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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 325 records · Page 18
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2002

Phase Synchronization and Desynchronization of Structural Response Induced by Turbulent and External Sound

Acoustic and turbulent boundary layer flow loadings over a flexible structure are used to study the spatial-temporal dynamics of the response of the structure. The stability of the spatial synchronization and desynchronization by an active external force is investigated with an array of coupled transducers on the structure. In the synchronous state, the structural phase is locked, which leads to the formation of spatial patterns while the amplitude peaks exhibit chaotic behaviors. Large amplitude, spatially symmetric loading is superimposed on broadband, but in the desynchronized state, the spectrum broadens and the phase space is lost. The resulting pattern bears a striking resemblance to phase turbulence. The transition is achieved by using a low power external actuator to trigger broadband behaviors from the knowledge of the external acoustic load inducing synchronization. The changes are made favorably and efficiently to alter the frequency distribution of power, not the total power level. Before synchronization effects are seen, the panel response to the turbulent boundary layer loading is discontinuously spatio-temporally correlated. The stability develops from different competing wavelengths; the spatial scale is significantly shorter than when forced with the superimposed external sound. When the external sound level decreases and the synchronized phases are lost, changes in the character of the spectra can be linked to the occurrence of spatial phase transition. These changes can develop broadband response. Synchronized responses of fuselage structure panels have been observed in subsonic and supersonic aircraft; results from two flights tests are discussed.

Maestrello, Lucio↗
NASA NTRS1972

The effect of phosphorus on the formation of the Widmanstaetten pattern in iron meteorites.

Use of a combination of a revised Fe-Ni-P phase diagram and laboratory cooling experiments on Fe-Ni-P alloys to determine the effect of P on the formation of the Widmanstaetten pattern. From the phase diagram results, two reaction paths were found for the formation of kamacite (1) gamma (taenite) yields alpha (kamacite) + gamma (taenite) and (2) gamma yields gamma + Ph /phosphide, (FeNi)3P/ yields alpha + gamma + Ph. The reaction path gamma yields alpha + gamma is preferred at low P contents, while at higher P contents and at Ni contents greater than 7.0 wt.%, the reaction path gamma yields gamma + Ph yields alpha + gamma + Ph controls the formation of kamacite. Above 7 wt.% Ni, the effect of P on the equilibrium nucleation temperature of kamacite is quite small, less than about plus or minus 30 C with respect to the Fe-Ni binary diagram. The addition of P (greater than 0.1 wt.%) to meteorites promotes nucleation of kamacite at higher temperatures and effectively lowers the amount of undercooling necessary to nucleate kamacite homogeneously. Ni has just the opposite effect, decreasing the temperature of nucleation and increasing the amount of undercooling. It is concluded that significant amounts of undercooling, 50 to 100 C, are necessary for the nucleation of the Widmanstaetten structure in meteorites, and that chemical equilibrium is maintained in the various phases of slowly cooled iron meteorites to 650 C and probably to 600 C.

Goldstein, J. I.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Origin of planetary primordial rare gas - The possible role of adsorption.

The degree of physical adsorption of Ne, Ar, Kr, and Xe on pulverized samples of the Allende meteorite at 113 K has been measured. The observed pattern of equilibrium enrichment of heavy rare gases over light on the pulverized meteorite surfaces relative to the gas phase is similar to the enrichment pattern exhibited by planetary primordial rare gas when compared with the composition of solar rare gas. Results indicate that, at 113 K, a total nebular pressure of from .01 to .001 atm would be required to explain the Ar, Kr, and Xe abundances in carbonaceous chondrites with an adsorption mechanism. This pressure estimate is compatible with the range of possible nebular pressures suggested by astrophysical arguments. However, the subsequent mechanism by which initially adsorbed gas might have been transferred into the interiors of grains cannot be identified at present.

Fanale, F. P.↗
DOE OSTI2021

Spatially-resolved lithiation dynamics from operando X-ray diffraction and electrochemical modeling of lithium-ion cells

In this study, energy dispersive X-ray diffraction is used to profile the time evolution of ordered Li x C 6 phases in solid electrodes of lithium-ion cells charged at rates between 0.2 and 4.7C (where 1C corresponds to full discharge in 1 h). The methods for quantifying lithium concentration in these phases from the acquired diffraction patterns are described. Compact expressions for time-dependent concentration gradients in the solid electrodes using orthogonal polynomial expansions are presented. Experimentally, these gradients persisted in lithiated graphite electrodes even after the cells rested at open-circuit for over 9 h. A multiphase electrochemical model of graphite intercalation captured many of the observed behaviors, including the progression of phase transitions and the persistent gradients at zero current. However, the magnitude of concentration gradients in both the oxide cathode and graphite anode is underestimated by the model, even at moderate currents.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
NASA NTRS1992

