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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 739 records · Page 41
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2018

Final Scientific/Technical Report, Multi-Sensor Inspection and Robotic Systems for Dry Storage Casks

Once removed from service, fuel rod assemblies are cooled in a pool and then placed in dry storage until they can be transported to a repository for disposal. The extended duration that used nuclear fuel spends in dry storage makes it prudent to be able to nondestructively inspect the dry storage casks. The degradation mechanisms of most concern are chloride-induced stress corrosion cracking of the stainless steel canister that confines the spent fuel and distributed cracking of the concrete in the overpack structure. Multi-sensor inspection and robotic systems were researched, developed, built, and tested. One system operates completely outside the cask to inspect the concrete. The other system, known as the PRINSE system, for Proactive Robotic Inspection of Nuclear Storage Enclosures, enters the cask through an outlet vent and navigates around the outer surface of the stainless steel canister. The PRINSE system delivers sensors for: (i) real-time characterization of the canister surface in order to assess whether chlorides are present, (ii) detecting the presence of cracks using shear-horizontal ultrasonic guided waves, (iii) measuring the temperature of the canister surface, and (iv) a gamma radiation counter. The four sensing modalities are applicable to any cask containing a stainless steel canister, however the robotic delivery system is designed specifically for Holtec’s HI-STORM family of casks. Horizontal axis casks have exposed concrete surfaces. A fully contactless air-coupled scanning ultrasonic test platform and a frequency-wavenumber domain data analysis method are used for these concrete structures. Analysis, numerical simulation and experimental results demonstrate that distributed cracks in concrete can be detected and cracked regions localized within a scanned region of concrete. Vertical axis casks (like the HI-STORM family) have steel-clad concrete overpacks. In a separate effort, a semi-coupled test platform and a guided wave attenuation-based data analysis method are used for disbond detection. Analysis, numerical simulation and experimental results show that the bonding conditions of steel-concrete interfaces can be quantitatively characterized using the guided wave signal analysis scheme. The PRINSE system is designed for vertical axis dry storage casks, specifically the HI-STORM family. The double pulse laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) system takes advantage of an optical fiber to deliver intense light to the canister surface that enables surface composition characterization in-situ in real time. Chlorine concentrations as low as 10 mg/m2 were detected on stainless steel. Additionally, a simpler laser setup was created to detect sodium as a surrogate for chlorine, and sodium was detectable when the chlorine concentration was as low as 0.5 mg/m2. The electromagnetic acoustic transducers (EMATs) enable detection of stress corrosion cracks. The EMATs generate shear-horizontal waves that propagate around the canister and are reflected by cracks enabling 100% of the canister weld lines to be inspected. The EMAT-based crack detection system was tested at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory on a canister containing blind defects and was shown to detect the crack sizes it was designed to detect. The PRINSE system is a novel marsupial robot. The command center and winch outside the cask control the delivery arm and train of cars that traverse the outside of the canister from the cask ventilation system. The sensors are housed in the cargo bays of three cars that comprise the train, which is lowered to the bottom of the canister by the winch. Encoders on the winch enable the sensors to be delivered to a prescribed location, e.g., for re-inspection of a problem area. The PRINSE system does not mar the canister surface, can be extracted manually in the case of a power failure, and is designed for an elevated temperature and gamma radiation environment, although not all components of the prototype are made from the final materials. The PRINSE system was tested on a full canister that was placed inside a HI-STORM cask at the Holtec Manufacturing Division. It was also demonstrated on a full-height mockup at Penn State to a live audience.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
NASA NTRS1995

3D thin film microstructures for space microrobots

Micromechanisms of locomotion and a manipulator with an external skeleton like the structure of an insect are proposed. Several micro-sized models were built on silicon wafers by using polysilicon for rigid plates and polyimide for elastic joints. Due to scale effects, friction in micromechanical components is dominant as compared to the inertial forces because friction is proportional to L(exp 2) while mass is proportional to L(exp 3). Therefore, to ensure efficient motion, rotational joint that exhibits rubbing should be avoided. In this paper, paper models of a robot leg and a micro-manipulator are presented to show structures with external skeletons and elastic joints. Then the large scale implementation using plastic plates, springs, and solenoids is demonstrated. Since the assembly technique is based on paper folding, it is compatible with thin film micro-fabrication and integrated circuit (IC) planar processes. Finally, several micromechanisms were fabricated on silicon wafers to demonstrate the feasibility of building a 3D microstructure from a single planar structure that can be used for space microrobots.

