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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 1,315 records · Page 73
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2003

Effect of Alignment on Transport Properties of Carbon Nanotube/Metallic Junctions

Ballistic and spin coherent transport in single walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) are predicted to enable high sensitivity single-nanotube devices for strain and magnetic field sensing. Based upon these phenomena, electron beam lithography procedures have been developed to study the transport properties of purified HiPCO single walled carbon nanotubes for development into sensory materials for nondestructive evaluation. Purified nanotubes are dispersed in solvent suspension and then deposited on the device substrate before metallic contacts are defined and deposited through electron beam lithography. This procedure produces randomly dispersed ropes, typically 2 - 20 nm in diameter, of single walled carbon nanotubes. Transport and scanning probe microscopy studies have shown a good correlation between the junction resistance and tube density, alignment, and contact quality. In order to improve transport properties of the junctions a technique has been developed to align and concentrate nanotubes at specific locations on the substrate surface. Lithographic techniques are used to define local areas where high frequency electric fields are to be concentrated. Application of the fields while the substrate is exposed to nanotube-containing solution results in nanotube arrays aligned with the electric field lines. A second electron beam lithography layer is then used to deposit metallic contacts across the aligned tubes. Experimental measurements are presented showing the increased tube alignment and improvement in the transport properties of the junctions.

Wincheski, Buzz↗
NASA NTRS1997

Case Study of an Object-Oriented System: EOSDIS

Mission to Planet Earth (MTPE) is a long-term NASA research mission to study the processes leading to global climate change. The Earth Observing System (EOS) is a NASA campaign of satellite observatories that are a major component of MTPE. The EOS Data and Information System (EOSDIS) is another component of MTPE that will provide the Earth science community with easy, affordable, and reliable access to Earth science data. EOSDIS is a distributed system, with major facilities at six Distributed Active Archive Centers (DAACS) located throughout the United States. The EOSDIS software architecture is being designed to receive, process, and archive several terabytes of science data on a daily basis. Thousands of science users and perhaps several hundred thousands of non-science users are expected to access the system. While there are many segments in EOSDIS (e.g., flight operations, network) this case study discusses the development of the science data processing segment (SDPS). We briefly review the architecture of the system, the goals of the SDPS, and the development progress to date. This study highlights key software development challenges, experiences integrating COTS, and the difficulties of managing a complex system development effort.

Behnke, Jeanne↗
DOE OSTI2018

A New Experimental Design to Study the Kinetics of Solid Dissolution into Liquids at Elevated Temperature

A new method was developed to study the dissolution of a solid cylinder in a liquid under forced convection at elevated temperature. In the new design, a rotating cylinder was placed concentrically in a crucible fabricated by boring four holes into a blank material for creating an internal volume with a quatrefoil profile. A strong flow in the radial direction in the liquid was created, which was evidently shown by computational fluid dynamic (CFD) calculations and experiments at both room temperature and elevated temperature. The new setup was able to freeze the sample as it was at experimental temperature, particularly the interface between the solid and the liquid. This freezing was necessary to obtain reliable information for understanding the reaction mechanism. This was exemplified by the study of dissolution of a refractory in liquid slag. The absence of flow in the radial direction in the traditional setup using a symmetrical cylinder was also discussed. The differences in the findings by past investigators using the symmetrical cylinder are most likely due to the extent of misalignment of the cylinder in the containment vessel.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2011

Development of Quantum Dot Probes for Studies of Synergy Between Components of the Wood-Degrading Fungal Enzymes

“Development of Quantum Dot Probes for Studies of Synergy Between Components of the Wood-Degrading Fungal Enzymes,” aims to develop quantum dot-based tagging and imaging technologies tailored for simultaneously monitoring, in real time and in the natural fungal / lignocellulose environment, the mode of action of several lignocellulosic enzymes at the single-molecule level. With a three-year research scope, it is designed to be the first project of a long-term research program for which the overarching goal is to bridge the aforementioned knowledge gap by a quantitative determination of the biochemical and biophysical properties of these fungal enzymes in realistic plant biomass-microbe milieus.

3D single-particle tracking↗
NASA NTRS1976

Some experiences using wind-tunnel models in active control studies

A status report and review of wind tunnel model experimental techniques that have been developed to study and validate the use of active control technology for the minimization of aeroelastic response are presented. Modeling techniques, test procedures, and data analysis methods used in three model studies are described. The studies include flutter mode suppression on a delta-wing model, flutter mode suppression and ride quality control on a 1/30-size model of the B-52 CCV airplane, and an active lift distribution control system on a 1/22 size C-5A model.

