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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 397 records · Page 22
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2020

Chemical and Structural Changes in Corn Stover After Ensiling: Influence on Bioconversion

Production of biofuels, bioproducts, and bioenergy requires a well-characterized, stable, and reasonably uniform biomass supply and well-established supply chains for shipping biomass from farm fields to biorefineries, while achieving year-round production targets. Preserving and stabilizing biomass feedstock during storage is a necessity for cost-effective and sustainable biofuel production. Ensiling is a common storage method used to preserve and even improve forage quality; however, the impact of ensiling on biomass physical and chemical properties that influence bioconversion processes has been variable. Our objective in this work was to determine the effects of ensiling on lignocellulosic feedstock physicochemical properties and how that influences bioconversion requirements. We observed statistically significant decreases (p < 0.05) in the content of two major structural carbohydrates (glucan and xylan) of 5 and 8%, respectively, between the ensiled and non-ensiled materials. We were unable to detect differences in sugar yields from structural carbohydrates after pretreatment and enzymatic hydrolysis of the ensiled materials compared to non-ensiled controls. Based on this work, we conclude that ensiling the corn stover did not change the bioconversion requirements compared to the control samples and incurred losses of structural carbohydrates. At the light microscopy level, ensiled corn stover exhibited little structural change or relocation of cell wall components as detected by immunocytochemistry. However, more subtle structural changes were revealed by electron microscopy, as ensiled cell walls exhibit ultrastructural characteristics such as wall delimitation intermediate between non-ensiled and dilute-acid-pretreated cell walls. These findings suggest that alternative methods of conversion, such as deacetylation and mechanical refining, could take advantage of lamellar defects and may be more effective than dilute acid or hot water pretreatment for biomass conversion of ensiled materials.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
DOE OSTI2022

Nonsynonymous amino acid changes in the α-chain of complement component 5 influence longitudinal susceptibility to Plasmodium falciparum infections and severe malarial anemia in kenyan children

Background: Severe malarial anemia (SMA; Hb < 5.0 g/dl) is a leading cause of childhood morbidity and mortality in holoendemic Plasmodium falciparum transmission regions such as western Kenya. Methods: We investigated the relationship between two novel complement component 5 (C5) missense mutations [rs17216529:C>T, p(Val145Ile) and rs17610:C>T, p(Ser1310Asn)] and longitudinal outcomes of malaria in a cohort of Kenyan children (under 60 mos, n = 1,546). Molecular modeling was used to investigate the impact of the amino acid transitions on the C5 protein structure. Results: Prediction of the wild-type and mutant C5 protein structures did not reveal major changes to the overall structure. However, based on the position of the variants, subtle differences could impact on the stability of C5b. The influence of the C5 genotypes/haplotypes on the number of malaria and SMA episodes over 36 months was determined by Poisson regression modeling. Genotypic analyses revealed that inheritance of the homozygous mutant (TT) for rs17216529:C>T enhanced the risk for both malaria (incidence rate ratio, IRR = 1.144, 95%CI: 1.059–1.236, p = 0.001) and SMA (IRR = 1.627, 95%CI: 1.201–2.204, p = 0.002). In the haplotypic model, carriers of TC had increased risk of malaria (IRR = 1.068, 95%CI: 1.017–1.122, p = 0.009), while carriers of both wild-type alleles (CC) were protected against SMA (IRR = 0.679, 95%CI: 0.542–0.850, p = 0.001). Conclusion: Collectively, these findings show that the selected C5 missense mutations influence the longitudinal risk of malaria and SMA in immune-naïve children exposed to holoendemic P. falciparum transmission through a mechanism that remains to be defined.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2023

Investigation of hydrometeorological influences on reservoir releases using explainable machine learning methods

