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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 451 records · Page 25
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2025

Rapid Screening of Liquid Metal Wetting for a Materials Compatibility Library

Wetting behavior of molten metals on solid substrates is a critical phenomenon influencing numerous industrial applications, including welding, anti-corrosion coatings, and metal additive manufacturing (AM). In particular, molten metal jetting (MMJ), an emerging AM technology, requires that the molten metal remain pinned at the nozzle exit. Thus, each new metal requires a specific nozzle material to ensure consistent droplet ejection and deposition, making it important to rapidly identify the appropriate wetting combinations. However, traditional measurements of wetting angles require expensive equipment and only allow one combination of materials to be investigated at a time which can be time consuming. This work introduces a rapid screening method based on sessile droplet experiments to evaluate wetting profiles across multiple metal–substrate combinations simultaneously. This study investigates the wetting interactions of molten Al alloy (Al4008), Cu, and Sn on various ceramic and metal substrates to identify optimal material combinations for MMJ nozzle designs. Results demonstrate that Al4008 achieves wetting on ceramic substrates such as AlN, TiO 2 , and SiC, with varying mechanisms including chemical reactions and weak surface interactions. Additionally, theoretical predictions regarding miscibility gaps and melting point differences were verified for Cu and Sn on refractory metals like Mo and W. Findings from this study contribute to the establishment of a materials compatibility library, enabling the selection of wetting/non-wetting combinations for stable MMJ operation. This resource not only advances MMJ technologies but also provides valuable insights for broader applications such as welding, coating, and printed electronics.

Materials science↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Feasibility Study of a Robotic Science Arm on Future Martian Rotorcraft

Science arms are indispensable tools for planetary exploration, allowing vehicles to interact with and manipulate their surroundings in a manner similar to a human field geologist. A majority of the rovers and landers sent to Mars, beginning with Viking I and II in 1976, have made extensive use of these articulated, arm-like devices that allow for sample collection, surface preparation, instrument positioning, and the deployment of ground-contact sensors. Although proven useful, traditional rovers and landers are limited by the rough and difficult terrain of Mars. However, given the successful demonstration of flight on Mars by the Ingenuity helicopter, efforts are underway to outfit larger rotorcraft with science payloads to allow them to explore Mars’ surface and lower atmosphere with significantly more efficiency than land vehicles. Such vehicles could also be designed to work in tandem with landers or rovers. The Mars Science Helicopter (MSH) is a conceptual hexacopter design that is currently under early development by both NASA Ames and JPL. Equipping a vehicle like MSH with a science arm has the potential to further expand its scientific capabilities. This paper approaches the mission and design requirements to equip a science arm on MSH while highlighting the unique technical challenges for robotic arm and science instrument capability. Current plans for MSH development do not include the addition of a robotic arm to the vehicle. However, it is anticipated that future variants of the MSH design might well incorporate such adaptable surface interactive capabilities.

Robotic Science Arm↗
NASA NTRS1993

An initial comparison of CFD with experiment for a geometrically simplified STOVL model

The transition flight performance of a representative Short Take-Off or Vertical Landing (STOVL) model is investigated using side-by-side experimental and numerical simulations. The model consists of a 60 deg cropped delta wing planform; a simple fuselage shape blended to the wing; and tandem, circular, high-pressure-air lift jets that exit perpendicular to the flat lower surface. The configuration was chosen to minimize the geometric modeling complexity while retaining the important flow physics of the lift-jet/aerodynamic surface interaction. Three-dimensional, turbulent Navier-Stokes computations are made using a multiple, overset grid scheme. Results are presented and compared with the measured forces and pressures for the model at a freestream Mach number of 0.14 and a 10 deg angle-of-attack without lift jets operating. Computed surface flow patterns and particle traces show that the simulation predicts primary and secondary wing leading edge vortices for these conditions.