The kinematics of buoyancy induced mixing

A model problem to study mixing driven by buoyancy flow fields due to a time dependent body force which consists of a steady and an oscillatory component is considered. Flow fields generated by a time dependent body force, which consists of a steady and an oscillatory component from vibrations or g-jitter, mix two fluids inside a cavity by stretching and folding the interface into various morphological patterns. These patterns show two basic structures depending on the dominant components of the body force. These structures are whirls and tendrils, corresponding to the dominance of either the steady or oscillatory component, respectively. A combination of these structures also occurs in the interaction region. In this region the effect of the steady component opposes the oscillatory component and the result is to smooth the interface, and prevent breakup of the interface. For the parametric range considered, two basic flow regimes occur: convective and chaotic. In the convective regime, the morphological patterns are topological. In the chaotic regime, mixing occurs by a repetitive sequence of bubble formation, necking, and breakup which spreads the concentration field throughout the cavity. The length stretch of the interface increases exponentially with time. The dynamical system characteristics show that in the convective regime, at a point in space, the flow field is oscillatory with elliptical phase space trajectories, and its power spectrum indicates that the flow field responds to the corresponding input frequency. Whereas, in the chaotic regime, the flow field is aperiodic, the phase space trajectories show irregular patterns, and the power spectrum shows a broadband distribution.

Duval, Walter M. B.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Rare earth patterns in shergottite phosphates and residues

Leaching experiments with 1M HCl on ALHA 77005 powder show that rare earth elements (REE) are concentrated in accessory phosphate phases (whitlockite, apatite) that govern the REE patterns of bulk shergottites. The REE patterns of whitlockite are typically light REE-depleted with a negative Eu anomaly and show a hump at the heavy REE side, while the REE pattern of apatite (in Shergotty) is light REE-enriched. Parent magmas are calculated from the modal compositions of residues of ALHA 77005, Shergotty, and EETA 79001. The parent magmas lack a Eu anomaly, indicating that plagioclase was a late-stage crystallizing phase and that it probably crystallized before the phosphates. The parent magmas of ALHA 77005 and Shergotty have similar REE patterns, with a subchondritic Nd/Sm ratio. However, the Sm/Nd isotopoics require a light REE-depleted source for ALHA 77005 (if the crystallization age is less than 600 Myr) and a light REE-enriched source for Shergotty. Distant Nd and Sr isotopic signatures may suggest different source regions for shergottites.

Laul, J. C.↗
DOE OSTI2023

Low-temperature liquid-phase formation of environmentally stable copper halide nanocrystal superlattices and their application to anticounterfeiting patterns

Nanocrystal superlattices have the potential to create a new class of semiconductor materials by combining the photophysical properties of individual nanocrystals with bulk-like structure performance. However, the principles underlying the direct formation of superlattices in liquid phase have not been thoroughly investigated, particularly, those consisting of exciton self-trapping metal halides. Here, in this work, we explore the formation of Cs 3 Cu 2 Br 5 nanocrystal superlattices via liquid-phase crystallization of growing nanocrystals over a reaction period of only a few seconds. Importantly, the reaction temperature and the precursor concentration were found to be key parameters governing the concomitant nanocrystal growth and superlattice formation. The resulting Cs 3 Cu 2 Br 5 superlattices had a well-defined face-centered cubic structure and emitted a single-band bright blue emission when exposed to 280 nm light. Owing to their advantages, such as low toxicity, reabsorption-free, narrow absorption, strong emission, and high environmental stability, the Cs 3 Cu 2 Br 5 superlattices were applicable to anti-counterfeiting applications. Our findings shed light on the liquid-phase assembly of nanocrystals into superlattices and highlight the potential applications of the superlattices.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
NASA NTRS2000

