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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 91 records · Page 5

Assessing the Relocation of Artemis Foundational Lunar Surface Concepts

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has defined a functionally based Moon to Mars (M2M) architecture consisting of four key human exploration segments: human lunar return (HLR), foundational exploration (FE), sustained lunar evolution (SLE), and humans to Mars (H2M). These segments are portions of the architecture which represent a stepwise increase in complexity and achievement of M2M objectives [1]. As systems are deployed during the FE segment, it may be desired or even necessary to relocate these elements on the lunar surface as the architecture transitions into the SLE segment. While some Artemis elements under development, such as rovers, are being designed for mobility during both crewed and uncrewed/dormant periods, other architectural concepts do not currently carry a mobility capability. In preparation for the Agency’s 2023 Architecture Concept Review (ACR), a team was assembled to establish a methodology for assessing the relocation feasibility of normally stationary elements. Such a capability could be applied locally or regionally, and might allow for re-purposing previously occupied terrain, expansion of exploration range, aggregation of habitation elements, or retiring systems at the end of their useful service life. The assembled NASA team investigated the relocation trade space through defining a representative concept of operations (ConOps) and assessing possible system impacts. The team focused predominately on the relocation of medium and large surface habitat architectural concepts through surface-based traverses utilizing separable mobility platforms (SMP). A representative mobility platform model was placed through simulation to analyze the possible energy requirements and dynamic illumination impacts. Preliminary assessment indicated that element relocation might be achievable, however significant system and architectural-level risks still need to be quantified. Future analysis will assist in determining what degree of element relocation provides the greatest benefit to achieving a sustained lunar presence. [1] NASA. (2022). Moon to Mars Objectives. Retrieved from: https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/m2m-objectives-exec-summary.pdf

Artemis↗

Supersonic Wind Tunnel Capabilities Expanded Into Subsonic Region

The operating envelope of the Abe Silverstein 10- by 10-Foot Supersonic Wind Tunnel (10x10 SWT) at the NASA Lewis Research Center was recently expanded to include operation at subsonic test section speeds. This new capability generates test section air speeds ranging from Mach 0.05 to 0.35 (32 to 240 kn). Most of the expansion in air speed range was obtained by running the tunnel's main compressor at much lower speeds than ever before. The compressor drive system, consisting of four large electric motors, was run with only one or two motors energized to obtain the lower compressor speed range. This new capability makes the 10x10 SWT more versatile and gives U.S. researchers an enhanced ability to perform subsonic propulsion and aerodynamic testing.

Roeder, James W., Jr.↗

Charging and ion ejection dynamics of large helium nanodroplets exposed to intense femtosecond soft xray pulses

Ion ejection from charged helium nanodroplets exposed to intense femtosecond soft X-ray pulses is studied by single-pulse ion time-of-flight (TOF) spectroscopy in coincidence with small-angle X-ray scattering. Scattering images encode the droplet size and absolute photon flux incident on each droplet, while ion TOF spectra are used to determine the maximum ion kinetic energy, Ekin, of He+ j fragments (j = 1-4). Measurements span HeN droplet sizes between N similar to 10(7) and similar to 10(10) (radii R-0 = 78-578 nm), and droplet charges between similar to 9x10(-5) and similar to 3x10(-3) e/atom. Conditions encompass a wide range of ionization and expansion regimes, from departure of all photoelectrons from the droplet, leading to pure Coulomb explosion, to substantial electron trapping by the electrostatic potential of the charged droplet, indicating the onset of hydrodynamic expansion. The unique combination of absolute Xray intensities, droplet sizes, and ion Ekin on an event-by-event basis reveals a detailed picture of the correlations between the ionization conditions and the ejection dynamics of the ionic fragments. The maximum E-kin of He+ is found to be governed by Coulomb repulsion from unscreened cations across all expansion regimes. The impact of ion-atom interactions resulting from the relatively low charge densities is increasingly relevant with less electron trapping. The findings are consistent with the emergence of a charged spherical shell around a quasineutral plasma core as the degree of ionization increases. The results demonstrate a complex relationship between measured ion E-kin and droplet ionization conditions that can only be disentangled through the use of coincident single-pulse TOF and scattering data.