Roth, Karlin R.↗
NASA NTRS1988

An experimental and computational study of rotor-vortex interactions

An experimental and computational study has been performed on a close rotor-blade/vortex interaction. Surface pressure data was obtained from a rotor operating close to the tip-vortex from an upstream wing in a wind tunnel. Data was obtained for a wide range of blade-vortex proximities, orientations, and blade-tip Mach numbers (up to the transonic regime). A numerical model of these interactions was constructed using the unsteady, three-dimensional, full-potential rotor code called FPR. The model employed an undistorted full-field representation of the measured vortex. This simple model gave excellent comparisons with the data for a wide range of conditions, including parallel head-on interactions. Computational studies have also been performed on the manner of vortex representation and the influence of vortex-core size.

Caradonna, Francis X.↗
NASA NTRS1997

Coherent Effects in Microwave Backscattering Models for Forrest Canopies

In modeling forest canopies, several scattering mechanisms are taken into account: (1) volume scattering; (2) surface-volume interaction; and (3) surface scattering from forest floor. Depending on the structural and dielectric characteristics of forest canopies, the relative contribution of each mechanism in the total backscatter signal of an imaging radar can vary. In this paper, two commonly used first-order discrete scattering models, distorted born approximation (DBA) and radiative transfer (RT) are used to simulate the backscattered power received by polarimetric radars at P-, L-, and C-bands over coniferous and deciduous forests. The difference between the two models resides on the coherent effect in the surface-volume interaction terms. To demonstrate this point, the models are first compared based on their underlying theoretical assumptions and then according to simulation results over coniferous and deciduous forests. It is shown that by using the same scattering functions for various components of trees (i.e., leaf, branch, stem), the radiative transfer and distorted Born models are equivalent, except in low frequencies, where surface-volume interaction terms may become important, and the coherent contribution may be significant. In this case, the difference between the two models can reach up to 3 dB in both co-polarized and cross-polarized channels, which can influence the performance of retrieval algorithms.

Saatchi, Sasan S.↗
DOE OSTI2025

Elucidating molecular scale interactions underlying the freezing behavior of salt solutions in silica nanopores

Elucidating the influence of nanoscale confinement on the freezing behavior of salt solutions is of fundamental interest to environmental security and materials science and engineering. Specific structural information such as the coordination environment of ions in confined aqueous medium, effects on the extended hexagonal network of water molecules and their mutual non-bonding interactions in confinement are sparse in the literature along with the change in the dynamical characteristics of water in the presence of ions. To address these knowledge gaps, the current study is focused on investigating the influence of reduced dimensionality arising from nanoscale confinement on the structural evolution of salt solutions on freezing and the associated fluid–surface interactions. In this regard, operando wide-angle X-ray scattering (WAXS) measurements and classical molecular dynamics (MD) simulations are conducted with water and 0.5 M CaCl 2 , MgCl 2 and KCl solutions confined in 4 nm sized SBA-15 silica pores upon cooling from 300 K to 200 K. The freezing point of the salt solutions is depressed to 235 K which is about 10 K lower than that of confined water. The translational dynamics of confined salt solutions indicates shifts in the fragile-to-strong dynamical crossover to a lower temperature compared to pure water. The strong electrostatic attraction between the cations and the surrounding water molecules contributes to the freezing point depression in confined salt solutions. These insights unlock the molecular-scale basis and mechanisms underlying the freezing behavior of confined salt solutions.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
NASA NTRS1973

Normal and Tangential Momentum Accommodation for Earth Satellite Conditions

Momentum accommodation was determined experimentally for gas-surface interactions simulating in a practical way those of near-earth satellites. Throughout the ranges of gas energies and incidence angles of interest for earth-conditions, two components of force were measured by means of a vacuum microbalance to determine the normal and tangential momentum-accommodation coefficients for nitrogen ions on technical-quality aluminum surfaces. For these experimental conditions, the electrodynamics of ion neutralization near the surface indicate that results for nitrogen ions should differ relatively little from those for nitrogen molecules, which comprise the largest component of momentum flux for near-earth satellites. The experimental results indicated that both normal and tangential momentum-accommodation coefficients varied widely with energy, tending to be relatively well accommodated at the higher energies, but becoming progressively less accommodated as the energy was reduced to and below that for earth-satellite speeds. Both coefficients also varied greatly with incidence angle, the normal momentum becoming less accommodated as the incidence angle became more glancing, whereas the tangential momentum generally became more fully accommodated. For each momentum coefficient, an empirical correlation function was obtained which closely approximated the experimental results over the ranges of energy and incidence angle. Most of the observed variations of momentum accommodation with energy and incidence angle were qualitatively indicated by a calculation using a three-dimensional model that simulated the target surface by a one-dimensional attractive potential and hard sphere reflectors.

