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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 343 records · Page 19
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2025

A 28 nm multiply-accumulate ASIC architecture for on-chip data compression in MHz frame rate X-ray and electron pixel detectors

Modern X-ray detector systems urgently require compact, efficient, and fast data compression schemes to handle the transmission of big data from pixel arrays, enabling frame rates in the MHz regime. Here, in this work, a data compression ASIC that implements a streaming fixed-length lossy compression scheme is introduced and analyzed, proving the feasibility and benefits of on-chip compression. The compression scheme utilizes a vector matrix product logic, which performs a number of floating-point multiplications, additions, and accumulations. The logic is verified, synthesized, and shown to fit in the area resource available for the X-ray detector under study, which comprises 192 × 168 pixels each of 12-bit width, and having a total area of 20 mm× 20 mm, about 2 mm× 20 mm of which are available for the digital logic. Several system architectures, precisions, and compression ratios ranging from 100 to 250 were analyzed to pave the way for on-chip fixed-length compression (e.g., principal component analysis, singular value decomposition) and data reduction (e.g., azimuthal integration) for X-ray and electron detectors.

Data compression↗
DOE OSTI2017

Novel phase diagram behavior and materials design in heterostructural semiconductor alloys

Structure and composition control the behavior of materials. Isostructural alloying is historically an extremely successful approach for tuning materials properties, but it is often limited by binodal and spinodal decomposition, which correspond to the thermodynamic solubility limit and the stability against composition fluctuations, respectively. We show that heterostructural alloys can exhibit a markedly increased range of metastable alloy compositions between the binodal and spinodal lines, thereby opening up a vast phase space for novel homogeneous single-phase alloys. We distinguish two types of heterostructural alloys, that is, those between commensurate and incommensurate phases. Because of the structural transition around the critical composition, the properties change in a highly nonlinear or even discontinuous fashion, providing a mechanism for materials design that does not exist in conventional isostructural alloys. The novel phase diagram behavior follows from standard alloy models using mixing enthalpies from first-principles calculations. Furthermore, thin-film deposition demonstrates the viability of the synthesis of these metastable single-phase domains and validates the computationally predicted phase separation mechanism above the upper temperature bound of the nonequilibrium single-phase region.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
NASA NTRS1991

Outline for a theory of intelligence

Intelligence is defined as that which produces successful behavior. Intelligence is assumed to result from natural selection. A model is proposed that integrates knowledge from research in both natural and artificial systems. The model consists of a hierarchical system architecture wherein: (1) control bandwidth decreases about an order of magnitude at each higher level, (2) perceptual resolution of spatial and temporal patterns contracts about an order-of-magnitude at each higher level, (3) goals expand in scope and planning horizons expand in space and time about an order-of-magnitude at each higher level, and (4) models of the world and memories of events expand their range in space and time by about an order-of-magnitude at each higher level. At each level, functional modules perform behavior generation (task decomposition planning and execution), world modeling, sensory processing, and value judgment. Sensory feedback control loops are closed at every level.

Albus, James S.↗
DOE OSTI2026

Decomposition of methane diluted with inert gas in an RF discharge cell

Decomposition of methane using non-thermal plasmas is an attractive route for producing hydrogen-rich gases and valuable carbon nanomaterials. Understanding how plasma discharge modes influence methane decomposition in optimizing plasma-assisted chemical conversion remains unexplored. This study explores the coupling between the discharge structure and product selectivity in RF capacitively coupled discharges operating in methane/inert gas mixtures in the pressure range of 2–3 torr. Under our experimental conditions the discharge exhibits mode transitions from uniform to striated in Ar and Kr and from diffuse to contracted in Ar and Kr with <5% CH 4 . The discharges in He and Ne remained uniform under our operating conditions, and their mixtures with CH 4 remained diffuse. A 0-d model for Ar/CH 4 discharge established a threshold for contraction while also asserting the importance of Ar$^{*}_{\textrm{m}}$ in the dissociation and ionization processes. The highest degree of methane decomposition, >99.7% with the main products of acetylene and graphitized solid carbon was achieved in the contracted discharge mode for both Kr or Ar with ⩽5% CH 4 . We demonstrate that contraction can play a crucial role in the effective decomposition of methane with value-added products and that both the electronic and thermal properties of plasma gas are responsible for this effect.

