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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 109 records · Page 6

Evaluation of hot corrosion behavior of thermal barrier coatings

Calcium silicate and yttria stabilized zirconia/MCrAlY thermal barrier coating systems on air-cooled specimens were exposed to sodium plus vanadium doped Mach 0.3 combustion gases. Thermal barrier coating endurance was determined to be a strong inverse function of ceramic coating thickness. Coating system durability was increased through the use of higher Cr + Al NiCrAl and CoCrAlY bond coatings. Chemical and electron microprobe analyses supported the predictions of condensate compositions and the determination of their roles in causing spalling of the ceramic coatings.

Hodge, P. E.↗

Evaluation of the hot corrosion behavior of thermal barrier coatings

Calcium silicate and yttria-stabilized ZrO2/(M-Cr-Al-Y) thermal barrier coating systems on air-cooled specimens were exposed to sodium- plus vanadium-doped Mach 0.3 combustion gases. The thermal barrier coating endurance was determined to be a strong inverse function of the ceramic coating thickness. Coating system durability was increased through the use of Ni-Cr-Al-Y and Co-Cr-Al-Y bond coatings with high chromium and aluminum contents. Chemical and electron microprobe analyses supported the predictions of condensate compositions and the determination of their roles in causing spalling of the ceramic coatings.

Hodge, P. E.↗

Probabilistic evaluation of uncertainties and risks in aerospace components

This paper summarizes a methodology developed at NASA Lewis Research Center which computationally simulates the structural, material, and load uncertainties associated with Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME) components. The methodology was applied to evaluate the scatter in static, buckling, dynamic, fatigue, and damage behavior of the SSME turbo pump blade. Also calculated are the probability densities of typical critical blade responses, such as effective stress, natural frequency, damage initiation, most probable damage path, etc. Risk assessments were performed for different failure modes, and the effect of material degradation on the fatigue and damage behaviors of a blade were calculated using a multi-factor interaction equation. Failure probabilities for different fatigue cycles were computed and the uncertainties associated with damage initiation and damage propagation due to different load cycle were quantified. Evaluations on the effects of mistuned blades on a rotor were made; uncertainties in the excitation frequency were found to significantly amplify the blade responses of a mistuned rotor. The effects of the number of blades on a rotor were studied. The autocorrelation function of displacements and the probability density function of the first passage time for deterministic and random barriers for structures subjected to random processes also were computed. A brief discussion was included on the future direction of probabilistic structural analysis.

Shah, A. R.↗

Influence of Zero-Shear on Yeast Development

The objective of the research was to begin evaluating the effect of zero-shear on the development of the cell wall of Saccharomyces cerevisiae employing the High Aspect Rotating-Wall Vessel (HARV) NASA bioreactor. This particular yeast has enormous potential for research as a model eukaryotic system on the International Space Station, as well as the production of food stuffs' at the future lunar colony. Because the cell wall is the barrier between the cell and the environment, its form and function as influenced by microgravity is of great importance. Morphologic studies revealed that the circularity and total area of the individual yeast cells were essentially the same in both the control and test HARV's. The growth rates were also essentially the same. In zero-shear, the yeast grew in clumps consisting of rudimentary pseudohyphae in contrast to solitary budding cells in the control. Based upon mechanical and sonic shear applied to the yeast cells, those grown in zero-shear had stronger cell walls and septa. This suggests that there are structural differences, most likely related to the chitin skeleton of the cell wall. From this research further NASA support was obtained to continue the work. Investigations will deal with gene expression and ultrastructure. These will lead to a clearer assessment of the value of S. cerevisiae eukaryotic as a model for space station research.

McGinnis, Michael R.↗

MAGESTIC: Magnetically Enabled Structures Using Interacting Coils

In our NIAC Phase I study, awarded September 2011, the MIT Space Systems Lab (MIT SSL) began investigating a new structural and mechanical technique aimed at reducing the mass and increasing the stowed-to-deployed ratio of spacecraft systems. This technique uses the magnetic fields from current passing through coils of high temperature superconductors (HTSs) to support spacecraft structures and deploy them to operational configurations from their positions as stowed inside a launch vehicle fairing. These electromagnetic coils are tethered or hinged together in such a way that their motion in some directions or around some axes is constrained, as in Figure 1. Our Phase II study,awarded in Fall 2012, continued this work on electromagnetic structures, with an added focus on developing a new thermal system, investigating additional, non-structural electromagnet functions, and creating a maturation roadmap and plan for addressing barriers to feasibility of the technology. We now call the project MAGESTIC, or Magnetically Enabled STructures using Interacting Coils.

Superconductors↗

Low-cycle fatigue of thermal-barrier coatings at 982 deg C

The low-cycle fatigue lives of ZrO2-NiCrAlY and Al2O3-ZrO2-NiCrAlY thermal-barrier coatings in air at 982 C were determined from cyclic flexural tests of coated TAZ-8A strips. Strains were computed as a function of specimen displacements from a nonlinear, three-dimensional stress analysis program. Fatigue resistances of thermal-barrier coatings applied to the strips were compared with those of uncoated and NiCrAlY-coated strips. The results indicate that ZrO2 is about four times greater in fatigue life than TAZ-8A at 982 C, that ZrO2 would probably retain that fatigue strength up to 1316 C, and that adding an outer coat of Al2O3 to ZrO2 is neither beneficial nor detrimental to fatigue resistance.