Shimoyama, Isao↗
NASA NTRS2017

Flexible Proteins at the Origin of Life

Almost all modern proteins possess well-defined, relatively rigid scaffolds that provide structural preorganization for desired functions. Such scaffolds require the sufficient length of a polypeptide chain and extensive evolutionary optimization. How ancestral proteins attained functionality, even though they were most likely markedly smaller than their contemporary descendants, remains a major, unresolved question in the origin of life. On the basis of evidence from experiments and computer simulations, we argue that at least some of the earliest water-soluble and membrane proteins were markedly more flexible than their modern counterparts. As an example, we consider a small, evolved in vitro ligase, based on a novel architecture that may be the archetype of primordial enzymes. The protein does not contain a hydrophobic core or conventional elements of the secondary structure characteristic of modern water-soluble proteins, but instead is built of a flexible, catalytic loop supported by a small hydrophilic core containing zinc atoms. It appears that disorder in the polypeptide chain imparts robustness to mutations in the protein core. Simple ion channels, likely the earliest membrane protein assemblies, could also be quite flexible, but still retain their functionality, again in contrast to their modern descendants. This is demonstrated in the example of antiamoebin, which can serve as a useful model of small peptides forming ancestral ion channels. Common features of the earliest, functional protein architectures discussed here include not only their flexibility, but also a low level of evolutionary optimization and heterogeneity in amino acid composition and, possibly, the type of peptide bonds in the protein backbone.

Flexible protein↗
DOE OSTI2022

Evolution of Bonding and Magnetism via Changes in Valence Electron Count in CuFe 2– x Co x Ge 2

A series of solid solutions, CuFe 2–x Co x Ge 2 (x = 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.8, and 1.0), have been synthesized by arc-melting and characterized by powder X-ray and neutron diffraction, magnetic measurements, Mössbauer spectroscopy, and electronic band structure calculations. All compounds crystallize in the CuFe 2 Ge 2 structure type, which can be considered as a three-dimensional framework built of fused MGe6 octahedra and MGe 5 trigonal bipyramids (M = Fe and Co), with channels filled by rows of Cu atoms. As the Co content (x) increases, the unit cell volume decreases in an anisotropic fashion: the b and c lattice parameters decrease while the a parameter increases. The changes in all the parameters are nearly linear, thus following Vegard’s law. CuFe 2 Ge 2 exhibits two successive antiferromagnetic (AFM) orderings, corresponding to the formation of a commensurate AFM structure, followed by an incommensurate AFM structure observed at lower temperatures. Additionally, as the Co content increases, the AFM ordering temperature (TN) gradually decreases, and only one AFM transition is observed for x ≥ 0.2. The magnetic behavior of unsubstituted CuFe 2 Ge 2 was found to be sensitive to the preparation method. The temperature-dependent zero-field 57 Fe Mössbauer spectra reveal two hyperfine split components that evolve in agreement with the two consecutive AFM orderings observed in magnetic measurements. In contrast, the field-dependent spectra obtained for fields ≥ 2 T reveal a parallel arrangement of the moments associated with the two crystallographically unique metal sites. Electronic band structure calculations and chemical bonding analysis reveal a mix of strong M–M antibonding and non-bonding states at the Fermi level, in support of the overall AFM ordering observed in zero field. The substitution of Co for Fe reduces the population of the M–M antibonding states and the overall density of states at the Fermi level, thus suppressing the T N value.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2017

Stochastic level-set method for shape optimisation

We present a new method for stochastic shape optimisation of engineering structures. The method generalises an existing deterministic scheme, in which the structure is represented and evolved by a level-set method coupled with mathematical programming. The stochastic element of the algorithm is built on the methods of statistical mechanics and is designed so that the system explores a Boltzmann–Gibbs distribution of structures. In non-convex optimisation problems, the deterministic algorithm can get trapped in local optima: the stochastic generalisation enables sampling of multiple local optima, which aids the search for the globally-optimal structure. The method is demonstrated for several simple geometrical problems, and a proof-of-principle calculation is shown for a simple engineering structure.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2024

Genetic underpinnings of arthropod community distributions in Populus trichocarpa

Community genetics seeks to understand the mechanisms by which natural genetic variation in heritable host phenotypes can encompass assemblages of organisms such as bacteria, fungi, and many animals including arthropods. Prior studies that focused on plant genotypes have been unable to identify genes controlling community composition, a necessary step to predict ecosystem structure and function as underlying genes shift within plant populations. Here, we surveyed arthropods within an association population of Populus trichocarpa in three common gardens to discover plant genes that contributed to arthropod community composition. We analyzed our surveys with traditional single-trait genome-wide association analysis (GWAS), multitrait GWAS, and functional networks built from a diverse set of plant phenotypes. Plant genotype was influential in structuring arthropod community composition among several garden sites. Candidate genes important for higher level organization of arthropod communities had broadly applicable functions, such as terpenoid biosynthesis and production of dsRNA binding proteins and protein kinases, which may be capable of targeting multiple arthropod species. We have demonstrated the ability to detect, in an uncontrolled environment, individual genes that are associated with the community assemblage of arthropods on a host plant, further enhancing our understanding of genetic mechanisms that impact ecosystem structure.

