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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 541 records · Page 30
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2019

Post-forming Room Temperature Brittle Fracture in a High-Strength Low-Alloy Steel Sheet After Various Forming Modes

The effects of various sheet forming modes on the post-forming room temperature fracture behavior of a 550-MPa yield strength high-strength low-alloy (HSLA) steel are investigated. In-plane biaxial stretching, plane strain (cold rolling), uniaxial tension, cylindrical cup drawing, and in-plane compression (IPC) are examined up to a von Mises effective prestrain ε{sub eff} = 0.7. Most of the results pertain to sub-size Charpy-type impact specimens prepared from the prestrained material. After sufficiently large prestrains, the fracture behavior is highly anisotropic. Low-energy fracture modes, namely cleavage and intergranular fracture, occur after all modes of prestraining along plane directions that are perpendicular to the principal compressive prestrain. These planes are parallel to the sheet surface after biaxial stretching and cold rolling and correspond to brittle splits extending into the primary, ductile fracture surface. After cup drawing, the brittle planes are oriented perpendicular to the circumferential compressive prestrain. This results in very low energy fractures propagating in the length direction of a fully drawn cup. After in-plane compression, brittle fracture occurs along planes that are perpendicular to the compression direction. The fracture toughness for a crack propagating along such a plane after IPC to ε{sub eff} = 0.38 was very low (12.7 MPa √m), much lower than in the undeformed condition (247 MPa√m). Changes in grain shape and in crystallographic texture caused by the various prestraining modes, as well as the microstructural damage at non-metallic inclusions and carbides, are examined to try to understand the fracture behavior.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2022

Compatibility of Medium Density Polyethylene (MDPE) for Distribution of Gaseous Hydrogen

Hydrogen has emerged as a convenient energy storage medium and is being considered as an alternative for reducing the use of carbon-based fuels. Numerous projects are looking into distributing blends of natural gas and different amounts of gaseous hydrogen through the existing natural gas distribution system, which is widely composed of medium density polyethylene (MDPE) line pipes. The mechanical behavior of MDPE with hydrogen is not well understood; therefore, the effect of gaseous hydrogen on the mechanical properties of MDPE needs to be examined. In the current study, we investigate the effects of gaseous hydrogen on fatigue crack growth rate, fracture resistance, and fatigue life of MDPE in the presence of 3.4 MPa gaseous hydrogen. Fatigue crack growth behavior and fracture resistance are measured using compact tension specimens, while the fatigue life tests are carried out using circumferential notched tensile specimens. In addition, fatigue and fracture tests were conducted in air to determine the baseline properties of MDPE, which was then compared with the ones observed in gaseous hydrogen environment. After the completion of mechanical testing, fracture surfaces are also analyzed using optical and scanning electron microscopes to understand salient fracture features of MDPE with and without the presence of gaseous hydrogen.

Shrestha, Rakish↗
NASA NTRS1991

Dynamical buoyancy of hydrodynamic eddies

The dynamical pressure reduction within a vortex tube produces both a tension along the tube and a general buoyancy, analogous to magnetic flux tubes. The dynamical buoyancy causes convective cells to rise at speeds comparable to the rms fluid velocity within the cell. Consequently, the convective cells in a stratified atmosphere are more active than indicated by the standard anelastic approximation. The coherent convective cells at each level actively crowd upward into the convective cells above, elbowing weaker cells out of the way and flattening themselves and others against the upper surface of the convective region. These effects can be seen in the recent SOUP observations of the solar granulation. Deeper in the convective zone the inhomogeneity of the buoyancy may explain the random character of the convective motions that turns up in recent numerical simulations.

Parker, E. N.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Effective crack lengths by compliance measurement for ARALL-2 laminates

As a means of determining a stress intensity factor solution, the compliance properties of an ARALL-2 laminated-sheet composite were investigated. Fatigue crack growth rate (FCGR) tests were conducted on middle crack tension (MT) specimens fabricated from a layup consisting of three sheets of 2024-T3 aluminum bonded together with unidirectional aramid fibers embedded in epoxy. Excellent fatigue crack growth properties are obtained by the presence of unbroken aramid fibers in the wake of the crack tip. These unbroken fibers act as a bridging mechanism to inhibit further crack growth. To quantify the effect of maximum fatigue load on compliance, a series of FCGR tests were performed. Effective crack lengths were determined to be at least 10 mm shorter than surface measured crack lengths for a 76-mm-wide specimen. The bridging zone was estimated to be at least 5 mm. Compliance and stress intensity factor as functions of effective crack length were determined.