Knechtel, Earl D.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Arc-cathode interaction study

Insufficient electrode life and uncertainties in that life are major problems hampering the development in many plasma application areas which make use of plasma torches, arc heaters, and arc jet thrusters. In spite of a considerable amount of work published dealing with arc-cathode phenomena, our present understanding is still incomplete because different physical phenomena dominate for different combinations of experimental parameters. The objective of our present research project is to gain a better understanding of the behavior of arc-cathode surface interaction over a wide range of parameters, and furthermore to develop guidelines for better thermal design of the electrode and the selection of materials. This report will present the research results and progress obtained on the arc-cathode interaction studies at the University of Minnesota. It includes results which have been obtained under programs other than the NASA funded program. Some of the results have been submitted in an informal interim progress report, and all of the results have been presented in a seminar during a visit to the NASA Lewis Research Center on October 16, 1992.

Zhou, X.↗
DOE OSTI2025

Plasmon Dynamics Driven by Aggregation of Tris(2,2′-bipyridine)ruthenium(II)-Functionalized Gold Nanoparticles Probed by XANES and Transient Absorption Spectroscopy

Energy conversion dynamics is critical for advancing next-generation photovoltaics, optoelectronics, and light-harvesting technologies. Noble metal plasmonic nanoparticles play a pivotal role as nanoscale electromagnetic confinement structures, driving photon-induced chemical reactions. In this study, we explore the effects of [Ru(bpy) 3 ] 2+ functionalization and aggregation on citrate-capped gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) of 40 and 100 nm diameters, focusing on molecule-plasmon interactions and their influence on electronic and energy dissipation properties. X-ray absorption near-edge spectroscopy (XANES) revealed that [Ru(bpy) 3 ] 2+ functionalization induces controlled aggregation without altering the oxidation state of gold. A more pronounced white-line intensity is observed in 40 nm AuNPs, consistent with greater s–p–d hybridization and a higher density of surface states, likely influenced by both nanoparticle size and aggregation. Transient absorption (TA) spectroscopy highlights faster electron–phonon relaxation dynamics in aggregated 40 nm nanoparticles, which is attributed to increased electron delocalization and more efficient coupling to the phonon bath. In contrast, 100 nm nanoparticles exhibit minimal changes due to a lower degree of aggregation. Interestingly, we observe that enhanced electron–phonon coupling in aggregated nanoparticles coincides with a slowing of electron–electron scattering. These observations suggest a competitive interplay between the two relaxation pathways, where enhanced energy transfer to the lattice in aggregated systems can suppress electronic thermalization. In conclusion, these findings underscore the critical role of nanoparticle size, aggregation, and molecule–surface interactions in modulating plasmonic dynamics and excited-state lifetimes and further provide valuable insights into designing tailored plasmonic systems with transformative potential for sensing, catalysis, and energy conversion.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2025

Structure and Sulfur: Tuning the Viscoelastic and Surface Properties of Natural Keratin Fibers