RF plasma↗
DOE OSTI2017

Performance of the AMOEBA Water Model in the Vicinity of QM Solutes: A Diagnosis Using Energy Decomposition Analysis

The importance of incorporating solvent polarization effects into the modeling of solvation processes has been well-recognized, and therefore a new generation of hybrid quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) approaches that accounts for this effect is desirable. We present a fully self-consistent, mutually polarizable QM/MM scheme using the AMOEBA force field, in which the total energy of the system is variationally minimized with respect to both the QM electronic density and the MM induced dipoles. This QM/AMOEBA model is implemented through the Q-Chem/LibEFP code interface and then applied to the evaluation of solute-solvent interaction energies for various systems ranging from the water dimer to neutral and ionic solutes (NH 3 , NH 4 + , CN - ) surrounded by increasing numbers of water molecules (up to 100). In order to analyze the resulting interaction energies, we also utilize an energy decomposition analysis (EDA) scheme which identifies contributions from permanent electrostatics, polarization, and van der Waals (vdW) interaction for the interaction between the QM solute and the solvent molecules described by AMOEBA. This facilitates a component-wise comparison against full QM calculations where the corresponding energy components are obtained via a modified version of the absolutely localized molecular orbitals (ALMO)-EDA. The results show that the present QM/AMOEBA model can yield reasonable solute-solvent interaction energies for neutral and cationic species, while further scrutiny reveals that this accuracy highly relies on the delicate balance between insufficiently favorable permanent electrostatics and softened vdW interaction. For anionic solutes where the charge penetration effect becomes more pronounced, the QM/MM interface turns out to be unbalanced. These results are consistent with and further elucidate our findings in a previous study using a slightly different QM/AMOEBA model (Dziedzic et al. J. Chem. Phys. 2016, 145, 124106). The implications of these results for further refinement of this model are also discussed.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2016

Infinite matter properties and zero-range limit of non-relativistic finite-range interactions

We discuss some infinite matter properties of two finite-range interactions widely used for nuclear structure calculations, namely Gogny and M3Y interactions. We show that some useful informations can be deduced for the central, tensor and spin–orbit terms from the spin–isospin channels and the partial wave decomposition of the symmetric nuclear matter equation of state. We show in particular that the central part of the Gogny interaction should benefit from the introduction of a third Gaussian and the tensor parameters of both interactions can be deduced from special combinations of partial waves. We also discuss the fact that the spin–orbit of the M3Y interaction is not compatible with local gauge invariance. Finally, we show that the zero-range limit of both families of interactions coincides with the specific form of the zero-range Skyrme interaction extended to higher momentum orders and we emphasize from this analogy its benefits.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2026

Tailoring microstructures with mild magnetic-field processing: A case study of CuNiFe alloys

Combined experimental and computational investigations of the CuNiFe spinodal system confirm that application of a mild magnetic field during thermal treatment alters elemental redistribution and the resulting microstructure, relative to that obtained from zero-field annealing. Spinodal decomposition of a Cu 40 Ni 42 Fe 18 alloy was initiated during thermal treatment at 773 K, conducted either under zero field or modest (60 mT) magnetic f ield conditions for up to 200 h. Periodic (~10 nm) chemical modulations into Cu-rich and NiFe-rich regions were observed under both conditions, with the amplitude and wavelength of the segregated regions increasing with treatment time. However, magnetic field annealing resulted in a more than twofold increase in the amplitude of elemental modulations relative to zero-field conditions – consistent with enhanced diffusional f luxes during spinodal decomposition – while the modulation wavelength remained largely unaffected. These microstructural differences are reflected in various extrinsic magnetic properties. In parallel, first-principles DFT calculations indicate that long-range ferromagnetic order, as induced by an applied magnetic field, substantially alters the strength and nature of atomic interactions, enhancing the thermodynamic instability of the CuNiFe solid solution. Collectively, these results suggest that incorporating a mild (millitesla-level) magnetic field – distinct from the strong (tesla-level) fields commonly used in prior studies – during thermal processing has the potential to deliver enhanced control of microstructures for targeted engineering outcomes.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2017

Combined Experimental and Computational Study on the Unimolecular Decomposition of JP-8 Jet Fuel Surrogates. II: n-Dodecane (n-C 12 H 26 )

