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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 127 records · Page 7

Accelerated vortex dynamics across the magnetic 3D-to-2D crossover in disordered superconductors

Disorder can have remarkably disparate consequences in superconductors, driving superconductor–insulator transitions in ultrathin films by localizing electron pairs and boosting the supercurrent carrying capacity of thick films by localizing vortices (magnetic flux lines). Though the electronic 3D-to-2D crossover at material thicknesses d ~ ξ (coherence length) is well studied, a similarly consequential magnetic crossover at d ~ L c (pinning length) that should drastically alter material properties remains largely underexamined. According to collective pinning theory, vortex segments of length L c bend to adjust to energy wells provided by point defects. Consequently, if d truncates L c , a change from elastic to rigid vortex dynamics should increase the rate of thermally activated vortex motion S. Here, we characterize the dependence of S on sample thickness in Nb and cuprate films. The results for Nb are consistent with collective pinning theory, whereas creep in the cuprate is strongly influenced by sparse large precipitates. In conclusion, we leverage the sensitivity of S to d to determine the generally unknown scale L c , establishing a new route for extracting pinning lengths in heterogeneously disordered materials.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Near-wake dynamics of a vertical-axis turbine

Cross-flow, or vertical-axis, turbines are a promising technology for capturing kinetic energy in wind or flowing water and their inherently unsteady fluid mechanics present unique opportunities for control optimization of individual rotors or arrays. To explore the potential for beneficial interactions between turbines in an array, as well as to characterize important cycle-to-cycle variations, coherent structures in the wake of a single two-bladed cross-flow turbine are examined using planar stereo particle image velocimetry in a water channel experiment. There are three main objectives in the present work. First, the mean wake structure of this high chord-to-radius ratio rotor is described, compared with previous studies, and a simple explanation for observed wake deflection is presented. Second, the unsteady flow is then analysed via the triple decomposition, with the periodic component extracted using a combination of traditional techniques and a novel implementation of the optimized dynamic mode decomposition. The latter method is shown to outperform conditional averaging and Fourier methods, as well as uncover frequencies suggesting a transition to bluff-body shedding in the far wake. Third, vorticity and finite-time Lyapunov exponents are then employed to further analyse the oscillatory wake component. Vortex streets on both sides of the wake are identified, and their formation mechanisms and effects on the mean flow are discussed. Strong axial (vertical) flow is observed in vortical structures shed on the retreating side of the rotor where the blades travel downstream. Time-resolved tracking of these vortices is performed, which demonstrates that vortex trajectories have significant rotation-to-rotation variation within one diameter downstream. This variability suggests it would be challenging to harness or avoid such structures at greater downstream distances.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Optimization of viral resuspension methods for carbon-rich soils along a permafrost thaw gradient

Permafrost stores approximately 50% of global soil carbon (C) in a frozen form; it is thawing rapidly under climate change, and little is known about viral communities in these soils or their roles in C cycling. In permafrost soils, microorganisms contribute significantly to C cycling, and characterizing them has recently been shown to improve prediction of ecosystem function. In other ecosystems, viruses have broad ecosystem and community impacts ranging from host cell mortality and organic matter cycling to horizontal gene transfer and reprogramming of core microbial metabolisms. Here we developed an optimized protocol to extract viruses from three types of high organic-matter peatland soils across a permafrost thaw gradient (palsa, moss-dominated bog, and sedge-dominated fen). Three separate experiments were used to evaluate the impact of chemical buffers, physical dispersion, storage conditions, and concentration and purification methods on viral yields. The most successful protocol, amended potassium citrate buffer with bead-beating or vortexing and BSA, yielded on average as much as 2-fold more virus-like particles (VLPs) g –1 of soil than other methods tested. All method combinations yielded VLPs g –1 of soil on the 10 8 order of magnitude across all three soil types. The different storage and concentration methods did not yield significantly more VLPs g –1 of soil among the soil types. In conclusion, this research provides much-needed guidelines for resuspending viruses from soils, specifically carbon-rich soils, paving the way for incorporating viruses into soil ecology studies.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Maximum likelihood identification of aircraft parameters with unsteady aerodynamic modelling