Wilson, Christopher D.↗
DOE OSTI2021

Self-Assembly and Phase Separation for Transport: A brief argument for the continued exploration of liquid crystal flows and electrodeposition in micro-gravity

Phase separation, interfacial tension gradients, and molecular self-assembly are all phenomena frequently observed when manipulating soft condensed matter systems on Earth. Depending on the system these processes can also be quite predictable. For instance, on Earth water droplets placed on hydrophobic surfaces will have contact angles > 90° with limited spread, contrary to their wetting behavior on hydrophilic surfaces. However, in an environment that is in a constant state of free-fall, where the gravitational field is reduced by 10%, such as on the International Space Station (ISS), buoyancy and its effect on fluid convection also become negligible. Fluid flow and phase behavior become less predictable. Thus, continuing the prior example, even if water droplets still remain in contact with a surface in microgravity (µg), the interface between the air and droplets will still remain significantly curved, appearing almost as if they were placed over completely nonwetting surfaces (Fig. 1a). Moreover, the negligible opposing buoyant force would also mean that if immiscible liquid droplets of a less dense character, or air bubbles even (Fig. 1b), were to be suspended within a larger water drop, these immiscible droplets or air bubbles would not migrate toward any one direction unless either artificially propelled by an external force or internal reaction inducing flow.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
NASA NTRS1987

Examination of the physical processes associated with the keyhole region of variable polarity plasma arc welds in aluminum alloy 2219

The morphology and properties of the Variable Polarity Plasma Arc (VPPA) weld composite zone are intimately related to the physical processes associated with the keyhole. This study examined the effects of oxide, halide, and sulfate additions to the weld plate on the keyhole and the weld pool. Changes in both the arc plasma character and the bead morphology were correlated to the chemical environment of the weld. Pool behavior was observed by adding flow markers to actual VPPA welds. A low temperature analog to the welding process was developed. The results of the study indicate that oxygen, even at low partial pressures, can disrupt the stable keyhole and weld pool. The results also indicate that the Marangoni surface tension driven flows dominate the weld pool over the range of welding currents studied.

Walsh, Daniel W.↗
NASA NTRS2000

Lack of Penetration in Friction Stir Welds: Effects on Mechanical Properties and NDE Feasibility

This presentation reviews the issue of lack of penetration (LOP) in Friction Stir Welding and the feasibility of using non-destructive tests to detect . Friction Stir Welding takes place in the solid phase below the melting point of the materials to be joined. It thus gives the ability to join materials which are difficult to fusion weld, for example 2000 and 7000 aluminium alloys. This process though can result in a lack of penetration, due to an incomplete penetration of the DXZ. This is frequently referred to as a "kissing bond", which requires micro examination to detect. The presentation then discusses the surface crack tension tests. It then reviews the simulated service test and results. It then discusses the feasibility of using non-destructive examination to detect LOP, the forms of test which can be used, and the results the tests.

Kinchen, David G.↗
NASA NTRS1987

The effect of overburden thickness on tension fracture patterns above an uplifting dome

Four experiments demonstrate that tension-fracture patterns above an uplifting dome depend on the thickness of the overburden layer being deformed. Four layers of increasing thicknesses (4.92 cm, 6.92 cm, 9.05 cm, and 11.12 cm) of a very fine sand (85%) and silt-clay (15%) mixture were updomed by slowly inflating a 1.22 m-diameter circular rubber pillow. The upper 2 cm of each layer was wetted and air dried to make it brittle and susceptible to fracture. The fractures that formed during these experiments exhibited a continuum of patterns from dominantly arcuate to dominantly radial as the overburden thickness increased. However, fracture density remained constant in each case for a given amount of surface deformation.

Pranger, H., II↗
NASA NTRS1985

Response of thick, notched laminates subjected to tension-compression cyclic loads

The fatigue response of a (0/24/90/-45)s4 T300-5208 graphite-epoxy laminate with a drilled centerhole subjected to fully reversed tension-compression (R=-1, T-C) constant amplitude loading was investigated. Damage evaluation techniques such as stiffness monitoring, penetrant-enchanced X-ray radiography, C-scan, laminate deeply and residual strength were used to establish the mechanisms of damage development as well as the relations between this damage and the stiffness, strength and life of the laminate. Damage initiated at the hole as matrix cracking parallel to the fibers in all plies. Matrix cracks had a significant effect on delamination initiation and growth. Delaminations initiated near the surface in the densely cracked region at the hole and grew along major matrix cracks. Compressive properties degraded more rapidly than tensile properties. At the stress levels used, residual tensile strength increased early in the fatigue life and remained approximately constant to near the end of life, when failure was precipitated by excessive laminate instability during the compressive portion of the loading.

