Sandia LabNews

HOT SHOT findings could save defense technology developers time and money

An early milestone for developing missile technologies is to show they can work in computer simulations or large-scale field tests that shake and spin components without falling to pieces. Now, HOT SHOT sounding rocket data analysis has revealed a way to improve these tests, providing an earlier, more accurate indicator of whether an experimental technology will ultimately succeed in flight.

Getting to the nuts and bolts of nuts and bolts

After more than five years, a mathematical breakthrough devised by a structural engineer and a computational scientist may save Sandia time and resources to test complex systems. The method is now being used in production in Sandia's Sierra code, and the designers say its potential is limited only by researchers' imagination.

Sandia helps Puerto Rico grid resilience

The Sandia-developed Microgrid Design Toolkit provides what-if analysis of microgrid design choices to provide quantitative insights to decision makers for hybrid energy solutions. Using the MDT tool, utilities and other community stakeholders can identify vulnerabilities in infrastructure particularly susceptible to natural disasters and related consequences.

Sandia Labs manufacturing spinoff steps into national market

Sandia’s Entrepreneurial Separation to Transfer Technology program helped Joe Beck and Eric Branson, both former employees, launch their small business. The Albuquerque-based Advanced Manufactured Power Solutions, or AMPS, is a custom manufacturing company builds battery packs, cables and other small components of larger machines.

Sandia abuses batteries for better energy storage

Lithium-ion batteries are most commonly found in electric cars, computers, medical equipment and aircraft. And they are getting more powerful all the time. The constant push for more storage and power drives the need for extensive battery testing, and Sandia's new drop tower has created yet another way to learn more about how these batteries respond to stress.

Hydrogen materials service advanced by new multilab consortium

Researchers at Sandia and Pacific Northwest national laboratories are leading a collaborative effort to investigate how hydrogen affects materials such as plastics, rubber, steel and aluminum. The Hydrogen Materials Compatibility Consortium, or H-Mat, will focus on how hydrogen affects polymers and metals used in diverse sectors, including fuel cell transportation and hydrogen infrastructure.