A simplified aerodynamic force model based on the physical principle of Prandtl's lifting line theory and trailing vortex concept has been developed to account for unsteady aerodynamic effects in aircraft dynamics. Longitudinal equations of motion have been modified to include these effects. The presence of convolution integrals in the modified equations of motion led to a frequency domain analysis utilizing Fourier transforms. This reduces the integro-differential equations to relatively simple algebraic equations, thereby reducing computation time significantly. A parameter extraction program based on the maximum likelihood estimation technique is developed in the frequency domain. The extraction algorithm contains a new scheme for obtaining sensitivity functions by using numerical differentiation. The paper concludes with examples using computer generated and real flight data

Keskar, D. A.↗

Vortex generating flow passage design for increased film cooling effectiveness

It is an object of the invention to provide a film cooling apparatus of increased effectiveness and efficiency. In accordance with the invention, a cooling fluid is injected into a hot flowing gas through a passageway in a wall which contains and is subject to the hot gas. The passageway is slanted in a downstream direction at an acute angle to the wall. A cusp shape is provided in the passageway to generate vortices in the injected cooling fluid thereby reducing the energy extracted from the hot gas for that purpose. The cusp shape increases both film cooling effectiveness and wall area coverage. The cusp may be at either the downstream or upstream side of the passageway, the former substantially eliminating flow separation of the cooling fluid from the wall immediately downstream of the passageway.

Papell, S. S.↗

Automated Systems for Solvent Extraction

An automated solvent extraction system for the eventual handling of radioactive materials has been designed and procured for rapid, efficient and safe liquid-liquid extraction processes. This system will be configured to carry out liquid-liquid separations from beginning to end, automating tedious and time-consuming tasks such as organic/aqueous phase prep, pH checks, phase separation, and metal ion analysis. The system features advanced liquid handling capabilities, a robotic arm for precise sample transfer, and sophisticated analytical tools including UV-VIS spectrophotometry for real-time monitoring. Additionally, it incorporates automated capping of vials, vortex mixing, and centrifugation to ensure thorough mixing and phase separation. This report provides an overview of the system and general capabilities as well as initial efforts to develop an automated workflow for liquid-liquid separations.

38 RADIATION CHEMISTRY, RADIOCHEMISTRY, AND NUCLEA↗

In-field critical current and pinning mechanisms at 4.2 K of Zr-added REBCO coated conductors

The critical current and pinning mechanisms at 4.2 K have been studied over a magnetic field range of 0–14 T for Zr-added (0, 5 and 15 mol.%) REBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-x (REBCO and RE = rare earth) coated conductors fabricated by advanced metal organic chemical vapor deposition (A-MOCVD). It is found that the (Ba + Zr)/Cu content in Zr-added (5 and 15 mol.%) REBCO affects the critical current at 77 K, 0 T as well as density, continuity and shape of BaZrO 3 (BZO) self-assembled nanocolumns and RE 2 O 3 in-plane precipitates that significantly enhance the pinning force density Fp(H) as well as isotropic pinning landscape at 4.2 K. In addition to bell-shape dependence of critical current density, J c , at 4.2 K with (Ba + Zr)/Cu content we observed an unusual Fp(H) behavior correlated to particular type of pinning centers, morphology and distribution that have been revealed by TEM microstructure analysis. By fitting the Dew–Hughes equation of the pinning force density Fp(H) at 4.2 K we extract the scaling behaviors of the Fp(H) associated with the competition of pinning mechanisms driven by vertically-aligned BZO nanorods and in-plane RE 2 O 3 pinning defects. This result sheds light on approaches towards interactive control of strong and isotropic pinning centers in Zr-added REBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-x (REBCO and RE = rare earth) coated conductors, and especially understanding the correlation between microstructural characteristics and vortex pinning mechanisms at 4.2 K in high magnetic fields.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Direct CFD Predictions of Low Frequency Sounds Generated by a Helicopter Main Rotor

The use of CFD to directly predict helicopter main rotor noise is shown to be quite promising as an alternative mean for low frequency source noise evaluation. Results using existing state-of-the-art grid structures and finite-difference schemes demonstrated that small perturbation pressures, associated with acoustics radiation, can be extracted with some degree of fidelity. Accuracy of the predictions are demonstrated via comparing to predictions from conventional acoustic analogy-based models, and with measurements obtained from wind tunnel and flight tests for the MD-902 helicopter at several operating conditions. Findings show that the direct CFD approach is quite successfully in yielding low frequency results due to thickness and steady loading noise mechanisms. Mid-to-high frequency contents, due to blade-vortex interactions, are not predicted due to CFD modeling and grid constraints.