Helium↗

Structure and Negative Thermal Expansion in Zr 0.3 Sc 1.7 Mo 2.7 V 0.3 O 12

A 2 M 3 O 12 -based materials have received considerable attention owing to their wide range of negative thermal expansion (NTE) and chemical flexibility toward novel materials design. However, the structure and NTE mechanism remain challenging. In this paper, Zr 4+ and V 5+ are used as a unit to compensatorily replace Sc 3+ and Mo 6+ in Sc 2 Mo 3 O 12 to tune its thermal expansion. Its crystal structure, phase transition, NTE property, and corresponding mechanisms are studied by high-resolution synchrotron X-ray diffraction, powder X-ray diffraction, ultralow-frequency Raman spectroscopy, and density functional theory calculations. The results show that Zr 0.3 Sc 1.7 Mo 2.7 V 0.3 O 12 adopts an orthorhombic (Pbcn) structure at room temperature, with V atoms occupying the position of Mo1 atoms and Zr atoms occupying the position of Sc atoms, and transforms to monoclinic (P2 1 /a) structure at similar to ~133 K (45 K lower than that of Sc 2 Mo 3 O 12 ). It exhibits excellent NTE in a broader range. Most of the phonon modes below 350 cm -1 have negative Grüneisen parameters, of which the lowest and next-lowest frequency (38.5 and 45.8 cm -1 ) optical phonon modes arising from the translational vibrations of the Sc/Zr and Mo/V atoms in the plane of the nonlinear linkage Sc/Zr-O-Mo/V have the largest and next-largest negative Grüneisen parameters and positive total anharmonicity, and contribute most to the NTE.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Temperature dependence of mechanical and thermal expansion properties of T300/5208 graphite/epoxy

The 116-394 K temperature range elastic constants, ultimate strengths and thermal expansion behavior of T300/5208 graphite/epoxy laminates of various different lay-up types have been determined. It is noted that most properties exhibit nearly linear temperature dependencies, although the transverse modulus and axial thermal expansion vary nonlinearly with temperature, and change in value by an order of magnitude over the present temperature range.

Hyer, M. W.↗

First-principles and cluster expansion study of the effect of magnetism on short-range order in Fe–Ni–Cr austenitic stainless steels

Short-range order (SRO), the regular and predictable arrangement of atoms over short distances, alters the mechanical properties of technologically relevant structural materials such as medium/high entropy alloys and austenitic stainless steels. In this study, we present a generalized spin cluster expansion (CE) model and show that magnetism is a primary factor influencing the level of SRO present in austenitic Fe-Ni-Cr alloys. The spin CE consists of a chemical cluster expansion combined with an Ising model for Fe-Ni-Cr austenitic alloys. It explicitly accounts for local magnetic exchange interactions, thereby capturing the effects of finite temperature magnetism on SRO. Model parameters are obtained by fitting to a first-principles data set comprising both chemically and magnetically diverse FCC configurations. The magnitude of the magnetic exchange interactions are found to be comparable to the chemical interactions. Compared to a conventional implicit magnetism CE built from only magnetic ground state configurations, the spin CE shows improved performance on several experimental benchmarks over a broad spectrum of compositions, particularly at higher temperatures due to the explicit treatment of magnetic disorder. We find that SRO is strongly influenced by alloy Cr content, since Cr atoms prefer to align antiferromagnetically with nearest neighbors but become magnetically frustrated with increasing Cr concentration. Using the spin CE, we predict that increasing the Cr concentration in typical austenitic stainless steels promotes the formation of SRO and increases order-disorder transition temperatures. Furthermore, this study underscores the significance of considering magnetic interactions explicitly when exploring the thermodynamic properties of complex transition metal alloys. It also highlights guidelines for customizing SRO through adjustments of alloy composition.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Thermal expansion of the hexagonal (4H) polytype of SiC

The principal axial coefficients of thermal expansion, alpha(11) and alpha(33), of the (4H) polytype of hexagonal alpha SiC have been determined by X-ray diffraction measurements in the temperature range 20-1000 C. Alpha(11) and alpha(33), derived from the lattice parameter measurements, were expressed as the second-order polynomials in temperature. Alpha(11) was found to be larger than alpha(33) over the entire temperature range, with a thermal expansion anisotropy factor A increasing from 0.04 at room temperature to 0.11 at 1000 C. The thermal expansion results for the (4H) structure were compared with previously published results for the cubic (3C) and the hexagonal (6H) SiC polytypes.

