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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 703 records · Page 39
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1995

Approaches for averaging surface parameters and fluxes over heterogeneous terrain

Successful prediction of possible climate change depends on realistic parameterization of land surface processes in climate models. Such parameterizations must take appropriate account of the heterogeneities that are found in most earth surfaces. In this study, different averaging strategies for aggregating patch-scale heterogeneities to scales that are appropriate for mesoscale and climate model grids have been explored. A simple model for estimating area-average 'effective' surface flux parameters is evaluated. The model satisfies the energy balance equation and leads to a set of relationships between local and effective parameters in the governing equations for the surface energy balance. One outcome is that the resulting effective surface temperature is not a simple area-weighted average of component temperatures, but is a function of a specific combination of different resistances of the individual surface elements. A set of heterogeneous surfaces has been simulated to study the effective fluxes obtained using the described model. A comparison with results obtained by other investigators using different averaging methods is also performed.

Chehbouni, A.↗
NASA NTRS1996

Evaluation of constant-Weber-number scaling for icing tests

Previous studies showed that for conditions simulating an aircraft encountering super-cooled water droplets the droplets may splash before freezing. Other surface effects dependent on the water surface tension may also influence the ice accretion process. Consequently, the Weber number appears to be important in accurately scaling ice accretion. A scaling method which uses a constant-Weber-number approach has been described previously; this study provides an evaluation of this scaling method. Tests are reported on cylinders of 2.5 to 15-cm diameter and NACA 0012 airfoils with chords of 18 to 53 cm in the NASA Lewis Icing Research Tunnel (IRT). The larger models were used to establish reference ice shapes, the scaling method was applied to determine appropriate scaled test conditions using the smaller models, and the ice shapes were compared. Icing conditions included warm glaze, horn glaze and mixed. The smallest size scaling attempted was 1/3, and scale and reference ice shapes for both cylinders and airfoils indicated that the constant-Weber-number scaling method was effective for the conditions tested.

Anderson, David N.↗
DOE OSTI2020

Enhancing nanostructured nickel-rich lithium-ion battery cathodes via surface stabilization

Layered, nickel-rich lithium transition metal oxides have emerged as leading candidates for lithium-ion battery (LIB) cathode materials. High-performance applications for nickel-rich cathodes, such as electric vehicles and grid-level energy storage, demand electrodes that deliver high power without compromising cell lifetimes or impedance. Nanoparticle-based nickel-rich cathodes seemingly present a solution to this challenge due to shorter lithium-ion diffusion lengths compared to incumbent micrometer-scale active material particles. However, since smaller particle sizes imply that surface effects become increasingly important, particle surface chemistry must be well characterized and controlled to achieve robust electrochemical properties. Moreover, residual surface impurities can disrupt commonly used carbon coating schemes, which result in compromised cell performance. Using x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, here we present a detailed characterization of the surface chemistry of LiNi0.8Al0.15Co0.05O2 (NCA) nanoparticles, ultimately identifying surface impurities that limit LIB performance. With this chemical insight, annealing procedures are developed that minimize these surface impurities, thus improving electrochemical properties and enabling conformal graphene coatings that reduce cell impedance, maximize electrode packing density, and enhance cell lifetime fourfold. Overall, this work demonstrates that controlling and stabilizing surface chemistry enables the full potential of nanostructured nickel-rich cathodes to be realized in high-performance LIB technology.

Lim, Jin-Myoung↗
NASA NTRS1992

Preliminary subsonic aerodynamic model for simulation studies of the HL-20 lifting body

A nonlinear, six-degree-of-freedom aerodynamic model for an early version of the HL-20 lifting body is described and compared with wind tunnel data upon which it is based. Polynomial functions describing most of the aerodynamic parameters are given and tables of these functions are presented. Techniques used to arrive at these functions are described. Basic aerodynamic coefficients were modeled as functions of angles of attack and sideslip. Vehicle lateral symmetry was assumed. Compressibility (Mach) effects were ignored. Control-surface effectiveness was assumed to vary linearly with angle of deflection and was assumed to be invariant with the angle of sideslip. Dynamic derivatives were obtained from predictive aerodynamic codes. Landing-gear and ground effects were scaled from Space Shuttle data. The model described is provided to support pilot-in-the-loop simulation studies of the HL-20. By providing the data in tabular format, the model is suitable for the data interpolation architecture of many existing engineering simulation facilities. Because of the preliminary nature of the data, however, this model is not recommended for study of the absolute performance of the HL-20.

