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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 595 records · Page 33

Measuring the Hubble constant and our Virgo-infall velocity independently

A sample of spiral galaxies with B(sub T) less than 14.5 located in two local volumes, one in the direction of, but behind, the Virgo Cluster (behind-Virgo volume (BV)) and the other in the opposite direction (anti-Virgo volume (AV)), were used via a Tully-Fisher (TF) relation to derive the following two parameters: H(sub AB), the mean Hubble ratio between AV and BV, and delta v(sub parallel), the peculiar velocity of the Local Group in the direction of the Virgo Cluster (VC) with respect to a uniformly expanding reference system defined by our AV and BV sub-samples. The two sampled volumes, separated by a velocity interval of 5600 km/s, form an antipodal pair. This particular geometry not only allows us to derive the two parameters independently but also reduces the dynamical effect of the Local Supercluster on H(sub AB) without increasing the Malmquist bias. By limiting our sample to spiral galaxies having large velocity widths W(sub R), we effectively reduce the TF scatter and Malmquist bias in our sample. The TF zero point and dispersion were then determined by further correcting for the small residual Malmquist bias. An additional sample of fainter galaxies was used to test for a non-Gaussian tail to the TF disperison. We found no evidence for such a tail and formally give an upper limit of about 18% for the fractional contribution of an unseen tail. The average intrinsic TF dispersion for the dominant Gaussian component is sigma(sub TF)(sup 0) approximately 0.33 mag for W(sub R) approximately equal to or greater than 180 km/s. Our numerical results are delta v(sub parallel) approximately equals 414 +/- 82 km/s and H(sub AB) approximately equals (84.0 +/- 2.4)(1 + epsilon) km/s Mpc, where (1 + epsilon) accounts for any systematic error between the calibrators and the sample galaxies. Various dynamical models were tested to explore the effect on H(sub AB) of the uncertainties in the local velocity field. Constrained by our observed delta v(sub parallel) as well as other observational quantities, we found that the rms deviation from unity of H(sub AB)/H(sub 0) (where H(sub 0) is the Hubble constant for each model) is 5%, making H(sub AB) a good indicator for H(sub 0). Taking this variation as an additional error, our formal estimate for the Hubble constant is H(sub 0) approximately equals (84 +/- 5)(1 + epsilon) km/s Mpc.

Lu, Nanyao Y.↗

Heat current fluctuations and anomalous transport in low-dimensional carbon lattices

Molecular dynamics simulations and methods of importance sampling are used to study the heat transport of low-dimensional carbon lattices. For both carbon nanotubes and graphene sheets, heat transport is found to be anomalous, violating Fourier’s law of conduction with a system size dependent thermal conductivity and concomitant nonlinear temperature profiles. For carbon nanotubes, the thermal conductivity is found to increase as the square root of the length of the nanotube, while for graphene sheets the thermal conductivity is found to increase as the logarithm of the length of the sheet over the system sizes considered. Furthermore, the particular length dependence and nonlinear temperature profiles place carbon lattices into a universality class with nonlinear lattice models, and suggest that heat transport through carbon nanostructures is better described by a Levy walk rather than simple diffusion.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

An Assessment of the Effect of Compressibility on Dynamic Stall

Compressibility plays a significant role in the development of separation on airfoils experiencing unsteady motion, even at moderately compressible free-stream flow velocities. This effect can result in completely changed stall characteristics compared to those observed at incompressible speed, and can dramatically affect techniques used to control separation. There has been a significant effort in recent years directed toward better understanding; of this process, and its impact on possible techniques for control of separation in this complex environment. A review of existing research in this area will be presented, with emphasis on the physical mechanisms that play such an important role in the development of separation on airfoils. The increasing impact of compressibility on the stall process will be discussed as a function of free-stream Mach number, and an analysis of the changing flow physics will be presented. Examples of the effect of compressibility on dynamic stall will be selected from both recent and historical efforts by members of the aerospace community, as well as from the ongoing research program of the present authors. This will include a presentation of a sample of high speed filming of compressible dynamic stall which has recently been created using real-time interferometry.