Bakis, C. E.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Response of thick, notched laminates subjected to tension-compression cyclic loads

The fatigue response of a (0/24/90/-45)s4 T300-5208 graphite-epoxy laminate with a drilled centerhole subjected to fully reversed tension-compression (R=-1, T-C) constant amplitude loading was investigated. Damage evaluation techniques such as stiffness monitoring, penetrant-enhanced X-ray radiography, C-scan, laminate deply and residual strength were used to establish the mechanisms of damage development as well as the relations between this damage and the stiffness, strength and life of the laminate. Damage initiated at the hole as matrix cracking parallel to the fibers in all plies. Matrix cracks had a significant effect on delamination initiation and growth. Delaminations initiated near the surface in the densely cracked region at the hole and grew along major matrix cracks. Compressive properties degraded more rapidly than tensile properties. At the stress levels used, residual tensile strength increased early in the fatigue life and remained approximately constant to near the end of life, when failure was precipitated by excessive laminate instability during the compressive portion of the loading.

Bakis, C. E.↗
DOE OSTI2024

Covalently-Bonded Laminar Assembly of Van der Waals Semiconductors with Polymers: Toward High-Performance Flexible Devices

Van der Waals semiconductors (vdWS) offer superior mechanical and electrical properties and are promising for flexible microelectronics when combined with polymer substrates. However, the self-passivated vdWS surfaces and their weak adhesion to polymers tend to cause interfacial sliding and wrinkling, and thus, are still challenging the reliability of vdWS-based flexible devices. Here, in this study, an effective covalent vdWS–polymer lamination method with high stretch tolerance and excellent electronic performance is reported. Using molybdenum disulfide (MoS 2 ) and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) as a case study, gold–chalcogen bonding and mercapto silane bridges are leveraged. The resulting composite structures exhibit more uniform and stronger interfacial adhesion. This enhanced coupling also enables the observation of a theoretically predicted tension-induced band structure transition in MoS 2 . Moreover, no obvious degradation in the devices’ structural and electrical properties is identified after numerous mechanical cycle tests. This high-quality lamination enhances the reliability of vdWS-based flexible microelectronics, accelerating their practical applications in biomedical research and consumer electronics.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2024

Efficient Modeling of Floating Wind Arrays Including Current Loads and Seabed Bathymetry: Preprint

Capabilities for modeling the effects of seabed bathymetry and current drag loads on a floating wind farm are now available in an open-source model for quasi-static analysis. In this model, mooring lines and dynamic cables are represented by a quasistatic solver that can quickly represent complex mooring/cabling arrangements and arrays of floating bodies. To account for seabed bathymetry, we expand the model to include a surface mesh that captures changes in water depth over a rectangular grid. We formulate modifications to the catenary equations that capture a mooring line's profile and tensions when contacting a slope seabed. To account for current drag loads on mooring lines and dynamic cables, we formulate a novel technique that rotates the reference frame so that the vector sum of the the weight and the current force are used in the catenary equations, while accounting for the seabed orientation. To complete the system, current drag loads on floating substructures are handled by inclusion of strip-theory drag calculations. These new capabilities are verified by comparing with results from the established offshore dynamics models MoorDyn and OrcaFlex in equivalent steady-state scenarios. The results show very good agreement for both sloped seabeds and current loads. With computation times of the quasi-static model typically under one second, the model additions are a useful capability toward rapidly evaluating a floating wind array's response to environmental loads under realistic site conditions.

bathymetry↗
DOE OSTI2022

Reviving the rock-salt phases in Ni-rich layered cathodes by mechano-electrochemistry in all-solid-state batteries

The rock-salt phase (RSP) formed on the surface of Ni-rich layered cathodes in liquid-electrolyte lithium-ion batteries is conceived to be electrochemically "dead". Here we show massive RSP forms in the interior of LiNi x Mn y Co (1–x-y) O 2 (NMC) crystals in sulfide based all solid state batteries (ASSBs), but the RSP remains electrochemically active even after long cycles. The RSP and the layered structure constitute a two-phase mixture, a material architecture that is distinctly different from the RSP in liquid electrolytes. The tensioned layered phase affords an effective percolation channel into which lithium is squeezed out of the RSPs by compressive stress, rendering the RSPs electrochemically active. Consequently, the ASSBs with predominant RSP in the NMC cathode deliver remarkable long cycle life of 4000 cycles at high areal capacity of 4.3 mAh/cm 2 . Our study unveils distinct mechano-electrochemistry of RSPs in ASSBs that can be harnessed to enable high energy density and durable ASSBs.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
NASA NTRS1985