Li, Z.↗

Climate-driven deoxygenation elevates fishing vulnerability for the ocean's widest ranging shark

Climate-driven expansions of ocean hypoxic zones are predicted to concentrate pelagic fish in oxygenated surface layers, but how expanding hypoxia and fisheries will interact to affect threatened pelagic sharks remains unknown. Here, analysis of satellite-tracked blue sharks and environmental modelling in the eastern tropical Atlantic oxygen minimum zone (OMZ) shows shark maximum dive depths decreased due to combined effects of decreasing dissolved oxygen (DO) at depth, high sea surface temperatures, and increased surface-layer net primary production. Multiple factors associated with climate-driven deoxygenation contributed to blue shark vertical habitat compression, potentially increasing their vulnerability to surface fisheries. Greater intensity of longline fishing effort occurred above the OMZ compared to adjacent waters. Higher shark catches were associated with strong DO gradients, suggesting potential aggregation along suitable DO gradients contributed to habitat compression and higher fishing-induced mortality. Fisheries controls to counteract deoxygenation effects on shark catches will be needed as oceans continue warming.

Vedor, Marisa↗

Microscopic, Multipoint Characterization of Foreshock Bubbles With Magnetosphere Multiscale (MMS)

This work presents the first detailed analysis of foreshock bubbles (FBs) using high‐resolution Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) data. Between October 2017 and January 2019, MMS captured 10 foreshock transient events with burst resolution data that we show are consistent with FBs. One “textbook” event is examined and described in detail. Employing the multipoint nature of MMS, we demonstrate how the size and orientation, expansion speed, and distance since formation can be estimated. From all 10 events, FB sizes ranged from 1.1 to 9.9 RE (average of 4.4 RE), and expansion speeds ranged from 139 to 377 km/s (average of 257 km/s). FBs formed under a usual range of solar wind conditions between 3 and 20 RE upstream of Earth's bow shock. We also report on new features of FBs: deep and localized magnetic “holes” within the cores of FBs, where the total field strength drops to <1 nT.

D. L. Turner↗

Negative thermal expansion and the role of hybridization in perovskite-type PbTiO 3 -Bi(Cu 0.5 Ti 0.5) O 3

PbTiO 3 -BiMeO 3 ferroelectrics have attracted much attention due to not only their extremely large polarization and piezoelectricity but also their controllable thermal expansion. In this study, we present a new binary system of (1 - x)PbTiO 3 -xBi(Cu 0.5 Ti 0.5 )O 3 possessing large tetragonality and enhanced spontaneous polarization. Interestingly, a combination of near zero thermal expansion and negative thermal expansion over a temperature range of RT to T C (~550 °C) has been observed in tetragonal 0.85PbTiO 3 -0.15Bi(Cu 0.5 Ti 0.5 )O 3 . The comprehensive structure analysis addressed that the abnormal thermal expansion is coupled to the spontaneous volume ferroelectrostriction. Moreover, the chemical bonding investigation by a maximum entropy method further attests that the covalent hybridization of Pb/Bi–O bonds plays a vital role in the improved ferroelectricity and interacts with thermal vibration to dominate the crossover from positive to negative thermal expansion. fINALLY, The present studies would give direct evidence to verify the theoretical calculations and could be extended to reveal the nature of thermal expansion in ferroelectrics.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Thermal expansion behavior of LDEF metal matrix composites

The effects of the space environment on the thermal expansion stability of metal matrix composites (graphite/Al and graphite/Mg) will be presented. A sample from each category of metal matrix composites mounted on the leading and trailing edge was chosen for analysis of the temperature-time-thermal strain histories. Typical thermal expansion curves over the same range of temperature were selected at the beginning, mid, and end of the recording duration. The thermal expansion of selected post-flight LDEF samples were measured over the same range of temperature in the laboratory using a Michelson laser interferometer. The thermal strains were monitored concurrently with a laser interferometer and a mounted strain gage.

Le, T. D.↗

Theoretical performance of liquid ammonia, hydrazine and mixture of liquid ammonia and hydrazine as fuels with liquid oxygen biflouride as oxidant for rocket engines : I-mixture of liquid ammonia and hydrazine

Theoretical performance for mixture of 36.3 percent liquid ammonia and 63.7 percent hydrazine with liquid oxygen bifluoride as rocket propellant was calculated on assumption of equilibrium composition during expansion for a wide range of fuel-oxidant and expansios ratios. Parameters included were specific impulse, combustion-chamber temperature, nozzle exit temperature, composition mean molecular weight, characteristic velocity, coefficient of thrust and ratio of nozzle-exit area to throat area. For chamber pressure of 300 pounds per square inch absolute and expansion to 1 atmosphere, maximum specific impulse was 295.8 pound-seconds per pound. Five percent by weight of water in the hydrazine lowered specific impulse from about one to three units over a wide range of weight-percent fuel.