In this paper, we investigated temperature-dependent products in the pyrolysis of helium-seeded n-dodecane, which represents a surrogate of the n-alkane fraction of Jet Propellant-8 (JP-8) aviation fuel. The experiments were performed in a high temperature chemical reactor over a temperature range of 1200 K to 1600 K at a pressure of 600 Torr, with in situ identification of the nascent products in a supersonic molecular beam using single photon vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) photoionization coupled with the analysis of the ions in a reflectron time-of-flight mass spectrometer (ReTOF). For the first time, the initial decomposition products of n-dodecane—including radicals and thermally labile closed-shell species—were probed in experiments, which effectively exclude mass growth processes. A total of 15 different products were identified, such as molecular hydrogen (H 2 ), C2 to C7 1-alkenes [ethylene (C 2 H 4 ) to 1-heptene (C 7 H 14 )], C1–C3 radicals [methyl (CH 3 ), ethyl (C 2 H 5 ), allyl (C 3 H 5 )], small C1–C3 hydrocarbons [acetylene (C 2 H 2 ), allene (C 3 H 4 ), methylacetylene (C 3 H 4 )], as well as the reaction products [1,3-butadiene (C 4 H 6 ), 2-butene (C 4 H 8 )] attributed to higher-order processes. Electronic structure calculations carried out at the G3(CCSD,MP2)//B3LYP/6-311G(d,p) level of theory combined with RRKM/master equation of rate constants for relevant reaction steps showed that n-dodecane decomposes initially by a nonterminal C–C bond cleavage and producing a mixture of alkyl radicals from ethyl to decyl with approximately equal branching ratios. The alkyl radicals appear to be unstable under the experimental conditions and to rapidly dissociate either directly by C–C bond β-scission to produce ethylene (C 2 H 4 ) plus a smaller 1-alkyl radical with the number of carbon atoms diminished by two or via 1,5-, 1,6-, or 1,7- 1,4-, 1,9-, or 1,8-H shifts followed by C–C β-scission producing alkenes from propene to 1-nonene together with smaller 1-alkyl radicals. The stability and hence the branching ratios of higher alkenes decrease as temperature increases. The C–C β-scission continues all the way to the propyl radical (C 3 H 7 ), which dissociates to methyl (CH 3 ) plus ethylene (C 2 H 4 ). Finally, in addition, at higher temperatures, another mechanism can contribute, in which hydrogen atoms abstract hydrogen from C 12 H 26 producing various n-dodecyl radicals and these radicals then decompose by C–C bond β-scission to C3 to C11 alkenes.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2016

TIME-VARIABLE ALUMINUM ABSORPTION IN THE POLAR AR URSAE MAJORIS, AND AN UPDATED ESTIMATE FOR THE MASS OF THE WHITE DWARF

We present spectra of the extreme polar AR Ursae Majoris (AR UMa), which display a clear Al i absorption doublet, alongside spectra taken less than a year earlier in which that feature is not present. Re-examination of earlier SDSS spectra indicates that the Al i absorption doublet was also present ≈8 years before our first non-detection. We conclude that this absorbing material is unlikely to be on the surface of either the white dwarf (WD) or the donor star. We suggest that this Al i absorption feature arises in circumstellar material, perhaps produced by the evaporation of asteroids as they approach the hot WD. The presence of any remaining reservoir of rocky material in AR UMa might help to constrain the prior evolution of this unusual binary system. We also apply spectral decomposition to find the stellar parameters of the M dwarf companion, and attempt to dynamically measure the mass of the WD in AR UMa by considering both the radial velocity curves of the H {sub β} emission line and the Na i absorption line. Thereby we infer a mass range for the WD in AR UMa of 0.91 M {sub ⊙} < M {sub WD} < 1.24 M {sub ⊙}.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2016

Evaluation of TiO{sub 2} and TiO{sub 2}/Au nanoparticles as a Potential Radiosensitizers by Decomposition of Methylene Blue