Jackson, E. Bruce↗
NASA NTRS1988

Reflector antenna distortion compensation by array feeds - An experimental verification

Reflector antennas are subject to surface distortions which may result from thermal or gravitational effects. Surface distortions degrade antenna performance by reducing gain and introducing high sidelobe levels. In the letter, results of an experimental study are presented to demonstrate how effectively a properly excited array feed in the focal plane of the reflector antenna can compensate for the undesirable effects of slowly varying surface distortions. The application of the array compensation concept could prove to be very useful for future large space or ground antennas.

Rahmat-Samii, Y.↗
DOE OSTI2025

The importance of accounting for the Tolman correction to surface tension for nucleation and growth modeling of Fe clusters

Gibbs free energies of clusters are required for predictive modeling of cluster growth during condensation of a cooling vapor. Here, we present a straightforward method of calculating free energies of cluster formation using the data from molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. We apply this method to iron clusters having from 2 to 100 atoms. The energies obtained are verified by comparing to an MD-simulated equilibrium cluster size distribution in a sub-saturated vapor. We show that these free energies differ significantly from those obtained with a commonly used spherical cluster approximation, which relies on a surface tension coefficient of a flat surface, as it is used in the classical nucleation theory (CNT). We show that the spherical cluster approximation in CNT can be improved by using a cluster-size-dependent Tolman correction for the surface tension. The Tolman length and effective surface tension values were derived for iron clusters, and they significantly differ from the commonly used experimentally measured values. This improved approximation does not account for geometric magic number effects responsible for spikes and troughs in densities of neighbor cluster sizes. Nonetheless, it allows to more accurately model cluster formation from a cooling vapor. It better reproduces the condensation timeline, overall shape of the cluster size distribution, average cluster size, and the distribution width. In contrast, using a constant surface tension coefficient (as done in CNT) resulted in incorrect condensation dynamics and cluster size distributions. The analytical expression for cluster nucleation rate from CNT was updated to account for the size-dependence of cluster surface tension.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2021

Effects of nanoconfinement and surface charge on iron adsorption on mesoporous silica

Here, we present a combined molecular dynamics (MD) simulation and X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) spectroscopic investigation of aqueous iron adsorption on nanoconfined amorphous silica surfaces. The simulation models examine the effects of pore size, pH (surface charge), iron valency, and counter-ion (chloride or hydroxide). The simulation methods were validated by comparing the coordination environment of adsorbed iron with coordination numbers and bond lengths derived from XAFS. In the MD models, nanoconfinement effects on local iron coordination were investigated by comparing results for unconfined silica surfaces and in confined domains within 2 nm, 4 nm, and 8 nm pores. Experimentally, coordination environments of iron adsorbed onto mesoporous silica with 4 nm and 8 nm pores at pH 7.5 were investigated. The effect of pH in the MD models was included by simulating Fe(II) adsorption onto negatively charged SiO 2 surfaces and Fe(III) adsorption on neutral surfaces. The simulation results show that iron adsorption depends significantly on silica surface charge, as expected based on electrostatic interactions. Adsorption on a negatively charged surface is an order of magnitude greater than on the neutral surface, and simulated surface coverages are consistent with experimental results. Pore size effects from the MD simulations were most notable in the adsorption of Fe(II) at deprotonated surface sites (SiO - ), but adsorption trends varied with concentration and aqueous Fe speciation. The coordination environment of adsorbed iron varied significantly with the type of anion. Considerable ion pairing with hydroxide anions led to the formation of oligomeric surface complexes and aqueous species, resulting in larger iron hydroxide clusters at higher surface loadings.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
NASA NTRS2004

Texturing Carbon-carbon Composite Radiator Surfaces Utilizing Atomic Oxygen

Future space nuclear power systems will require radiator technology to dissipate excess heat created by a nuclear reactor. Large radiator fins with circulating coolant are in development for this purpose and an investigation of how to make them most efficient is underway. Maximizing the surface area while minimizing the mass of such radiator fins is critical for obtaining the highest efficiency in dissipating heat. Processes to develop surface roughness are under investigation to maximize the effective surface area of a radiator fin. Surface roughness is created through several methods including oxidation and texturing. The effects of atomic oxygen impingement on carbon-carbon surfaces are currently being investigated for texturing a radiator surface. Early studies of atomic oxygen impingement in low Earth orbit indicate significant texturing due to ram atomic oxygen. The surface morphology of the affected surfaces shows many microscopic cones and valleys which have been experimentally shown to increase radiation emittance. Further study of this morphology proceeded in the Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF). Atomic oxygen experiments on the LDEF successfully duplicated the results obtained from materials in spaceflight by subjecting samples to 4.5 eV atomic oxygen from a fixed ram angle. These experiments replicated the conical valley morphology that was seen on samples subjected to low Earth orbit.

