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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 145 records · Page 8

Hardware Evolution of Closed-Loop Controller Designs

Poster presentation will outline on-going efforts at NASA, MSFC to employ various Evolvable Hardware experimental platforms in the evolution of digital and analog circuitry for application to automatic control. Included will be information concerning the application of commercially available hardware and software along with the use of the JPL developed FPTA2 integrated circuit and supporting JPL developed software. Results to date will be presented.

Gwaltney, David↗

Non-equilibrium approach to prediction of microstructure evolution for metals undergoing severe plastic deformation

Highlights: • New consistent physically-based model of dynamic recrystallization. • The model is based on evolution of fraction of high-angle grain boundaries. • Possibility to predict the evolution of dislocation cells and grain boundaries. • The model is implemented for FEM simulations. • Results demonstrate inhomogeneous distribution of strain within the sample. - Abstract: Available models of dynamic recrystallization have a number of disadvantages that in most cases make them inapplicable for practical predictions of material microstructure evolution. Both the microstructural and the empirically based approaches do not reflect physical processes leading to evolution of material defect structure in the process of plastic deformation. This work presents an attempt to develop a consistent physically-based model of dynamic recrystallization. This model, accounting for physical nature of processes of material defect structure evolution, should provide a possibility to predict evolution of several different experimentally measurable parameters of material microstructure without introduction of big number of fitting parameters. It is suggested that such a model should be based on equation for evolution of fraction of high-angle grain boundaries (HAGBs) in the process of deformation. It is shown, that the new model gives a possibility to predict the evolution of dislocation cells and grain boundaries in copper-based alloys providing good coincidence with experimental observations. Full 3-dimensional numerical simulation of multidirectional forging of copper is performed utilizing the developed dynamic recrystallization model. The same 3D simulations demonstrate new noteworthy effects connected to inhomogeneous distribution of plastic strain within the bulk of the material and material strain hardening.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Dynamic fracture of tantalum under extreme tensile stress

The understanding of fracture phenomena of a material at extremely high strain rates is a key issue for a wide variety of scientific research ranging from applied science and technological developments to fundamental science such as laser-matter interaction and geology. Despite its interest, its study relies on a fine multiscale description, in between the atomic scale and macroscopic processes, so far only achievable by large-scale atomic simulations. Direct ultrafast real-time monitoring of dynamic fracture (spallation) at the atomic lattice scale with picosecond time resolution was beyond the reach of experimental techniques. We show that the coupling between a high-power optical laser pump pulse and a femtosecond x-ray probe pulse generated by an x-ray free electron laser allows detection of the lattice dynamics in a tantalum foil at an ultrahigh strain rate of Embedded Image ~2 × 10 8 to 3.5 × 10 8 s -1 . A maximal density drop of 8 to 10%, associated with the onset of spallation at a spall strength of ~17 GPa, was directly measured using x-ray diffraction. The experimental results of density evolution agree well with large-scale atomistic simulations of shock wave propagation and fracture of the sample. Our experimental technique opens a new pathway to the investigation of ultrahigh strain-rate phenomena in materials at the atomic scale, including high-speed crack dynamics and stress-induced solid-solid phase transitions.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

An experimental and computational study of thin-layer Rayleigh–Taylor instability development during deceleration with and without an externally applied magnetic field

The importance of mitigating the Rayleigh–Taylor instability (RTI) in inertial confinement fusion (ICF) is critical to successfully achieve high gain fusion yield. Consequently, understanding the seed mechanisms of RTI and the potential evolution of RTI in ICF relevant conditions is crucial. Single feature perturbations consistently demonstrate non-linear RTI evolution, for which an experimental platform on OMEGA-EP is developed. Manufacturing defects introduced into the target design require exploration of unanticipated changes to RTI development and an identification of targets that will still render quantifiable physics results. Consequently, it is presented that the inherent 3D nature of experimental targets necessitates 3D modeling for accurate design work and predictive modeling of experimental targets, especially when high resolution imaging diagnostics, like Fresnel Zone Plates, are utilized. A study of the morphology of the RTI evolution due to changing initial conditions and the presence of an externally applied magnetic field are also explored. Experimental data show thin-layer RTI morphology comparable to resistive magneto hydrodynamic 3D results. A discussion on the impacts of an externally applied magnetic field makes the case for continued efforts to observe a magnetic field's impact on RTI morphology.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Identifying limitations in screening high-throughput photocatalytic bimetallic nanoparticles with machine-learned hydrogen adsorptions