Nanomaterials are constantly used in several applications of science and engineering. Nanoparticles are currently utilized in computer circuits, clothes, luminescent devices, catalysis, medicine, among many others uses. In the clinical field nanomaterials have become an innovative alternative for early diagnosis and treatment of a significant number of medical conditions. Nanoparticles can be utilized in applications ranging from contrast agents for imaging purposes to carriers for drug delivery in cancerous tumors. The use of nanoparticles made of high atomic number elements as noble metals, is becoming an attractive approach for enhancing the radiation dose delivered to a tissue during radiation therapy. The enhancement effect that makes the cells more sensitive to radiation is known as radiosensitization. Materials such as gold (Au) and titanium dioxide (TiO{sub 2}) at the nanoscale have become promising radiosensitizers. When TiO{sub 2} is irradiated with high energy photons, electron-holes are created within the material. This species interacts with surrounding medium generating reactive oxygen species (ROS). ROS create a toxic environment for cancerous cells, ultimately causing their death. On the other hand gold has a different interaction with ionizing radiation. Upon radiation, gold releases a spray of secondary products such as photoelectrons, auger electrons, and characteristic X-rays. The energy created by the escaping electrons leads to DNA strands breaks in the cells causing their death. Therefore, if these nanoparticles are initially accumulated in the tissue to be treated, the dose delivered during radiation therapy is amplified. This represents a synergistic approach to enhance radiation therapy while substantially reducing side effects. Radiosensitization by nanoparticles often depends on their particle size, morphology and synthesis route. The most commonly used methods to synthesize metallic nanoparticles such as gold involves chemical reduction of a metal precursor. In this case, reducing agents are used in order to transform the metallic ions to metal atoms that will subsequently coalesce and grow to form the nanoparticles . Nevertheless there are alternative methods that do not require a chemical reducing agent. Radiation synthesis is one of those processes. The interaction of ionizing radiation with an aqueous solution containing a metal precursor, leads to a phenomena known as radiolysis of water. Radiolysis of water produces chemical species such as solvated electrons (e{sup -}{sub aq}), and hydrogen atoms (H{sup +}). These species are strong reducing agents that bring the metal ions existing in solution into stable metal atoms that will form nanoparticles. Radiation synthesis is a novel method that offers significant advantages over conventional approaches such as wet chemistry routes. In this approach, no further chemical reducing agents are needed, thus it does not generate byproducts that may affect the nanoparticles properties. This is particularly important in medical applications. Furthermore, this technique is designed to work at room temperature and under atmospheric pressures. Nonetheless the most outstanding feature of radiation synthesis is the possibility to control the particle size and size distribution. This route allows for narrow particle size distributions with size ranging from 2 to 30 nm. Furthermore, the availability of different ionizing radiation producing devices such as synchrotrons, X-ray irradiators, and gamma irradiators enables the possibility of manufacturing nanomaterials under various conditions. In this work, Au nanoparticles were deposited onto TiO{sub 2} using the radiation synthesis method. In addition, the radiosensitization characteristics of TiO{sub 2} and TiO{sub 2}/Au nanoparticles were evaluated through the decomposition of the organic dye Methylene Blue (MB). In order to analyze the degradation of the dye the TiO{sub 2} and TiO{sub 2}/Au nanoparticles were placed in an aqueous solution along with MB and subjected to X-ray irradiation. The samples were irradiated for 30 and 60 minutes. The degradation of the MB after irradiation in the presence and absence of the nanomaterials was measured by UV-Vis spectroscopy following the decrease in the absorbance of the dye at 664 nm. (authors)

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2016

Excitation intensity dependent photoluminescence of annealed two-dimensional MoS{sub 2} grown by chemical vapor deposition

Here, we present detailed results of Raman and photoluminescence (PL) characterization of monolayers of MoS{sub 2} grown by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) on SiO{sub 2}/Si substrates after thermal annealing at 150 °C, 200 °C, and 250 °C in an argon atmosphere. In comparison to the as-grown monolayers, annealing in the temperature range of 150–250 °C brings about significant changes in the band edge luminescence. It is observed that annealing at 150 °C gives rise to a 100-fold increase in the PL intensity and produces a strong band at 1.852 eV attributed to a free-to-bound transition that dominates over the band edge excitonic luminescence. This band disappears for the higher annealing temperatures. The improvement in PL after the 200 °C anneal is reduced in comparison to that obtained after the 150 °C anneal; this is suggested to arise from a decrease in the non-radiative lifetime caused by the creation of sulfur di-vacancies. Annealing at 250 °C degrades the PL in comparison to the as-grown sample because of the onset of disorder/decomposition of the sample. It is clear that the PL features of the CVD-grown MoS{sub 2} monolayer are profoundly affected by thermal annealing in Ar atmosphere. However, further detailed studies are needed to identify, unambiguously, the role of native defects and/or adsorbed species in defining the radiative channels in annealed samples so that the beneficial effect of improvement in the optical efficiency of the MoS{sub 2} monolayers can be leveraged for various device applications.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2018

