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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 1,099 records · Page 61
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1990

Sound transmission through a high-temperature acoustic probe tube

An investigation was conducted of acoustic transmission through a tube subjected to an intense thermal gradient along its axis. The results are of interest in the interpretation of acoustic data from probe tube configurations designed to measure fluctuating pressures in high temperature environments. The measured transfer function across a localized heated region in the tube was compared to a computed transfer function based on a theoretical analysis of propagation through strong temperature gradients. Over the frequency range 0.4 kHz to 6.0 kHz, generally good agreement was obtained between the measured and calculated attenuation across the heated region with some discrepancy occurring at the attenuation minima. Agreement between measured and calculated phase difference was excellent to within the measurement resolution.

Parrott, Tony L.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Focused Schlieren flow visualization studies of multiple venturi fuel injectors in a high pressure combustor

Multiple venturi fuel injectors were used to obtain uniform fuel distributions, better atomization and vaporization in the premixing/prevaporizing section of a lean premixed/prevaporized flame tube combustor. A focused Schlieren system was used to investigate the fuel/air mixing effectiveness of various fuel injection configurations. The Schlieren system was focused to a plane within the flow field of a test section equipped with optical windows. The focused image plane was parallel to the axial direction of the flow and normal to the optical axis. Images from that focused plane, formed by refracted light due to density gradients within the flow field, were filmed with a high-speed movie camera at framing rates of 8,000 frames per second (fps). Three fuel injection concepts were investigated by taking high-speed movies of the mixture flows at various operating conditions. The inlet air temperature was varied from 600 F to 1000 F, and inlet pressures from 80 psia to 150 psia. Jet-A fuel was used typically at an equivalence ratio of 0.5. The intensity variations of the digitized Schlieren images were analytically correlated to spatial density gradients of the mixture flows. Qualitative measurements for degree of mixedness, intensity of mixing, and mixing completion time are shown. Various mixing performance patterns are presented with different configurations of fuel injection points and operating conditions.

Chun, K. S.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Olivine cooling speedometers

Several kinetic models of zoning in olivines are discussed at length. The effects on predicted cooling rates of various assumptions used in the analyses are evaluated. It is concluded that the models of Walker et al. (1977) and Taylor et al. (1977) both provide underestimates of the cooling rate required to preserve a given compositional profile, and that both models as well as the model of Taylor et al. (1978) can be used to provide order-of-magnitude estimates of cooling rates. A new model is described which considers diffusion in both solid and liquid during crystallization as well as diffusion in the solid after crystallization is complete. The model provides a description of the compositional gradients which develop during crystallization as well as after cooling at various rates. Applied to olivine crystals nucleated at 1272 C in a high-iron analogue to Lunar Composition 15555, the model predicts only slight compositional gradients - in accord with electron beam microprobe measurements on crystals grown isothermally at this temperature.

Onorato, P. I. K.↗
DOE OSTI2022

Analysis of Low RRR SRF Cavities

Recent findings in the superconducting radio-frequency (SRF) community have shown that introducing certain impurities into high-purity niobium can improve quality factors and accelerating gradients. Success has been found in nitrogen-doping, diffusion of the native oxide into the niobium surface, and thin films of alternate superconductors atop a niobium bulk cavity. We question why some impurities improve RF performance while others hinder it. The purpose of this study is to characterize the impurity profile of niobium with a low residual resistance ratio (RRR) and correlate these impurities with the RF performance of low RRR cavities so that the mechanism of recent impurity-based improvements can be better understood and improved upon. Additionally, we perform a low temperature bake on the low RRR cavity to evaluate how the intentional addition of oxygen to the RF layer affects performance. We have found that low RRR cavities experience low temperature-dependent BCS resistance behavior more prominently than their high RRR counterparts. The results of this study have the potential to unlock a new understanding on SRF materials.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2023

