-equivalent for up to 637 detonations. This limit is an increase from the 4.8 pounds TNT-equivalency rating for previous vessels. This report describes the explosive qualification tests that were performed in the vessel as part of the process for qualifying the vessel for explosive use. The tests consisted of a 11.25 pound TNT equivalent bare charge detonation followed by a 9 pound TNT equivalent detonation.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2012

Estane Molecular Weight Analysis in PBX 9501 Samples; Slice 'N Dice Study

T Division is creating a model of aging in PBX 9501 that will benefit from molecular weight mapping of hemispherical charges (“hemi’s”) that have been in the stockpile. Two hemi’s were prepared at Pantex by machining out sections and then machining those sections into cubes, which is why the project is referred to as a “Slice ‘N Dice” study. Two sections were cut from each hemi. One section was used for density mapping and the other was for molecular weight analysis. The molecular weight section pieces were cut so that both Pantex and LANL would be able to analyze cubes from approximately the same areas in order to compare results. Pantex analyzed all of their samples earlier in 2011. LANL’s Slice ‘N Dice samples were received in February of 2012 where they were inventoried, weighed and prepared by WX-7 and analyzed by both WX-7 and MST-7.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2012

Radiochemistry Results from IER-163 Comet Irradiation

A critical experiment was performed on the Comet assembly to provide nuclear data in a non-thermal neutron spectrum and to re-establish experimental capability relevant to the Stockpile Stewardship and Technical Nuclear Forensic programs. Irradiation foils were placed at specific locations in the Zeus all oralloy critical experiment to obtain fission ratios and activation products. After the irradiation was completed and a cooling down period of time had elapsed, passive gamma ray measurements were performed on all the foils and several of the foils were packaged and shipped to Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) for further radiochemical analysis. The results from the Los Alamos National Laboratory’s non-destructive and radiochemical analyses are presented. Monte Carlo simulations of the experiment are described and compared to the experimental results.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2012

Chemical analysis of uranium-niobium alloys by wavelength dispersive spectroscopy at the sigma complex

Uranium-niobium alloys play an important role in the nation's nuclear stockpile. It is possible to chemically quantify this alloy at a micron scale by using a technique know as wavelength dispersive spectroscopy. This report documents how this technique was used and how it is possible to reproduce measurements of this type. Discussion regarding the accuracy and precision of the measurements, the development of standards, and the comparison of different ways to model the matrices are all presented.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2013

AOT & LANSCE Focus: Proton Radiography Facility

Invented at Los Alamos National Laboratory, proton radiography (pRad) at the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center (LANSCE) employs a high-energy proton beam to image the properties and behavior of materials under a variety of conditions. The penetrating power of high-energy protons, like that of x-rays, makes them an excellent probe of a wide range of materials under extreme pressures, strains, and strain rates. The invention of proton radiography is the direct result of the synergy between the Laboratory’s defense mission and basic science research scientists and supports the Laboratory’s national security science mission as well as provides for fundamental science discoveries. This new capability has revolutionized dynamic materials science at Los Alamos, providing a new window for the study of shock physics, materials damage, and high explosives science. The Proton Radiograpy Facility, a national user facility, has performed more than 500 dynamic experiments in support of the Weapons program, Global Security, and other customers since it was commissioned more than a decade ago. This information helps Los Alamos maintain the reliability of the U.S. nuclear stockpile. The pRad capability is primarily supported by the NNSA Science Campaigns.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2013

Applying QMU to Nuclear Weapon Stewardship

Quantification of Margins and Uncertainty (QMU) is a principle means and metric by which nuclear weapons performance is measured. At Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Nuclear weapon QMU is predominately a Physics assessment of the performance margin and associated uncertainties of not achieving the designed nuclear performance. To more completely apply QMU to Nuclear Weapon Stewardship, a Systems Engineering or systematic approach is being employed to identify and define requirements, allowing assessment of performance with QMU. This paper describes the basics of QMU and how it is applied below the highest level nuclear performance function down and throughout the nuclear weapon design architecture. The intended audience for this paper is a novice QMU practitioner at LLNL. The application of QMU to the entire set of nuclear weapon functions demands a broad engagement of Science and Engineering disciplines. Using a hierarchical flow-down requirements structure, performance functions and failure modes are identified for all levels of system requirements. There can be multiple failure modes per functional requirement. For each function there is a spectrum of possible outputs that can vary from outright failure to excellent performance. The possible consequences and impacts on the next higher level functions will also vary. Since performance variations exist in a weapon functional hierarchy, the assessment process needs and benefits from a system perspective. Incorporating QMU into assessments using a Systems Engineering approach to stockpile management provides a means to quantify weapon performance risks against a multitude of possible failure modes and from the highest level functions down to the lowest level component functionality. Performance risk management is a core practice of nuclear weapon management. Assessing the likelihood and consequences of the many possible failure modes is done yearly as part of Annual Assessment Reviews (AAR). When annual surveillance discovers an anomaly defect as part of weapon surveillance, investigations are launched and QMU is a key tool for quantifying performance impacts. QMU assessments are separated into two pieces, failure mode assessments and QMU analysis.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2014

LANL B61 System FY 2014 Q1 Report

This report provides a status report for the LANL Stockpile System for quarter 1 of FY 2014.

45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEF↗