Long short-term memory (LSTM) networks have demonstrated successful applications in accurately and efficiently predicting reservoir releases from hydrometeorological drivers including reservoir storage, inflow, precipitation, and temperature. However, due to its black-box nature and lack of process-based implementation, we are unsure whether LSTM makes good predictions for the right reasons. In this work, we use an explainable machine learning (ML) method, called SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP), to evaluate the variable importance and variable-wise temporal importance in the LSTM model prediction. In application to 30 reservoirs over the Upper Colorado River Basin, United States, we show that LSTM can accurately predict the reservoir releases with NSE ≥ 0.69 for all the considered reservoirs despite of their diverse storage sizes, functionality, elevations, etc. Additionally, SHAP indicates that storage and inflow are more influential than precipitation and temperature. Moreover, the storage and inflow show a relatively long-term influence on the release up to 7 days and this influence decreases as the lag time increases for most reservoirs. These findings from SHAP are consistent with our physical understanding. However, in a few reservoirs, SHAP gives some temporal importances that are difficult to interpret from a hydrological point of view, probably because of its ignorance of the variable interactions. SHAP is a useful tool for black-box ML model explanations, but the hydrological processes inferred from its results should be interpreted cautiously. More investigations of SHAP and its applications in hydrological modeling is needed and will be pursued in our future study.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2024

Influence of Spatter on Porosity, Microstructure, and Corrosion of Additively Manufactured Stainless Steel Printed Using Different Island Size

Specimens of 316 L stainless steel were printed using laser powder bed fusion (LPBF), a popular metal additive manufacturing (AM) technique, with varying island sizes. Not many researchers have considered the impact of spatter while optimizing LPBF printing parameters. In this research, the influence of spatter was considered while also investigating the effect of varied island size on the microstructure, surface roughness, microhardness, and corrosion resistance of LPBF-316 L. No correlation was observed between surface roughness or microhardness and minor variations in island size. However, a correlation was drawn between varied island sizes and porosity in LPBF-316 L. The specimens associated with larger island sizes showed significantly enhanced corrosion resistance due to fewer manufacturing defects and reduced porosity, attributed to the minimal influence of the spatter. Based on analysis, the LPBF parameters were revised, which lead to superior corrosion resistance of LPBF-316 L, attributed to high density and reduced porosity.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2025

Influence of Process Parameter and Build Rate Variations on Defect Formation in Laser Powder Bed Fusion SS316L

Laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) is an additive manufacturing process that has gained interest for its material fabrication due to multiple advantages, such as the ability to print parts with small feature sizes, good mechanical properties, reduced material waste, etc. However, variations in the key process parameters in LPBF may result in the instantiation of porosity defects and variation in build rate. Particularly, volumetric energy density (VED) is a variable that encapsulates a number of those parameters and represents the amount of energy input from the laser source to the feedstock. VED has been traditionally used to inform the quality of the printed part but different values of VED are presented as optimal values for certain material systems. An optimal VED value can be maintained by changing the key process parameters so that various combinations yield a constant value. In this study, an optimal constant VED value is maintained while printing SS316L with variable key processing parameters. Porosity analysis is performed using optical microscopy, as well as X-ray computed tomography, to reveal the volume density and distribution of those pores. Two primary defect categories are identified, namely lack of fusion and porosity induced by balling defects. The findings indicate that, even at optimal VED, variations in process parameters can significantly influence defect type, underscoring the sensitivity of defect formation to the variation of these parameters. Furthermore, a minor change in the build rate, driven by adjustments in process parameters, was found to influence defect categories. These findings emphasize that fine tuning the process parameters and build rate is essential to minimize defects. Finally, fiducial marks have been identified as a source of unintentional porosity defects. These results enable the refinement of process parameters, ultimately optimizing LPBF to achieve enhanced material density and expedite the printing.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2023

Microbial Influence on the Mobility of +3 Actinides from a Salt-Based Nuclear Waste Repository