Suppression of Marangoni Convection in Float Zones

The basic purpose of this program is to demonstrate by means of an Earth-based 1-g experiment that the undesirable Marangoni (surface tension) convection can be suppressed or significantly reduced by means of gas jets directed tangentially to the free surface of the liquid in a float zone. These jets will establish the tangential shear stress field over the surface which must be adjusted to equal the counter-stress resultant of the Marangoni shear stress which causes the convection. For proposed materials processing in space (o-g), particularly of important, highly reactive semiconductor materials, e.g., silicon, microgravity will virtually eliminate the unwanted thermal-buoyancy convection in the liquid silicon, but will have no effect in reducing the Marangoni convection. Unless this can be sufficiently suppressed by other means, there may be no significant advantages to the proposed space processing of reactive semiconductors. Although some inert gas such as argon must be used for the corrosive liquid silicon, the Earth-based experiment uses air jets and various transparent oils, since the basic principle involved is the same. The first float zone is enclosed in a very small rectangular box with a quasi-planar free surface. Stable Marangoni convection has been achieved and velocities measured photographically. The air jet system with variable velocity and temperature is under construction. Three independent parameters must be optimized to attain maximum suppression: the gas velocity, angle of attack, and gas temperature.

Dressler, R. F.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Reaction and Protection of Electrical Wire Insulators in Atomic-oxygen Environments

Atomic-oxygen erosion on spacecraft in low Earth orbit is an issue which is becoming increasingly important because of the growing number of spacecraft that will fly in the orbits which have high concentrations of atomic oxygen. In this investigation, the atomic-oxygen durability of three types of electrical wire insulation (carbon-based, fluoropolymer, and polysiloxane elastomer) were evaluated. These insulation materials were exposed to thermal-energy atomic oxygen, which was obtained by RF excitation of air at a pressure of 11-20 Pa. The effects of atomic-oxygen exposure on insulation materials indicate that all carbon-based materials erode at about the same rate as polyamide Kapton and, therefore, are not atomic-oxygen durable. However, the durability of fluoropolymers needs to be evaluated on a case by case basis because the erosion rates of fluoropolymers vary widely. For example, experimental data suggest the formation of atomic fluorine during atomic-oxygen amorphous-fluorocarbon reactions. Dimethyl polysiloxanes (silicone) do not lose mass during atomic-oxygen exposure, but develop silica surfaces which are under tension and frequently crack as a result of loss of methyl groups. However, if the silicone sample surfaces were properly pretreated to provide a certain roughness, atomic oxygen exposure resulted in a sturdy, non-cracked atomic-oxygen durable SiO2 layer. Since the surface does not crack during such silicone-atomic oxygen reaction, the crack-induced contamination by silicone can be reduced or completely stopped. Therefore, with proper pretreatment, silicone can be either a wire insulation material or a coating on wire insulation materials to provide atomic-oxygen durability.

Hung, Ching-Cheh↗
DOE OSTI2024

Efficient Modeling of Floating Wind Arrays Including Current Loads and Seabed Bathymetry

Capabilities for modeling the effects of seabed bathymetry and current drag loads on a floating wind farm are now available in an open-source model for quasi-static analysis. In this model, mooring lines and dynamic cables are represented by a quasi-static solver that can quickly represent complex mooring/cabling arrangements and arrays of floating bodies. To account for seabed bathymetry, we expand the model to include a surface mesh that captures changes in water depth over a rectangular grid. We formulate modifications to the catenary equations that capture a mooring line's profile and tensions when contacting a slope seabed. To account for current drag loads on mooring lines and dynamic cables, we formulate a novel technique that rotates the reference frame so that the vector sum of the the weight and the current force are used in the catenary equations, while accounting for the seabed orientation. To complete the system, current drag loads on floating substructures are handled by inclusion of strip-theory drag calculations. These new capabilities are verified by comparing with results from the established offshore dynamics models MoorDyn and OrcaFlex in equivalent steady-state scenarios. The results show very good agreement for both sloped seabeds and current loads. With computation times of the quasi-static model typically under one second, the model additions are a useful capability toward rapidly evaluating a floating wind array's response to environmental loads under realistic site conditions.