Sim, Ben W.↗

Online, Absolute Quantitation of Propranolol from Spatially Distinct 20- and 40-μm Dissections of Brain, Liver, and Kidney Thin Tissue Sections by Laser Microdissection–Liquid Vortex Capture–Mass Spectrometry

Here, spatial resolved quantitation of chemical species in thin tissue sections by mass spectrometric methods has been constrained by the need for matrix-matched standards or other arduous calibration protocols and procedures to mitigate matrix effects (e.g., spatially varying ionization suppression). Reported here is the use of laser cut and drop sampling with a laser microdissection-liquid vortex capture electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LMD-LVC/ESI-MS/MS) system for online and absolute quantitation of propranolol in mouse brain, kidney, and liver thin tissue sections of mice administered with the drug at a 7.5 mg/kg dose, intravenously. In this procedure either 20 μm x 20 μm or 40 μm x 40 μm tissue microdissections were cut and dropped into the flowing solvent of the capture probe. During transport to the ESI source drug related material was completely extracted from the tissue into the solvent, which contained a known concentration of propranolol-d 7 as an internal standard. This allowed absolute quantitation to be achieved with an external calibration curve generated from standards containing the same fixed concentration of propranolold-d 7 and varied concentrations of propranolol. Average propranolol concentrations determined with the laser cut and drop sampling method closely agreed with concentration values obtained from 2.3 mm diameter tissue punches from serial sections that were extracted and quantified by HPLC/ESI-MS/MS measurements. In addition, the relative abundance of hydroxypropranolol glucuronide metabolites were recorded and found to be consistent with previous findings.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Transonic Free-To-Roll Analysis of the F/A-18E and F-35 Configurations

The free-to-roll technique is used as a tool for predicting areas of uncommanded lateral motions. Recently, the NASA/Navy/Air Force Abrupt Wing Stall Program extended the use of this technique to the transonic speed regime. Using this technique, this paper evaluates various wing configurations on the pre-production F/A-18E aircraft and the Joint Strike Fighter (F-35) aircraft. The configurations investigated include leading and trailing edge flap deflections, fences, leading edge flap gap seals, and vortex generators. These tests were conducted in the NASA Langley 16-Foot Transonic Tunnel. The analysis used a modification of a figure-of-merit developed during the Abrupt Wing Stall Program to discern configuration effects. The results showed how the figure-of-merit can be used to schedule wing flap deflections to avoid areas of uncommanded lateral motion. The analysis also used both static and dynamic wind tunnel data to provide insight into the uncommanded lateral behavior. The dynamic data was extracted from the time history data using parameter identification techniques. In general, modifications to the pre-production F/A-18E resulted in shifts in angle-of-attack where uncommanded lateral activity occurred. Sealing the gap between the inboard and outboard leading-edge flaps on the Navy version of the F-35 eliminated uncommanded lateral activity or delayed the activity to a higher angle-of-attack.

Owens, D. Bruce↗

Method for Accurate Determination of the Electron Contribution: Specific Heat of Ba 0.59 K 0.41 Fe 2 As 2

Twenty two years after the opening of the field of high temperature superconductivity by Georg Bednorz and Alex Müller a new addition to this class of materials, namely the iron-pnictides and chalcogenides, perplexes the scientific community. Making use of the accumulated wisdom, a great deal of their physics has been “mapped” in record time using all available measurement techniques. Among these, specific-heat has been proven a powerful and unique technique in the study of physical properties of bulk materials, especially of superconductors. We report here specific-heat measurements on the nearly optimally doped iconic iron-arsenide superconductor Ba 0.59 K 0.41 Fe 2 As 2 . We use a new method, based on direct comparisons of α-model expressions for the electron contribution with the measured total specific heat, to extract the electron contribution. It circumvents the need in the conventional analyses for an independent, necessarily approximate, determination of the lattice contribution, which is subtracted from the total to obtain the electron contribution, and it eliminates the consequent uncertainties in the electron contribution. For Ba 0.59 K 0.41 Fe 2 As 2 the electron density of states is comprised of contributions from two electron bands with superconducting-state energy gaps differing by a factor 3.8, with 77% coming from the band with the larger gap. The vortex-state specific heat suggests nodeless gaps. Comparison of the normal-state density of states with band-structure calculations shows an extraordinarily large effective mass enhancement, for which there is no precedent in simple metals and no theoretical explanation.