Biologically enhanced transport of radionuclides is one of several processes that can affect the performance of a nuclear waste repository. In this work, several microbial isolates from the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) were tested for their influence on the concentration of neodymium, as an analog for +3 actinides, in simple sodium chloride solutions and in anoxic WIPP brines. Batch sorption experiments were carried out over a period of 4–5 weeks. In many cases, the effect on neodymium in solution was immediate and extensive and assumed to be due to surface complexation. However, over time, the continued loss of Nd from the solution was more likely due to biologically induced precipitation and/or mineralization and possible entrapment in extracellular polymeric substances. The results showed no correlation between organism type and the extent of its influence on neodymium in solution. However, a correlation was observed between different test matrices (simple NaCl versus high-magnesium brine versus high-NaCl brine). Further experiments were conducted to test these matrix effects, and the results showed a significant effect of magnesium concentration on the ability of microorganisms to remove Nd from solution. Possible mechanisms include cation competition and the alteration of cell surface structures. This suggests that the aqueous chemistry of the WIPP environs could play a larger role in the final disposition of +3 actinides than the microbiology.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗
DOE OSTI2023

Solvent Influence on the Magnetization and Phase of Fe-Ni Alloy Nanoparticles Generated by Laser Ablation in Liquids

The synthesis of bimetallic iron-nickel nanoparticles with control over the synthesized phases, particle size, surface chemistry, and oxidation level remains a challenge that limits the application of these nanoparticles. Pulsed laser ablation in liquid allows the properties tuning of the generated nanoparticles by changing the ablation solvent. Organic solvents such as acetone can minimize nanoparticle oxidation. Yet, economical laboratory and technical grade solvents that allow cost-effective production of FeNi nanoparticles contain water impurities, which are a potential source of oxidation. Here, we investigated the influence of water impurities in acetone on the properties of FeNi nanoparticles generated by pulsed laser ablation in liquids. To remove water impurities and produce “dried acetone”, cost-effective and reusable molecular sieves (3 Å) are employed. The results show that the Fe50Ni50 nanoparticles’ properties are influenced by the water content of the solvent. The metastable HCP FeNi phase is found in NPs prepared in acetone, while only the FCC phase is observed in NPs formed in water. Mössbauer spectroscopy revealed that the FeNi nanoparticles oxidation in dried acetone is reduced by 8% compared to acetone. The high-field magnetization of Fe50Ni50 nanoparticles in water is the highest, 68 Am2/kg, followed by the nanoparticles obtained after ablation in acetone without water impurities, 59 Am2/kg, and acetone, 52 Am2/kg. The core-shell structures formed in these three liquids are also distinctive, demonstrating that a core-shell structure with an outer oxide layer is formed in water, while carbon external layers are obtained in acetone without water impurity. The results confirm that the size, structure, phase, and oxidation of FeNi nanoparticles produced by pulsed laser ablation in liquids can be modified by changing the solvent or just reducing the water impurities in the organic solvent.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2022

Preservation of Mammalian Teeth and Bones Influences Identification of Terminal Pleistocene to Middle Holocene Hunter-Gatherer Subsistence at Ban Rai Rockshelter, Northwest Thailand

Ban Rai Rockshelter in northwest Thailand, dating to the Terminal Pleistocene and Middle Holocene, includes evidence for hunter-gatherer exploitation of mammals, birds, reptiles, fish, and arthropods. Abundant faunal remains, identified throughout site deposits, include macaques (Macaca sp.) and Sambar deer (Rusa unicolor), but these identifications are influenced by an assemblage largely comprised of preserved tooth elements and fragmented bone. Area 3 at Ban Rai has the largest abundance and diversity of faunal remains recovered and identified in this study. Here, we examine the zooarchaeological assemblage from Ban Rai Rockshelter, to understand long-term hunter-gatherer subsistence change, influenced by site preservation, during and after the Pleistocene–Holocene transition. Our results support the presence of the exploitation of arboreal taxa during the Early and Middle Holocene in northwest Thailand.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2024

Broadband and filter radiometers at Ross Island, Antarctica: detection of cloud ice phase versus liquid water influences on shortwave and longwave radiation