High-throughput printing of combinatorial materials from aerosols

The development of new materials and their compositional and microstructural optimization are essential in regard to next-generation technologies such as clean energy and environmental sustainability. However, materials discovery and optimization have been a frustratingly slow process. The Edisonian trial-and-error process is time consuming and resource inefficient, particularly when contrasted with vast materials design spaces 1 . Whereas traditional combinatorial deposition methods can generate material libraries 2,3 , these suffer from limited material options and inability to leverage major breakthroughs in nanomaterial synthesis. Here we report a high-throughput combinatorial printing method capable of fabricating materials with compositional gradients at microscale spatial resolution. In situ mixing and printing in the aerosol phase allows instantaneous tuning of the mixing ratio of a broad range of materials on the fly, which is an important feature unobtainable in conventional multimaterials printing using feedstocks in liquid–liquid or solid–solid phases 4–6 . We demonstrate a variety of high-throughput printing strategies and applications in combinatorial doping, functional grading and chemical reaction, enabling materials exploration of doped chalcogenides and compositionally graded materials with gradient properties. The ability to combine the top-down design freedom of additive manufacturing with bottom-up control over local material compositions promises the development of compositionally complex materials inaccessible via conventional manufacturing approaches.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2022

Analysis of Low RRR SRF Cavities

Recent findings in the superconducting radio-frequency (SRF) community have shown that introducing certain impurities into high-purity niobium can improve quality factors and accelerating gradients. Success has been found in nitrogen-doping, diffusion of the native oxide into the niobium surface, and thin films of alternate superconductors atop a niobium bulk cavity. We question why some impurities improve RF performance while others hinder it. The purpose of this study is to characterize the impurity profile of niobium with a low residual resistance ratio (RRR) and correlate these impurities with the RF performance of low RRR cavities so that the mechanism of recent impurity-based improvements can be better understood and improved upon. Additionally, we performed surface treatments, low temperature baking and nitrogen-doping, on low RRR cavities to evaluate how the intentional addition of more impurities to the RF layer affects performance. We have found that low RRR cavities experience low temperature-dependent BCS resistance behavior more prominently than their high RRR counterparts. The results of this study have the potential to unlock a new understanding on SRF materials.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2022

Boundary characterization using 3D mapping of geometrically necessary dislocations in AM Ta microstructure

Additive manufacturing (AM) of high strength metallic materials produces microstructures and defects that deviate substantially from those created through conventional manufacturing methods. It has recently been demonstrated that with application of extreme energy densities, a high-temperature refractory metal, tantalum (Ta), can be printed to a fully dense state with exceptionally low porosity. Here we employ a combination of three-dimensional electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD) TriBeam technology and crystallographic geometrically necessary dislocation (GND) theory to characterize the microstructure and defect boundaries of this unusual AM product. Two-dimensional (2D) EBSD and these three-dimensional (3D) measurements indicate that the microstructure of AM Ta is highly oriented <111> along the build direction, yet at the same time contains large crystallographic orientation gradients that span mm’s across the build. Crystallographic GND density analysis of the 3D microstructure reveals that highly misoriented subboundaries exist within this strongly textured microstructure that have large dislocation densities of 1×10 16 m –2 , just as large as those comprising the high-angle grain boundaries (HAGBs) in the same material. The 3D crystallographic GND density mapping reveals these subboundaries are part of a complex, finely spaced network that extends throughout the entire microstructure. Here, the orientation of these boundaries can be related to the scan strategy used during printing. TEM measurements corroborate an extremely high dislocation density at the microscale and indicate a cell-like dislocation network structure existing in the AM Ta at the sub-μm scale.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
NASA NTRS1994

Gravity and the Adaptation of Form and Function in Lower Vertebrates

Comparative data emphasizing lower vertebrates will be used to justify the following generalized conclusions or expectations: 1) Gravitational stress produces adaptive increases in arterial pressure. 2) Gravitational stress produces adaptive reorganization of anatomy. 3) Natural selection favors small body size in high G-stress environments. 4) Gravitational stress produces low-compliant perivascular tissues (morphological antigravity suit). 5) Gradients or regional zonation of vascular characters evolve along the length of elongate vertebrates living in high G-stress environments. Presentation of information will include new data gathered by the author and Dr. Alan Hargens while the author was a NRC Senior Research Associate at NASA Ames Research Center. While there is no published abstract provided at the meeting, a symposium manuscript will be published in a special volume of Journal of Experimental Zoology.

