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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
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2023

Strategic Deconfliction of Small Unmanned Aircraft Using Operational Volume Blocks at Crossing Waypoints

In this research, first, analytical case studies are performed to understand the parameters on which the minimum temporal separation between unmanned aircraft at crossing waypoints is dependent for enabling strategic deconfliction. The analytical expressions show that the minimum temporal separation is a function of the length and width of operational volume blocks, the relative positions of the active operational volume blocks, groundspeed of unmanned aircraft, and the incoming crossing angle. Next, the parametric study shows that the impact of the incoming crossing angle on the minimum temporal separation at a crossing waypoint increases with an increase in the width of the operational volume blocks. Finally, simulation studies are performed to understand the impact of operational volume block sizing, on-demand departure rate, minimum departure time separation, and the incoming crossing angle on the average ground delay of unmanned aircraft traveling on two routes with a single crossing waypoint and identical on-demand departure rate. Each unmanned aircraft’s estimated time of arrival at a crossing waypoint is adjusted by introducing a ground delay in departure time; no other controls (e.g., speed adjustments) are applied for strategic deconfliction. Simulation studies show that the impact of the minimum temporal separation at a crossing waypoint on the average ground delay of flights is negligible if the minimum departure time separation is at least two times the minimum temporal separation. Therefore, with an increase in minimum departure time separation at a depot, the impact of increased length of operational volume blocks enclosing the crossing waypoint on the ground delay is offset to an extent.

Operational intent↗
NASA NTRS2023

Strategic Deconfliction of Small Unmanned Aircraft Using Operational Volume Blocks at Crossing Waypoints

In this research, first, analytical case studies are performed to understand the parameters on which the minimum temporal separation between unmanned aircraft at crossing waypoints is dependent for enabling strategic deconfliction. The analytical expressions show that the minimum temporal separation is a function of the length and width of operational volume blocks, the relative positions of the active operational volume blocks, groundspeed of unmanned aircraft, and the incoming crossing angle. Next, the parametric study shows that the impact of the incoming crossing angle on the minimum temporal separation at a crossing waypoint increases with an increase in the width of the operational volume blocks. Finally, simulation studies are performed to understand the impact of operational volume block sizing, on-demand departure rate, minimum departure time separation, and the incoming crossing angle on the average ground delay of unmanned aircraft traveling on two routes with a single crossing waypoint and identical on-demand departure rate. Each unmanned aircraft’s estimated time of arrival at a crossing waypoint is adjusted by introducing a ground delay in departure time; no other controls (e.g., speed adjustments) are applied for strategic deconfliction. Simulation studies show that the impact of the minimum temporal separation at a crossing waypoint on the average ground delay of flights is negligible if the minimum departure time separation is at least two times the minimum temporal separation. Therefore, with an increase in minimum departure time separation at a depot, the impact of increased length of operational volume blocks enclosing the crossing waypoint on the ground delay is offset to an extent.

Operational Intent↗
DOE OSTI2023

Areal interpolation of population projections consistent with different SSPs from 1-km resolution to block level based on USA Structures dataset

Population data are normally collected at various census administrative levels, and areal interpolation of population is often required to transform population to the desired spatial resolution. Building footprint datasets, such as Microsoft building footprints, have proven to be useful in estimating population distribution and can therefore be used for areal interpolation of population. In addition to Microsoft building footprints, the recently released USA Structures dataset provides additional information such as building type and building height for some regions, which may provide valuable information for a better depiction of population distribution and improved population areal interpolation accuracy. In this study, we have conducted areal interpolation of population projections consistent with three different Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSP2, SSP3, and SSP5) from 1-km grid cells to block level in Washington state for every ten years from 2020 to 2040 based on USA Structures. We assessed USA Structures-based population downscaling accuracy using U.S. decennial survey data in 2020 under three different downscaling schemes, including population downscaling from census tracts to block groups, from census tracts to blocks, and from block groups to blocks. The resulting accuracies were compared with those based on Microsoft building footprints. The comparison showed that USA Structures achieved higher accuracies across different population density regions and areas with different urbanization extent within our study area.

