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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 37 records · Page 2
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2006

The Effect of the Laboratory Specimen on Fatigue Crack Growth Rate

Over the past thirty years, laboratory experiments have been devised to develop fatigue crack growth rate data that is representative of the material response. The crack growth rate data generated in the laboratory is then used to predict the safe operating envelope of a structure. The ability to interrelate laboratory data and structural response is called similitude. In essence, a nondimensional term, called the stress intensity factor, was developed that includes the applied stresses, crack size and geometric configuration. The stress intensity factor is then directly related to the rate at which cracks propagate in a material, resulting in the material property of fatigue crack growth response. Standardized specimen configurations and experimental procedures have been developed for laboratory testing to generate crack growth rate data that supports similitude of the stress intensity factor solution. In this paper, the authors present laboratory fatigue crack growth rate test data and finite element analyses that show similitude between standard specimen configurations tested using the constant stress ratio test method is unobtainable.

Forth, S. C.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Microscale synthesis and characterization of polystyrene: NSF-POLYED scholars project

Polystyrene is a familiar polymer with many commercial uses. Its applications range from the clear, high index of refraction, brittle plastic used to form audio cassette and CD cases to the foamed material used in insulated drink cups and packaging material. Polystyrene constitutes 11 percent of the plastics used in packaging with only High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) and Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) contributing a larger share: so much polystyrene is used today, it is one of six common plastics that manufacturers have assigned an identification code. The code helps recycling efforts. Polystyrene's code is (PS code 6). During the summer and fall of 1992 several new polymeric experiments were developed by the NSF POLYED Scholars for introduction into the chemistry core curriculum. In this presentation, one such project will be discussed. This laboratory project is recommended for a first or second year laboratory course allowing the introduction of polymeric science to undergraduates at the earliest opportunity. The reliability of the experiments which make up this project and the recognition factor of polystyrene, a material we come in contact with everyday, makes the synthesis and characterization of polystyrene a good choice for the introduction of polymerization to undergraduates. This laboratory project appeals to the varied interests of students enrolled in the typical first year chemistry course and becomes an ideal way to introduce polymers to a wide variety of science and engineering students.

Quaal, Karen S.↗
DOE OSTI2015

Los Alamos National Laboratory Ten-Year Site Plan FY 2016

The Los Alamos National Laboratory will continue to face a significant challenge over the next 25 years in balancing near-term needs while transforming the infrastructure to ensure long-term viability. The 2014 Los Alamos National Laboratory Strategic Plan emphasized that infrastructure must be modernized and maintained to fulfill diverse, complex, and evolving missions in a period of fl at or decreasing budgets. The large number of existing facilities will continue to age while safety, security, sustainability and compliance requirements will likely increase. The Laboratory must also continue to act as an environmental steward, reduce environmental risk, and improve sustainability. This plan identifies strategies that will enable the Laboratory to provide a flexible, responsive infrastructure within available resources. At the end of the 25 year period, the Laboratory will have achieved the following: New facilities construction and enduring facilities reinvestment to support critical capabilities; Improved energy efficiency and long-term sustainability practices; Modernized utility infrastructure to support future programmatic needs; Legacy cleanup and long-term environmental stewardship goals; Footprint reduction and nuclear infrastructure consolidation. Even in the face of new and significant pressures, the Laboratory will continue to take substantial steps to streamline operations, modernize the infrastructure, and fulfill its vision of being the premier national security science laboratory. The fiscal year (FY) 2016 Ten-Year Site Plan (TYSP) is consistent with previous TYSPs and incorporates updated information in accordance with National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) guidance. The TYSP is a vital planning component to meet the 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.