Abstract. Surface radiometer data from Ross Island, Antarctica, collected during the austral summer 2015–2016 by the US Department of Energy Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) program West Antarctic Radiation Experiment (AWARE), are used to evaluate how shortwave and longwave irradiance respond to changing cloud properties as governed by contrasting meteorological regimes. Shortwave atmospheric transmittance is derived from pyranometer measurements, and cloud conservative-scattering optical depth is derived from filter radiometer measurements at 870 nm. With onshore flow associated with marine air masses, clouds contain mostly liquid water. With southerly flow over the Transantarctic Mountains, orographic forcing induces substantial cloud ice water content. These ice and mixed-phase clouds attenuate more surface shortwave irradiance than the maritime-influenced clouds and also emit less longwave irradiance due to colder cloud base temperature. These detected irradiance changes are in a range that can mean onset or inhibition of surface melt over ice shelves. This study demonstrates how basic and relatively low-cost broadband and filter radiometers can be used to detect subtle climatological influences of contrasting cloud microphysical properties at very remote locations.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2025

Aerosol hygroscopicity over the South-East Atlantic Ocean during the biomass burning season – Part 2: Influence of sea salt and burning conditions on CCN hygroscopicity

Biomass burning (BB) significantly influences cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) concentrations over the southeastern Atlantic; however, aerosol hygroscopicity (κ) – a key factor for CCN activation – remains poorly constrained during the BB season. This study investigates κ variability using in situ measurements from Ascension Island during the 2016 and 2017 BB seasons. Results show substantial monthly variability, with κ values lowest in August and increasing through October. On average, κ was significantly higher in 2017 (∼ 0.55) than in 2016 (∼ 0.33), suggesting that the aerosols in 2017 were more hygroscopic and more easily activated as CCN. Sulfate and sea salt were the two dominant contributors to κ and the primary drivers of its interannual variability. During the 2017 BB season, sulfate – the major inorganic component – accounted for ∼ 34 % of the submicron aerosol mass, while sea salt, estimated via κ-closure analysis, contributed ∼ 17 %. The higher κ in 2017 was largely attributed to increased sea salt, likely driven by stronger marine winds. Approximately 67 % of sulfate was linked to BB emissions. Variations in BB combustion efficiency, modulated by regional meteorology, influenced sulfate fraction and thus κ values. Specifically, higher relative humidity and lower wind speeds over BB source regions in 2017 favored smoldering combustion, explaining the higher sulfate fraction. Overall, the observed interannual differences in aerosol hygroscopicity reflect the combined impacts of BB combustion characteristics and sea salt emissions, underscoring the critical roles of both BB and marine aerosol sources in regulating aerosol-cloud interactions over the southeastern Atlantic.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
NASA NTRS1972

Flight velocity influence on jet noise of conical ejector, annular plug and segmented suppressor nozzles

An F106 aircraft with a J85-13 engine was used for static and flight acoustic and aerodynamic tests of a conical ejector, an unsuppressed annular plug, and three segmented suppressor nozzles. Static 100 ft. arc data, corrected for influences other than jet noise, were extrapolated to a 300 ft. sideline for comparison to 300 ft. altitude flyover data at M = 0.4. Data at engine speeds of 80 to 100% (max dry) static and 88 to 100% flight are presented. Flight velocity influence on noise is shown on peak OASPL and PNL, PNL directivity, EPNL and chosen spectra. Peak OASPL and PNL plus EPNL suppression levels are included showing slightly lower flight than static peak PNL suppression but greater EPNL than peak PNL suppression. Aerodynamic performance was as anticipated and closely matched model work for the 32-spoke nozzle.

Brausch, J. F.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Testing for hydrogen embrittlement: Primary and secondary influences

An overview is presented of the hydrogen embrittlement process, both internal as well as external, to make more clear the type of parameters which must be considered in the selection of a test method and test procedure, so that the resulting data may be meaningfully applied to real engineering structures. Three primary influences on the embrittlement process are considered: (1) the original location and form of the hydrogen, (2) the transport reactions involved in the transport of hydrogen from its origin to some point where it can interact with the metal to cause embrittlement, and (3) the embrittlement interaction itself. A few secondary influences on the embrittlement process are also discussed.

Nelson, H. G.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Nutational stability of a dual-spin satellite under the influence of applied reaction torques.