Huff, Vearl N↗

Controlled thermal coefficient product system and method

A controlled thermal coefficient product manufacturing system and method is disclosed. The disclosed product relates to the manufacture of metallic material product (MMP) having a thermal expansion coefficient (TEC) in a predetermined range. The disclosed system and method provides for a first material deformation (FMD) of the MMP that comprises at least some of a first material phase (FMP) wherein the FMP comprises martensite randomly oriented and a first thermal expansion coefficient (FTC). In response to the FMD at least some of the FMP is oriented in at least one predetermined orientation. Subsequent to deformation, the MMP comprises a second thermal expansion coefficient (STC) that is within a predetermined range and wherein the thermal expansion of the MMP is in at least one predetermined direction. The MMP may be comprised of a second material phase (SMP) that may or may not transform to the FMP in response to the FMD.

Monroe, James Alan↗

Controlled thermal coefficient product system and method

A controlled thermal coefficient product manufacturing system and method is disclosed. The disclosed product relates to the manufacture of metallic material product (MMP) having a thermal expansion coefficient (TEC) in a predetermined range. The disclosed system and method provides for a first material deformation (FMD) of the MMP that comprises at least some of a first material phase (FMP) wherein the FMP comprises martensite randomly oriented and a first thermal expansion coefficient (FTC). In response to the FMD at least some of the FMP is oriented in at least one predetermined orientation. Subsequent to deformation, the MMP comprises a second thermal expansion coefficient (STC) that is within a predetermined range and wherein the thermal expansion of the MMP is in at least one predetermined direction. The MMP may be comprised of a second material phase (SMP) that may or may not transform to the FMP in response to the FMD.

Monroe, James Alan↗

Condensation in CO2 free jet expansions. I - Dimer formation.

A theoretical and experimental investigation of the kinetics of CO2 dimer formation in the adiabatically expanding core of a free jet expansion has been carried out. The theoretical analysis is based on dimer formation by an efficient termolecular process and dimer destruction by bimolecular collisions. Account is taken of the expected variation of the specific heat ratio during the expansion and of the effective increase in the termolecular collision rate at low temperatures due to the presence of loosely bound orbiting pairs. Experimental dimer concentrations were measured mass spectrometrically by forming a molecular beam from the expanded gas mixture after the onset of molecular flow. Observed dimer concentrations, for a range of pre-expansion conditions of 400 to 900 torr pressure and room temperature, are in good agreement with the theoretical analysis, provided that account is taken of the effect of loosely bound orbiting pairs at low temperatures.

Dorfeld, W. G.↗

Electron radiation effects on the thermal expansion of graphite/resin composites

The effects of 1 MeV electron radiation on the thermal expansion characteristics of two graphite reinforced resin matrix composite systems were studied. Specimens of both graphite/epoxy (T300/5208) and graphite/polyimide (C6000/PMR15) were irradiated to a total dose of 6 x 10 to the 9th rads at two different rates. Dynamic mechanical analyses (DMA) were performed to study changes in resin chemistry. Thermal expansion results indicate that radiation did produce permanent residual strains of up to -70 x 10 to the -6th for the graphite/epoxy when exposed to temperatures up to +280 F. However, no permaanent changes in the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) were observed. No permanent residual strains or changes in the CTE attributable to radiation were observed for the graphite/polyimide specimens. DMA results indicate that electron radiation caused chemical changes in the epoxy matrix. These changes resulted in a lower glass transition temperature and broader 'rubbery region' which extended into the temperature range of the thermal expansion tests.

Bowles, D. E.↗

The heating of nova ejecta by radioactive decays of the beta-unstable nuclei

Recent nucleosynthesis and hydrodynamic calculations of the consequences of accretion onto massive ONeMg white dwarf stars show that under certain circumstances significant amounts of the beta-unstable nuclei can be produced and ejected by the resulting explosion. We use these calculations as a guide in order to obtain the conditions under which the heating of the ejected material by the nonthermal electrons and positrons produced by the decays of the beta-unstable nuclei is sufficient to overcome the cooling from adiabatic expansion and lead to the production of X-ray-emitting coronal gas. These conditions are as follows: (1) a mass fraction for Na-22 of the order of 10(exp -3) or greater, (2) an expansion velocity in the range approximately 10(exp 2) - 10(exp 3) km/s, (3) a photospheric radius of approximately 10(exp 14) cm, (4) if the density distribution in the atmosphere satisfies a power law, then the exponent must be less than 3 for heating to overcome adiabatic cooling. Both the simulations of the outburst and the model atmosphere fits to the observed energy distributions, however, imply that the exponent is greater than or = 3 during the early phases of the outburst. Nevertheless, for a value of the exponent of 2, we predict the time when hot coronal gas can form during the expansion phases of the envelope.

Pistinner, Shlomi↗