99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS↗
NASA NTRS1988

Laboratory evaluation and application of microwave absorption properties under simulated conditions for planetary atmospheres

In the first half of this grant year, laboratory measurements were conducted on the millimeter-wave properties of atmospheric gases under simulated conditions for the outer planet. Significant improvements in the current system have made it possible to accurately characterize the opacity from gaseous NH3 at longer millimeter wavelengths (7 to 10 mm) under simulated Jovian conditions. In the second half of the grant year, it is hoped to extend such measurements to even shorter millimeter-wavelengths. Further analysis and application of the laboratory results to microwave and millimeter-wave absorption data for the outer planets, such as results from Voyager Radio Occultation experiments and earth-based radio astronomical observations will be continued. The analysis of available multispectral microwave opacity data from Venus, including data from the most recent radio astronomical ovservations in the 1.3 to 3.6 cm wavelength range and newly obtained Pioneer-Venus Radio Occulatation measurements at 13 cm, using the laboratory measurements as an interpretative tool will be pursued.

Steffes, Paul G.↗
DOE OSTI2014

Atmospheric Science Program at the University of Louisville (Final Technical Report)

We have completed a 3-year project to enhance the atmospheric science program at the University of Louisville, KY (est. 2008). The goals were to complete an undergraduate atmospheric science laboratory (Year 1) and to hire and support an assistant professor (Years 2 and 3). Both these goals were met on schedule, and slightly under budget.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2018

Challenges in Eye Tracking for Dynamic User-Driven Workflows

This three-year Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) project aimed at developing a developed prototype data collection system and analysis techniques to enable the measurement and analysis of user-driven dynamic workflows. Over 3 years, our team developed software, algorithms, and analysis technique to explore the feasibility of capturing and automatically associating eye tracking data with geospatial content, in a user-directed, dynamic visual search task. Although this was a small LDRD, we demonstrated the feasibility of automatically capturing, associating, and expressing gaze events in terms of geospatial image coordinates, even as the human "analyst" is given complete freedom to manipulate the stimulus image during a visual search task. This report describes the problem under examination, our approach, the techniques and software we developed, key achievements, ideas that did not work as we had hoped, and unsolved problems we hope to tackle in future projects.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2024

Graph Analytics for CEBAF Operations

We report on the progress achieved during a 2-year Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) project titled “Graph Analytics for CEBAF Operations”. The objective of this project is to leverage deep learning on graph representations of CEBAF’s injector beamline in order to create a tool for improving the efficiency of beam tuning tasks. Specifically, we use graphs to represent the injector beamline at any arbitrary date and time and invoke a graph neural network (GNN) to extract a low-dimensional, informative representation that can be visualized in two-dimensions. By analyzing years of operational data from the CEBAF archiver, good and bad regions of parameter space can be identified. The goal is to exercise this framework as a real-time tool to aid beam tuning, which represents the dominant source of machine downtime.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2022

Dissolved pyrogenic carbon leaching in soil: Effects of soil depth and pyrolysis temperature

We report Pyrogenic organic carbon (PyC) is found in soils as a heterogeneous mixture of thermally altered plant residues that range in their susceptibility to losses via mineralization, leaching, and erosion. Leaching of PyC as DOC (DPyC) within the soil profile is likely influenced by the chemical composition of solid PyC and the dominant soil processes and properties at a particular depth. Here we report the results of a 2-year laboratory decomposition and leaching study designed to investigate the interactive effects of pyrolysis temperature levels (no pyrolysis, 300 °C, and 450 °C) and soil depth (surface soil, 0–10 cm depth; subsurface soil, 50–70 cm depth) on losses of 13 C-labeled jack pine (Pinus banksiana) wood, wood pyrolyzed at 300 °C (PyC300) and wood pyrolyzed at 450 °C (PyC450) as dissolved organic carbon (DOC). Losses of wood and PyC in the 13 C- DOC pool were measured in leachates drained from soils once a month over the course of 1 year, and at one single leaching event after 2 years. We found that pyrolysis temperature levels interacted with time and soil depth to affect losses of wood and PyC as DOC throughout the 1-year incubation and leaching study, with greater DOC losses from wood in surface soil (0.73 ± 0.076% of added C) than in subsurface soil (0.40 ± 0.063% of added C) averaged across sampling time. Monthly DOC losses from PyC were not affected by soil depth. Cumulative data indicated a small contribution of wood (2.86 ± 0.07%), PyC300 (0.40 ± 0.04%), and PyC450 (0.16 ± 0.01%) to total DOC leached from soils. DOC losses from wood and PyC300 (as a proportion of added C) were greater in surface soil than in subsurface soil, whereas DOC losses from PyC450 were unaffected by differences between surface and subsurface soil. Losses of DOC were greater from PyC300 than from PyC450 in surface soil, with no significant differences in DOC losses between PyC300 and PyC450 in subsurface soil. One single leaching event at the end of the 2-year decomposition study resulted in higher DOC losses from wood in subsurface soil than in surface soil likely due to desorption, and no differences in DOC losses between PyC300 and PyC450 regardless of soil depth. Our results suggest strong interactions between the initial physicochemical composition of organic C inputs and soil properties (soil depth as a proxy) that control the mobility and transport of PyC and should be better represented in Earth system models.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2026