Kaufman, A.↗

Preliminary study of a solar selective coating system using black cobalt oxide for high temperature solar collectors

Black cobalt oxide coatings (high solar absorptance layer) were deposited on thin layers of silver or gold (low emittance layer) which had been previously deposited on oxidized (diffusion barrier layer) stainless steel substrates. The reflectance properties of these coatings were measured at various thicknesses of cobalt for integrated values of the solar and infrared spectrum. The values of absorptance and emittance were calculated from the measured reflectance values, before and after exposure in air at 650 C for approximately 1000 hours. Absorptance and emittance were interdependent functions of the weight of cobalt oxide. Also, these cobalt oxide/noble metal/oxide diffusion barrier coatings have absorptances greater than 0.90 and emittances of approximately 0.20 even after about 1000 hours at 650 C.

Mcdonald, G.↗

Extended active space CASSCF/MRSD CI calculations of the barrier height for the reaction O + H2 yields OH + H

The convergence of the barrier height for the O + H2 yields OH + H reaction is studied as a function of the size of the active space in the CASSCF calculation and the size of the basis set. The basis set employed in this study is described. The sources of the differences between the POL-CI and MRSD-CI calculations for barrier height are examined. It is observed that the barrier height is rapidly convergent with respect to the expansion of the active space. The effects of adding active orbitals on the barrier height are investigated. The barrier height estimated from corrected MRSD-CI data is 12.4 kcal/mol.

Walch, Stephen P.↗

Long-Wavelength Infrared Detector

Proposed device detects infrared photons of 10- to 100-micrometer wavelength by intersubband absorption in coupled quantum wells. Based on splitting of energy level occuring when two quantum wells placed so close together wave functions of quantized energy levels overlap. Detector absorbs photons, energy which equals difference in energy between two levels resulting from split. Because degree of overlap of wave functions and, therefore, magnitude of split varied by varying width of barrier between two coupled wells, such detector, in principle, designed to operate at any desired wavelength. Restrictions on design parameters of quantum wells of proposed device less severe than single-well devices. Energy levels near tops of wells still necessary so photoexcited carriers tunnel out. Additional flexibility in design obtained by use of wells formed by barriers of different heights.

Vasquez, Richard P.↗

Robust Low Cost Liquid Rocket Combustion Chamber by Advanced Vacuum Plasma Process

Next-generation, regeneratively cooled rocket engines will require materials that can withstand high temperatures while retaining high thermal conductivity. Fabrication techniques must be cost efficient so that engine components can be manufactured within the constraints of shrinking budgets. Three technologies have been combined to produce an advanced liquid rocket engine combustion chamber at NASA-Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) using relatively low-cost, vacuum-plasma-spray (VPS) techniques. Copper alloy NARloy-Z was replaced with a new high performance Cu-8Cr-4Nb alloy developed by NASA-Glenn Research Center (GRC), which possesses excellent high-temperature strength, creep resistance, and low cycle fatigue behavior combined with exceptional thermal stability. Functional gradient technology, developed building composite cartridges for space furnaces was incorporated to add oxidation resistant and thermal barrier coatings as an integral part of the hot wall of the liner during the VPS process. NiCrAlY, utilized to produce durable protective coating for the space shuttle high pressure fuel turbopump (BPFTP) turbine blades, was used as the functional gradient material coating (FGM). The FGM not only serves as a protection from oxidation or blanching, the main cause of engine failure, but also serves as a thermal barrier because of its lower thermal conductivity, reducing the temperature of the combustion liner 200 F, from 1000 F to 800 F producing longer life. The objective of this program was to develop and demonstrate the technology to fabricate high-performance, robust, inexpensive combustion chambers for advanced propulsion systems (such as Lockheed-Martin's VentureStar and NASA's Reusable Launch Vehicle, RLV) using the low-cost VPS process. VPS formed combustion chamber test articles have been formed with the FGM hot wall built in and hot fire tested, demonstrating for the first time a coating that will remain intact through the hot firing test, and with no apparent wear. Material physical properties and the hot firing tests are reviewed.

Holmes, Richard↗

Nonlinear optical response of metal-barrier-metal junctions

The optical response of metal-barrier-metal (MBM) junctions is discussed, with emphasis on the nonlinearity of response associated with reversal of polarity as optical intensity is increased. This nonlinear behavior can be used to measure correlation functions of optical pulses or to generate ultrashort electrical pulses. Expressions for the current flowing through the insulating barrier (junction), and for the rectification current, are given. Pulse signal and polarity of the electrical pulse evolves as the junction bias is varied about the null-signal bias. The apparatus used to obtain rectification pulse signals is described; the calculated evolution of the rectified pulse shape is found to correspond to that of pulse signals obtained experimentally. The generation of pulses six orders of magnitude smaller than a previously-obtained instrument-limited 1.6 nanosecond pulse has been observed.