Doggett, R. V., Jr.↗
DOE OSTI2016

TU-H-206-04: An Effective Homomorphic Unsharp Mask Filtering Method to Correct Intensity Inhomogeneity in Daily Treatment MR Images

Purpose: The daily treatment MRIs acquired on MR-IGRT systems, like diagnostic MRIs, suffer from intensity inhomogeneity issue, associated with B1 and B0 inhomogeneities. An improved homomorphic unsharp mask (HUM) filtering method, automatic and robust body segmentation, and imaging field-of-view (FOV) detection methods were developed to compute the multiplicative slow-varying correction field and correct the intensity inhomogeneity. The goal is to improve and normalize the voxel intensity so that the images could be processed more accurately by quantitative methods (e.g., segmentation and registration) that require consistent image voxel intensity values. Methods: HUM methods have been widely used for years. A body mask is required, otherwise the body surface in the corrected image would be incorrectly bright due to the sudden intensity transition at the body surface. In this study, we developed an improved HUM-based correction method that includes three main components: 1) Robust body segmentation on the normalized image gradient map, 2) Robust FOV detection (needed for body segmentation) using region growing and morphologic filters, and 3) An effective implementation of HUM using repeated Gaussian convolution. Results: The proposed method was successfully tested on patient images of common anatomical sites (H/N, lung, abdomen and pelvis). Initial qualitative comparisons showed that this improved HUM method outperformed three recently published algorithms (FCM, LEMS, MICO) in both computation speed (by 50+ times) and robustness (in intermediate to severe inhomogeneity situations). Currently implemented in MATLAB, it takes 20 to 25 seconds to process a 3D MRI volume. Conclusion: Compared to more sophisticated MRI inhomogeneity correction algorithms, the improved HUM method is simple and effective. The inhomogeneity correction, body mask, and FOV detection methods developed in this study would be useful as preprocessing tools for many MRI-related research and clinical applications in radiotherapy. Authors have received research grants from ViewRay and Varian.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2015

SU-E-T-491: Influence of Applicator Dimensions On Doses to Bladder, Rectum and Sigmoid in HDR Brachytherapy for Cervical Cancer

Purpose: To study the influence of dimensions of the tandem and ring applicator on bladder D2cc, rectum D2cc and sigmoid D2cc in HDR treatment planning for cervical cancer. Methods: 53 plans from 13 patients treated at our institution with the tandem and ring applicator were retrospectively reviewed. Prescription doses were one of the following: 8 Gy x 3, 7 Gy x 4 and 5.5 Gy x 5. Doses to the D2ccs of the bladder, rectum and the sigmoid were recorded. These doses were normalized to their relative prescriptions doses. Correlations between the normalized bladder D2cc, rectum D2cc and sigmoid D2cc were investigated and linear regression models were developed to study the dependence of these doses on the ring diameter and the applicator angle. Results: Normalized doses to the D2cc of the bladder, rectum and sigmoid showed statistically significant correlation (P < 0.05) to the applicator angle. Significant correlation was also noted for the normalized D2cc of the rectum and the sigmoid with the ring diameter. The normalized bladder D2cc was found to decrease with applicator angle on an average by 22.65% ± 4.43% while the same for the rectum and sigmoid were found to increase on an average by 14.43% ± 1.65% and 14.01% ± 1.42% respectively. Both the rectum and sigmoid D2cc reduced with increasing ring diameter by 12.93% ± 1.95% and 11.27% ± 1.79%. No correlation was observed between the normalized bladder D2cc and the ring diameter. Conclusion: Preliminary regression models developed in this study can potentially aid in the choice of the appropriate applicator angle and ring diameter for tandem and ring implant so as to optimize doses to the bladder, rectum and sigmoid.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
NASA NTRS1978

Studies of aerodynamic technology for VSTOL fighter/attack aircraft

The paper summarizes several studies to develop aerodynamic technology for high performance VSTOL aircraft anticipated after 1990. A contracted study jointly sponsored by NASA-Ames and David Taylor Naval Ship Research and Development Center is emphasized. Four contractors analyzed two vertical-attitude and three horizontal-attitude takeoff and landing concepts with gross weights ranging from about 10433 kg (23,000 lb) to 17236 kg (38,000 lb). The aircraft have supersonic capability, high maneuver performance (sustained load factor 6.2 at Mach 0.6, 3048 m (10,000 ft)) and a 4536 kg (10,000-lb) STO overload capability. The contractors have estimated the aerodynamics and identified aerodynamic uncertainties associated with their concept. Example uncertainties relate to propulsion-induced flows, canard-wing interactions, and top inlets. Wind-tunnel research programs were proposed to investigate these uncertainties.