99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Characterizing the impact of finite matrix block size on conservative particle transport through three-dimensional fracture networks

Mass transfer of solutes between fractures and the surrounding rock matrix exerts a noticeable signature on the tail of travel time distributions. When the width of the matrix is assumed to be infinite and advective transport through the fracture is sufficiently fast, the tails of the travel time distributions exhibit a classically expected slope of ψ(t) ∝ t -3/2 . However, studies have yet to characterize how solute transfer between fractures via diffusion through finite matrix blocks influences the tail’s slope in three-dimensional fractured media. Here, in this study, we assess the impact of finite matrix block size on breakthrough curve shape at different spatio-temporal scales by con ducting particle tracking simulations in three-dimensional discrete fracture networks. We consider a variety of hydrodynamic and geostructural proper ties to determine their relative impact on the resulting travel time distributions. We observe that the impact of matrix diffusion through a finite block on travel time distributions is similar to that of an infinite matrix block when the fracture spacing is sufficiently large, matrix diffusion is relatively weak, or transport is considered at an early control plane distance. We observe that the converse of these conditions, results in deviations from the classical ψ(t) ∝ t -3/2 scaling. These results provide a first step toward developing a metric to assess when finite block size effects are expected to significantly influence transport.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2020

A systematic strategy for estimating hERG block potency and its implications in a new cardiac safety paradigm

Introduction: hERG block potency is widely used to calculate a drug's safety margin against its torsadogenic potential. Previous studies are confounded by use of different patch clamp electrophysiology protocols and a lack of statistical quantification of experimental variability. Since the new cardiac safety paradigm being discussed by the International Council for Harmonisation promotes a tighter integration of nonclinical and clinical data for torsadogenic risk assessment, a more systematic approach to estimate the hERG block potency and safety margin is needed. Methods: A cross-industry study was performed to collect hERG data on 28 drugs with known torsadogenic risk using a standardized experimental protocol. A Bayesian hierarchical modeling (BHM) approach was used to assess the hERG block potency of these drugs by quantifying both the inter-site and intra-site variability. A modeling and simulation study was also done to evaluate protocol-dependent changes in hERG potency estimates. Results: A systematic approach to estimate hERG block potency is established. The impact of choosing a safety margin threshold on torsadogenic risk evaluation is explored based on the posterior distributions of hERG potency estimated by this method. The modeling and simulation results suggest any potency estimate is specific to the protocol used. Discussion: This methodology can estimate hERG block potency specific to a given voltage protocol. The relationship between safety margin thresholds and torsadogenic risk predictivity suggests the threshold should be tailored to each specific context of use, and safety margin evaluation may need to be integrated with other information to form a more comprehensive risk assessment.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2022

Complex pH-Dependent Interactions between Weak Polyelectrolyte Block Copolymer Micelles and Molecular Fluorophores

Amphiphilic block copolymers with weak polyelectrolyte blocks can assemble stimulus-responsive nanostructures and interfaces. Applications of these materials in drug delivery, biomimetics, and sensing largely rely on the well-understood swelling of polyelectrolyte chains upon deprotonation, often induced by changes in pH or ionic strength. This deprotonation can also tune interfacial interactions between the polyelectrolyte blocks and surrounding solution, an effect which is less studied than morphological swelling of polyelectrolytes but can be just as critical for intended function. Here, we investigate whether the pH-driven morphological response of polyelectrolyte-bearing nanostructures also affects the interactions of these nanostructures with molecules in solution, using micelles of a short-chain polybutadiene-block-poly(acrylic acid) (pBd–pAA) as a model system. Here we introduce a Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) approach to probe interactions between micelles and fluorescent molecular solutes as a function of solution pH. As expected, the pAA corona of these pBd–pAA micelles increases in thickness monotonically as a function of pH. However, FRET efficiency, which provides a metric of the spatial proximity of fluorescently labeled micelles and freely diffusing fluorophores, exhibits complex nonmonotonic behavior as a function of pH, indicating that the average separation of micelles and acceptor fluorophores is not strictly correlated with micelle swelling. Dialysis experiments quantify the affinity of fluorophores for micelles as a function of pH, confirming that changes in FRET are driven almost entirely by the pH-dependent affinity of the pAA block for the investigated molecular fluorophores, not simply by a shape change of the pAA corona. This study provides key insights into the interfacial interactions between weak-polyelectrolyte-bearing nanostructures and molecular solutes, of importance for the development of their stimulus-responsive applications.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2021