Lillywhite, Harvey B.↗
DOE OSTI2023

Transition from retrograde to prograde drift instabilities in a magnetron microdischarge

Rotating plasma structures, or “spokes,” in magnetized discharges characterized by perpendicular electric and magnetic fields have been seen in a growing number of studies and are believed to be the result of gradient-driven drift instabilities. Under certain conditions, we have shown the spoke’s rotation to be opposite to the E B direction, i.e., retrograde in its expected direction. Recently, we have linked such counter-intuitive rotation to a local inversion of the electric field. Here, we give further experimental evidence for this inversion and attempt to provide an explanation for a relatively distinct transition seen between retrograde and positive (prograde) drift. In the experiments, a partially magnetized plasma forms inside a magnetron device of mm radius operated with argon. Discharge current–voltage measurements are acquired for a range of argon fill pressure and inter-electrode spacing. We find two branches of operation—a low current branch of negative resistance, coinciding with the retrograde spoke rotation, and a higher current branch of positive resistance, coincident with prograde spoke rotation. We postulate that at low discharge currents, high magnetic field confinement leads to a large density gradient, causing more electron transport to the anode than that demanded by the external circuit. At higher currents, anomalous axial electron transport (across the magnetic field lines) becomes dominant, eliminating the conditions for field inversion. Here, the current thresholds for the field inversion are found to be sensitive to the argon pressure and inter-electrode spacing.

42 ENGINEERING↗
NASA NTRS2013

Aerosol Airmass Type Mapping Over the Urban Mexico City Region From Space-based Multi-angle Imaging

Using Multi-angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer (MISR) and sub-orbital measurements from the 2006 INTEX-B/MILAGRO field campaign, in this study we explore MISR's ability to map different aerosol air mass types over the Mexico City metropolitan area. The aerosol air mass distinctions are based on shape, size and single scattering albedo retrievals from the MISR Research Aerosol Retrieval algorithm. In this region, the research algorithm identifies dust-dominated aerosol mixtures based on non-spherical particle shape, whereas spherical biomass burning and urban pollution particles are distinguished by particle size. Two distinct aerosol air mass types based on retrieved particle microphysical properties, and four spatially distributed aerosol air masses, are identified in the MISR data on 6 March 2006. The aerosol air mass type identification results are supported by coincident, airborne high-spectral-resolution lidar (HSRL) measurements. Aerosol optical depth (AOD) gradients are also consistent between the MISR and sub-orbital measurements, but particles having single-scattering albedo of approx. 0.7 at 558 nm must be included in the retrieval algorithm to produce good absolute AOD comparisons over pollution-dominated aerosol air masses. The MISR standard V22 AOD product, at 17.6 km resolution, captures the observed AOD gradients qualitatively, but retrievals at this coarse spatial scale and with limited spherical absorbing particle options underestimate AOD and do not retrieve particle properties adequately over this complex urban region. However, we demonstrate how AOD and aerosol type mapping can be accomplished with MISR data over complex urban regions, provided the retrieval is performed at sufficiently high spatial resolution, and with a rich enough set of aerosol components and mixtures.

aerosol optical depth↗
DOE OSTI2022

Nonlinear dimension reduction for surrogate modeling using gradient information

We introduce a method for the nonlinear dimension reduction of a high-dimensional function $u:{\mathbb{R}}^d\rightarrow{\mathbb{R}}$, $d\gg 1$. Our objective is to identify a nonlinear feature map $g:{\mathbb{R}}^d\rightarrow{\mathbb{R}}^m$, with a prescribed intermediate dimension $m\ll d$, so that $u$ can be well approximated by $f\circ g$ for some profile function $f:{\mathbb{R}}^m\rightarrow{\mathbb{R}}$. We propose to build the feature map by aligning the Jacobian $\nabla g$ with the gradient $\nabla u$, and we theoretically analyze the properties of the resulting $g$. Once $g$ is built, we construct $f$ by solving a gradient-enhanced least squares problem. Our practical algorithm uses a sample $\{{\textbf{x}}^{(i)},u({\textbf{x}}^{(i)}),\nabla u({\textbf{x}}^{(i)})\}_{i=1}^N$ and builds both $g$ and $f$ on adaptive downward-closed polynomial spaces, using cross validation to avoid overfitting. We numerically evaluate the performance of our algorithm across different benchmarks, and explore the impact of the intermediate dimension $m$. We show that building a nonlinear feature map $g$ can permit more accurate approximation of $u$ than a linear $g$, for the same input data set.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗
DOE OSTI2020