Convergent properties of vestibular-related brain stem neurons in the gerbil

Three classes of vestibular-related neurons were found in and near the prepositus and medial vestibular nuclei of alert or decerebrate gerbils, those responding to: horizontal translational motion, horizontal head rotation, or both. Their distribution ratios were 1:2:2, respectively. Many cells responsive to translational motion exhibited spatiotemporal characteristics with both response gain and phase varying as a function of the stimulus vector angle. Rotationally sensitive neurons were distributed as Type I, II, or III responses (sensitive to ipsilateral, contralateral, or both directions, respectively) in the ratios of 4:6:1. Four tested factors shaped the response dynamics of the sampled neurons: canal-otolith convergence, oculomotor-related activity, rotational Type (I or II), and the phase of the maximum response. Type I nonconvergent cells displayed increasing gains with increasing rotational stimulus frequency (0.1-2.0 Hz, 60 degrees /s), whereas Type II neurons with convergent inputs had response gains that markedly decreased with increasing translational stimulus frequency (0.25-2.0 Hz, +/-0.1 g). Type I convergent and Type II nonconvergent neurons exhibited essentially flat gains across the stimulus frequency range. Oculomotor-related activity was noted in 30% of the cells across all functional types, appearing as burst/pause discharge patterns related to the fast phase of nystagmus during head rotation. Oculomotor-related activity was correlated with enhanced dynamic range compared with the same category that had no oculomotor-related response. Finally, responses that were in-phase with head velocity during rotation exhibited greater gains with stimulus frequency increments than neurons with out-of-phase responses. In contrast, for translational motion, neurons out of phase with head acceleration exhibited low-pass characteristics, whereas in-phase neurons did not. Data from decerebrate preparations revealed that although similar response types could be detected, the sampled cells generally had lower background discharge rates, on average one-third lower response gains, and convergent properties that differed from those found in the alert animals. On the basis of the dynamic response of identified cell types, we propose a pair of models in which inhibitory input from vestibular-related neurons converges on oculomotor neurons with excitatory inputs from the vestibular nuclei. Simple signal convergence and combinations of different types of vestibular labyrinth information can enrich the dynamic characteristics of the rotational and translational vestibuloocular responses.

Non-NASA Center↗
DOE OSTI2021

Inversion of coherent surface scattering images via deep learning network

Coherent surface scattering imaging is a powerful tool for imaging a surface/interface of a thin nanostructure deposited on an opaque substrate. A mathematical conversion of an object image from a scattering pattern is essential for coherent surface scattering imaging to visualize structures of specimens. It has been achieved by using phase retrieval algorithms requiring oversampling in scattering patterns and employing alternating projection approaches. It is a computationally challenging and time-consuming process. In this paper, we demonstrate CSSI-NN, which is a deep learning neural network model to predict images of objects from scattering intensities in coherent surface scattering imaging. This model allowing for the instant outcome from scattering patterns would be tremendously beneficial not only for effective experiments but also for data analysis of phase retrieval.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2021

BISON microstructure-based pulverization criterion in high burnup structure

To improve the economics of commercial nuclear power production, utilities are seeking to increase the allowable burnup limit of UO$_2$ fuel. One of the main factors that contributes to the current burnup limit of 62 GWd/MTU in commercial light water reactors (LWRs) is the risk of fine fragmentation or pulverization during a loss of coolant accident (LOCA). Pulverization primarily occurs at high burnups, especially when the high burnup structure (HBS) has formed. To allow the industry to pursue increased burnup and develop mitigation strategies, it is essential to have improved capability to predict the onset of pulverization. However, the mechanism of pulverization is not well understood, and the existing predictive capabilities implemented in the BISON fuel performance code are empirical in nature. In this report, mesoscale simulations are used to improve understanding of the formation mechanism of the HBS and how it responds during a LOCA transient, and inform development of a BISON pulverization criterion. A phase-field model was used to simulate the evolution of bubble pressure as a result of HBS formation. The simulations showed that gas atoms diffuse from grain interiors to the new grain boundaries created during HBS formation, and diffuse rapidly along these grain boundaries to reach existing bubbles. This causes an increase in bubble pressure in existing bubbles, leading to bubble growth during steady-state operation. To simulate the response of HBS bubbles to a LOCA transient, a newly developed phase-field model was used; in agreement with preliminary results from FY20, bubble size did not change significantly during the duration of the transient. A phase-field fracture model was used to study fragmentation patterns in the HBS, including using input from the phase-field model as initial conditions. Phase-field fracture simulations were used to determine a pulverization criterion for BISON. A function for the critical pressure for pulverization to occur was fit to data from the phase-field fracture simulations, and this function was implemented as a material property in BISON. For comparison, an analytical criterion for pulverization was developed and implemented within the same material property.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
NASA NTRS1998

Fuel Injector Patternation Evaluation in Advanced Liquid-Fueled, High Pressure, Gas Turbine Combustors, Using Nonintrusive Optical Diagnostic Techniques

Planar laser-induced fluorescence (PLIF) imaging and planar Mie scattering are used to examine the fuel distribution pattern (patternation) for advanced fuel injector concepts in kerosene burning, high pressure gas turbine combustors. Three diverse fuel injector concepts for aerospace applications were investigated under a broad range of operating conditions. Fuel PLIF patternation results are contrasted with those obtained by planar Mie scattering. Further comparison is also made for one injector with data obtained through phase Doppler measurements. Differences in spray patterns for diverse conditions and fuel injector configurations are readily discernible. An examination of the data has shown that a direct determination of the fuel spray angle at realistic conditions is also possible. The results obtained in this study demonstrate the applicability and usefulness of these nonintrusive optical techniques for investigating fuel spray patternation under actual combustor conditions.

