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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 631 records · Page 35
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1989

The simulation of 2D compressible viscous high speed flow by the finite element method

Am implicit/explicit procedure for the solution of problems of two-dimensional steady compressible viscous high-speed flows is presented. In the vicinity of solid walls, a grid which need only exhibit structure in the normal direction is employed while, away from this region, the grid is totally unstructured. The implicit form of the algorithm is used near solid walls, with the grid structure being utilized in an equation solution approach, based upon line relaxation. The explicit form of the algorithm is used elsewhere. Grid adaptation is achieved by means of adaptive remeshing. To illustrate the performance of the proposed method, problems of shock-boundary layer interaction and flow over a simulated forebody at high Mach number are included.

Hassan, O.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Ray tracing of broadband bursty radio emissions from Uranus

To determine the source position of the broadband bursty emission, rays of X-mode emissin were traced from source positions along magnetic field lines with footprints that form a large grid centered approximately on the south magnetic pole of Uranus. For large wave normal angles, source regions different from those producing b-smooth emission were found. The emission observed prior to closest approach has a source along field lines that are distinct from those which generate emissions observed after closest approach.

Curran, D. B.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Topological variation in the magnetic field line at the dayside magnetopause

This paper uses normal mode analysis to examine topological changes in magnetic field lines at the magnetopause. For a modified Harris sheet, the normal modes include a symmetric solution (tearing mode) and an antisymmetric solution (twisting mode). Both modes form flux ropes. The tearing mode in the presence of shear flow is studied. By modeling the external region plasma with drift kinetic formalism, the growth rate of the tearing mode is found to be reduced by shear flow. On the other hand, the shear flow generates a Kelvin-Helmholtz instability which makes the magnetic field perturbation a twisting mode structure. When magnetopause parameters are used, it is difficult to induce a tearing mode in the presence of shear flow, though a shear flow twisting mode did grow under these conditions.

Wang, Zhi↗
NASA NTRS1993

Emission line gas in early-type galaxies: Kinematics and physical conditions

Recent studies have found line emission gas in nearby early-type galaxies, but the properties of the emission-line gas in these 'normal' galaxies remain enigmatic. In terms of activity in the nucleus, these LINER-like galaxies form an important link between giant H 2 region galaxies and low-luminosity Seyferts. Despite their large numbers and evolutionary significance, we do not know whether these galaxies form a homogeneous class of objects; nor do we know how the distribution and kinematics of the line emission gas are affected by the host galaxy's environment or by the properties of the central engine, if present. To address these issues we are conducting a magnitude and volume limited survey of nearby early-type galaxies at Lick Observatory and the Michigan-Dartmouth-MIT Observatory. We have selected approximately 100 galaxies from radio catalogs. A large sample is necessary because while studies of individual 'LINERS' have led to a certain understanding of the phenomenon, these studies have not provided a global framework. Here we present results from our first run of medium resolution (approximately 5 A FWHM) spectroscopy. Kinematic data and line ratios determined along the major and minor axes of 6 galaxies are discussed. The information gleaned from spectroscopic data, when combined with data at other wavelengths, will enable a thorough investigation into the nature of low luminosity nuclear activity.

Deustua, S. E.↗
NASA NTRS1995

Mirror Instability in the Solar Wind: The Theory Revisited

"Magnetic holes", localized depressions in the interplanetary magnetic field, have been identified in Ulysses data over a range of several AU and as far as 23 degrees south in latitude by Winterhalter et al., who concluded that these structures are most likely the remnants of structures caused by occasional mirror-mode instability in the solar wind. However, these authors, like a number of previous investigators, used the mirror stability criterion derived from the kinetic theory under very special assumptions. On the other hand, theoretical investigations using the fully self-consistent kinetic theory (Vlasov-Maxwell equations) have shown that the mirror stability criterion is more complicated when electrons and ions have different anisotropies, as is normally the case in the solar wind. Winterhalter et al used an instability criterion of the form R is greater than 1, where R is a function of the thermal anisotropy; the correct criterion (for bi-Maxwellian distributions) is R R is greater than 1 - x(exp 2), where x is a real quantity that depends on both the proton anisotropy and electron anisotropy. So nonzero x would modify the Winterhalter et al results in the direction of reinforcing their conclusions. We have revisited the instability criterion in its most general form, allowing for (a) non-Maxwellian velocity distributions, (b) multiple ion species, and (c) interparticle streaming. These results should give sound theoretical grounding for future observational studies related to the mirror instability, by Ulysses and other spacecraft.