Dynamic Structure and Phase Behavior of a Block Copolymer Electrolyte under dc Polarization

There is an important consideration when designing lithium battery electrolytes for advanced applications is how the electrolyte facilitates ion transport at fast charge and discharge rates. Large current densities are accompanied by large salt concentration gradients across the electrolyte. Nanostructured composite electrolytes have been proposed to enable the use of high energy density lithium metal anodes, but many questions about the interplay between the electrolyte morphology and the salt concentration gradient that forms under dc polarization remain unanswered. To address these questions, we use an in situ small-angle X-ray scattering technique to examine the nanostructure of a polystyrene- block -poly(ethylene oxide) copolymer electrolyte under dc polarization with spatial and temporal resolution. In the quiescent state, the electrolyte exhibits a lamellar morphology. The passage of ionic current in a lithium symmetric cell leads to the formation of concurrent phases: a disordered morphology near the negative electrode, lamellae in the center of the cell, and coexisting lamellae and gyroid near the positive electrode. The most surprising result of this study was obtained after the applied electric field was turned off: a current-induced gyroid phase grows in volume for 6 h in spite of the absence of an obvious driving force. We show that this reflects the formation of localized pockets of salt-dense electrolyte, termed concentration hotspots, under dc polarization. Our methods may be applied to understand the dynamic structure of composite electrolytes at appreciable current densities.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
NASA NTRS1983

B-57B gust gradient program

Analysis of data obtained from the Joint Airport Weather Studies Flights 6 and 7 is underway. Data from Flight 7 indicate that the B-57B encountered the upper portion of an outflow feature (microburst) at an altitude of 400 meters above ground level. Horizontal wind vector plots along the flight path have provided clues concerning the meteorological setting of the flights. In addition to suspected outflow features, wavelike variations of the horizontal wind vectors were observed. Statistical studies of gust gradients were undertaken with the goal of fitting probability density functions to the data. As expected, the density functions were highly non-Gaussian. Spectral analyses are proceeding and several spectral models for the gust gradient data are being investigated.

Campbell, W.↗
DOE OSTI2022

Strong yet ductile nanolamellar high-entropy alloys by additive manufacturing

Additive manufacturing produces net-shaped components layer by layer for engineering applications. The additive manufacture of metal alloys by laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF) involves large temperature gradients and rapid cooling, which enables microstructural refinement at the nanoscale to achieve high strength. However, high-strength nanostructured alloys produced by laser additive manufacturing often have limited ductility. In this work, we use L-PBF to print dual-phase nanolamellar high-entropy alloys (HEAs) of AlCoCrFeNi 2.1 that exhibit a combination of a high yield strength of about 1.3 gigapascals and a large uniform elongation of about 14 percent, which surpasses those of other state-of-the-art additively manufactured metal alloys. The high yield strength stems from the strong strengthening effects of the dual-phase structures that consist of alternating face-centred cubic and body-centred cubic nanolamellae; the body-centred cubic nanolamellae exhibit higher strengths and higher hardening rates than the face-centred cubic nanolamellae. The large tensile ductility arises owing to the high work-hardening capability of the as-printed hierarchical microstructures in the form of dual-phase nanolamellae embedded in microscale eutectic colonies, which have nearly random orientations to promote isotropic mechanical properties. The mechanistic insights into the deformation behaviour of additively manufactured HEAs have broad implications for the development of hierarchical, dual- and multi-phase, nanostructured alloys with exceptional mechanical properties.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
NASA NTRS1975

Circulation in the high-latitude thermosphere due to electric fields and Joule heating

Electric fields in the earth's upper atmosphere are capable of setting the neutral atmosphere in motion via ion-neutral collisions as well as pressure gradients from resultant Joule heating. By means of simple models for the high-latitude thermosphere and electric fields a simplified set of coupled equations is solved which show that moderate electric fields, when present for a period of several hours, are capable of displacing the neutral atmosphere of the order of 50 km in the vertical, a few hundred kilometers in the north-south direction and over 1000 km in the east-west direction.