Conventional Analysis↗

Specific Heat of Ba 0.59 K 0.41 Fe 2 As 2 , an Fe-Pnictide Superconductor with T c = 36.9 K, and a New Method for Identifying the Electron Contribution [Specific Heat of Ba 0.59 K 0.41 Fe 2 As 2 , and a New Method for Identifying the Electron Contribution: Two Electron Bands with Different Energy Gaps in the Superconducting State]

Here, we report specific-heat measurements on Ba 0.59 K 0.41 Fe 2 As 2 , one of a family of high-T c Fe-pnictide superconductors for which the pairing interaction is of special interest. We use a new method, based on direct comparisons of α-model expressions for the electron contribution with the measured total specific heat, to extract the electron contribution. It circumvents the need in the conventional analyses for an independent, necessarily approximate, determination of the lattice contribution, which is subtracted from the total to obtain the electron contribution, and it eliminates the consequent uncertainties in the electron contribution. For Ba 0.59 K 0.41 Fe 2 As 2 the electron density of states is comprised of contributions from two electron bands with superconducting-state energy gaps differing by a factor 3.8, with 77% coming from the band with the larger gap. The vortex-state specific heat suggests nodeless gaps. Comparison of the normal-state density of states with band-structure calculations shows an extraordinarily large effective mass enhancement, for which there is no precedent in simple metals and no theoretical explanation.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Flight evaluation of the transonic stability and control characteristics of an airplane incorporating a supercritical wing

A TF-8A airplane was equipped with a transport type supercritical wing and fuselage fairings to evaluate predicted performance improvements for cruise at transonic speeds. A comparison of aerodynamic derivatives extracted from flight and wind tunnel data showed that static longitudinal stability, effective dihedral, and aileron effectiveness, were higher than predicted. The static directional stability derivative was slower than predicted. The airplane's handling qualities were acceptable with the stability augmentation system on. The unaugmented airplane exhibited some adverse lateral directional characteristics that involved low Dutch roll damping and low roll control power at high angles of attack and roll control power that was greater than satisfactory for transport aircraft at cruise conditions. Longitudinally, the aircraft exhibited a mild pitchup tendency. Leading edge vortex generators delayed the onset of flow separation, moving the pitchup point to a higher lift coefficient and reducing its severity.

Matheny, N. W.↗

Coordinate-space solver for superfluid many-fermion systems with the shifted conjugate-orthogonal conjugate-gradient method

Self-consistent approaches to superfluid many-fermion systems in three dimensions (and their subsequent use in time-dependent studies) require a large number of diagonalizations of very large dimension Hermitian matrices, which results in enormous computational costs. We present an approach based on the shifted conjugate-orthogonal conjugate-gradient (COCG) Krylov method for the evaluation of the Green's function, from which we subsequently extract various densities (particle number, spin, current, kinetic energy, anomalous, etc.) of a nuclear system. The approach eschews the determination of the quasiparticle wave functions and their corresponding quasiparticle energies, which never explicitly appear in the construction of a single-particle Hamiltonian or needed for the calculation of various static nuclear properties, which depend only on densities. As benchmarks this study presents calculations for nuclei with axial symmetry, including the ground state of spherical (magic or semimagic) and axially deformed nuclei, the saddle point in the $^{240}Pu$ constrained fission path, and a vortex in the neutron star crust, and demonstrate the superior efficiency of the shifted COCG Krylov method over traditional approaches.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Dynamic Mode Decomposition of Random Pressure Fields over Bluff Bodies