Nelms, W. P.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Development of a Feeder for Uninterrupted Centrifugation Studies

A specialized paste diet feeder was developed in support of a hypergravity (2G) centrifuge study. The centrifuge study was to be compared to a previously flown Russian Cosmos spaceflight so experimental parameters of the 14 day spaceflight had to be duplicated. In order to duplicate at hyper G an experiment that took place in weightlessness, all other conditions must be as identical as possible. Stopping the centrifuge to provide maintenance for the animals causes unacceptable changes in experimental research results. Thus the experimental protocol required the delivery of a designated amount of paste diet at regular intervals for a two week period without stopping the centrifuge. A centrifuge and a stationary control cage, each containing 10 laboratory rats, were fitted with feeders that were calibrated to provide 140 plus or minus 2g of paste diet every 6 hours. This paper describes development of the feeder design and results of its operation over the two week experiment. The design philosophy and details of the feeder system are provided with recommendations for future such devices.

Mulenburg, Gerald M.↗
NASA NTRS2019

NIAC: The NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts Program

The NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) Program nurtures visionary ideas that could transform future NASA missions with the creation of breakthroughs - radically better or entirely new aerospace concepts - while engaging America's innovators and entrepreneurs as partners in the journey. NIAC projects study innovative, technically credible, advanced concepts that could one day “Change the Possible” in aerospace. NIAC supports innovative research through three phases of study, each competitively awarded. Phase I studies are for nine-month efforts to explore the overall viability of visionary concepts. Phase II studies further develop the most promising Phase I concepts for up to two years, prepare a roadmap for further development, and explore potential transition options within NASA and beyond. Phase III studies are designed to strategically transition the most promising NIAC concepts to other NASA programs, other government agencies, or commercial partners. Since 2011, NIAC has funded 128 Phase I, 51 Phase II, and 2 Phase III studies. This paper provides an update on NIAC’s history and current role in supporting NASA’s sustained investments in advanced aerospace technology development.

Innovation↗
NASA NTRS1998

Hindlimb unloading of growing rats: a model for predicting skeletal changes during space flight

A model that uses hindlimb unloading of rats was developed to study the consequences of skeletal unloading and reloading as occurs during and following space flight. Studies using the model were initiated two decades ago and further developed at National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)-Ames Research Center. The model mimics some aspects of exposure to microgravity by removing weightbearing loads from the hindquarters and producing a cephalic fluid shift. Unlike space flight, the forelimbs remain loaded in the model, providing a useful internal control to distinguish between the local and systemic effects of hindlimb unloading. Rats that are hindlimb unloaded by tail traction gain weight at the same rate as pairfed controls, and glucocorticoid levels are not different from controls, suggesting that systemic stress is minimal. Unloaded bones display reductions in cancellous osteoblast number, cancellous mineral apposition rate, trabecular bone volume, cortical periosteal mineralization rate, total bone mass, calcium content, and maturation of bone mineral relative to controls. Subsequent studies reveal that these changes also occur in rats exposed to space flight. In hindlimb unloaded rats, bone formation rates and masses of unloaded bones decline relative to controls, while loaded bones do not change despite a transient reduction in serum 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25D) concentrations. Studies using the model to evaluate potential countermeasures show that 1,25D, growth hormone, dietary calcium, alendronate, and muscle stimulation modify, but do not completely correct, the suppression of bone growth caused by unloading, whereas continuous infusion of transforming growth factor-beta2 or insulin-like growth factor-1 appears to protect against some of the bone changes caused by unloading. These results emphasize the importance of local as opposed to systemic factors in the skeletal response to unloading, and reveal the pivotal role that osteoblasts play in the response to gravitational loading. The hindlimb unloading model provides a unique opportunity to evaluate in detail the physiological and cellular mechanisms of the skeletal response to weightbearing loads, and has proven to be an effective model for space flight.

Non-NASA Center↗
NASA NTRS2012

Recent Developments on Airborne Forward Looking Interferometer for the Detection of Wake Vortices

A goal of these studies was development of the measurement methods and algorithms necessary to detect wake vortex hazards in real time from either an aircraft or ground-based hyperspectral Fourier Transform Spectrometer (FTS). This paper provides an update on research to model FTS detection of wake vortices. The Terminal Area Simulation System (TASS) was used to generate wake vortex fields of 3-D winds, temperature, and absolute humidity. These fields were input to the Line by Line Radiative Transfer Model (LBLRTM), a hyperspectral radiance model in the infrared, employed for the FTS numerical modeling. An initial set of cases has been analyzed to identify a wake vortex IR signature and signature sensitivities to various state variables. Results from the numerical modeling case studies will be presented. Preliminary results indicated that an imaging IR instrument sensitive to six narrow bands within the 670 to 3150 per centimeter spectral region would be sufficient for wake vortex detection. Noise floor estimates for a recommended instrument are a current research topic.