Discovery of nuclear isomers

Currently, 1917 nuclear isomers with half-lives longer than 100 ns have been discovered in 1310 different nuclides and 103 different elements. Here, while the physical properties of isomers have been compiled before, this is the first compilation of the isomer discoveries. For each isomer the reference, year, laboratory and country are documented.

Thoennessen, M. [Michigan State University, East L↗
DOE OSTI2019

Hydrothermal Alteration of Nuclear Melt Glass, Colloid Formation, and Plutonium Mobilization at the Nevada National Security Site, U.S.A.

Approximately 2.8 t of plutonium (Pu) has been deposited in the Nevada National Security Site (NNSS) subsurface as a result of underground nuclear testing. Most of this Pu is sequestered in nuclear melt glass. However, Pu migration has been observed and attributed to colloid facilitated transport. In this study, to identify the mechanisms controlling Pu mobilization, long-term (~3 year) laboratory nuclear melt glass alteration experiments were performed at 25 to 200 °C to mimic hydrothermal conditions in the vicinity of underground nuclear tests. The clay and zeolite colloids produced in these experiments are similar to those identified in NNSS groundwater. At 200 °C, maximum Pu and colloid concentrations of 30 Bq/L and 150 mg/L, respectively, were observed. However, much lower Pu and colloid concentrations were observed at 25 and 80 °C. These data suggest that Pu concentrations above the drinking water Maximum Contaminant Levels (0.56 Bq/L) may exist during early hydrothermal conditions in the vicinity of underground nuclear tests. However, formation of colloid-associated Pu will tend to decrease with time as nuclear test cavity temperatures decrease. Furthermore, median colloid concentrations in NNSS groundwater (1.8 mg/L) suggest that the high colloid and Pu concentrations observed in our 140 and 200 °C experiments are unlikely to persist in downgradient NNSS groundwater. In conclusion, while our experiments did not span all groundwater and nuclear melt glass conditions that may be present at the NNSS, our results are consistent with the documented low Pu concentrations in NNSS groundwater.

38 RADIATION CHEMISTRY, RADIOCHEMISTRY, AND NUCLEA↗
DOE OSTI2013

Formation of Algae Growth Constitutive Relations for Improved Algae Modeling

This SAND report summarizes research conducted as a part of a two year Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) project to improve our abilities to model algal cultivation. Algae-based biofuels have generated much excitement due to their potentially large oil yield from relatively small land use and without interfering with the food or water supply. Algae mitigate atmospheric CO 2 through metabolism. Efficient production of algal biofuels could reduce dependence on foreign oil by providing a domestic renewable energy source. Important factors controlling algal productivity include temperature, nutrient concentrations, salinity, pH, and the light-to-biomass conversion rate. Computational models allow for inexpensive predictions of algae growth kinetics in these non-ideal conditions for various bioreactor sizes and geometries without the need for multiple expensive measurement setups. However, these models need to be calibrated for each algal strain. In this work, we conduct a parametric study of key marine algae strains and apply the findings to a computational model.

