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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 883 records · Page 49

Spatial and Temporal Variations in the Moment Tensor Solutions of the 2008 Wenchuan Earthquake Aftershocks and Their Tectonic Implications

Following the mainshock of the 2008 M8 Wenchuan Earthquake, there were more than 300 M L ≥ 4.0 aftershocks that occurred between 12 May 2008 and 8 September 2010. We analyzed here the broadband waveforms for these events and found 160 events with sufficient signal-to-noise levels to invert for seismic moment tensors. Considering the length of the activated fault and the distances to the recording stations, four velocity models were employed to account for variability in crustal structure. The moment tensor solutions show considerable variations with a mixture of mainly reverse and strike-slip mechanisms and a small number of normal events and ambiguous events. We analyzed the spatial and temporal distribution of the aftershocks and their mechanism types to characterize the structure and the deformation occurring in the Longmen Shan fold and thrust belt. Our results suggest that the stress is very complex at the Longmen Shan fault zone. The moment tensors have both a spatial segmentation with two major categories of the moment tensor of thrust and strike slip; and a temporal pattern that the majority of the aftershocks gradually migrated to thrust-type events. The variability of aftershock mechanisms is a strong indication of significant tectonic release and stress reorganization that activated numerous small faults in the system.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗

Comparative Analysis of Imaging and Measurements of Micrometer-Scale Fracture Aperture Fields Within a Heterogeneous Rock Using PET and X-ray CT

Knowledge of the spatial distribution of fracture apertures is essential for reliable characterization of flow and transport processes in fractured systems and for better understanding of physicochemical matrix–fracture interactions. Here, we propose and test two image-based methods, thereby extending the current experimental capabilities to characterize aperture size distribution in structurally heterogeneous geologic porous media noninvasively. The first approach utilizes an inversion method based on the dataset acquired from positron emission tomography (PET) and the second approach considers an extension of the classic missing attenuation technique that relies on clinical X-ray computed tomography (X-ray CT). Independent sets of imaging experiments are conducted on a fractured basalt core with heterogeneous matrix properties and aperture distributions to compare the two methodologies. A repeat of each experiment is conducted to verify the proposed workflows. The performance of these two imaging techniques is systematically evaluated through the analysis of signal-to-noise ratio, minimum fracture size detectability, and measurement errors. While both approaches provide a reliable estimation of fracture aperture distributions, PET yields a signal-to-noise ratio that is substantially higher than the corresponding X-ray CT measurements. Furthermore, uncertainties of the aperture values for PET are considerably lower ($\bar {\sigma}_{\text {d}} = 15\%$) compared to those obtained from X-ray CT ($\bar {\sigma}_{\text {d}} = 29\%$), allowing for the detection of minimum aperture sizes of 20 $\mu$m with 70% confidence level. Finally, these approaches provide key experimental tools for better understanding dynamic hydromechanical fracture properties in geologic systems.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗

Microbeam synchrotron radiation diffraction and fluorescence of oxide layers formed on zirconium alloys at different corrosion temperatures

Autoclave corrosion tests of Zircaloy-4 were performed at temperatures ranging from 274°C to 427 °C to determine how the characteristics of the oxide layer changed with corrosion temperature. Corroded samples were prepared in cross-section and examined at the Advanced Photon Source using x-ray diffraction and fluorescence with sub-micron spatial resolution. These measurements provide high fidelity data for characterization of the oxide layer grown on zirconium alloys over a range of temperatures to better understand the fundamental mechanisms of corrosion. It was found that the size of the monoclinic oxide grains increases with distance from the metal-oxide interface, while the average grain size of the tetragonal oxide phase decreases. This is consistent with the continuous nucleation of a mixture of equiaxed tetragonal and monoclinic grains at the metal-oxide interface, of which only the monoclinic oxide grains that are properly aligned to minimize stresses grow into long columnar oxide grains. The tetragonal phase oxide grains transform to monoclinic oxide once a critical size is reached. While the monoclinic oxide grain size increases with corrosion temperature, the tetragonal phase grain size remains below a maximum value. Evolution of the tetragonal fraction, calculated with the Garvie-Nicholson formula, was observed, with local maxima seen just before transition and local minima seen at oxide locations corresponding to the oxide kinetic transition. No difference was observed in the tetragonal phase fraction in the oxide layers formed at different corrosion temperatures. Detailed fluorescence and diffraction mapping of one sample showed the evolution of the diffraction intensity over a short range in the oxide. In conclusion, this work provides a systematic study revealing fundamental characteristics of the microstructure of Zircaloy-4 oxide layers to further understanding of corrosion resistance of these materials.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Systematic mapping of the conformational landscape and dynamism of soluble fibrinogen