Fluctuating surface pressures on a bluff body exposed to a boundary layer flow generally are characterized as a spatiotemporally varying random field. In this paper, a dynamic mode decomposition (DMD) was applied to extract dominant features embedded in these random pressure fields. Utilizing an unsupervised machine learning algorithm, spatial modes and their temporal variations were grouped into different clusters at scales, e.g., macro, meso, and micro. A proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) of the experimental data was carried out to observe commonalities and distinctive perspectives each decomposition offers. Here, a comprehensive examination of the DMD/POD for their convergence criteria, data sufficiency, and modal components analysis was conducted. The physical interpretation of the spatiotemporal pressure field based on these decomposition schemes was discussed. At different scales, the DMD modes can capture the evolution of aerodynamic features, e.g., convection of vortices (or vortex tubes) and other structures. The distribution of energy among these three broad scales also reflects an energy cascade in pressure fluctuations akin to turbulence.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Circumpolar Circulation Patterns Over the Northern Hemisphere Oceans in Late Winter, 1949-2002.

To assess interannual changes in ocean-to-land advection, we extract zonal winds for February and March, 1949-2002, from NCEP/NCAR Reanalysis. Winds are analyzed at pairs of locations (55 deg N and 35 deg N) in the N. Pacific (15 deg W), N. Atlantic (30 deg W) and Baltic/Mediterranean (30 deg E). The monthly means at the northern and southern sites are negatively correlated. For N. Pacific, winds at 55 deg N show negative trends at all levels (magnitude increasing with altitude), versus positive at 35 deg N. An opposite scenario is observed over N. Atlantic, positive (negative) trends at 55 deg N (35 deg N) and similarly, but weaker, over the Baltic/Mediterranean. The geographic variability of trends is attributed to displacement of the polar vortex wave pattern. Increasing storm strength/frequency over N. Hemisphere oceans is inherently related to the strong positive trends in wind speed and vertical shear.

Otterman, J.↗

Revisiting Kelvin Helmholtz Instabilities and von Kármán Vortices in Canopy Turbulence

Studying turbulence in vegetation canopies is vital in the context of a number of micrometeorological and hydrological applications. While recent focus has shifted more towards exploring different kinds of canopy heterogeneities, there are still gaps in the existing knowledge on the multiple types of dynamics involved in the case of horizontally homogeneous canopies. For example, experimental studies have indicated that turbulence in the canopy sublayer (CSL) can be divided into three regimes. In the deep-zone, the flow-field is dominated by von Kármán vortex streets and interrupted by strong sweep events. The second zone near the canopy top is dominated by attached eddies and Kelvin-Helmholtz waves associated with the velocity inflection point in the mean longitudinal velocity profile. Above the canopy, the flow resembles classical boundary layer flow. In this study, these different kinds of dynamics are studied together by means of a large eddy simulation (LES). The main theme of this work is to address the question whether the parametrization of the canopy by a distributed drag force in numerical simulations instead of placing real solid obstacles is consistent with the three layer conceptual model. Unique techniques such as measures from information theory and coupled oscillator analysis are used to extract the coherent structures associated with the two motions. It can be said that a better understanding of the rich dynamics associated with the simplest case of canopy turbulence can lead to more efficient simulations and more importantly improve the interpretation of more complex scenarios.

canopy turbulence↗

The MIST-1 and MIST-2 multicusp ion sources for high-current $H$$^{+}_{2}$ beams

We present two iterations of the Multicusp Ion Source Technology at MIT (MIST) sources, designed to fulfill the requirements of the HCHC-XX cyclotron design. The HCHC-XX is a novel compact cyclotron accelerating $H$$^{+}_{2}$. Beam is injected through a radio-frequency quadrupole buncher-accelerator (embedded in the cyclotron yoke) and utilizes so-called vortex motion during acceleration. If successful, it will deliver 10 mA of protons at 60 MeV in CW mode. This scheme requires a low-emittance, high-current initial beam with high $H$$^{+}_{2}$ purity. We briefly summarize the design and previous results of the MIST-1 ion source and, for the first time, the detailed design of the new and improved MIST-2, including the mechanical, electrical, and control system design. We further show experimental results of using the MIST-2 backplate on the MIST-1 body, present a study using different types of permanent magnets for confinement (including no magnets), and finally, we present first results of the MIST-2 in full operation. In this first commissioning run, we were able to increase the total extracted current from the MIST-2 to 7 mA—a factor of 2 over the MIST-1.

Winklehner, D. [Massachusetts Institute of Technol↗