Natural keratin fibers, such as wool, possess a complex hierarchical structure that governs their mechanical properties and surface energy. However, the extent to which these characteristics are influenced by combined contributions of structural variations (e.g., fiber diameter, intermediate filament (IF) packing) and chemical composition (e.g., disulfide bond density) remains poorly understood. In this study, we investigate wool fibers from five sheep breeds (Merino, Polwarth, Cheviot, Eider, and Devon) to elucidate how these factors influence viscoelasticity and surface interactions. Using a multimodal approach integrating interfacial and bulk characterization methods, including inverse gas chromatography (IGC), atomic force microscopy-infrared spectroscopy (AFM-IR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), uniaxial tensile testing, and synchrotron small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), we show that the nanometer-thick 18-methyleicosanoic acid (18-MEA) layer is consistently present across all wool types and plays a key role in governing hydrophobicity and surface heterogeneity. A controlled isothermal treatment at 200 °C, designed to cleave disulfide bonds, results in a nearly 40% reduction in specific surface area across all fiber types, accompanied by a significant decrease in tensile strength and 80% reduction in elongation at break for Merino and Devon wool, but limited influence on the mechanical properties of Eider fibers. Furthermore, rate-dependent tensile testing within the elastic regime reveals distinct viscoelastic responses among the fiber types, suggesting that the sulfur-rich protein matrix surrounding IFs and its structure contribute actively to stress partitioning. Altogether, when combined with conclusions from SAXS measurements of IF spacing, our work offers compelling insights into the role of the keratin-associated protein (KAP) matrix in shaping wool fiber mechanics. Differences in mechanical behavior among wool types, despite similar IF spacing or sulfur content, highlight the importance of matrix composition and cross-linking density, suggesting that the molecular architecture of the KAP network may be a dominant factor in determining fiber performance.

X-ray scattering↗
NASA NTRS1995

Working toward a three-dimensional fatigue closure model for surface cracks

The first reliable elastic fracture mechanics solutions for a surface crack in a plate were obtained by Newman and Raju. The authors, both from the Mechanics of Materials Branch at NASA-Langley, used a highly detailed finite element solution requiring substantial computational resources. Computers have since become more powerful and available; however, many important related problems remain computationally expensive. The problem of three-dimensional fatigue crack growth taking into account plasticity-induced crack closure is one such problem. It is the goal of this research to provide an efficient method to account for three-dimensional crack closure in fatigue. Newman developed a two-dimensional plasticity-induced crack closure model for center cracked specimens. This model requires iterations to determine both the contact solution at each growth step and the extent of the plastic zone at the crack tip. A three-dimensional version of this model would require obtaining these nonlinear variables all along the crack front. This model must be efficient so that repeated calculations can be performed during crack growth simulations. The highly versatile line spring model (LSM) with contact, fatigue, and plasticity will form the basis of the closure model. There are several required additions to past work to address the three-dimensional crack closure problem. Initially, these additions will include (1) an improved LSM to more accurately obtain the crack opening displacement, stress intensity factors, and elastic T-stress near the ends of the surface crack; (2) a method to determine the extent of the plastic zone all along the crack front; (3) a method to determine the contact zone given a perfectly plastic layer of material on the crack surfaces; (4) a method to determine the magnitude of the compressive contact stress; and (5) a way to implement the degree of constraint along the curved crack front. During the summer ASEE program an enhanced LSM was developed. A method similar to that of 'strip synthesis' first introduced by Fujimoto was used. Briefly, the crack opening displacements of 'slices' of the surface crack in a direction parallel to the plate surface are considered in addition to the standard LSM approach that makes use of springs obtained from slices perpendicular to the plate surface. This enhancement is necessary so that an accurate three-dimensional representation of quantities such as contact zone size, plastic zone size, stress intensity factors, T-stress, and crack opening displacement can be determined. By combining results of previous investigations with the LSM, the problem of three-dimensional crack closure will be addressed. In addition to a closure model, the enhanced LSM can be used for many other problems including interacting surface cracks and fatigue crack growth of a through crack with a curved crack front.