Daniels, Taumi S.↗
DOE OSTI2023

Hemp fiber reinforced dual dynamic network vitrimer biocomposites with direct incorporation of amino silane

Natural fiber composites are inexpensive and renewable alternatives to traditional fiber reinforced polymers (FRPs). However, existing natural fiber composites primarily rely on petrochemical based thermosetting matrices, which are difficult to recycle due to their stable crosslinked network structures. To address this challenge, it is desirable to develop natural fiber composites with inherently recyclable biobased matrices. In this study, we developed a dual dynamic network vitrimer matrix from hempseed oil and limonene derivatives and demonstrated its application in hemp fiber reinforced composites. To improve the weak interface between hemp fiber and the polymer matrix, a common challenge in the realm of natural fiber composites, we directly incorporated amino silane into the vitrimer matrix. The amino silane participated in the polymer network, increasing the crosslink density and toughening the matrix, as evidenced by a significantly improved impact strength from 3.5 kJ/m 2 to 10.3 kJ/m 2 . Moreover, the incorporation of amino silane resulted in a lower water absorption by 11% in 7-day soaking for the composites, demonstrating improved fiber/matrix interfacial interaction. Furthermore, our biobased vitrimer matrix exhibits both imine and hydroxy-ester dynamic bonds, which enable the recycling of the biocomposite through a mild and cost-effective aminolysis process (100°C, 3h, ambient pressure). The decomposed polymer matrix was successfully reused as a polyol for polyurethane adhesives, and the surface morphology of recovered hemp fibers was analyzed and compared with that of the original fibers. Furthermore, these findings will help broaden the use of vitrimers for practical natural fiber composite applications, raise awareness of the problem of recycling natural fiber composite waste, and shed light on the interfacial challenge of natural fiber reinforced vitrimer composites.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2016

ON HELIUM MIXING IN QUASI-GLOBAL SIMULATIONS OF THE INTRACLUSTER MEDIUM

The assumption of a spatially uniform helium distribution in the intracluster medium (ICM) can lead to biases in the estimates of key cluster parameters if composition gradients are present. The helium concentration profile in galaxy clusters is unfortunately not directly observable. Current models addressing the putative sedimentation are one-dimensional and parametrize the presence of magnetic fields in a crude way, ignoring the weakly collisional, magnetized nature of the medium. When these effects are considered, a wide variety of instabilities can play an important role in the plasma dynamics. In a series of recent papers, we have developed the local, linear theory of these instabilities and addressed their nonlinear development with a modified version of Athena. Here, we extend our study by developing a quasi-global approach that we use to simulate the mixing of helium as induced by generalizations of the heat-flux-driven buoyancy instability (HBI) and the magnetothermal instability, which feed off thermal and composition gradients. In the inner region of the ICM, mixing can occur over a few gigayears, after which the average magnetic field inclination angle is ∼30°–50°, resulting in an averaged Spitzer parameter higher by about 20% than the value obtained in homogeneous simulations. In the cluster outskirts the instabilities are rather inefficient, due to the shallow gradients. This suggests that composition gradients in cluster cores might be shallower than one-dimensional models predict. More quantitative statements demand more refined models that can incorporate the physics driving the sedimentation process and simultaneously account for the weakly collisional nature of the plasma.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
NASA NTRS1985

Plasma and magnetospheric research

Research and development in plasmas and magnetospheric environments is reported. Topics discussed include: analysis and techniques of software development; data analysis and modeling; spacecraft sheath effects; laboratory plasma flow studies; instrument development.

Comfort, R. H.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Bridgman crystal growth

The objective of this theoretical research effort was to improve the understanding of the growth of Pb(x)Sn(1-x)Te and especially how crystal quality could be improved utilizing the microgravity environment of space. All theoretical growths are done using the vertical Bridgman method. It is believed that improved single crystal yields can be achieved by systematically identifying and studying system parameters both theoretically and experimentally. A computational model was developed to study and eventually optimize the growth process. The model is primarily concerned with the prediction of the thermal field, although mass transfer in the melt and the state of stress in the crystal were of considerable interest. The evolution is presented of the computer simulation and some of the important results obtained. Diffusion controlled growth was first studied since it represented a relatively simple, but nontheless realistic situation. In fact, results from this analysis prompted a study of the triple junction region where the melt, crystal, and ampoule wall meet. Since microgravity applications were sought because of the low level of fluid movement, the effect of gravitational field strength on the thermal and concentration field was also of interest. A study of the strength of coriolis acceleration on the growth process during space flight was deemed necessary since it would surely produce asymmetries in the flow field if strong enough. Finally, thermosolutal convection in a steady microgravity field for thermally stable conditions and both stable and unstable solutal conditions was simulated.

Carlson, Frederick↗