Gharagozloo, Patricia E.↗
DOE OSTI2015

Quantitative adaptation analytics for assessing dynamic systems of systems: LDRD Final Report

Our society is increasingly reliant on systems and interoperating collections of systems, known as systems of systems (SoS). These SoS are often subject to changing missions (e.g., nation- building, arms-control treaties), threats (e.g., asymmetric warfare, terrorism), natural environments (e.g., climate, weather, natural disasters) and budgets. How well can SoS adapt to these types of dynamic conditions? This report details the results of a three year Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) project aimed at developing metrics and methodologies for quantifying the adaptability of systems and SoS. Work products include: derivation of a set of adaptability metrics, a method for combining the metrics into a system of systems adaptability index (SoSAI) used to compare adaptability of SoS designs, development of a prototype dynamic SoS (proto-dSoS) simulation environment which provides the ability to investigate the validity of the adaptability metric set, and two test cases that evaluate the usefulness of a subset of the adaptability metrics and SoSAI for distinguishing good from poor adaptability in a SoS. Intellectual property results include three patents pending: A Method For Quantifying Relative System Adaptability, Method for Evaluating System Performance, and A Method for Determining Systems Re-Tasking.

99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS↗
DOE OSTI2014

A New Approach for Reducing Uncertainty in Biospheric CO 2 Flux

In the 2010 Global Carbon Project Report it was estimated that the terrestrial biosphere sequesters 2.4 Pg of anthropogenic carbon emissions per year although the uncertainty on that value is undoubtedly high as no error bars were given. As man-made emissions of CO 2 continue to increase unabated in the atmosphere, quantifying the fate of these anthropogenic sources requires both knowing the magnitude and uncertainty of background, natural CO 2 fluxes. Thus, reducing uncertainty in biospheric CO 2 flux measurements will not only give us direct, accurate observations for future carbon accounting and climate treaties but also indirectly help us quantify anthropogenic emissions for the same purposes. In conjuncture with ecosystem models or remote-sensing techniques, these measurements also provide accurate constraints on global and continental terrestrial CO 2 budgets. With the motivation stated above, we designed and executed a three-year Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) project with the aim of reducing the uncertainty in eddy-covariance biospheric CO 2 flux. Reducing uncertainty was approached in two ways. The first utilized nontraditional eddy covariance instrumentation to identify and characterize atmospheric flows above and within the plant canopy. Here, atmospheric laser detection and ranging (lidar) instrumentation were used to capture unique flow features at night which may explain erroneous or anomalous carbon fluxes. The second approach utilized a multi-layer, 3rd order closure canopy-atmosphere model to simulate fluxes at each field site. Three sites were chosen for field instrument deployment and modeling. These included the Wind River AmeriFlux tower in Washington State and the Tonzi AmeriFlux and Diablo AmeriFlux towers in northern California. These sites represent some of the extremes in the biological and meteorological conditions over which eddy covariance techniques are used. Wind River is a multi-layered, 60-m tall seasonal rainforest, Diablo is a 1-m tall grassland with a very short growing season, and Tonzi is a 2- layered savannah canopy with complex ecohydrology. All three are surrounded by complex terrain in varying degrees. The towers provided very different test sites for validating the UC Davis Advanced Canopy Atmosphere Soil Algorithm (ACASA) model. Such validation gives promise that the model can be used to independently verify and gap-fill biospheric CO 2 measurements from the network of ~ 550 global flux towers for future greenhouse gas emissions monitoring and verification studies.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2020

Tagged Short-Range Correlations for Medium to Heavy Ions at an Electron Ion Collider