The role of environmental driving factors in historical and projected carbon dynamics of wetland ecosystems in Alaska

Abstract Wetlands are critical terrestrial ecosystems in Alaska, covering ~177,000 km 2 , an area greater than all the wetlands in the remainder of the United States. To assess the relative influence of changing climate, atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) concentration, and fire regime on carbon balance in wetland ecosystems of Alaska, a modeling framework that incorporates a fire disturbance model and two biogeochemical models was used. Spatially explicit simulations were conducted at 1‐km resolution for the historical period (1950–2009) and future projection period (2010–2099). Simulations estimated that wetland ecosystems of Alaska lost 175 Tg carbon (C) in the historical period. Ecosystem C storage in 2009 was 5,556 Tg, with 89% of the C stored in soils. The estimated loss of C as CO 2 and biogenic methane (CH 4 ) emissions resulted in wetlands of Alaska increasing the greenhouse gas forcing of climate warming. Simulations for the projection period were conducted for six climate change scenarios constructed from two climate models forced under three CO 2 emission scenarios. Ecosystem C storage averaged among climate scenarios increased 3.94 Tg C/yr by 2099, with variability among the simulations ranging from 2.02 to 4.42 Tg C/yr. These increases were driven primarily by increases in net primary production (NPP) that were greater than losses from increased decomposition and fire. The NPP increase was driven by CO 2 fertilization (~5% per 100 parts per million by volume increase) and by increases in air temperature (~1% per °C increase). Increases in air temperature were estimated to be the primary cause for a projected 47.7% mean increase in biogenic CH 4 emissions among the simulations (~15% per °C increase). Ecosystem CO 2 sequestration offset the increase in CH 4 emissions during the 21st century to decrease the greenhouse gas forcing of climate warming. However, beyond 2100, we expect that this forcing will ultimately increase as wetland ecosystems transition from being a sink to a source of atmospheric CO 2 because of (1) decreasing sensitivity of NPP to increasing atmospheric CO 2 , (2) increasing availability of soil C for decomposition as permafrost thaws, and (3) continued positive sensitivity of biogenic CH 4 emissions to increases in soil temperature.

Lyu, Zhou↗
DOE OSTI2018

Enhanced strength and electrical conductivity of ultrafine-grained Al-Mg-Si alloy processed by hydrostatic extrusion

Highlights: • Al-Mg-Si alloy was subjected to hydrostatic extrusion combined with aging treatment. • UFG Al-Mg-Si alloy with UTS of 332 MPa and conductivity of 58% IACS was obtained. • Precipitation process depended on applied strains and crystallographic texture. • Strengthening effect was achieved by UFG structure and needle-like β″ precipitates. • Precipitation of β″ and spherical β′/β particles at GB provided high conductivity. - Abstract: The effect of hydrostatic extrusion combined with an artificial aging on microstructure, mechanical and electrical properties of 6101 Al-Mg-Si alloy was investigated. It has been shown that such thermo-mechanical treatment is an effective method for producing of long wires with an ultrafine-grained microstructure (grain size of 300–400 nm) and enhanced ultimate tensile strength (> 330 MPa) and electrical conductivity (up to 58% IACS). The mechanical behavior of 6101 Al-Mg-Si alloy depended strongly on applied strains by hydrostatic extrusion and crystallographic texture. Higher accumulative strain accelerated the precipitation kinetics but decreased the age hardening response. The double fiber <100> and <111> texture was observed for hydrostatically extruded samples. The <001> grains with homogenously distributed needle-like β″ precipitates provided precipitation strengthening of material while <111> grains resulted in more efficient grain boundary strengthening. Quantitative microstructure characterization allowed adjusting physical model to estimate the electrical conductivity and compare it with experimental data. The high conductivity was provided mainly by decomposition of solid solution due to precipitation of needle-like β″ precipitates in the grain interior and spherical β′ or β particles located at grain boundaries.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2020