Effect of Added Salt on Disordered Poly(ethylene oxide)-Block-Poly(methyl methacrylate) Copolymer Electrolytes

In this report we studied the effect of salt addition on a diblock copolymer system with a negative Flory-Huggins interaction parameter, χ, indicative of attractive interactions between the two blocks. The system studied is poly(ethylene oxide)-block-poly(methyl methacrylate) (PEO-PMMA) with added lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI) salt. We studied two asymmetric block copolymers, PEO-PMMA(10-33) and PEO-PMMA(10-64), where the numbers refer to the molar masses of the blocks in kg mol -1 . The small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) profiles for PEO-PMMA(10-33) were featureless at all salt concentrations. In contrast, PEO-PMMA(10-64) exhibited SAXS peaks when the salt concentration was between 0.22 ≤ m (mol Li/kg polymer) ≤ 0.44. The appearance of SAXS peaks only in PEO-PMMA(10-64) is consistent with the predictions of ionic self-consistent field theory developed by de la Cruz and co-workers, which predicts that in systems with negative χ, ordered phases are only found when the volume fraction of the ionic block is about 10%.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2025

Block Lanczos algorithm for lattice QCD spectroscopy and matrix elements

Recent work introduced a new framework for analyzing correlation functions with improved convergence and signal-to-noise properties, as well as rigorous quantification of excited-state effects, based on the Lanczos algorithm and spurious eigenvalue filtering with the Cullum-Willoughby test. Here, we extend this framework to the analysis of correlation-function matrices built from multiple interpolating operators in lattice quantum chromodynamics (QCD) by constructing an oblique generalization of the block Lanczos algorithm, as well as a new physically motivated reformulation of the Cullum-Willoughby test that generalizes to block Lanczos straightforwardly. The resulting block Lanczos method directly extends generalized eigenvalue problem (GEVP) methods, which can be viewed as applying a single iteration of block Lanczos. Block Lanczos provides qualitative and quantitative advantages over GEVP methods analogous to the benefits of Lanczos over the standard effective mass, including faster convergence to ground- and excited-state energies, explicitly computable two-sided error bounds, straightforward extraction of matrix elements of external currents, and asymptotically constant signal-to-noise. No fits or statistical inference are required. Proof-of-principle calculations are performed for noiseless mock-data examples as well as two-by-two proton correlation-function matrices in lattice QCD.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Si content in methacrylamide-containing A- b -(B- r -C) block copolymers and its impact on reactive ion etching properties

Block copolymers (BCPs) of an A-block-(B-random-C) architecture have been explored as materials for nanolithography because the composition and chemistry of the random block enables modification of thermodynamic and wetting properties to meet manufacturing criteria. Here, in this study, A-b-(B-r-C) BCPs created by an amidation reaction of polystyrene-block-poly(pentafluorophenyl methacrylate) (PS-b-PPFMA) with controlled amounts of Si add insight to previous conclusions about the dual contributions of BCP chemistry and reactive ion etch (RIE) gas chemistry on etch properties. We focus on two RIE etch characteristics: organosilicon etch resistance in H 2 /N 2 plasma etching and enhanced removal of non-styrenic structures in an Ar/O 2 etch. Consistent with previous studies, higher amounts of Si result in greater etch resistance under H 2 /N 2 RIE, where at least ∼10 wt. % Si is necessary to exhibit sufficient etch resistance. By contrast, Ar/O 2 etching resulted in etch rates independent of Si content. We observe previously unreported surface roughening aligned with morphological domains during the H 2 /N 2 etch of modified PS-b-PPFMA BCPs. Limited in the amount of allowable Si to attain equal surface energy between blocks, these BCPs are further disqualified in forming a Si-containing mask. However, in an Ar/O 2 etch, the same BCPs exhibit suitable etch contrast and smooth domain structures, forming a uniform PS mask. Ultimately, this study uses the chemical flexibility of these materials to demonstrate the mechanisms of interactions between BCP and etch chemistry that must be considered to design effective materials for pattern transfer applications.