The Sabatier principle is of fundamental importance to computational catalyst discovery, saving researchers time and expense by predicting catalytic activity in silico at scale. However, as polycrystalline and nanoscale catalysts increasingly dominate industry, computational screening tools must be adapted to these uses. In this work, we demonstrate the effectiveness of computational adsorption energy screening in nanocatalysis by comparing a multisite adsorption energy prediction workflow against a large experimental dataset of hydrogen evolution activities over bimetallic nanoparticles. Comparing 16 million hydrogen adsorption energy predictions with the hydrogen evolution activity of 5300 experiments across 84 monometallic and bimetallic systems, we discover that favorable adsorption energies are a necessary condition for experimental activity, but other factors often determine trends in practice. Finally, about half of the bimetallic search space can be excluded from experimental screens using hydrogen adsorption predictions, but this method may become significantly more powerful when combined with other screening tools.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Fluid Physics of Foam Evolution and Flow

The grant supported theoretical, numerical and experimental work focused on the elucidation of the fluid physics of foam structure, evolution and flow. The experimental work concentrated on these subject areas: (a) Measurements of the speed of reconnections within a foam; (b) statistics of bubble rearrangements; and (c) three-dimensional reconstruction of the foam structure. On the numerical simulation and theory side our efforts concentrated on the subjects: (a) simulation techniques for 2D and 3D foams; (b) phase transition in a compressible foam; and (c) TCP structures.

Aref, H.↗

Evolution from amino acids - Lunar occurrence of their precursors.

Review of the present state of experimentally based concepts of organic evolution from amino acids. Earlier studies of the synthesis of amino acid precursors from meteoritic material, lunar dust, and terrestrial lava are briefly summarized, and laboratory experiments in which polymers of amino acids were obtained either by direct heating of dry amino acids or by heating aqueous solutions of mixtures of amino acids are described. In particular, a process is described by which alpha-amino acids were made to react to form linear chains of proteinoids. It is concluded that a proteinoid microsystem was a common ancestor of all life on earth.

Fox, S. W.↗

The Prediction of Microstructure Evolution of 6005A Aluminum Alloy in a P-ECAP Extrusion Study

Finite element modeling (FEM) was applied for predicting the recrystallized structure in extruded 6005 aluminum alloy, and simulated results were experimentally validated. First, microstructure evolution of 6005 aluminum alloy during deformation was studied by means of isothermal compression test, where the processing parameters were chosen to reproduce the typical industrial conditions. Second, microstructure evolution was analyzed, and the obtained information was used to fit a dynamic recrystallization model implementing inside the DEFORM-3D FEM code environment. FEM of deformation of 6005 aluminum has been established and validated by microstructure comparison. Finally, the obtained dynamic recrystallization model was applied to tube extrusion by using a portholes-equal channel angular pressing die. The finite element analysis results showed that coarse DRX grains occur in the extruded tube at higher temperature and in the extruded tube at the faster speed of the stem. The test results showed material from the front end of the extruded tube has coarse grains (60 μm) and other extruded tube has finer grains (20 μm).