Background: Fibrinogen is a soluble, multisubunit, and multidomain dimeric protein, which, upon its proteolytic cleavage by thrombin, is converted to insoluble fibrin, initiating polymerization that substantially contributes to clot growth. Fibrinogen contains numerous, transiently accessible “cryptic” epitopes for hemostatic and immunologic proteins, suggesting that fibrinogen exhibits conformational flexibility, which may play functional roles in its temporal and spatial interactions. Hitherto, there have been limited integrative approaches characterizing the solution structure and internal flexibility of fibrinogen. Methods: Here, utilizing a multipronged, biophysical approach involving 2 solution-based techniques, temperature-dependent hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass spectrometry and small angle X-ray scattering, corroborated by negative stain electron microscopy, we present a holistic, conformationally dynamic model of human fibrinogen in solution. Results: Our data reveal 4 major and distinct conformations of fibrinogen accommodated by a high degree of internal protein flexibility along its central scaffold. We propose that the fibrinogen structure in the solution consists of a complex, conformational landscape with multiple local minima. This is further supported by the location of numerous point mutations that are linked to dysfibrinogenemia and posttranslational modifications, residing near the identified fibrinogen flexions. Conclusion: Further, this work provides a molecular basis for the structural “dynamism” of fibrinogen that is expected to influence the broad swath of its functionally diverse macromolecular interactions and fine-tune the structural and mechanical properties of blood clots.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Crystallization kinetics and nanoparticle ordering in semicrystalline polymer nanocomposites

There has been considerable interest in the nucleation and crystallization of polymers in the presence of nanoparticles (NPs, or nanofillers in general, NFs). Most of the extensive work in this area has focused on anisotropic, non-Brownian NFs (e.g., clay sheets, carbon nanotubes) whose spatial dispersion state in these nanocomposites is controlled by the process by which they are formed. Hence, NF spatial dispersion is generally limited and often remains poorly characterized. Thermodynamic handles that can be used to control NF dispersion state in the polymer melt include (a) favorable interactions between the polymer chains and the bare NP surfaces, or (b) the density and length of the chains, with the same chemistry as the matrix, grafted to the NP surface. These relatively large NFs merely act as stationary objects that affect the kinetics of nucleation by providing heterogeneous sites, and the crystallization rate by confining the polymer in the melt state. The dispersion state of the NFs can dramatically affect the nucleation and crystallization of the matrix, but in most cases reported, the NFs increase nucleation efficiency relative to the neat polymer. At higher NF loadings, the effect of polymer confinement by the NFs dominates, leading to a decrease in crystal growth rates. This review describes the most important lessons learned from these commonly studied systems and then extends to polymer composite systems containing small, mobile spherical NPs (typically smaller than 100 nm in size). The role of NP mobility, which provides for dynamic confinement of the polymer melt, on the kinetics of polymer crystallization (nucleation, growth, and overall crystallization) and how this behavior is mostly consistent with the case of immobile NF is a second important focus of this review. In addition to the role of NFs on crystallization kinetics, recently reported nanoparticle ordering phenomena such as the effect of matrix crystallization on the organization of small spherical NPs within the amorphous regions of the semicrystalline morphology are discussed. In conclusion, such phenomena are clearly not observed for large NFs and hence provide a point of departure from past works in this area.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Spatiotemporal and Statistical Mapping of Transition Metal Equilibria in Alkaline Media