Raack, Taylor↗
DOE OSTI2024

Surface Transfer Doping in MoO 3– x /Hydrogenated Diamond Heterostructure

Surface transfer doping is proposed to be a potential solution for doping diamond, which is hard to dope for applications in high-power electronics. While MoO 3 is found to be an effective surface electron acceptor for hydrogen-terminated diamond with a negative electron affinity, the effects of commonly existing oxygen vacancies remain elusive. We have performed reactive molecular dynamics simulations to study the deposition of MoO 3–x on a hydrogenated diamond (111) surface and used first-principles calculations based on density functional theory to investigate the electronic structures and charge transfer mechanisms. We find that MoO 3–x is an effective surface electron acceptor and the spatial extent of doped holes in hydrogenated diamond is extended, promoting excellent transport properties. Charge transfer is found to monotonically decrease with the level of oxygen vacancy, providing guidance for engineering of the surface transfer doping process.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
NASA NTRS1991

Offset truss hex solar concentrator

A solar energy concentrator system comprises an offset reflector structure made up of a plurality of solar energy reflector panel sections interconnected with one another to form a piecewise approximation of a portion of a (parabolic) surface of revolution rotated about a prescribed focal axis. Each panel section is comprised of a plurality of reflector facets whose reflective surfaces effectively focus reflected light to preselected surface portions of the interior sidewall of a cylindrically shaped solar energy receiver. The longitudinal axis of the receiver is tilted at an acute angle with respect to the optical axis such that the distribution of focussed solar energy over the interior surface of the solar engine is optimized for dynamic solar energy conversion. Each reflector panel section comprises a flat, hexagonally shaped truss support framework and a plurality of beam members interconnecting diametrically opposed corners of the hexagonal framework recessed within which a plurality of (spherically) contoured reflector facets is disposed. The depth of the framework and the beam members is greater than the thickness of a reflector facet such that a reflector facet may be tilted (for controlling the effective focus of its reflected light through the receiver aperture) without protruding from the panel section.

White, John E.↗
DOE OSTI2016

Evaluation of mineral reactive surface area estimates for prediction of reactivity of a multi-mineral sediment

Our limited understanding of mineral reactive surface area contributes to significant uncertainties in quantitative simulations of reactive chemical transport in subsurface processes. Continuum formulations for reactive transport typically use a number of different approximations for reactive surface area, including geometric, specific, and effective surface area. In this work, reactive surface area estimates are developed and evaluated for their ability to predict dissolution rates in a well-stirred flow-through reactor experiment using disaggregated samples from the Nagaoka pilot CO 2 injection site (Japan). The disaggregated samples are reacted with CO 2 acidified synthetic brine under conditions approximating the field conditions and the evolution of solute concentrations in the reactor effluent is tracked over time. The experiments, carried out in fluid-dominated conditions at a pH of 3.2 for 650 h, resulted in substantial dissolution of the sample and release of a disproportionately large fraction of the divalent cations. Traditional reactive surface area estimation methods, including an adjusted geometric surface area and a BET-based surface area, are compared to a newly developed image-based method. Continuum reactive transport modeling is used to determine which of the reactive surface area models provides the best match with the effluent chemistry from the well-stirred reactor. The modeling incorporates laboratory derived mineral dissolution rates reported in the literature and the initial modal mineralogy of the Nagaoka sediment was determined from scanning electron microscopy (SEM) characterization. The closest match with the observed steady-state effluent concentrations was obtained using specific surface area estimates from the image-based approach supplemented by literature-derived BET measurements. To capture the evolving effluent chemistry, particularly over the first 300 h of the experiment, it was also necessary to account for the grain size distribution in the sediment and the presence of a highly reactive volcanic glass phase that shows preferential cation leaching.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
NASA NTRS1998

Flux Sampling Errors for Aircraft and Towers

Various errors and influences leading to differences between tower- and aircraft-measured fluxes are surveyed. This survey is motivated by reports in the literature that aircraft fluxes are sometimes smaller than tower-measured fluxes. Both tower and aircraft flux errors are larger with surface heterogeneity due to several independent effects. Surface heterogeneity may cause tower flux errors to increase with decreasing wind speed. Techniques to assess flux sampling error are reviewed. Such error estimates suffer various degrees of inapplicability in real geophysical time series due to nonstationarity of tower time series (or inhomogeneity of aircraft data). A new measure for nonstationarity is developed that eliminates assumptions on the form of the nonstationarity inherent in previous methods. When this nonstationarity measure becomes large, the surface energy imbalance increases sharply. Finally, strategies for obtaining adequate flux sampling using repeated aircraft passes and grid patterns are outlined.