Understanding short-range correlations between pairs of nucleons in the nucleus is an important nuclear physics topic that can address longstanding mysteries in nuclear physics such as the behavior of dense nuclear systems and the modification of parton distributions. As a collider and with a large acceptance detector, the Jefferson Lab version of the Electron Ion Collider has unique capabilities that are complementary to previous short-range correlation studies, most notably the ability to more fully reconstruct the final state. Optimization of the collider’s detector to maximally exploit these capabilities called for important extensions of existing simulation tools. For this one year laboratory directed research and development project, we upgraded the benchmark electron-nucleon event generator for lepto-production simulation code Benchmark eA Generator for LEptoproduction (BeAGLE) to be able to handle tagged medium-to-heavy nucleons. This included updating the code to correctly handle Fermi motion of nucleons in the nucleus as well as the large momentum caused by short-range correlations. In addition, we also investigated the possibility of improved kinematic reconstruction methods for electron nucleon collisions and looked at pair-spectator tagging of short-range correlations with the Jefferson Lab electron ion collider design. The project progressed very much as planned.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Multimode Metastructures: Novel Hybrid 3D Lattice Topologies

With the rapid proliferation of additive manufacturing and 3D printing technologies, architected cellular solids including truss-like 3D lattice topologies offer the opportunity to program the effective material response through topological design at the mesoscale. The present report summarizes several of the key findings from a 3-year Laboratory Directed Research and Development Program. The program set out to explore novel lattice topologies that can be designed to control, redirect, or dissipate energy from one or multiple insult environments relevant to Sandia missions, including crush, shock/impact, vibration, thermal, etc. In the first 4 sections, we document four novel lattice topologies stemming from this study: coulombic lattices, multi-morphology lattices, interpenetrating lattices, and pore-modified gyroid cellular solids, each with unique properties that had not been achieved by existing cellular/lattice metamaterials. The fifth section explores how unintentional lattice imperfections stemming from the manufacturing process, primarily sur face roughness in the case of laser powder bed fusion, serve to cause stochastic response but that in some cases such as elastic response the stochastic behavior is homogenized through the adoption of lattices. In the sixth section we explore a novel neural network screening process that allows such stocastic variability to be predicted. In the last three sections, we explore considerations of computational design of lattices. Specifically, in section 7 using a novel generative optimization scheme to design novel pareto-optimal lattices for multi-objective environments. In section 8, we use computational design to optimize a metallic lattice structure to absorb impact energy for a 1000 ft/s impact. And in section 9, we develop a modified micromorphic continuum model to solve wave propagation problems in lattices efficiently.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2025

Understanding and Developing Dual-Wavelength Olefin Metathesis Polymerizations for the Rapid, Continuous Additive Manufacturing of High-Performance Thermosets

This report details the goals, approach, results, and future needs of a three-year Laboratory Directed Research and Development project funded by Sandia’s Materials Science Research Foundation. In this project, we established basic principles and mechanistic understanding of orthogonal or sequential chemistries for fabricating multi-material or robust materials. We developed numerous additive manufacturing, or 3D-printing, techniques including volumetric solid-state printing, dual-wavelength printing, and lithographic regulation of polymer crystallinity. We leveraged these new printing motifs to expand upon what is possible with manufacturing to give bespoke optical and mechanical performance. Moreover, we discovered new techniques for depolymerization enabling recovery of pristine carbon-fiber and high value electronics under moderate conditions.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2025

Materials Signatures of Metallic Phases (Final Report)

This report summarizes key accomplishments from a 2 year Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) project focused on advancing nanoscale characterization of metallic particulates and synthesis of laboratory-scale analogs. We successfully developed and refined nanoscale crystallography techniques with significantly improved spatial resolution and throughput compared to traditional transmission electron microscopy. We also established nanotomography capabilities for 3D particle reconstruction and began optimizing throughput for broader application. Additionally, we demonstrated the ability to relocate and characterize individual particles using atomic force microscopy (AFM), providing insights into hardness, conductivity, and magnetic behavior. On the synthesis front, we leveraged controlled and combustion-based methods to investigate annealing effects and rapid oxidation behavior of U–Fe–Ni compounds. These efforts collectively enhance our ability to characterize and interpret particulate formation and transformation under relevant conditions.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