Transition metal dissolution and redeposition (D/R) kinetics in alkaline media play a critical role in various chemical and electrochemical processes. Competitive reaction kinetics between different transition metals can modulate individual metal behavior in these processes. To date, these phenomena have remained largely unmeasured, and even when captured, they are difficult to statistically characterize due to their dynamic nature, simultaneous occurrence, and spatially heterogeneous nature. Here, in this study, we develop a statistical analysis framework based on in situ and operando X-ray fluorescence microscopy (XFM) to investigate the relative D/R kinetics of multiple transition metals in alkaline media. By employing statistical analysis, we quantify the spatial distribution of D/R species and assess the rate at which the system reaches equilibrium under varying reaction conditions. We show that pH does not simply change the rate of dissolution and redeposition, but reorganizes the cross-element kinetic correlations among Ni, Fe, and Mn and accelerates the spatial equilibration of D/R events, as quantified through correlation analysis, reaction-rate estimation, probability function distributions, and texture-based monitoring statistics. Additionally, we demonstrate how modifying the solvent environment can influence D/R kinetics, providing a pathway for tuning materials synthesis and process optimization. Our study offers valuable insights into the complex interplay between different transition metals and provides a reliable statistical framework for spatial analysis of diverse imaging data sets, enabling deeper extraction of latent information across multiple modalities.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Morphological Control of Chromophore Spin State in Zinc Porphyrin–Peptide Assemblies

Self-assembled peptide micelles and fibers demonstrate unique control over the photophysical properties of the bound, light-activated chromophore, zinc protoporphyrin IX, (PPIX)Zn. Micelles encapsulate either a mixture of uncoordinated and coordinated (PPIX)Zn or all coordinated depending on the ratio of peptide/porphyrin. As the ratio increases toward a 1:1 micelle/porphyrin ratio, providing the chromophore with a discrete coordination environment reminiscent of unstructured proteins, the micelles favor triplet formation. Fibers, however, promote a linear array of porphyrin molecules that dictates exciton hopping and excimer formation at ratios as high as 60:1, peptide/porphyrin. However, even in fibers, the formation of the triplet species increases with increasing peptide/porphyrin ratio due to increased spatial separation between neighboring chromophores facilitating intersystem crossing. Full characterization of the micelles structures and comparison to the fibers lead to the comparison with natural systems and the ability to control the excited populations that have utility in photocatalytic processes. In addition, the incorporation of a second chromophore, heme, yields an electron transfer pathway in both micelles and fibers that highlights the utility of the peptide assemblies when engineering multichromophore arrays as inspired by natural, photosynthetic proteins.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

macroMS: Image-Guided Analysis of Random Objects by Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry

Mass spectrometry imaging is well-suited to characterizing sample surfaces for their chemical content in a spatially resolved manner. However, when the surface contains small objects with significant empty spaces between them, more efficient approaches to sample acquisition are possible. Image-guided mass spectrometry (MS) enables high-throughput analysis of a diverse range of sample types, such as microbial colonies, liquid microdroplets, and others, by recognizing and analyzing selected location targets in an image. Here, we describe an imaging protocol and macroMS, an online software suite that can be used to enhance MS measurements of macroscopic samples that are imaged by a camera or a flatbed scanner. Furthermore, the web-based tool enables users to find and filter targets from the optical images, correct optical distortion issues for improved spatial location of selected targets, input the custom geometry files into an MS device to acquire spectra at the selected locations, and finally, perform limited data analysis and use visualization tools to aid locating samples containing compounds of interest. Using the macroMS suite, an enzyme mutant library of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and nL droplet arrays of Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas fluorescens have been assayed at a rate of ~2 s/sample.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

Gas Transfer Across Air‐Water Interfaces in Inland Waters: From Micro‐Eddies to Super‐Statistics