Barnes, A.↗
NASA NTRS2000

Microgravity mediated changes in phytoferritin accumulation in soybean root cap cells

Phytoferritin is an iron-protein complex analogous to the ferritin found in mammalian, bacteria and fungi cells. Phytoferritin molecules are large proteins, about 10.5 nm in diameter, visualised in an electron microscope as discrete, electron dense particles with iron-containing core, where several thousand atoms of iron lie within the proteinaceous shell (apoferritin). In higher plants, a plastid stroma is the site of phytoferritin storage. Phytoferritin is seen in all types of plastids. It is considered to be a mechanism used by cells to store iron in a non-toxic form. Phytoferritin-bound iron may subsequently be used to form iron-containing components. It was shown that low levels of phytoferritin are synthesised in normal green leaves, whereas chlorotic leaves do not have a measurable amount of phytoferritin and leaves of iron-loaded seedlings contain a high level of total iron, and phytoferritin well-filled by iron. Phytoferritin accumulation was observed in photosynthetic inactivity chloroplasts during senescence and disease. In this study we analised the effects of microgravity and ethylene on production of phytoferritin in the root cap columella cells of soybean seedlings.

short duration↗
NASA NTRS1992

Physicochemical action of potassium-magnesium citrate in nephrolithiasis

Effect of potassium-magnesium citrate on urinary biochemistry and crystallization of stone-forming salts was compared with that of potassium citrate at same dose of potassium in five normal subjects and five patients with calcium nephrolithiasis. Compared to the placebo phase, urinary pH rose significantly from 6.06 +/- 0.27 to 6.48 +/- 0.36 (mean +/- SD, p less than 0.0167) during treatment with potassium citrate (50 mEq/day for 7 days) and to 6.68 +/- 0.31 during therapy with potassium-magnesium citrate (containing 49 mEq K, 24.5 mEq Mg, and 73.5 mEq citrate per day). Urinary pH was significantly higher during potassium-magnesium citrate than during potassium citrate therapy. Thus, the amount of undissociated uric acid declined from 118 +/- 61 mg/day during the placebo phase to 68 +/- 54 mg/day during potassium citrate treatment and, more prominently, to 41 +/- 46 mg/day during potassium-magnesium citrate therapy. Urinary magnesium rose significantly from 102 +/- 25 to 146 +/- 37 mg/day during potassium-magnesium citrate therapy but not during potassium citrate therapy. Urinary citrate rose more prominently during potassium-magnesium citrate therapy (to 1027 +/- 478 mg/day from 638 +/- 252 mg/day) than during potassium citrate treatment (to 932 +/- 297 mg/day). Consequently, urinary saturation (activity product) of calcium oxalate declined significantly (from 1.49 x 10(-8) to 1.03 x 10(-8) M2) during potassium-magnesium citrate therapy and marginally (to 1.14 x 10(-8) M2) during potassium citrate therapy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS).

Non-NASA Center↗
NASA NTRS2010

Ocular Toxicity Testing of Lunar Dust

This slide presentation reviews the use of ocular testing to determine the toxicity of lunar dust. The OECD recommendations are reviewed. With these recommendations in mind the test methodology was to use EpiOcular, tissues derived from normal human epidermal keratinocytes, the cells of which have been differentiated on cell culture inserts to form a multi-layered structure, which closely parallels the corneal epithelium and to dose the tissue with 100 mg dust from various sources. The in-vitro study provides evidence that lunar dust is not severely corrosive or irritating, however, in vitro tests have limitations, and in vivo tests provides a more complete scenario, and information, it is recommended that in vivo tests be performed.