Carr, Lawrence W.↗

Real time flight simulation methodology

An example sensitivity study is presented to demonstrate how a digital autopilot designer could make a decision on minimum sampling rate for computer specification. It consists of comparing the simulated step response of an existing analog autopilot and its associated aircraft dynamics to the digital version operating at various sampling frequencies and specifying a sampling frequency that results in an acceptable change in relative stability. In general, the zero order hold introduces phase lag which will increase overshoot and settling time. It should be noted that this solution is for substituting a digital autopilot for a continuous autopilot. A complete redesign could result in results which more closely resemble the continuous results or which conform better to original design goals.

Parrish, E. A.↗

A strategy for analysis of thermal decomposition of polymeric materials

Some analytical methods developed in flammability research are reviewed. Computerized analytical systems are used to separate, identify, and quantify components of complex mixtures of low-boiling volatiles, high-boiling volatiles, and solid residues resulting from pyrolysis, oxidative degradation, and flaming combustion processes. To demonstrate the procedure for determining a material's response to a thermal flux administered under dynamic conditions, the treatment of data is reported for samples of an aromatic polyamide fabric which were degraded under isothermal conditions of 550 C following a dynamic heating rate of 100 C/min from ambient to final temperature.

Einhorn, I. N.↗

The combined force field-sampling problem in simulations of disordered amyloid-β peptides

Molecular dynamics simulations of intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) can provide high resolution structural ensembles if the force field is accurate enough and if the simulation sufficiently samples the conformational space of the IDP with the correct weighting of sub-populations. Here, we investigate the combined force field–sampling problem by testing a standard force field as well as newer fixed charge force fields, the latter specifically motivated for better description of unfolded states and IDPs, and comparing them with a standard temperature replica exchange (TREx) protocol and a non-equilibrium Temperature Cool Walking (TCW) sampling algorithm. The force field and sampling combinations are used to characterize the structural ensembles of the amyloid-beta peptides Aβ42 and Aβ43, which both should be random coils as shown recently by experimental nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and 2D Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) experiments. The results illustrate the key importance of the sampling algorithm: while the standard force field using TREx is in poor agreement with the NMR J-coupling and nuclear Overhauser effect and 2D FRET data, when using the TCW method, the standard and optimized protein-water force field combinations are in very good agreement with the same experimental data since the TCW sampling method produces qualitatively different ensembles than TREx. Lastly, we also discuss the relative merit of the 2D FRET data when validating structural ensembles using the different force fields and sampling protocols investigated in this work for small IDPs such as the Aβ42 and Aβ43 peptides.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

XPlacer/Tracer

XPlacer/Tracer is a dynamic analysis tool that finds bad memory access patterns in heterogeneous codes. XPlacer/Tracer consists of two components. (1) A configurable ROSE plugin for source code instrumentation of heterogeneous code written in the C/C++ and CUDA programming languages. (2) A sample configuration that instruments memory accesses to dynamic memory in CPU and GPU codes, and a runtime library that tracks these memory accesses at runtime. The collected information is reported in form of a textual summary or as memory map that can be converted to images.

Pirkelbauer, PeterM.↗

The Fourth SeaWiFS HPLC Analysis Round-Robin Experiment (SeaHARRE-4)

Ten international laboratories specializing in the determination of marine pigment concentrations using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) were intercompared using in situ samples and a mixed pigment sample. Although prior Sea-viewing Wide Field-of-view Sensor (SeaWiFS) High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) Round-Robin Experiment (SeaHARRE) activities conducted in open-ocean waters covered a wide dynamic range in productivity, and some of the samples were collected in the coastal zone, none of the activities involved exclusively coastal samples. Consequently, SeaHARRE-4 was organized and executed as a strictly coastal activity and the field samples were collected from primarily eutrophic waters within the coastal zone of Denmark. The more restrictive perspective limited the dynamic range in chlorophyll concentration to approximately one and a half orders of magnitude (previous activities covered more than two orders of magnitude). The method intercomparisons were used for the following objectives: a) estimate the uncertainties in quantitating individual pigments and higher-order variables formed from sums and ratios; b) confirm if the chlorophyll a accuracy requirements for ocean color validation activities (approximately 25%, although 15% would allow for algorithm refinement) can be met in coastal waters; c) establish the reduction in uncertainties as a result of applying QA procedures; d) show the importance of establishing a properly defined referencing system in the computation of uncertainties; e) quantify the analytical benefits of performance metrics, and f) demonstrate the utility of a laboratory mix in understanding method performance. In addition, the remote sensing requirements for the in situ determination of total chlorophyll a were investigated to determine whether or not the average uncertainty for this measurement is being satisfied.