Fan, B.↗

Theoretical Prediction of Thermal Expansion Anisotropy for Y 2 Si 2 O 7 Environmental Barrier Coatings Using a Deep Neural Network Potential and Comparison to Experiment

Environmental barrier coatings (EBCs) are an enabling technology for silicon carbide (SiC)-based ceramic matrix composites (CMCs) in extreme environments such as gas turbine engines. However, development of new coating systems is hindered by the large design space and difficulty in predicting properties for these materials. Density Functional Theory (DFT) has successfully been used to model and predict some thermodynamic and thermo-mechanical properties of high-temperature ceramics for EBCs, although these calculations are challenging due to their high computational costs. In this work, we use machine learning to train a deep neural network potential (DNP) for Y 2 Si 2 O 7 , which is then applied to calculate thermodynamic and thermo-mechanical properties at near-DFT accuracy much faster and using less computational resources than DFT. We use this DNP to predict phonon-based thermodynamic properties of Y 2 Si 2 O 7 with good agreement to DFT and experiments. We also utilize the DNP to calculate the anisotropic, lattice direction-dependent coefficients of thermal expansion (CTEs) for Y 2 Si 2 O 7 . Molecular dynamics trajectories using the DNP correctly demonstrate accurate prediction of the anisotropy of the CTE in good agreement with diffraction experiments. In the future, this DNP could be applied to accelerate additional property calculations for Y 2 Si 2 O 7 compared to DFT or experiments.

rare earth silicates↗

Isomerization reaction dynamics and equilibrium at the liquid-vapor interface of water. A molecular-dynamics study

The gauche-trans isomerization reaction of 1,2-dichloroethane at the liquid-vapor interface of water is studied using molecular-dynamics computer simulations. The solvent bulk and surface effects on the torsional potential of mean force and on barrier recrossing dynamics are computed. The isomerization reaction involves a large change in the electric dipole moment, and as a result the trans/gauche ratio is considerably affected by the transition from the bulk solvent to the surface. Reactive flux correlation function calculations of the reaction rate reveal that deviation from the transition-state theory due to barrier recrossing is greater at the surface than in the bulk water. This suggests that the system exhibits non-Rice-Ramsperger-Kassel-Marcus behavior due to the weak solvent-solute coupling at the water liquid-vapor interface.

Benjamin, Ilan↗

One-dimensional models of quasi-neutral parallel electric fields

Parallel electric fields can exist in the magnetic mirror geometry of auroral field lines if they conform to the quasineutral equilibrium solutions. Results on quasi-neutral equilibria and on double layer discontinuities were reviewed and the effects on such equilibria due to non-unique solutions, potential barriers and field aligned current flows using as inputs monoenergetic isotropic distribution functions were examined.

Stern, D. P.↗

Heavy Ion Induced Degradation in SiC Schottky Diodes: Bias and Energy Deposition Dependence

Experimental results on ion-induced leakage current increase in 4H-SiC Schottky power diodes are presented. Monte Carlo and TCAD simulations show that degradation is due to the synergy between applied bias and ion energy deposition. This degradation is possibly related to thermal spot annealing at the metal semiconductor interface. This thermal annealing leads to an inhomogeneity of the Schottky barrier that could be responsible for the increase leakage current as a function of fluence.

modeling↗

Surface compositional variations of Mo-47Re alloy as a function of temperature

Molybdenum-rhenium alloys are candidate materials for the National Aero-Space Plane (NASP) as well as for other applications in generic hypersonics. These materials are expected to be subjected to high-temperature (above 1200 C) casual hydrogen (below 50 torr), which could potentially degrade the material strength. Since the uptake of hydrogen may be controlled by the contaminant surface barriers, a study of Mo-47Re was conducted to examine the variations in surface composition as a function of temperature from 25 C to 1000 C. Pure molybdenum and rhenium were also examined and the results compared with those for the alloy. The analytical techniques employed were Auger electron spectroscopy, electron energy loss spectroscopy, ion scattering spectroscopy, and x ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The native surface was rich in metallic oxides that disappeared at elevated temperatures. As the temperature increased, the carbon and oxygen disappeared by 800 C and the surface was subsequently populated by the segregation of silicon, presumably from the grain boundaries. The alloy readily chemisorbed oxygen, which disappeared with heating. The disappearance temperature progressively increased for successive dosings. When the alloy was exposed to 800 torr of hydrogen at 900 C for 1 hour, no hydrogen interaction was observed.

Hoekje, S. J.↗

Fixed charge in Cr-metallized MOS capacitors

It is pointed out that the reported measurements are useful in a study of interface charge distributions. Measurements of surface-state density at the SiO2 interface given information concerning the effect of the layer thickness on the flat-band interface charge. Other measurements provide data for a determination of the silicon-silica flat-band interface charge, the metal-silica interface charge, and the difference in barrier energies at the interfaces. Measurements of Fowler-Nordheim currents as a function of oxide thickness can be used for the determination of charge distribution in the area next to the metal-silica interface. The investigation shows that the silicon-silica interface is independent of thickness down to thicknesses as low as 40 A.

Lewicki, G.↗