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Mechanical Properties, Microstructural Evolution, and the Effect of Friction on the Plastic Flow of the AISI 321 Austenitic Stainless Steel Tube During Cold Pilgering: An Experimental and Simulation Analysis

The mechanical properties, microstructural evolution, and the effect of friction on the plastic flow of the AISI 321 austenitic stainless steel (ASS) tube were investigated during the cold pilger process. The elastic–plastic behavior of as-received tube was simulated by the Johnson-cook model. The model parameters were obtained by the compression and tensile tests. The mechanical properties of the material were examined by the tensile and microhardness tests. Based on the ring compression test results, three different situations for friction conditions were considered. The stress and strain states at these conditions were examined for the outer and inner surfaces of the tube. Numerical evaluation of plastic shearing due to the cold pilgering of the AISI321 tube was performed. The X-ray diffraction, ferrite scope tests, and optical microscope were also used for the microstructure evaluation and verification of the simulation results, respectively. The Latham-Cockcraft damage was calculated for different conditions by introducing the new subroutine, showing that it was strongly dependent on the friction conditions and the shear strain, ε{sub zr}, respectively. It was shown that the friction coefficient of 0.3 resulted in the minimum damage of the tube and the different friction conditions between the two surfaces of the tube enhanced the damage function. Also, the strain induced ά-martensite increased the work-hardening capacity and affected the ductility of the tube.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Evolution of pathogen tolerance and emerging infections: A missing experimental paradigm

Researchers worldwide are repeatedly warning us against future zoonotic diseases resulting from humankind’s insurgence into natural ecosystems. The same zoonotic pathogens that cause severe infections in a human host frequently fail to produce any disease outcome in their natural hosts. What precise features of the immune system enable natural reservoirs to carry these pathogens so efficiently? To understand these effects, we highlight the importance of tracing the evolutionary basis of pathogen tolerance in reservoir hosts, while drawing implications from their diverse physiological and life-history traits, and ecological contexts of host-pathogen interactions. Long-term co-evolution might allow reservoir hosts to modulate immunity and evolve tolerance to zoonotic pathogens, increasing their circulation and infectious period. Such processes can also create a genetically diverse pathogen pool by allowing more mutations and genetic exchanges between circulating strains, thereby harboring rare alive-on-arrival variants with extended infectivity to new hosts (i.e., spillover). Finally, we end by underscoring the indispensability of a large multidisciplinary empirical framework to explore the proposed link between evolved tolerance, pathogen prevalence, and spillover in the wild.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Cobalt Intercalated Layered NiFe Double Hydroxides for the Oxygen Evolution Reaction

We present a combined experimental and theoretical study to demonstrate that the electrocatalytic activity of NiFe layered double hydroxides (NiFe LDHs) for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) can be significantly enhanced by systematic cobalt incorporation using coprecipitation and/or intercalation. Electrochemical measurements show that cobalt modified NiFe LDH possesses an enhanced activity for the OER relative to pristine NiFe LDH. The Co-modified NiFe LDH exhibits overpotentials in the range of 290–322 mV (at 10 mA cm –2 ), depending on the degree of cobalt content. Here, the best catalyst, cobalt intercalated NiFe LDH achieved a current density of 10 mA cm –2 at an overpotential of ~265 mV (compared to 310 mV for NiFe LDH), with a near unity (99%) faradaic efficiency and long-term stability. Density functional theory calculations revealed that enhanced activity of Co-modified NiFe LDH could be attributed to the ability of Co to tune the electronic structure of the NiFe LDH so that optimal binding of OER reaction intermediates could be achieved.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Linking Pressure to Electrochemical Evolution in Solid-State Conversion Cathode Composites

Conversion-type cathodes, such as sulfur, FeS 2 , and FeF 3 , offer high theoretical capacities in solid-state lithium batteries but are hindered by substantial volume changes during cycling, leading to interfacial contact loss, crack formation, and microstructural degradation. Here, we investigate the relationships between electrochemical, mechanical, and structural evolution in solid-state electrode composites with these three active materials. Using real-time stack-pressure monitoring, synchrotron X-ray absorption spectroscopy, and electrokinetic modeling, we elucidate how stress evolution is linked to reversible and irreversible redox reactions. Nonlinear stack pressure evolution in cells with sulfur, FeS 2 , and FeF 3 electrode composites is found to arise from material-specific volume changes, the balance of volume change between the working and counter electrode, and the formation of distinct reaction intermediates. The three materials exhibit distinct stack pressure evolution, which is closely related to the different reaction processes in the materials, as demonstrated with X-ray absorption spectroscopy measurements. Through mesoscale modeling, we relate the experimental measurements to species evolution at the particle scale and track the dynamic coexistence of intermediate phases. Our findings highlight the importance of designing for volume changes of a given active material in solid-state battery systems.