Hooker, Stanford B.↗

Using x ray images to detect substructure in a sample of 40 Abell clusters

Using a method for constraining the dynamical state of a galaxy cluster by examining the moments of its x-ray surface brightness distribution, we determine the statistics of cluster substructure for a sample of 40 Abell clusters. Using x-ray observations from the Einstein Observatory Imaging Proportional Counter (IPC), we measure the first moment M1(r), the ellipsoidal orientation angle theta2(r), and the axial ratio eta(r) at several different radii in the cluster. We determine the effects of systematics such as x-ray point source emission, telescope vignetting, Poisson noise, and characteristics of the IPC by measuring the same parameters on an ensemble of simulated cluster images. Due to the small band-pass of the IPC, the ICM emissivity is nearly independent of temperature so the intensity at each point in the IPC images is simply proportional to the emission measure calculated along the line of sight through the cluster (e.g. Fabricant et al. 1980). Therefore, barring a change superposition of two x-ray emitting clusters, a significant variation in the image centroid M1(r) as a function of radius indicates that the center of mass of the intra-cluster medium (ICM) varies with radius. We argue that such a configuration (essentially an m = 1 component in the ICM density distribution) is a non-equilibrium component; it results from an off-center subclump or a recent merger in the ICM.

Mohr, J. J.↗

Synergistic Effect of Graphene Oxide for Impeding the Dendritic Plating of Li

Dendritic growth of lithium (Li) has severely impeded the practical application of Li-metal batteries. Herein, a 3D conformal graphene oxide nanosheet (GOn) coating, confined into the woven structure of a glass fiber separator, is reported, which permits facile transport of Li-ions thought its structure, meanwhile regulating the Li deposition. Electrochemical measurements illustrate a remarkably enhanced cycle life and stability of the Li-metal anode, which is explained by various microscopy and modeling results. Utilizing scanning electron microscopy, focused ion beam, and optical imaging, the formation of an uniform Li film on the electrode surface in the case of GO-modified samples is revealed. Ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) simulations suggest that Li-ions initially get adsorbed to the lithiophilic GOn and then diffuse through defect sites. This delayed Li transfer eliminates the “tip effect” leading to a more homogeneous Li nucleation. Meanwhile, C-C bonds rupture observed in the GO during AIMD simulations creates more pathways for faster Li-ions transport. In addition, phase-field modeling demonstrates that mechanically rigid GOn coating with proper defect size (smaller than 25 nm) can physically block the anisotropic growth of Li. This new understanding is a significant step toward the employment of 2D materials for regulating the Li deposition

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

Elucidating the effect of preheating temperature on melt pool morphology variation in Inconel 718 laser powder bed fusion via simulation and experiment

In laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF) additive manufacturing, the mechanical performance, microstructure and defects of fabricated parts are closely associated with the melt pool morphology, e.g., its dimension and shape through the building process. Past studies have largely focused on how the process parameters such as laser power and scan speed affect melt pool characteristics. In this study, the melt pool morphology variation as a function of preheating temperature in the conduction, transition, and keyhole regimes and the underlying mechanisms in each regime are investigated through ex-situ sample characterization and computation thermal fluid dynamics (CtFD) simulation. Single tracks with different combinations of laser power and scan speed are deposited on an Inconel 718 bare plate preheated to a temperature range of 100–500 °C in the experiment. Significant changes are observed in melt pool morphology as a function of preheating temperature from optical measurements of melt track cross sections. The depth of melt pool in the three regimes increases monotonically with preheating temperature, e.g., at 500 °C, the experimental melt pool depth is increased by 49% in conduction regime, 34% in transition regime and 33% in keyhole regime, respectively, while the variation of melt pool width in each regime does not all follow an increasing trend but depends on the melt pool regimes. Melt pool width variation in the conduction and transition regimes is found to depend on the enhanced heat conduction directly related to temperature dependent thermal properties. Through validated CtFD simulations, it is found that in the keyhole regime the evaporation mass, recoil pressure, and laser drilling effect is enhanced with higher preheating temperature, which gives rise to a deeper melt pool. The simulations also reveal that preheating temperature significantly elongates the melt track length due to the increased flow rate and strong recoil pressure that accelerates the backward flow.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Development of fiber orientation in injection molding: Comparison of glass fiber, carbon fiber and their hybrid composites

Fiber orientation distribution (FOD) in injection-molded panels with respect to distance from the gate was analyzed using X-ray computed tomography (X-CT) for glass fiber (GF), carbon fiber (CF), and hybrid CF/GF (CGF) reinforced nylon 66. To understand the reason behind the FOD with different fiber types, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and rheology were performed. Samples were extracted at three locations: near the gate, center, and opposite end. Thickness of the layers of typical skin-shell-core type FOD varied with fiber type and location. GF achieved flow direction alignment (in shell) earlier than viscous CF and CGF near the gate, whereas CF showed the highest flow-direction alignment at the center due to shear induced orientation. At the opposite end, GF experienced more backflow than others indicating faster mold filling owing to its lower viscosity. Hybrid CGF exhibited GF-dominated center and CF-dominated end region. The numerical model used to obtain FOD and rheological predictions for the CF and GF composites served to corroborate the trends observed in the experimental trials. The FOD responses across fiber types and location were reflected in their longitudinal and transverse properties. Only GF showed higher longitudinal modulus over transverse modulus near the gate attributed to rapid alignment, whereas CF and CGF exhibited opposite trend. However, fountain flow enhanced the longitudinal modulus over transverse modulus with the distance for all, particularly for CF. This study offers insights into mold filling behavior of different fibers which are critical in optimizing injection molding conditions for tailored final properties.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Influence of plasticizers on thermal and mechanical properties of biocomposite filaments made from lignin and polylactic acid for 3D printing

Polylactic acid (PLA) and organosolv lignin were mixed at different ratios and extruded to obtain PLA-lignin composite filaments. PLA was replaced with lignin up to 20 wt%. Two plasticizers (polyethylene glycol (PEG) 2000 and struktol TR451) were added in varying concentrations to enhance the properties of PLA_L20 (20% lignin in PLA) composite filaments. Furthermore, the effect of lignin in PLA, and PEG, and struktol in PLA_L20 composites was investigated via tensile test, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy of the filaments, and dynamic mechanical analysis of 3D printed samples. A 2 wt% PEG was able to enhance both tensile stress and elongation at maximum load of PLA_L20 composite by 19% and 35%, respectively, whereas struktol TR451 was able to improve elongation at maximum load by 24%.

3D printing↗

Comparing hydrothermal sintering and cold sintering process: Mechanisms, microstructure, kinetics and chemistry

In this study, we report the sintering of zinc oxide (ZnO) through the comparison between the hydrothermal sintering (HS) and the cold sintering process (CSP) operating in closed and open conditions, respectively. Sintering was performed at 155 ± 5 °C applying a pressure of 320 MPa, and during different holding times (0 min, 20 min, 40 min and 80 min). Whatever the low sintering process used, ceramics characteristics are almost similar in terms of relative densities and ZnO structure. However, several differences such as the nature of stabilized phases, grain sizes and quantities of residual molecules in the densified pellets, were characterized and explained. The formation of zinc acetate “bridges” was observed ex situ in hydrothermally sintered samples. Lastly, a detailed ReaxFF molecular dynamics simulation was performed to help understand the formation mechanisms of zinc acetate “bridges” and compare the chemical activities between HS and CSP.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Aggregation and Solubility of a Model Conjugated Donor–Acceptor Polymer