Community genetics↗
DOE OSTI2023

The effect of secondary phases on microstructure and irradiation damage in an as-built additively manufactured 316 L stainless steel with a hafnium compositional gradient

Additive manufacturing (AM) or rapid prototyping has become a crucial tool for reducing both cost and time while increasing efficiency in qualifying structural materials for reactor use. In this study, directed energy deposition (DED) was used to develop an as-built 316 L stainless steel sample with three regions of increasing Hf-dopant to study the effects of Hf on the irradiation response of the material. Morphological and microstructural changes were analyzed before and after 2 MeV proton irradiation at 360 °C to a damage of 2.5 dpa at ~ 10 µm below the surface. The addition of Hf effectively suppressed radiation-induced damage (dislocation loops, radiation-induced segregation) due to enhanced point defect recombination. The radiation damage seen in the as-built sample was further compared to a thermo-mechanically treated counterpart of the same fabrication and irradiation parameters which was found to behave superiorly. In conclusion, the increased radiation resistance of this material may be attributed to the as-built microstructure, which includes undissolved Hf particles, delta ferrite grains and cellular sub-grain boundaries that can hinder defect motion.

316L Stainless Steel↗
DOE OSTI2024

Void-Engineered Metamaterial Delay Line with Built-In Impedance Matching for Ultrasonic Applications

Metamaterials exhibit unique ultrasonic properties that are not always achievable with traditional materials. However, the structures and geometries needed to achieve such properties are often complex and difficult to obtain using common fabrication techniques. In the present research work, we report a novel metamaterial acoustic delay line with built-in impedance matching that is fabricated using a common 3D printer. Delay lines are commonly used in ultrasonic inspection when signals need to be separated in time for improved sensitivity. However, if the impedance of the delay line is not perfectly matched with those of both the sensor and the target medium, a strong standing wave develops in the delay line, leading to a lower energy transmission. The presented metamaterial delay line was designed to match the acoustic impedance at both the sensor and target medium interfaces. This was achieved by introducing graded engineered voids with different densities at both ends of the delay line. The measured impedances of the designed metamaterial samples show a good match with the theoretical predictions. The experimental test results with concrete samples show that the acoustic energy transmission is increased by 120% and the standing wave in the delay line is reduced by over a factor of 2 compared to a commercial delay line.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
NASA NTRS2014

Diagnosability-Based Sensor Placement through Structural Model Decomposition

Systems health management, and in particular fault diagnosis, is important for ensuring safe, correct, and efficient operation of complex engineering systems. The performance of an online health monitoring system depends critically on the available sensors of the system. However, the set of selected sensors is subject to many constraints, such as cost and weight, and hence, these sensors must be selected judiciously. This paper presents an offline design-time sensor placement approach for complex systems. Our diagnosis method is built upon the analysis of model-based residuals, which are computed using structural model decomposition. Sensor placement in this framework manifests as a residual selection problem, and we aim to find the set of residuals that achieves single-fault diagnosability of the system, uses the minimum number of sensors, and corresponds to the best model decomposition for the best distribution of the diagnosis system. We present a set of algorithms for solving this problem and compare their performance in terms of computational complexity and optimality of solutions. We demonstrate the approach using a benchmark multi-tank system.