Eom, Christopher J. [University of Chicago, IL (Un↗
DOE OSTI2022

Uncertainty Quantification of Monolithic Tungsten Target Block Fatigue

The current STS spallation target design consists of 21 water cooled, tantalum clad, monolithic tungsten blocks. The target wheel assembly rotates such that each target block receives a direct proton pulse every 1.4 seconds (21 blocks / 15 Hz pulses). The quasi-steady heating induced by the repetitive beam pulses creates a significant mean stress distribution in the target. On top of this, the rapid energy deposition from a proton pulse induces dynamic stress waves that are of the same order of magnitude as the mean stresses. Over the design goal of 5,000 operational hours per year for a decade, each target must withstand over 130 million repetitions of these dynamic stress events. The fatigue life prediction of the target blocks is a complex sequence of simulations that depend upon a set of input parameters. For the tungsten block, the end goal is the fatigue factor-of-safety (FOS). This study documents a new structural analysis routine using software available to U.S. national laboratories (e.g. CUBIT, Sierra Multiphysics, Dakota) that enables more rapid target fatigue analysis. The increased throughput is amenable to parameter sensitivity and uncertainty quantification (UQ) studies. A set of input parameters (ultimate strength, fatigue strength, density, elastic modulus, Poisson’s ratio, thermal conductivity, coefficient of thermal expansion, specific heat, flow rate) with expected ranges are documented based on literature data, recent experimental testing, and engineering judgement. UQ bounds the resulting fatigue FOS at [0.5, 3.4] using epistemic interval analysis. These bounds are expected to be wider due to model effects (discretization) and beam effects (focus, offset) that were not included. Parameter sensitivity underscores the importance of ultimate strength and fatigue strength of irradiated tungsten on the fatigue calculations.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Explicit block encodings of boundary value problems for many-body elliptic operators

Simulation of physical systems is one of the most promising use cases of future digital quantum computers. In this work we systematically analyze the quantum circuit complexities of block encoding the discretized elliptic operators that arise extensively in numerical simulations for partial differential equations, including high-dimensional instances for many-body simulations. When restricted to rectangular domains with separable boundary conditions, we provide explicit circuits to block encode the many-body Laplacian with separable periodic, Dirichlet, Neumann, and Robin boundary conditions, using standard discretization techniques from low-order finite difference methods. To obtain high-precision, we introduce a scheme based on periodic extensions to solve Dirichlet and Neumann boundary value problems using a high-order finite difference method, with only a constant increase in total circuit depth and subnormalization factor. We then present a scheme to implement block encodings of differential operators acting on more arbitrary domains, inspired by Cartesian immersed boundary methods. We then block encode the many-body convective operator, which describes interacting particles experiencing a force generated by a pair-wise potential given as an inverse power law of the interparticle distance. This work provides concrete recipes that are readily translated into quantum circuits, with depth logarithmic in the total Hilbert space dimension, that block encode operators arising broadly in applications involving the quantum simulation of quantum and classical many-body mechanics.

Kharazi, Tyler [University of California, Berkeley↗
DOE OSTI2021

Block Scale Rooftop Solar Technical Potential for the City of Orlando

The html maps are provided as supplementary information for the publication titled Parcel Scale Assessment of Rooftop Solar Technical Potential (NREL/PR-7A40-80780). The maps contain information on rooftop solar technical potential at the block scale for the city of Orlando in Florida. The rooftop solar technical potential information is based on data from two different datasets. The first dataset is LiDAR data for the city of Orlando obtained from the Orlando Utilities Commission (OUC) (Koebrich et al. 2021). The second dataset is a national parcel dataset (HIFLD 2020) which contains descriptive data and geometries for parcels in the U.S. Parcel scale data from both these datasets have been processed and aggregated to block scale to produce these html maps. The first html map (block scale developable roof area for Orlando) contains the developable roof area for solar. The second html map (block scale rooftop solar technical potential for Orlando) contains the rooftop solar technical potential in units of kilowatts as well as additional information on the most common building use type and the most common building occupancy type for the block. These html maps are provided to demonstrate the proof-of-concept analysis conducted for Orlando.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
NASA NTRS1975

Improved ultrasonic standard reference blocks

A program to improve the quality, reproducibility and reliability of nondestructive testing through the development of improved ASTM-type ultrasonic reference standards is described. Reference blocks of aluminum, steel, and titanium alloys were considered. Equipment representing the state-of-the-art in laboratory and field ultrasonic equipment was obtained and evaluated. Some RF and spectral data on ten sets of ultrasonic reference blocks were taken as part of a task to quantify the variability in response from nominally identical blocks. Techniques for residual stress, preferred orientation, and microstructural measurements were refined and are applied to a reference block rejected by the manufacturer during fabrication in order to evaluate the effect of metallurgical condition on block response.