Meyers, Valerie E.↗
NASA NTRS2016

Internship Abstract and Final Reflection

The primary objective for this internship is the evaluation of an embedded natural language processor (NLP) as a way to introduce voice control into future space suits. An embedded natural language processor would provide an astronaut hands-free control for making adjustments to the environment of the space suit and checking status of consumables procedures and navigation. Additionally, the use of an embedded NLP could potentially reduce crew fatigue, increase the crewmember's situational awareness during extravehicular activity (EVA) and improve the ability to focus on mission critical details. The use of an embedded NLP may be valuable for other human spaceflight applications desiring hands-free control as well. An embedded NLP is unique because it is a small device that performs language tasks, including speech recognition, which normally require powerful processors. The dedicated device could perform speech recognition locally with a smaller form-factor and lower power consumption than traditional methods.

Sandor, Edward↗
NASA NTRS1979

Lunar laser ranging data deposited in the National Space Science Data Center normal points, filtered observations, and unfiltered photon detections

The lunar laser ranging project at McDonald Observatory provides the unique opportunity to acquire successfully precise range data for the earth-moon system. From the experiment's inception, the obligation was recognized to make these data available to the general scientific community in a reasonably useable form and in a realistic time frame. The documentation to be used in conjunction with the 1979 April deposit into the National Space Science Data Center which contains normal points, filtered observations and unfiltered photon stops for the months July through December, 1978 are reported.

Shelus, P. J.↗
NASA NTRS2001

Gravitational Influences on Flame Propagation through Non-Uniform, Premixed Gas Systems

Flame propagation through non-uniformly premixed (or layered) gases has importance both in useful combustion systems and in unintentional fires. As summarized previously, non-uniform premixed gas combustion receives scant attention compared to the more usual limiting cases of diffusion or uniformly premixed flames, especially regarding the role gravity plays. This paper summarizes our progress on furthering the knowledge of layered combustion, in which a fuel concentration gradient exists normal to the direction of flame spread. We present experimental and numerical results for flame spread through propanol-air layers formed near the flash point temperature (25 C) or near the stoichiometric temperature (33 C). Both the model and experimental results show that the removal of gravity results in a faster spreading flame, by as much as 80% depending on conditions. This is exactly the opposite effect as that predicted by an earlier model reported. We also found that having a gallery lid results in faster flame spread, an effect more pronounced at normal gravity, demonstrating the importance of enclosure geometry. Also reported here is the beginning of our spectroscopic measurements of fuel vapor.

Miller, Fletcher J.↗
DOE OSTI2020

Drag Coefficient Analysis of Arbitrary Fragment Geometry with Emphasis on Meshing Sensitivity Studies.

This report characterizes Mach number effects in the hypersonic range from Mach 3 to Mach 7 for an arbitrary, computationally generated fragment. Force and moment coefficients in the x, y, z direction were successfully obtained and resulting trends were compared with theoretical expectations. Three orientations were tested in the form of unit vectors: [1,0,0], [0,1,0], and [0,0,1]; these represent the i, j, k principle axes. The final results ultimately showcased a trend very similar to that shown in previous literature — drag coefficients for a given orientation decreased with increasing Mach number by a very small amount in the hypersonic range. It was therefore concluded that the aerodynamic quantities used to obtain the fragment trajectory at low hypersonic Mach numbers (such as Mach 3) can be used to characterize the aerodynamic qualities at higher hypersonic Mach numbers (Mach 5, 7) with a reasonably small margin. A sensitivity study was also conducted which ultimately defined drag effects as a result of changing grid spacing and normal extrusion parameters for the unstructured tetrahedral mesh used in the simulation. Further work can be done in the form of experimental validation, specifically with regards to wind tunnels and ballistic range testing. Error can be reduced by testing more mesh variabilities and capturing a larger amount of fragment orientations. The results for force and moment characteristics dependent on meshing parameters and high Mach numbers are satisfactory and consistent with expected trends.