Daigle, Matthew↗
DOE OSTI2016

A multi-level anomaly detection algorithm for time-varying graph data with interactive visualization

This work presents a novel modeling and analysis framework for graph sequences which addresses the challenge of detecting and contextualizing anomalies in labelled, streaming graph data. We introduce a generalization of the BTER model of Seshadhri et al. by adding flexibility to community structure, and use this model to perform multi-scale graph anomaly detection. Specifically, probability models describing coarse subgraphs are built by aggregating node probabilities, and these related hierarchical models simultaneously detect deviations from expectation. This technique provides insight into a graph's structure and internal context that may shed light on a detected event. Additionally, this multi-scale analysis facilitates intuitive visualizations by allowing users to narrow focus from an anomalous graph to particular subgraphs or nodes causing the anomaly. For evaluation, two hierarchical anomaly detectors are tested against a baseline Gaussian method on a series of sampled graphs. We demonstrate that our graph statistics-based approach outperforms both a distribution-based detector and the baseline in a labeled setting with community structure, and it accurately detects anomalies in synthetic and real-world datasets at the node, subgraph, and graph levels. Furthermore, to illustrate the accessibility of information made possible via this technique, the anomaly detector and an associated interactive visualization tool are tested on NCAA football data, where teams and conferences that moved within the league are identified with perfect recall, and precision greater than 0.786.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗
DOE OSTI2023

High-resolution x-ray spectrometer for x-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy

Two extended x-ray absorption fine structure flat crystal x-ray spectrometers (EFX’s) were designed and built for high-resolution x-ray spectroscopy over a large energy range with flexible, on-shot energy dispersion calibration capabilities. The EFX uses a flat silicon [111] crystal in the reflection geometry as the energy dispersive optic covering the energy range of 6.3–11.4 keV and achieving a spectral resolution of 4.5 eV with a source size of 50 μm at 7.2 keV. A shot-to-shot configurable calibration filter pack and Bayesian inference routine were used to constrain the energy dispersion relation to within ±3 eV. The EFX was primarily designed for x-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) spectroscopy and provides significant improvement to the Laboratory for Laser Energetics’ OMEGA-60 XAFS experimental platform. The EFX is capable of performing extended XAFS measurements of multiple absorption edges simultaneously on metal alloys and x-ray absorption near-edge spectroscopy to measure the electron structure of compressed 3d transition metals.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
DOE OSTI2022

Effect of processing parameters and build orientation on microstructure and performance of AISI stainless steel 304L made with selective laser melting under different strain rates

Selective laser melting (SLM) process brings diverse potentials on geometry flexibility; therefore, it is more and more widespread to be employed in fabrication metal alloys served for industries. Nonetheless, a material characterization study is desired to carry on for better understanding the correlation among process, structure, microstructure, and performance. In the current study, the SLM fabricated AISI stainless steel 304L was fabricated with different process parameters and built orientations (horizontal, inclined, and vertical. The tensile behavior was evaluated under different strain rates (0.0001 /s, 0.001 /s, 0.01 /s, and 0.1 /s) and compared to the commercial cold-rolled and annealed counterpart. Grain structures, tensile strength, elongation-to-failure, strain rate sensitivity, work hardening, and fractographic analysis were evaluated in terms of the effect of energy density, build orientation, and strain rate. The output indicates the tensile strength increases with increasing strain rates. On the contrary, the elongation-to-failure shows a decreasing trend with strain rates. Tensile properties of specimens built in the horizontal and inclined orientations are more sensitive to strain rates due to the smaller dimension of grain structures. Tensile anisotropy depends on the energy input, where a high energy density could yield a strong build orientation-dependent anisotropy. Hall-Petch relationship is validated to explain the mechanical anisotropy in different built orientations for SLM alloys. The strain hardening exponent and work hardening rate are demonstrated to be positively correlated, and they increase with smaller grain sizes. The fine dimple features indicate the ductile fracture mode regardless of strain rates. The size of the ductile dimples seems to depend on the strain rates and build orientations.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
NASA NTRS1991

Structural fatigue in the 34-meter HA-dec antennas

Three 26-m hour-angle/declination (HA-dec) antennas, designed for a life span of 20 years, were built in the early 1960s for the NASA Deep Space Network. After 16 years the antennas were upgraded. The design required a structural weight increase of about 50 percent in both the HA and dec structures to achieve the desired improvements. The fatigue caused by the resulting stress-reversal conditions is discussed. The structural failures and their analyses are described.

Van Hek, Ronald A.↗
NASA NTRS2020

Structural Analysis of Wind Tunnel Blades for the National Transonic Facility

NASA has a significant maintenance challenge with the agency’s aging wind tunnel infrastructure. Wind tunnel blades, such as the ones in the National Transonic Facility at NASA Langley Research Center, have been subjected to damage from impacts and fatigue. Accurate analytical models of these blades are necessary to either recertify replacement blades to be built or for redesign of these blades. In this paper a process for generating structural finite element models of these wind tunnel blades is presented. The model developed in this paper was analyzed under loading conditions from tests conducted on the original blades and the results are compared with legacy strain gage data.