In inland water covering lakes, reservoirs, and ponds, the gas exchange of slightly soluble gases such as carbon dioxide, dimethyl sulfide, methane, or oxygen across a clean and nearly flat air‐water interface is routinely described using a water‐side mean gas transfer velocity $\overline{k_{L}}$, where overline indicates time or ensemble averaging. The micro‐eddy surface renewal model predicts $\overline{k_{L}}$ = α o Sc -1/2 ($v\bar{ϵ}$) 1/4 , where Sc is the molecular Schmidt number, $v$ is the water kinematic viscosity, and $\bar{ϵ}$ is the waterside mean turbulent kinetic energy dissipation rate at or near the interface. While α o = 0.39 - 0.46 has been reported across a number of data sets, others report large scatter or variability around this value range. It is shown here that this scatter can be partly explained by high temporal variability in instantaneous ϵ around $\bar{ϵ}$, a mechanism that was not previously considered. As the coefficient of variation (CV e ) in ϵ increases, α o must be adjusted by a multiplier (1 = CV e 2 ) -3/32 that was derived from a log‐normal model for the probability density function of ϵ. Reported variations in α o with a macro‐scale Reynolds number can also be partly attributed to intermittency effects in ϵ. Such intermittency is characterized by the long‐range (i.e., power‐law decay) spatial auto‐correlation function of ϵ. That α o varies with a macro‐scale Reynolds number does not necessarily violate the micro‐eddy model. Instead, it points to a coordination between the macro‐ and micro‐scales arising from the transfer of energy across scales in the energy cascade.

Batchelor scale↗

Shock drive capabilities of a 30-Joule laser at the matter in extreme conditions hutch of the Linac Coherent Light Source

In this paper, we measure the shock drive capabilities of a 30 J, nanosecond, 527 nm laser system at the matter in extreme conditions hutch of the Linac Coherent Light Source. Using a velocity interferometer system for any reflector, we ascertain the maximum instantaneous ablation pressure and characterize its dependence on a drive laser spot size, spatial profile, and temporal profile. We also examine the effects of these parameters on shock spatial and temporal uniformity. Our analysis shows the drive laser capable of generating instantaneous ablation pressures exceeding 160 GPa while maintaining a 1D shock profile. We find that slope pulses provide higher instantaneous ablation pressures than plateau pulses. Our results show instantaneous ablation pressures comparable to those measured at the Omega Laser Facility in Rochester, NY under similar optical drive parameters. In conclusion, we analyze how optical laser ablation pressures are compare with known scaling relations, accounting for variable laser wavelengths.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

Thermoreflectance imaging of electromigration evolution in asymmetric aluminum constrictions

Electromigration (EM) is a phenomenon whereby the flow of current in metal wires moves the underlying atoms, potentially inducing electronic interconnect failures. The continued decrease in commercial lithographically defined feature sizes means that EM presents an increasing risk to the reliability of modern electronics. To mitigate these risks, it is important to look for novel mechanisms to extend lifetime without forfeiting miniaturization. Typically, only the overall increase in the interconnect resistance and failure voltage are characterized. However, if the current flows non-uniformly, spatially resolving the resulting hot spots during electromigration aging experiments may provide better insights into the fundamental mechanisms of this process. Here in this study, we focus on aluminum interconnects containing asymmetric reservoir and void pairs with contact pads on each end. Such reservoirs are potential candidates for self-healing. Thermoreflectance imaging was used to detect hot spots in electrical interconnects at risk of failure as the voltage was gradually increased. It reveals differential heating with increasing voltage for each polarity. We find that while current flow going from a constriction to a reservoir causes a break at the void, the identical structure with the opposite polarity can sustain higher current (J = 21 × 10 6 A/cm 2 ) and more localized joule heating and yet is more stable. Ultimately, a break takes place at the contact pad where the current flows from narrow interconnect to larger pads. In summary, thermoreflectance imaging with submicron spatial resolution provides valuable information about localized electromigration evolution and the potential role of reservoirs to create more robust interconnects.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗

Flow field characteristics of a 127-pin rod bundle with hexagonal spacer grids

A determination of nominal flow phenomena in liquid metal fast reactor (LMFR) fuel assemblies is critical toward generation-IV reactor development. Axially positioned spacer grids are used to maintain the geometry of hexagonal rod bundles and simultaneously introduce perturbations in the flow. Three-dimensional (3D) printed asymmetric honeycomb spacer grids were installed in a prototypical 127-pin LMFR fuel assembly model to study complex fluid dynamics interactions induced by the spacer grid and rods. To characterize flow dynamics in this intricate geometry, time-resolved particle image velocimetry (TR-PIV) using the matched-index-of-refraction method was employed to obtain non-intrusive velocity measurements for three axial planes (one near-wall and two interior planes) at a Reynolds number of 6000. The statistical TR-PIV results compared sub-channel-dependent normalized time-averaged velocity, velocity fluctuations, Reynolds stress, vorticity, and turbulence kinetic energy distributions. TR-PIV line profiles characterized downstream spacer grid flow dynamics. Two-point spatial and spatial–temporal cross-correlation fields revealed local coherent structures and quantified convection velocities of traveling vortices. Spatial–temporal decomposition using dynamic mode decomposition (DMD) applied to the near-wall vorticity fields extracted turbulent structures and flow instabilities in the wake region of the spacer grid, along with their decay and frequency rates. Reduced-order velocity fields from DMD reconstructions identified the most energy-containing coherent structures persistent in the near-wall region. This research provides experimental data sets and analyses of flow behavior in rod bundles with hexagonal spacer grids. In conclusion, the results are critical toward LMFR design and geometry optimization, crucial for the validation of computational fluid dynamics and reduced-order flow models.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Tracking Aerosol Convective Interactions Experiment (TRACER) Science Plan

Convective clouds play an important role in the Earth’s climate system as a driver of large-scale circulations and a primary mechanism for the transport of heat, moisture, aerosols, and momentum throughout the troposphere. Despite their climatic importance, multi-scale models continue to have persistent biases produced by insufficient representation of convective clouds. This is the result of an incomplete understanding of key processes such as convective initiation, updraft and downdraft dynamics, cloud and precipitation microphysics, and aerosol-convection interactions. The Aerosol-Cloud-Precipitation-Climate Initiative, an international research group dedicated to advancing understanding of aerosol impacts on clouds relevant to climate, has identified the Houston, Texas region as an optimal location for targeted studies of aerosol-convection interactions within frequently developing isolated deep convection. Houston lies within a humid subtropical climate regime, where onshore flow and sea-breeze convection interact with a range of aerosol conditions associated with Houston’s urban and industrial emissions. Pilot studies have suggested that convective clouds in this region are potentially significantly impacted by the varying aerosol conditions. To increase our understanding of convective cloud life cycles and aerosol-convection interactions, the Tracking Aerosol Convection Interactions Experiment (TRACER) aims to collect a comprehensive data set focused on the evolution of convective clouds and the environment (including aerosol, cloud, thermodynamics, and lightning) in which the clouds initiate, grow, and decay. A unique component of TRACER is that a large number of individual, isolated convective cells will be tracked and measured in high spatial and temporal resolution for the purposes of: (i) Characterizing and linking convective cloud kinematic and microphysical life cycles, (ii) Quantifying environmental thermodynamic and kinematic controls on convective life cycle properties, (iii) Isolating and quantifying the impacts of aerosol properties on convective cloud kinematic and microphysical evolution. TRACER includes a one-year deployment of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) user facility’s first ARM Mobile Facility (AMF1) and second-generation C-Band Scanning ARM Precipitation Radar (CSAPR2) aimed at collecting statistical data sets of cloud, precipitation, atmospheric state, and aerosol under varying aerosol loading and local circulation (sea breeze and urban heat island) conditions. A four-month intensive operational period (IOP) from June through September will include deployment of an ancillary site with aerosol, atmospheric state, and precipitation measurements at a location rarely impacted by Houston’s anthropogenic emissions, which will be commonplace near the AMF1 site. Convective cell tracking by the CSAPR2 will provide high-resolution polarimetric and velocity observations under a range of environmental (including aerosol loading) conditions. High-frequency radiosonde launches will capture quickly evolving thermodynamic and kinematic conditions near convective cells, a requirement for isolating aerosol effects on clouds. TRACER will additionally leverage a lightning mapping array, surface meteorological networks, and air pollution networks, and proposals will be entered to deploy additional mobile radar and radiosonde assets during the IOP. This unique combination of cloud, precipitation, lightning, aerosol, and atmospheric state measurements associated with tracked convective cells will ultimately improve our understanding of the convective cloud life cycle and its interaction with individual environmental factors such that improved, next-generation cumulus, microphysics, turbulence, and aerosol parameterizations can be designed.