42 ENGINEERING↗
NASA NTRS1989

PRIME: A bottom-up approach to probabilistic rule development

PRIME is a system to be used by an intelligent machine to allow it to operate in an abstract but uncertain (or stochastic) environment. It maintains a model of the effects of the machine's actions in the form of a rule base, which is induced from experience. This bottom-up approach to rule development allows the model to adapt to changes in the environment. Each rule consists of a condition under which the rule is active, an action, the effect of the action on the environment, and an estimate of the probability of this effect occurring. The effect probabilities are used to model the uncertainty in the environment, permitting multiple possible effects for a single action under a particular set of conditions. The objective of the intelligent machine is to satisfy user-specified goals with maximum probability of success. PRIME fulfills this requirement in two ways: it continuously updates the rule base with the most recent information, to ensure the validity of the model; and it generates plans which have the maximum probability of achieving the goals, based on the probability estimates in the rule base. PRIME is composed of three main processes: exploration, generalization, and planning. In exploration, the machine executes various randomly chosen actions, observes the effects on the environment, and updates the rule base accordingly. This process is used to develop the rule base in simulation, as well as to supplement the current knowledge during normal operation. Generalization is the procedure used to induce general rules from experience, which is encoded in the form of specific rules. These general rules extend the machine's knowledge to situations which have not been encountered yet, thereby increasing the capability of the machine to plan effectively. Planning is the process of constructing an optimal sequence of actions to satisfy a goal, using the rule base to predict the effects of these actions and to determine the probability of success of the plan. The rule representation and many other data structures were specifically chosen to maximize the efficiency of these processes. A simulated environment was designed to test the performance of PRIME. The results of experimentation were largely negative. The main problem was that the domain coverage of the rules was inadequate for the number of rules stored in the rule base, due to redundancies in general rules and numerous rules covering ineffective actions. It was determined that a more efficient generalization, and some form of goal-directed exploration, are necessary in order to solve most of the current deficiencies in PRIME.

Miller, Scott A.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Stresses in adhesively bonded joints: A closed form solution

The plane strain of adhesively bonded structures which consist of two different orthotropic adherents is considered. Assuming that the thicknesses of the adherends are constant and are small in relation to the lateral dimensions of the bonded region, the adherends are treated as plates. The transverse shear effects in the adherends and the in-plane normal strain in the adhesive are taken into account. The problem is reduced to a system of differential equations for the adhesive stresses which is solved in closed form. A single lap joint and a stiffened plate under various loading conditions are considered as examples. To verify the basic trend of the solutions obtained from the plate theory a sample problem is solved by using the finite element method and by treating the adherends and the adhesive as elastic continua. The plate theory not only predicts the correct trend for the adhesive stresses but also gives rather surprisingly accurate results.

Delale, F.↗
DOE OSTI2020

Complexity of Fault Rupture and Fluid Leakage in Shale: Insights From a Controlled Fault Activation Experiment

Abstract We observed rupture growth caused by controlled fluid injections at 340‐m depth within a fault zone in the low‐permeability Opalinus Clay in the Mont Terri Underground Research Laboratory (Switzerland). The rupture mechanisms were evaluated using measurements of the three‐component borehole wall displacements and fluid pressure in two sections of the fault zone and located horizontally 3 m apart from each other. One section was set across a secondary segment of the fault and used for stepwise fluid injection intended to trigger rupture growth. The other section was set across the principal shear zone of the fault for monitoring. After stepwise pressure increase up to 5.95 MPa at injection, rupture initiated as slip activation, followed by an overall opening of the fault planes connected to the injection. After 19 s of continued injection, displacements arrived at the monitoring point on the principal shear zone. These displacements are about 2.4 times larger than in the secondary fault segment. Overall, the displacements corresponded to a normal fault activation. About 9 s after the displacement front arrived, a strong pressure increase of 4.17 MPa was measured at the monitoring point, indicating a hydraulic connection had formed along the initially very low permeability fault planes between the injection and the monitoring points. Our analyses highlight that the fault activation is consistent with the state of stress but that injection pressure must be close to the normal stress acting on the fault for permeability to be generated and for fluid leakage to occur.