Brian H Mason↗
DOE OSTI2017

Syntheses and structural characterization of vanado-tellurites and vanadyl-selenites: SrVTeO{sub 5}(OH), Cd{sub 2}V{sub 2}Te{sub 2}O{sub 11}, Ca{sub 3}VSe{sub 4}O{sub 13}·H{sub 2}O and Ba{sub 2}VSe{sub 3}O{sub 10}

Four new quaternary vanado-tellurites and vanadyl-selenites, namely, SrVTeO{sub 5}(OH)(1), Cd{sub 2}V{sub 2}Te{sub 2}O{sub 11}(2), Ca{sub 3}VSe{sub 4}O{sub 13}·H{sub 2}O(3) and Ba{sub 2}VSe{sub 3}O{sub 10}(4) have been synthesized and structurally characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction. The oxidation state of vanadium is +5 in tellurites 1 and 2 and +4 in selenites 3 and 4. The structures of SrVTeO{sub 5}(OH)(1) and Cd{sub 2}V{sub 2}Te{sub 2}O{sub 11}(2) compounds consist of (VTeO{sub 5}(OH)){sup 2-} and (V{sub 2}Te{sub 2}O{sub 11}){sup 4-}anionic chains respectively, which are built from tetrahedral VO{sub 4} and disphenoidal TeO{sub 4} moieties. Similarly the structures of Ca{sub 3}VSe{sub 4}O{sub 13}·H{sub 2}O(3) and Ba{sub 2}VSe{sub 3}O{sub 10}(4) respectively contain (VSe{sub 2}O{sub 7}){sup 2-} and (VSe{sub 3}O{sub 10}){sup 4-} anionic chains, which are made up of octahedral VO{sub 6} and pyramidal SeO{sub 3} units. Compounds 1 and 3 have been characterized by thermogravimetric and infrared spectroscopic methods. Compounds 1 and 2 are wide band gap semiconductors. - Graphical abstract: Ca{sub 3}VSe{sub 4}O{sub 13}·H{sub 2}O and Ba{sub 2}VSe{sub 3}O{sub 10} compounds contain (VSe{sub 2}O{sub 7}){sup 2-} and (VSe{sub 3}O{sub 10}){sup 4-} chains. - Highlights: • Four new vanado-tellurites and vanadyl-selenites are synthesized. • Their structural features are different. • The vanado-tellurites are wide band gap semiconductors.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
NASA NTRS1984

Test structures for propagation delay measurements on high-speed integrated circuits

The accuracy of high-speed wafer-level measurements on digital IC's is limited by the probe interface. This limitation strongly encourages the use of built-in on-chip test hardware to reduce the number of critical off-chip high-speed interfaces. A novel synchronous propagation delay test structure is described which will provide accurate parametric data under typical automatic test conditions. Built-in test features added to complex combinational circuits are shown which are useful for delay measurement and which reduce the total number of high-speed I/O connections while still providing acceptable fault coverage in many cases.

Long, S. I.↗
DOE OSTI2014

Built-in voltage of organic bulk heterojuction p-i-n solar cells measured by electroabsorption spectroscopy

We investigate the influence of the built-in voltage on the performance of organic bulk heterojuction solar cells that are based on a p-i-n structure. Electrical doping in the hole and the electron transport layer allows to tune their work function and hence to adjust the built-in voltage: Changing the doping concentration from 0.5 to 32 wt% induces a shift of the work function towards the transport levels and increases the built-in voltage. To determine the built-in voltage, we use electroabsorption spectroscopy which is based on an evaluation of the spectra caused by a change in absorption due to an electric field (Stark effect). For a model system with a bulk heterojunction of BF-DPB and C{sub 60}, we show that higher doping concentrations in both the electron and the hole transport layer increase the built-in voltage, leading to an enhanced short circuit current and solar cell performance.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2020

Self-Assembled Periodic Nanostructures Using Martensitic Phase Transformations

We describe a novel approach for the rational design and synthesis of self-assembled periodic nanostructures using martensitic phase transformations. We demonstrate this approach in a thin film of perovskite SrSnO 3 with reconfigurable periodic nanostructures consisting of regularly spaced regions of sharply contrasted dielectric properties. The films can be designed to have different periodicities and relative phase fractions via chemical doping or strain engineering. The dielectric contrast within a single film can be tuned using temperature and laser wavelength, effectively creating a variable photonic crystal. Our results show the realistic possibility of designing large-area self-assembled periodic structures using martensitic phase transformations with the potential of implementing "built-to-order" nanostructures for tailored optoelectronic functionalities.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