batteries↗

Interaction Between a Vortex and a Turbulent Boundary Layer. Part 1: Mean Flow Evolution and Turbulence Properties

An experimental study was conducted to examine the interaction between a single weak streamwise vortex and a two-dimensional turbulent boundary layer. Attention was focused on characterizing the effect of the boundary layer on the vortex, including the effects of a moderate adverse pressure gradient. Rapid growth of the vortex core was observed, and a flattening of the core shape occurred when the dimension of the core radius became comparable to the distance of the vortex center from the surface. Adverse pressure gradients caused an increase in the rate of core growth, and therefore, a stronger distortion of the core shape. Measurements of surface skin friction beneath the vortex and some of the Reynolds stresses are presented.

Westphal, Russell V.↗

Experimental Constraints on Ferropericlase (Mg, Fe)O Melt Viscosity Up to 70 GPa

Abstract During Earth's accretion, Earth's mantle is expected to have been a magma ocean due to large impacts. As such, properties of molten mantle materials are key to understanding Earth's thermochemical evolution. However, due to experimental challenges, transport properties at lower mantle pressures, particularly viscosity, are poorly constrained for mantle melts. In this study, we use quenched dendritic textures to estimate melt viscosities at high pressures for (Mg, Fe)O ferropericlase, one of the major components of the mantle. We find that the viscosity of (Mg, Fe)O melt near liquidus temperatures is ~10 −3 –10 −2 Pa s over the pressure range of 3–70 GPa, which is ~1–2 orders of magnitude lower than previous results for Si‐rich melts at similar conditions. This may have implications for magma ocean cooling and thermochemical evolution of the mantle.

Du, Zhixue↗

Echo movement and evolution from real-time processing.

Preliminary experimental data on the effectiveness of conventional radars in measuring the movement and evolution of meteorological echoes when the radar is connected to a programmable real-time processor are examined. In the processor programming is accomplished by conceiving abstract machines which constitute the actual programs used in the methods employed. An analysis of these methods, such as the center of gravity method, the contour-displacement method, the method of slope, the cross-section method, the contour crosscorrelation method, the method of echo evolution at each point, and three-dimensional measurements, shows that the motions deduced from them may differ notably (since each method determines different quantities) but the plurality of measurement may give additional information on the characteristics of the precipitation.

Schaffner, M. R.↗

Two Modes of the Self-Similar Evolution of Charged Plasma

Two self-similar modes of evolution of charged particles’ high-current beam are described analytically. The situation being considered falls within the field of nonneutral plasma electrodynamics. The process is considered in terms of the nonlinear 1D evolution of the charge density w(x, t) in the channel of a longdistance transmission line with nonlinearly distributed resistance R, capacitance C, and inductance L: R = R(w), C = C(w), and L = 0. It is shown that initially the front of w(x, t) accelerates and then slows down. The description of the process in the channel is based on the charge conservation law. An idealized “kinematic” approach is used according to which an equation in two unknowns (charge density and current density in the channel) can be reduced to an equation in one unknown w(x, t). A strongly nonlinear wave process is studied. A discontinuous solution w(x, t) is constructed with a zero boundary condition at infinity. Such a model description can apply only for revealing the main qualitative features of a complex process. Analytical expressions for the variation in the evolution of the front velocity and perturbed area length are derived. An interrelation between the nonlinearity parameter of the process and the amount of charge in the interelectrode gap is suggested based on the experimental data for the evolution of streamers.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