Joseph, Paul F.↗
DOE OSTI2024

Simulation of plasma and neutral transport in PISCES-RF using SOLPS-ITER

In this research, the fluid plasma transport code SOLPS-ITER is applied and validated against experimental data from the plasma interaction surface component experimental station (PISCES)-RF linear plasma device to establish a physics basis for plasma and neutral transport in its two magnetic field (B-field) geometry setups-(1)the cusp and (2) non-cusp or linear B-field. The main focus of this study is to understand (1) radial plasma transport (2) heat and particle loads on the upstream dump and downstream target plate, and (3) the physics of plasma-neutral interactions in PISCES-RF. The simulation setup adheres to typical PISCES-RF experimental conditions, with a 2D helicon power deposition profile as an input heating source. SOLPS-ITER simulations reproduce experimental conditions with the Bohm diffusion model for both B-field configurations of the PISCES-RF experiment. Major energy loss channels include neutral radiation and power deposited on the wall and dump plate, with only 1% of the input power reaching the target. The ionization front is well confined near the dump plate due to the heating and puffing regions. Additionally, SOLPS-ITER simulation results are also found to be in very good agreement with the particle-in-cell calculations using the code-PICOS++ which supports the validity of SOLPS in low collisionality regime.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
NASA NTRS2013

Use of In Situ and Airborne Multiangle Data to Assess MODIS and Landsat-Based Estimates of Directional Reflectance and Albedo

The quantification of uncertainty in satellite-derived global surface albedo products is a critical aspect in producing complete, physically consistent, and decadal land property data records for studying ecosystem change. A challenge in validating albedo measurements acquired from space is the ability to overcome the spatial scaling errors that can produce disagreements between satellite and field-measured values. Here, we present the results from an accuracy assessment of MODIS and Landsat-TM albedo retrievals, based on collocated comparisons with tower and airborne Cloud Absorption Radiometer (CAR) measurements collected during the 2007 Cloud and Land Surface Interaction Campaign (CLASIC). The initial focus was on evaluating intersensor consistency through comparisons of intrinsic bidirectional reflectance estimates. Local and regional assessments were then performed to obtain estimates of the resulting scaling uncertainties, and to establish the accuracy of albedo reconstructions during extended periods of precipitation. In general, the satellite derived estimates met the accuracy requirements established for the high-quality MODIS operational albedos at 500 m (the greater of 0.02 units or +/-10% of surface measured values). However, results reveal a high degree of variability in the root-mean-square error (RMSE) and bias of MODIS visible (0.3-0.7 μm) and Landsat-TM shortwave (0.3-5.0 μm) albedos; where, in some cases, retrieval uncertainties were found to be in excess of 15%. Results suggest that an overall improvement in MODIS shortwave albedo retrieval accuracy of 7.8%, based on comparisons between MODIS and CAR albedos, resulted from the removal of sub-grid scale mismatch errors when directly scaling-up the tower measurements to the MODIS satellite footprint.

biosphere↗
NASA NTRS1992

Mass spectrometer-pyrolysis experiment for atmospheric and soil sample analysis on the surface of Mars

Results from the Viking mission will form the foundation for future in-depth investigations of atmosphere-surface interactions on Mars. The two Viking landers carried impressive instrumentation to obtain and analyze soil samples: the sites were observed by cameras, and the collector head was located on a long boom and allowed the collection of large samples at various depths. A selection of grain sizes was possible and a distribution system supplied a number of experiments with soil material. Despite stationary vehicles, a wide sampling field was reachable. The GCMS system, responsible for atmospheric as well as surface soil analysis, worked well on both landers. Atmospheric measurements resulted in the determination of the abundance of noble gases as well as of other molecular species. Isotopic composition measurements included the important ratios of C-13/C-12, N-15/N-14, and Ar-36/Ar-40. To verify these past results and to advance detailed studies of noble gas isotope ratios and minor constituents, better instrument sensitivities, higher precision, and lower background contributions are required in future Mars missions. Soil analysis during the Viking mission concentrated on organic material. Heating cycles were performed to 500 C and only water and carbon dioxide were identified. Higher pyrolysis temperatures are of primary importance to advance our understanding of the mineralogy and gas loading of surface material and atmospheric exchange.