Eitzen, D. G.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Diagnostic analysis and spectral energetics of a blocking event in the GLAS climate model simulation

A synoptic and spectral analysis of a blocking event is presented, with attention given to the temporal evolution, maintenance, and decay of the block. The GLAS numerical climate model was used to generate a blocking event by the introduction of SST anomalies. Wavenumbers 2 and 3 became stationary around their climatological locations, and their constructive interference produced persistent blocking ridges over the west coast of North America and the other over western Europe. Time variations of the kinetic and potential energies and energy conversions during the blocking were performed. Spectrally filtered Hovmoller diagrams were developed for the winter of 1976-77, and showed that long waves were stationary over most of the interval, which featured severe weather conditions.

Chen, T.-C.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Development of Test Article Building Block (TABB) for deployable platform systems

The concept of a Test Article Building Block (TABB) is described. The TABB is a ground test article that is representative of a future building block that can be used to construct LEO and GEO deployable space platforms for communications and scientific payloads. This building block contains a main housing within which the entire structure, utilities, and deployment/retraction mechanism are stowed during launch. The end adapter secures the foregoing components to the housing during launch. The main housing and adapter provide the necessary building-block-to-building-block attachments for automatically deployable platforms. Removal from the shuttle cargo bay can be accomplished with the remote manipulator system (RMS) and/or the handling and positioning aid (HAPA). In this concept, all the electrical connections are in place prior to launch with automatic latches for payload attachment provided on either the end adapters or housings. The housings also can contain orbiter docking ports for payload installation and maintenance.

Greenberg, H. S.↗
NASA NTRS1984

A comparison of the spectral energy and enstrophy budgets of blocking versus nonblocking periods

Data from the winters of 1978-79 and 1976-77 are analyzed in an attempt to identify any systematic differences in the time mean spectral energy and enstrophy budgets of blocking events in comparison with nonblocking periods. It is found that the most noteworthy differences between the spectral energy and enstrophy budgets of blocking versus nonblocking periods are in the nonlinear interaction terms. It is suggested that an explanation of the greater predictability of the Rex-type blocking found by Bengtsson (1981) might be found in the reversal of low wavenumber enstrophy cascade. This may indicate that the destruction of large-scale vorticity by down-scale cascade and eventual dissipation is greatly reduced or eliminated during blocking events. As a result, blocking patterns may be more persistent and therefore more predictable.

Hansen, A. R.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Block-Krylov component synthesis method for structural model reduction

A new analytical method is presented for generating component shape vectors, or Ritz vectors, for use in component synthesis. Based on the concept of a block-Krylov subspace, easily derived recurrence relations generate blocks of Ritz vectors for each component. The subspace spanned by the Ritz vectors is called a block-Krylov subspace. The synthesis uses the new Ritz vectors rather than component normal modes to reduce the order of large, finite-element component models. An advantage of the Ritz vectors is that they involve significantly less computation than component normal modes. Both 'free-interface' and 'fixed-interface' component models are derived. They yield block-Krylov formulations paralleling the concepts of free-interface and fixed-interface component modal synthesis. Additionally, block-Krylov reduced-order component models are shown to have special disturbability/observability properties. Consequently, the method is attractive in active structural control applications, such as large space structures. The new fixed-interface methodology is demonstrated by a numerical example. The accuracy is found to be comparable to that of fixed-interface component modal synthesis.

Craig, Roy R., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Energetics examination of winter blocking simulations in the Northern Hemisphere

Four numerical simulations of the global atmosphere for January 1979 are analyzed to study the formation of blocking in terms of Northern Hemisphere energetics. The Goddard Laboratory for Atmospheres (GLA) 4 x 5 deg latitude-longitude grid general circulation model (GCM) and 2 x 2.5 deg grid GCM are employed with the GLA and Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory initial datasets. Among four simulations, the simulations by the high resolution GCM produce realistically strong blockings with compatible spectral energetics as in the observed blockings episodes. The latitude-height cross sections of the energy variables of wavenumber 1 is presented to describe the dipole structure of blockings. Blocking development is also examined in time series of barotropic and baroclinic components of energy and associated conversions.

Kung, Ernest C.↗