Mahrt, Larry↗
NASA NTRS1997

The Benchmark Active Controls Technology Model Aerodynamic Data

The Benchmark Active Controls Technology (BACT) model is a part of the Benchmark Models Program (BMP). The BMP is a NASA Langley Research Center program that includes a series of models which were used to study different aeroelastic phenomena and to validate computational fluid dynamics codes. The primary objective of BACT testing was to obtain steady and unsteady loads, accelerations, and aerodynamic pressures due to control surface activity in order to calibrate unsteady CFD codes and active control design tools. Three wind-tunnel tests in the Transonic Dynamics Tunnel (TDT) have been completed. The first and parts of the second and third tests focused on collecting open-loop data to define the model's aeroservoelastic characteristics, including the flutter boundary across the Mach range. It is this data that is being presented in this paper. An extensive database of over 3000 data sets was obtained. This database includes steady and unsteady control surface effectiveness data, including pressure distributions, control surface hinge moments, and overall model loads due to deflections of a trailing edge control surface and upper and lower surface

Scott, Robert C.↗
DOE OSTI2016

Synthesis and magnetic properties of bundled and dispersed Co{sub 3}O{sub 4} nanowires

Highlights: • Co{sub 3}O{sub 4} nanowires possessed the same diameter and the different interwires distance. • All samples possessed antiferromagnetism and superparamagnetism at high temperature. • The exchange bias effect was observed at low temperature. • The surface spin coupling restrained the surface effect of magnetic nanostructures. - Abstract: The magnetic Co{sub 3}O{sub 4} nanowires were synthesized using the templates of SBA-15, and then the well-dispersed nanowires (D-wires) were separated from the bundled ordered nanowires (B-wires) with the centrifugal technique. TEM images indicated that D-wires were highly dispersed Co{sub 3}O{sub 4} nanowires and B-wires existed in bundles. All samples possessed the antiferromagnetism and superparamagnetism at high temperature. After revealing the intrinsic magnetic properties of Co{sub 3}O{sub 4} nanowires with D-wires, the magnetic behavior of B-wires was discussed in detail, and then the magnetic interaction between neighboring nanowires could be deduced. The exchange bias effect from the body Co{sub 3}O{sub 4} antiferromagnetism and surface ferromagnetism was observed at low temperature. The magnetization of B-wires was higher than that of D-wires, which was attributed to the constraint of the surface spin coupling between the neighboring nanowires to the surface affect of nanostructures.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2019

Surface chemistry and composition-induced variation of laser interference-based surface treatment of Al alloys

A key limitation for the use of aluminum alloys in multi-material structural components is effective surface cleaning and texturing techniques to improve the quality of structural joints. In this study, the surface and sub-surface chemistries are investigated for a novel surface treatment method using laser interferometry produced by two beams of a pulsed Nd:YAG laser. Surfaces of AA 5128 aluminum alloy were treated using a two-beam laser interference setup, enabling the structuring of the surface at length scales much less than that of the laser beam. Periodic and patterned surface structures were created by the interference power profile through ablation of deposits and debris and melting and re-solidification of the near-surface region during laser-treatment. Chemical changes to the Al alloy surface induced by laser treatment were examined in detail in this study using both x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and scanning Auger microanalysis (SAM) as a function of number of interfering laser shots. XPS surface analysis indicates that this laser technique is effective at cleaning aluminum surfaces. Furthermore, SAM data indicated that there is a compositional-induced variation of Mg due to laser-interference as Mg-rich areas were found in periodic interference-structured ridges.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
NASA NTRS1993

Effects of low earth orbit

The effects of low earth orbit on the Long-Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF) spacecraft are reported. The LDEF spacecraft was deployed in low earth orbit in 1984 and was retrieved in 1990. The structure and design of LDEF is described. The dose of ionizing radiation received, data obtained, and its effects on the satellite are discussed. Atomic oxygen surface effects, oxygen induced damage, and damage from meteoroids and man-made debris are examined and an analysis of meteoroid impacts is presented. The effects of molecular and particulate contamination of the spacecraft's surface and instrument damage were analyzed. Post-flight analysis of LDEF's framework and experiments provided much information about the space environment and its effects on spacecraft materials and will be useful in the design of long-lived large space structures.

Murr, Lawrence E.↗