Eigenmode analysis of the sheared-flow Z-pinch

Experiments have demonstrated that a Z-pinch can persist for thousands of times longer than the growth time of global magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) instabilities such as the m=0 sausage and m=1 kink modes. These modes have growth times on the order of ta=a/vi, where vi is the ion thermal speed and a is the pinch radius. Axial flows with duz/dr ≲ vi/a have been measured during the stable period, and the commonly accepted theory is that this amount of shear is sufficient to stabilize these modes as predicted by numerical studies using the ideal MHD equations. However, these studies only consider specific equilibrium profiles that typically have a modest magnitude for the logarithmic pressure gradient, qP≡d ln P/d ln r, and may not represent experimental conditions. Linear stability of the sheared-flow Z-pinch is studied here via a direct eigen-decomposition of the matrix operator obtained from the linear ideal MHD equations. Several equilibrium profiles with a large variation of qP are examined. Considering a practical range of k, 1/3 ≲ ka ≲ 10, it is shown that the shear required to stabilize m=0 modes can be expressed as duz/dr≥Cγ0/(ka)α. Here, γ0=γ0(ka) is the profile-specific growth rate in the absence of shear, which scales approximately with |qP|. Both C and α are profile-specific constants, but C is order unity and α≈1. It is further demonstrated that even a large value of shear, duz/dr=3vi/a, is not sufficient to provide linear stabilization of the m=1 kink mode for all profiles considered. This result is in contrast to the currently accepted theory predicting stabilization at much lower shear, duz/dr=0.1vi/a, and suggests that the experimentally observed stability cannot be explained within the linear ideal-MHD model.

Angus, J. R. (ORCID:0000000314740002)↗
DOE OSTI2019

Modelling baryonic physics in future weak lensing surveys

Modifications of the matter power spectrum due to baryonic physics are one of the major theoretical uncertainties in cosmological weak lensing measurements. Developing robust mitigation schemes for this source of systematic uncertainty increases the robustness of cosmological constraints, and may increase their precision if they enable the use of information from smaller scales. Here we explore the performance of two mitigation schemes for baryonic effects in weak lensing cosmic shear: the principal component analysis (PCA) method and the halo-model approach in hmcode. We construct mock tomographic shear power spectra from four hydrodynamical simulations, and run simulated likelihood analyses with cosmolike assuming LSST-like survey statistics. With an angular scale cut of ℓmax < 2000, both methods successfully remove the biases in cosmological parameters due to the various baryonic physics scenarios, with the PCA method causing less degradation in the parameter constraints than hmcode. For a more aggressive ℓmax = 5000, the PCA method performs well for all but one baryonic physics scenario, requiring additional training simulations to account for the extreme baryonic physics scenario of Illustris; hmcode exhibits tensions in the 2D posterior distributions of cosmological parameters due to lack of freedom in describing the power spectrum for $k \gt 10\ h^{-1}\, \mathrm{Mpc}$. We investigate variants of the PCA method and improve the bias mitigation through PCA by accounting for the noise properties in the data via Cholesky decomposition of the covariance matrix. Our improved PCA method allows us to retain more statistical constraining power while effectively mitigating baryonic uncertainties even for a broad range of baryonic physics scenarios.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2015

Status Report - Softwood Fiberboard Properties And Degradation Rates For Storage Of The 9975 Shipping Package In KAC

Thermal, mechanical and physical properties have been measured on softwood fiberboard samples following accelerated aging for up to approximately 7 years. The aging environments have included elevated temperature < 250 ºF (the maximum allowed service temperature for fiberboard in 9975 packages) and elevated humidity. The results from this testing have been analyzed, and preliminary aging models fit to the data. Correlations relating several properties (thermal conductivity, energy absorption, weight, dimensions and density) to their rate of change in potential storage environments have been developed. Combined with acceptance criteria and an estimate of the actual conditions the fiberboard experiences in KAC, these models allow development of service life predictions.

42 ENGINEERING↗
NASA NTRS1987

A Programming Environment Evaluation Methodology for Object-Oriented Systems

The object-oriented design strategy as both a problem decomposition and system development paradigm has made impressive inroads into the various areas of the computing sciences. Substantial development productivity improvements have been demonstrated in areas ranging from artificial intelligence to user interface design. However, there has been very little progress in the formal characterization of these productivity improvements and in the identification of the underlying cognitive mechanisms. The development and validation of models and metrics of this sort require large amounts of systematically-gathered structural and productivity data. There has, however, been a notable lack of systematically-gathered information on these development environments. A large part of this problem is attributable to the lack of a systematic programming environment evaluation methodology that is appropriate to the evaluation of object-oriented systems.

Dominick, Wayne D.↗