Heaps, M. G.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Texture analysis of radiometric signatures of new sea ice forming in Arctic leads

Analysis of 33.6-GHz, high-resolution, passive microwave images suggests that new sea ice accumulating in open leads is characterized by a unique textural signature which can be used to discriminate new ice forming in this environment from adjacent surfaces of similar radiometric temperature. Ten training areas were selected from the data set, three of which consisted entirely of first-year ice, four entirely of multilayer ice, and three of new ice in open leads in the process of freezing. A simple gradient operator was used to characterize the radiometric texture in each training region in terms of the degree to which radiometric gradients are oriented. New ice in leads has a sufficiently high proportion of well-oriented features to distinguish it uniquely from first-year ice and multiyear ice. The predominance of well-oriented features probably reflects physical processes by which new ice accumulates in open leads. Banded structures, which are evident in aerial photographs of new ice, apparently give rise to the radiometric signature observed, in which the trend of brightness temperature gradients is aligned parallel to lead trends. First-year ice and multiyear ice, which have been subjected to a more random growth and process history, lack this banded structure and therefore are characterized by signatures in which well-aligned elements are less dominant.

Eppler, Duane T.↗
DOE OSTI2025

Development of Transformative Preparation Methods to Push up High Q&G Performance of FRIB Spare HWR Cryomodule Cavities

The FRIB accelerator project construction, a top priority of US nuclear science, was completed in January 2022, and is now moving to user operation. The stable and reliable operation of the accelerating cryomodules is essential in achieving/fulfilling DOE and user expectations. So far, FRIB cryomodules meet all FRIB specifications for cavity performance. However, during the lifetime of machine operation, degradation of cryomodule performance is possible, as reported in similar operating facilities (CEBAF, SNS). If cryomodule degradation is observed at FRIB, the under-performing cryomodule will require replacement/maintenance. In effort to manage operational reliability, FRIB plans to construct a 0.53 half-wave cryomodule to serve as an active spare. In a parallel effort, FRIB will also work toward increasing operational Q and gradient of spare cryomodule cavities to gain an overall performance margin to support future operational reliability. The current FRIB cavity designs have a potential to operate at gradients higher than 8 MV/m, but are currently limited by field emission (FE) and/or high field Q slope (HFQS); known issue in buffered chemical polished (BCP) treated cavities. The proposal looks to develop transformative surface preparation treatments to improve the operational gradient of spare cryomodules higher than 10 MV/m while maintaining high Q. Thus, increasing operational margin by 30 - 50%. With the goal to improve operational reliability set, the proposal will investigate multiple objectives as possible paths forward to achieve an overall increase in cavity performance and gain a better understanding of SRF limiting mechanisms. The proposal will study the application of different chemical surface treatments to 0.53 half-wave cavities, with the addition of low temperature bakes (LTB), and measure their effects on accelerating performance. Proposed chemical treatments to be explored in this proposal include conventional EP acid mixtures, as well as innovated EP and BCP acid mixtures designed to simplify processing paths in migrating FE and HFQS. The proposed transformative treatment wet N-doping also has the potential to replicate recent advancements in SRF technology relating to nitrogen doping and high Q operation without the requirement for an ultra-high vacuum annealing furnace; currently being developed at FNAL and JLAB. In parallel, high Q performance relating to flux trapping will be investigated with the installation of a second layer of magnetic shielding in the vertical test Dewar. The research objectives presented in the proposal, and their corresponding effects on cavity performance, will provide essential knowledge and future guidance to the SRF community and provide possible paths for future SRF based projects and applications.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