The nutational stability of a dual-spin satellite under the influence of an applied reaction torque is analyzed. It is assumed that since the solar paddle attachments to the hub of the spacecraft are not rigidly locked, the effect of the solar panels can be replaced by a constant reaction torque acting on the hub of the spacecraft. This could result in the satellite having an equilibrium motion about an axis displaced from the nominal axis of symmetry. The variational equations of motion are developed about such an equilibrium position using the SAS-A spacecraft as a model. Energy dissipation on the rotor as well as the main body is included. This nonautonomous set of differential equations are linearized and transformed to an autonomous set using the Lyapunov Reducibility Theorem. The stability of the kinematically similar system is examined numerically using representative SAS-A parameters for the case when either pair of solar panels is assumed to be loosely attached. Stability is verified for small system nutation angles (0.1 degree) although the time constant associated with the least damped mode is approximately one order of magnitude larger than that for the SAS-A system without the influence of the reaction torques.

Bainum, P. M.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Viking configuration pitch damping derivatives as influenced by support interference and test technique at transonic and supersonic speeds.

Experimental studies to determine the 140-deg spherically-blunted cone configuration single degree-of-freedom damping derivative included model sting interference effects at M = 1.76 to 3.0. Minimal sting influences are noted with sting/model diameter ratios of 0.183 and effective sting lengths of 3.55 of the reference length. Increasing the ratio of sting diameter to reference length to 0.53 influences damping considerably at angles of attack from 0 to 3 deg at all Reynolds numbers but shows little or no effect at higher angles. Free-flight model wake geometries (wake neck position and size) correlate well with those from captive model tests with the small diameter sting; this adds confidence to obtaining damping derivatives through captive model testing. The damping characteristics of an early Viking configuration obtained on 11.23 and 4.35% scale models using forced and free oscillation test methods, respectively, in two different test facilities are compared. The agreement is quite good under test conditions.

Steinberg, S.↗
NASA NTRS1972

A parametric study of planform and aeroelastic effects on aerodynamic center, alpha- and q- stability derivatures. Appendix B: Method for computing the strucutral influence coefficient matrix of nonplanar wing body tail configurations

The method used in computing the structural influence coefficient matrix of the computer program of Reference 1 (appendix A of the Summary Report) is reported. This matrix is computed for complete wing-body-tail configurations by assuming that all major airplane components can be structurally represented by a slender beam called the elastic axis. A structural influence coefficient is defined as the rotation about the Y-stability axis at panel j induced by a unit load on panel k. A description of how a structural breakdown is performed in detail is included.

Roskam, J.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Influence of liquid lubricant properties on their performance.

The influence of lubricant properties on performance is considered in connection with various mechanisms of lubrication. The effects of temperature and pressure on viscosity, which is important in hydrodynamic and elastohydrodynamic lubrication, is presented using a correlation postulated by Roelands. Under elastohydrodynamic conditions it is important to distinguish between the influence of lubricant properties within the inlet region and the Hertz region since each performs different functions. The role of lubricant transport properties such as surface tension is considered in connection with lubricant starvation.

Wedeven, V.↗
NASA NTRS1971

The influence of temperature on fatigue-crack growth in a mill-annealed Ti-6Al-4V alloy

To understand the influence of temperature on the rate of fatigue crack growth in high strength metal alloys, constant load amplitude fatigue crack growth experiments were carried out using a 1/4 inch thick (6.35 mm) mill-annealed Ti-6Al-4V alloy plate as a model material. The rates of fatigue crack growth were determined as a function of temperature, ranging from room temperature to about 290 C and as a function of the crack tip, stress intensity factor K, in dehumidified high purity argon environment. The dependence of the rate of fatigue crack growth on K appears to be separable into two regions. The transition correlates with changes in both the microscopic and macroscopic appearances of the fracture surfaces, and suggests a change in the mechanism and the influence of microstructure on fatigue crack growth.

Wei, R. P.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Influence matrix program for aerodynamic lifting surface theory

A users manual is described for a USA FORTRAN 4 computer program which computes an aerodynamic influence matrix and is one of several computer programs used to analyze lifting, thin wings in steady, subsonic flow according to a kernel function method lifting surface theory. The most significant features of the program are that it can treat unsymmetrical wings, control points can be placed on the leading and/or trailing edges, and a stable, efficient algorithm is used to compute the influence matrix.

Medan, R. T.↗