Locke, R. J.↗
NASA NTRS1998

Optical Fuel Injector Patternation Measurements in Advanced Liquid-Fueled, High Pressure, Gas Turbine Combustors

Planar laser-induced fluorescence (PLIF) imaging and planar Mie scattering are used to examine the fuel distribution pattern (patternation) for advanced fuel injector concepts in kerosene burning, high pressure gas turbine combustors. Three fuel injector concepts for aerospace applications were investigated under a broad range of operating conditions. Fuel PLIF patternation results are contrasted with those obtained by planar Mie scattering. For one injector, further comparison is also made with data obtained through phase Doppler measurements. Differences in spray patterns for diverse conditions and fuel injector configurations are readily discernible. An examination of the data has shown that a direct determination of the fuel spray angle at realistic conditions is also possible. The results obtained in this study demonstrate the applicability and usefulness of these nonintrusive optical techniques for investigating fuel spray patternation under actual combustor conditions.

Locke, R. J.↗
DOE OSTI2023

Atomic-scale in situ observation of electron beam and heat induced crystallization of Ge nanoparticles and transformation of Ag@Ge core-shell nanocrystals

Crystallization of amorphous materials by thermal annealing has been investigated for numerous applications in the fields of nanotechnology, such as thin-film transistors and thermoelectric devices. The phase transition and shape evolution of amorphous germanium (Ge) and Ag@Ge core–shell nanoparticles with average diameters of 10 and 12 nm, respectively, were investigated by high-energy electron beam irradiation and in situ heating within a transmission electron microscope. The transition of a single Ge amorphous nanoparticle to the crystalline diamond cubic structure at the atomic scale was clearly demonstrated. Depending on the heating temperature, a hollow Ge structure can be maintained or transformed into a solid Ge nanocrystal through a diffusive process during the amorphous to crystalline phase transition. Selected area diffraction patterns were obtained to confirm the crystallization process. In addition, the thermal stability of Ag@Ge core–shell nanoparticles with an average core of 7.4 and a 2.1 nm Ge shell was studied by applying the same beam conditions and temperatures. The results show that at a moderate temperature (e.g., 385 °C), the amorphous Ge shell can completely crystallize while maintaining the well-defined core–shell structure, while at a high temperature (e.g., 545 °C), the high thermal energy enables a freely diffusive process of both Ag and Ge atoms on the carbon support film and leads to transformation into a phase segregated Ag–Ge Janus nanoparticle with a clear interface between the Ag and Ge domains. In conclusion, this study provides a protocol as well as insight into the thermal stability and strain relief mechanism of complex nanostructures at the single nanoparticle level with atomic resolution.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Evolution of Dendritic Extended 3D Patterns during Directional Solidification: Microgravity Experiments in DECLIC-DSI onboard ISS and Phase-field Modeling

To characterize the dynamical formation of three-dimensional (3D) arrays of dendrites under diffusive growth conditions, in situ monitoring of a series of experiments on a transparent succinonitrile – 0.46 wt% camphor model alloy was carried out under low gravity in the DECLIC Directional Solidification Insert onboard the International Space Station. These experiments offer continuous interface observation and enable the construction of space-time evolution maps of dendrite location and primary spacing during directional solidification. We present the evolution of dendritic extended 3D patterns for a large range of parameters displaying different levels of side branching in both experiments and phase-field simulations. The combined and separate effects of macroscopic interface curvature and crystal mis-orientation are evidenced and detailed. In addition, the aligned dendritic array caused by the invasion of dendrites formed at the edge of the crucible border is investigated.

Kaihua Ji↗
NASA NTRS1990

Real-time dynamic holographic image storage device

A real-time dynamic holographic image storage device uses four-wave mixing in a pair of photorefractive crystals. An oscillation is produced between the crystals which can be maintained indefinitely after the initial object beam is discontinued. The object beam produces an interference pattern in a first crystal to produce phase-conjugated object beam which is directed towards the second crystal. In the second crystal another interference pattern is created which produces a reconstructed object beam. The reconstructed object beam is directed back towards the first crystal. The interference patterns are produced by interaction of the object and phase-conjugated object beam with a read and write beam in each of the crystals. By manipulation of the ratio of the read and write beam intensities in at least one of the crystals, the phase-conjugate or reconstructed object beam output therefrom can be amplified to maintain stable oscillation between the two crystals.