Mauersberger, Konrad↗
NASA NTRS1997

Laboratory Plasma Source as an MHD Model for Astrophysical Jets

The significance of the work described herein lies in the demonstration of Magnetized Coaxial Plasma Gun (MCG) devices like CPS-1 to produce energetic laboratory magneto-flows with embedded magnetic fields that can be used as a simulation tool to study flow interaction dynamic of jet flows, to demonstrate the magnetic acceleration and collimation of flows with primarily toroidal fields, and study cross field transport in turbulent accreting flows. Since plasma produced in MCG devices have magnetic topology and MHD flow regime similarity to stellar and extragalactic jets, we expect that careful investigation of these flows in the laboratory will reveal fundamental physical mechanisms influencing astrophysical flows. Discussion in the next section (sec.2) focuses on recent results describing collimation, leading flow surface interaction layers, and turbulent accretion. The primary objectives for a new three year effort would involve the development and deployment of novel electrostatic, magnetic, and visible plasma diagnostic techniques to measure plasma and flow parameters of the CPS-1 device in the flow chamber downstream of the plasma source to study, (1) mass ejection, morphology, and collimation and stability of energetic outflows, (2) the effects of external magnetization on collimation and stability, (3) the interaction of such flows with background neutral gas, the generation of visible emission in such interaction, and effect of neutral clouds on jet flow dynamics, and (4) the cross magnetic field transport of turbulent accreting flows. The applicability of existing laboratory plasma facilities to the study of stellar and extragalactic plasma should be exploited to elucidate underlying physical mechanisms that cannot be ascertained though astrophysical observation, and provide baseline to a wide variety of proposed models, MHD and otherwise. The work proposed herin represents a continued effort on a novel approach in relating laboratory experiments to astrophysical jet observation. There exists overwhelming similarity among these flows that has already produced some fascinating results and is expected to continue a high pay off in future flow similarity studies.

Mayo, Robert M.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Aerothermodynamics of Pyrolizing Surfaces in Hypersonic Rarefied Flows

Direct simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) calculations of rarefied flows about entry bodies typically employ a fixed surface temperature or a radiative-equilibrium energy balance to compute that temperature. Such boundary conditions neglect any effects of heat capacitance and heat conduction in the spacecraft heat shield and, therefore, provide an upper bound for the surface temperature. Such calculations also neglect pyrolysis from the heat shield which can be significant for a high-energy incident flow at very low densities. Accurate prediction of both heating and aerodynamic forces requires including pyrolysis and surface heat transfer in the models for gas-surface interaction employed in DSMC methods. Although these physical models have long appeared in various continuum flow calculation codes, they have only recently appeared in DSMC codes which are required to simulate rarefied flows during entry at high altitudes. In the current implementation, routines from the widely distributed Charring Material Thermal Response and Ablation (CMA) program are coupled into a DSMC code to calculate the one-dimensional heat transfer into the carbon phenolic heat shield at each point on a vehicle surface. Temperature-dependent material properties, surface re-radiation, and in-depth pyrolysis were included in the calculation, but surface ablation was neglected. Sample calculations for entry of the Galileo probe into the atmosphere of Jupiter demonstrate that including pyrolysis in the model leads to significant differences in predicted aerodynamics. Granted, the drag coefficient does not depend strongly on the surface temperature which can itself be significantly below the radiative equilibrium value during entry. However, the surface mass flux due to pyrolysis of the material is significant once the probe drops to altitudes characterized by transition flow. This leads to a noticeable increase in drag and a decrease in heating compared to a body without pyrolysis.

Haas, Brian L.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Blown flap noise prediction

Theoretical and experimental developments of flow-surface interaction noise with a particular emphasis on blown-flap noise were reviewed. Several blown-flap noise prediction methods were evaluated by comparing predicted acoustic levels, directivity, and spectra with a recently obtained data base. A prediction method was selected and a detailed step-by-step description of this method was provided to develop a computer module to calculate one-third octave band frequency spectra at any given location in the far-field for under-the-wing and upper surface blown configurations as a function of geometric and operational parameters.

Reddy, N. N.↗