Convective clouds, aerosols, cloud life cycle, atm↗

An investigation of the facsimile camera response to object motion

A general analytical model of the facsimile camera response to object motion is derived as an initial step toward characterizing the resulting image degradation. This model expresses the spatial convolution of a time-varying object radiance distribution and camera point-spread function for each picture element in the image. Time variations and these two functions during each convolution account for blurring of small image detail, and variations between, as well as during, successive convolutions account for geometric image distortions. If the object moves beyond the angular extent of several picture elements while it is being imaged, then geometric distortion tends to dominate blurring as the primary cause of image degradation. The extent of distortion depends not only on object size and velocity but also on the direction of object motion, and is therefore difficult to classify in a general sense.

Huck, F. O.↗

A plan for the characterization, calibration, and evaluation of LAPR-2

A new airborne Linear Array Pushbroom Radiometer (LAPR-II) was built. LAPR-II will use linear arrays of silicon detectors to acquire four channels of digital image data for spectral bands within the visible and near infrared portions of the spectrum (0.4 - 1.0 micrometers). The data will be quantized to 10 bits, and spectral filters for each channel will be changeable in flight. The instrument will initially be flown aboard a NASA/Wallops' aircraft, and off nadir pointing of LAPR-II will be possible. Together, the instrument and its platform will provide a flexible readily available source of digital image data for scientific experiments. If LAPR-II is to serve as a precise scientific instrument, the instrument's characteristics must be quantitatively described and the data must be calibrated with respect to absolute radiometric units. The LAPR-II is described and the work required to characterize the instrument's spectral response, radiometric response, and spatial resolution and to calibrate the response from the many detectors per array is outlined.

Ilrons, J. R.↗

Static and dynamic properties of incommensurate smectic-A(IC) liquid crystals

The elasticity, topological defects, and hydrodynamics of the incommensurate smectic A(IC) phase liquid crystals are studied. The phase is characterized by two colinear mass density waves of incommensurate spatial frequency. The elastic free energy is formulated in terms of a displacement field and a phason field. It is found that the topological defects of the system are dislocations with a nonzero phason field and phason field components. A two-dimensional Burgers lattice for these dislocations is introduced. It is shown that the hydrodynamic modes of the phase include first- and second-sound modes whose direction-dependent velocities are identical to those in ordinary smectics.

Lubensky, T. C.↗

The impact of land-surface wetness heterogeneity on mesoscale heat fluxes

Vertical heat fluxes associated with mesoscale circulations generated by land-surface wetness discontinuities are often stronger than turbulent fluxes, especially in the upper part of the atmospheric planetary boundary layer. As a result, they contribute significantly to the subgrid-scale fluxes in large-scale atmospheric models. Yet they are not considered in these models. To provide some insights into the possible parameterization of these fluxes in large-scale models, a state-of-the-art mesoscale numerical model was used to investigate the relationships between mesoscale heat fluxes and atmospheric and land-surface characteristics that play a key role in the generation of mesoscale circulations. The distribution of land-surface wetness, the wavenumber and the wavelength of the land-surface discontinuities, and the large-scale wind speed have a significant impact on the mesoscale heat fluxes. Empirical functions were derived to characterize the relationships between mesoscale heat fluxes and the spatial distribution of land-surface wetness. The strongest mesoscale heat fluxes were obtained for a wavelength of forcing corresponding approximately to the local Rossby deformation radius. The mesoscale heat fluxes are weakened by large-scale background winds but remain significant even with moderate winds.

Chen, Fei↗