Guglielmi, Yves↗
DOE OSTI2023

Reconfigurable Magnetic Liquid Building Blocks for Constructing Artificial Spinal Column Tissues

All-liquid molding can be used to transform a liquid into free-form solid constructs, while maintaining internal fluidity. Traditional biological scaffolds, such as cured pre-gels, are normally processed in solid state, sacrificing flowability and permeability. However, it is essential to maintain the fluidity of the scaffold to truly mimic the complexity and heterogeneity of natural human tissues. Here, this work molds an aqueous biomaterial ink into liquid building blocks with rigid shapes while preserving internal fluidity. The molded ink blocks for bone-like vertebrae and cartilaginous-intervertebral-disc shapes, are magnetically manipulated to assemble into hierarchical structures as a scaffold for subsequent spinal column tissue growth. It is also possible to join separate ink blocks by interfacial coalescence, different from bridging solid blocks by interfacial fixation. Generally, aqueous biomaterial inks are molded into shapes with high fidelity by the interfacial jamming of alginate surfactants. The molded liquid blocks can be reconfigured using induced magnetic dipoles, that dictated the magnetic assembly behavior of liquid blocks. The implanted spinal column tissue exhibits a biocompatibility based on in vitro seeding and in vivo cultivating results, showing potential physiological function such as bending of the spinal column.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2021

A workflow to assess the efficacy of brine extraction for managing injection-induced seismicity potential using data from a CO 2 injection site near Decatur, Illinois

Injection of CO 2 for storage in a geologic formation increases pore pressure and alters in situ stresses. Depending on the orientation of any existing fault and fracture planes, such as critically stressed planes, this stress alteration will modify normal stresses acting on planes and could result in frictional sliding and release stored energy in the form of seismicity. Brine extraction (BE) is a technique that can be applied prior to, or during, CO 2 injection to reduce pore pressure for increasing storage capacity and, potentially, for reducing the likelihood of frictional sliding. Here a workflow is described to assess the efficacy of BE for mitigating frictional sliding (i.e., seismicity) during injection and entails: site characterization, stress calculations and failure assessment, static and dynamic modeling, and BE operational planning. Site characterization describes the stress field used to calculate the Coulomb Failure Function (CFF) that constrains allowable pore pressure changes and injection rates in the numerical simulation of CO 2 injection scenarios. The inclusion of BE in the workflow allows for determination of the potential need for pressure reduction, and evaluation of the effectiveness of this operation. Example application of the workflow using an injection field dataset near Decatur, IL, provides insight on fracture planes and stresses at the site, formation properties and the impact of variable CO 2 injection-rate targets on whether BE plans are required. The study workflow indicates that BE could enhance CO 2 injection rate by 39% and correspondingly reduce the potential for injection-induced seismicity as indicated by a reduction in CFF.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2021

Effect of surface disorder on the chiral surface states of a three-dimensional quantum Hall system

We investigate the effect of surface disorder on the chiral surface states of a three-dimensional quantum Hall system. Utilizing a transfer-matrix method, we find that the localization length of the surface state along the magnetic field decreases with the surface disorder strength in the weak disorder regime but increases anomalously in the strong disorder regime. In the strong disorder regime, the surface states mainly locate at the first inward layer to avoid the strong disorder in the outmost layer. The anomalous increase of the localization length can be explained by an effective model, which maps the strong disorder on the surface layer to the weak disorder on the first inward layer. Our work demonstrates that surface disorder can be an effective way to control the transport behavior of the surface states along the magnetic field. We also investigate the effect of surface disorder on the full distribution of conductances P(g) of the surface states in the quasi-one-dimensional (1D) regime for various surface disorder strengths. In particular, we find that P(g) is Gaussian in the quasi-1D metal regime and log-normal in the quasi-1D insulator regime. In the crossover regime, P(g) exhibits highly nontrivial forms, whose shapes coincide with the results obtained from the Dorokhov-Mello-Pereyra-Kumar equation of a weakly disordered quasi-1D wire in the absence of time-reversal symmetry. Our results suggest that P(g) is fully determined by the average conductance, independent of the details of the system, in agreement with the single-parameter scaling hypothesis.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