In conjugated polymers, solution-phase structure and aggregation exert a strong influence on device morphology and performance, making understanding solubility crucial for rational design. Using atomistic molecular dynamics (MD) and free-energy sampling algorithms, we examine the aggregation and solubility of the polymer PTB7, studying how side-chain structure can be modified to control aggregation. We demonstrate that free-energy sampling can be used to effectively screen polymer solubility in a variety of solvents but that solubility parameters derived from MD are not predictive. We then study the aggregation of variants of PTB7 including those with linear (octyl), branched (2-ethylhexyl), and cleaved (methyl) side chains, in a selection of explicit solvents and additives. As a result, energetic analysis demonstrates that while side chains do disrupt polymer backbone stacking, solvent exclusion is a critical factor controlling polymer solubility.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Comparing solvophobic and multivalent induced collapse in polyelectrolyte brushes

Here, coarse-grained molecular dynamics enhanced by free-energy sampling methods is used to examine the roles of solvophobicity and multivalent salts on polyelectrolyte brush collapse. Specifically, we demonstrate that while ostensibly similar, solvophobic collapsed brushes and multivalent-ion collapsed brushes exhibit distinct mechanistic and structural features. Notably, multivalent-induced heterogeneous brush collapse is observed under good solvent polymer backbone conditions, demonstrating that the mechanism of multivalent collapse is not contingent upon a solvophobic backbone. Umbrella sampling of the potential of mean-force (PMF) between two individual brush strands confirms this analysis, revealing starkly different PMFs under solvophobic and multivalent conditions, suggesting the role of multivalent “bridging” as the discriminating feature in trivalent collapse. Structurally, multivalent ions show a propensity for nucleating order within collapsed brushes, whereas poor-solvent collapsed brushes are more disordered; this difference is traced to the existence of a metastable PMF minimum for poor solvent conditions, and a global PMF minimum for trivalent systems, under experimentally relevant conditions.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Active species in chloroaluminate ionic liquids catalyzing low-temperature polyolefin deconstruction

Abstract Chloroaluminate ionic liquids selectively transform (waste) polyolefins into gasoline-range alkanes through tandem cracking-alkylation at temperatures below 100 °C. Further improvement of this process necessitates a deep understanding of the nature of the catalytically active species and the correlated performance in the catalyzing critical reactions for the tandem polyolefin deconstruction with isoalkanes at low temperatures. Here, we address this requirement by determining the nuclearity of the chloroaluminate ions and their interactions with reaction intermediates, combining in situ 27 Al magic-angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, in situ Raman spectroscopy, Al K-edge X-ray absorption near edge structure spectroscopy, and catalytic activity measurement. Cracking and alkylation are facilitated by carbenium ions initiated by AlCl 3 - tert -butyl chloride (TBC) adducts, which are formed by the dissociation of Al 2 Cl 7 − in the presence of TBC. The carbenium ions activate the alkane polymer strands and advance the alkylation cycle through multiple hydride transfer reactions. In situ 1 H NMR and operando infrared spectroscopy demonstrate that the cracking and alkylation processes occur synchronously; alkenes formed during cracking are rapidly incorporated into the carbenium ion-mediated alkylation cycle. The conclusions are further supported by ab initio molecular dynamics simulations coupled with an enhanced sampling method, and model experiments using n-hexadecane as a feed.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Code interoperability extends the scope of quantum simulations

The functionality of many materials is critically dependent on the integration of dissimilar components and on the interfaces that arise between them. The description of such heterogeneous components requires the development and deployment of first principles methods, coupled to appropriate dynamical descriptions of matter and advanced sampling techniques, in order to capture all the relevant length and time scales of importance to the materials’ performance. It is thus essential to build simple, streamlined computational schemes for the prediction and design of multiple properties of broad classes of materials, by developing interoperable codes which can be efficiently coupled to each other to perform complex tasks. We discuss the use of interoperable codes to simulate the structural and spectroscopic characterization of materials, including chemical reactions for catalysis, the description of defects for quantum information science, and heat and charge transport.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