Lafleur, Sharon S.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Active and inactive phases of the South Pacific Convergence Zone and changes in global circulation patterns - A case study

A set of FGGE Level III-b analyses produced at the NASA Goddard Laboratory for Atmospheres (GLA) is used to examine changes that occur in the global-scale circulation features during the period, January 10 - February 13,1979. In the first two weeks of this period, the South Pacific Convergence Zone (SPCZ) and its convective cloud band were observed to be dominant features of the circulation. Subsequent to January 24, there were marked changes in the global-scale circulation, particularly in the Southern Hemisphere tropics. Concomitant with these changes was the disappearance of the SPCZ and its cloud band. The primary purpose of this study is to compare some general circulation parameters, which frequently correspond to deep convection, for two 15-day periods: January 10-24, when the SPCZ was very convectively active, and January 28 - February 11 when it was inactive. Daily variations of some parameters are also shown. It is seen that distinct changes occur in each parameter by the end of the first period, particularly in the vicinity of the SPCZ. Suggestions are offered regarding mechanisms which might be responsible for the observed changes.

Huang, H.-J.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Phase holograms in PMMA with proximity effect correction

Complex computer generated phase holograms (CGPH's) have been fabricated in PMMA by partial e-beam exposure and subsequent partial development. The CGPH was encoded as a sequence of phase delay pixels and written by the JEOL JBX-5D2 E-beam lithography system, a different dose being assigned to each value of phase delay. Following carefully controlled partial development, the pattern appeared rendered in relief in the PMMA, which then acts as the phase-delay medium. The exposure dose was in the range 20-200 micro-C/sq cm, and very aggressive development in pure acetone led to low contrast. This enabled etch depth control to better than plus or minus lambda(sub vis)/60. That result was obtained by exposing isolated 50 micron square patches and measuring resist removal over the central area where the proximity effect dose was uniform and related only to the local exposure. For complex CGPH's with pixel size of the order of the e-beam proximity effect radius, the patterns must be corrected for the extra exposure caused by electrons scattered back up out of the substrate. This has been accomplished by deconvolving the two-dimensional dose deposition function with the desired dose pattern. The deposition function, which plays much the same role as an instrument response function, was carefully measured under the exact conditions used to expose the samples. The devices fabricated were designed with 16 equal phase steps per retardation cycle, were up to 1 cm square, and consisted of up to 100 million 0.3-2.0 micron square pixels. Data files were up to 500 MB long and exposure times ranged to tens of hours. A Fresnel phase lens was fabricated that had diffraction limited optical performance with better than 85 percent efficiency.

Maker, Paul D.↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Packed Bed Reactor Experiment (PBRE)-2: Pressure Drop Measurements in Microgravity

Single and two-phase flow through porous media are encountered on ground and in space in numerous applications related to life support systems, fuel cells, chemical/materials processing and transporting nutrients to plants. These systems operate differently in the microgravity environment encountered in space travel because the density differences no longer cause the phases to separate or “drain” under the body force of gravity. In the absence of gravity, the interfacial or capillary forces play a more significant role in determining the operational variables such as phase distribution, liquid holdup, and pressure drop especially when the liquid inertia and viscous forces are at minimum. Lower liquid flow rates in air-water two-phase flows represent the case for most of the space processes that depend on two-phase flows in porous media. The Packed Bed Reactor Experiment (PBRE) was developed and flown on the International Space Station (ISS) by NASA to extend a series of fundamental studies of gas-liquid flows through porous media. The goal of the this series of flight experiments (PBRE-1 and PBRE-2) is to better understand the hydrodynamics of two phase flows in porous media in flow regimes dominated by inertia and viscous effects and understanding the role of the interfacial forces and their role in determining the flow dynamics. The flight experiments were preceded by a series of low gravity experiments performed on the low gravity aircraft. These experiments led to the development of a semi-empirical two-phase pressure drop and flow pattern transition in support of a number of reactor beds planned for water reclamation processes onboard of the international space station. The PBRE flight experiment was designed to deliver a wide range of tightly controlled gas (nitrogen) and liquid (water) flows to one of two interchangeable test sections differing only in the type of internal packing material. In this paper, we describe the PBRE-2 experiment and present preliminary low gravity data on pressure drop and compare with semi-empirical model pressure drop predictions. This work is supported by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) under grant no. 80NSSC20K0830

Suratman Number↗