bathymetry↗
DOE OSTI2021

Multimodal imaging of oil-in-water bilgewater emulsion and biofilms

Bilgewater emulsions, consisting of oil and surfactant mixtures in water, affect many aquatic species. Thus development of methods and techniques to treat or mitigate the formation and undesired consequences of shipboard emulsions are urgently needed. This work presents new results of the evolution of the bilgewaer chemical and physical properties using in situ imaging. A Navy O/W emulsion consisting of three oils and a detergent mixture was used as the synthetic bilgewater model [1, 2]. Synthetic oil-in-water (O/W) emulsion droplets were seled in a vacuum compatible microfluidic sample holder and imaged using a suite of tools including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS), confocal laser scanning microscopy, and optical microscopy, highlighting the advantage of multiscale analysis and its applications in waste reduction and treatment in the environment. The transferrable and vacuum compatible microfluidic interface, System for Analysis at the Liquid Vacuum Interface (SALVI), was used in this study. SALVI enabled surface analysis of liquids and liquid-solid interactions using ToF-SIMS and SEM [3, 4]. Its detection window is an aperture of 2 ?m in diameter open to vacuum, permitting direct detection of the liquid surface. Liquid is withheld by surface tension within the aperture. The interface is composed of a silicon nitride membrane and polydimethylsiloxane microchannel [3, 4]. A variety of samples including complex liquid mixtures, ionic liquids, single mammalian cells, live biofilms, and solid-electrolyte interface have been analyzed using in situ imaging [5, 6]. The feasibility of using SALVI for in situ SEM imaging of nanoparticles and colloids in liquid was recently demonstrated [7]. This paper shows new findings of multimodal imaging and analysis of synthesized emulsion particles in water. Figure 1 depicts a schematic of multimodal in situ imaging of bilgewater emulsion using SEM and ToF-SIMS. Furthermore, we study the interactions of microbes and bilgewater emulsion. Microbes play an important role in the ocean. We hypothesize that microbes release organics that can act as surfactants that affect bilgewater formation or weakening. We present the first systematic study of emulsions and biofilms and investigate the effects of biofilms on bilgewater emulsions. Pseudomonas was selected as a model strain. Biofilms were cultured in a microchannel to allow culture [8]. Once a thick layer of biofilms was formed, the medium solution was changed to a mixture consisting of 50 % bilgewater emulsion. Dispersed biofilms were collected at 24 hrs. and 48 hrs. after emulsions were introduced into the channel. Bilgewater emulsions, biofilms, and mixtures of bilgewater emulsions and biofilms were analyzed using multiple in situ and ex situ techniques as described earlier. Our findings indicate that biofilms change the chemical makeup of the emulsion surface compositions and emulsion droplet size distribution, confirming the hypothesis that extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) related components released from biofilms can function as surfactants and change the oil-in-water interfaces.

bilgewater, multimodal imaging, biofilms↗
DOE OSTI2020

Calculation of Friction Factors in Heat Pipes Using CFD in Support of the Sockeye Code

A heat pipe is two-phase heat transfer device which relies on surface tension and capillary pressure to provide a very efficient heat transfer mechanism. Currently, there is interest in designing micro nuclear power reactors using high temperature heat pipes to provide totally passive cooling. To support this, Sockeye is being developed as a heat pipe simulation capability. To support the development of Sockeye, individual phenomena must be tested. This work focuses on applying a CFD model to evaluate friction factors for use in Sockeye. A CFD model has been developed in Nek5000 which simulates each component fluid, i.e. sodium liquid and vapor, independently and captures the effects of the wick on friction factor. The model tests the effect of the wick permeability and the thickness of the wick occupied by each fluid component. The thickness of the wick occupied by each component can be directly related to the local vapor volume fraction from the Sockeye heat pipe model. Results from the CFD model indicate that friction factor in the liquid flow decreases with increasing wick permeability, while the friction factor in the vapor flow increases with increasing wick permeability. In the liquid, this is likely a direct result of the increased cross sectional area available for the flow. For the vapor, this is explained as the wick acting like a rough wall, while the increased area has only a negligible impact. Results for the tests of the thickness of the wick occupied by each fluid showed a thresholding behavior for both liquid and vapor. When the thickness of the wick occupied by each fluid was increased, it increased the effect of the wick, but only up to a certain point. Once a certain thickness was reached, the friction factors remained constant. When the fluid occupied only a very small fraction of the wick, friction factors returned to nominal values.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