Research

Technology Deployment Centers

Many of Sandia's unique research centers are available for use by U.S. industry, universities, academia, other laboratories, state and local governments, and the scientific community in general. Technology deployment centers are a unique set of scientific research capabilities and resources. The primary function of technology deployment centers is to satisfy Department of Energy programmatic needs, while remaining accessible to outside users.

Contact: For more information about Sandia technology deployment centers or for help in selecting a center to meet your needs, contact Joel Sikora at jsikora@sandia.gov, (505) 284-1009. Visit the Technology Partnerships website for more opportunities.

Advanced Power Source Engineering Facility
Combustion Research Facility (CRF)
Design, Evaluation, and Test Technology Facility
Distributed Energy Technology Laboratory (DETL)
Engineering Sciences Experimental Facilities (ESEF)
Explosive Components Facility (ECF)

Engineering Sciences Experimental Facilities

The Engineering Sciences Experimental Facilities (ESEF) complex contains several independent laboratories for experiments and advanced diagnostics in the fields of thermodynamics, heat transfer, fluid mechanics, multiphase flows, adhesion, surface rheology, material characterization, X-Ray CT, and material decomposition. Our experimental research activities are focused on both advanced diagnostics and fundamental experiments. We seek to improve our understanding of phenomena in areas of fluid flow, heat transfer, and aerodynamics. We develop state-of-the-art diagnostic techniques for application to benchmark experiments aimed at understanding the fundamental nature of complex systems. This understanding is used to develop and validate the theoretical and computer models necessary for system design and analysis.

Find out more about the Engineering Sciences Experimental Facilities (ESEF).

User liaison

Jeffery Payne
Sandia National Laboratories
PO Box 5800, MS 0825
Albuquerque, NM 87185
jlpayne@sandia.gov
(505) 844-4524

Advanced Power Source Engineering Facility

The Power Sources Technology Group (PSTG) provides comprehensive capabilities in power source research, design, engineering, characterization, evaluation, and testing. Supporting PSTG is a staff of more than 80 scientists, engineers, and technicians with backgrounds in chemistry, electrochemistry, metallurgy, chemical engineering, materials science, engineering, and physics.

State-of-the-art capabilities are available to perform research, design, development, and production for a variety of primary, reserve or rechargeable technologies. Facilities (over 60,000 sq. ft.) include:

Wet chemistry laboratories
Analytical and diagnostic laboratories
Extensive dry room capabilities: >10,000 sq. ft. that is agile/reconfigurable to meet dynamic customer needs
Environmental battery test facility
Production/prototyping facilities for lithium-ion, lithium primary, and thermal batteries
Battery Abuse Testing Laboratory (BATLab)
Energy Storage Analysis Laboratory (ESAL)
World-class non-destructive analysis tools
Additive manufacturing and 3D printing battery hardware
Access to comprehensive environmental testing, modeling & simulation, materials synthesis, analysis, and diagnostic equipment across the laboratory

Core business areas for PSTG include:

Thermal battery research, design, development, and prototyping
Production and stockpile support for power sources
Lithium primary battery research, design, development, and prototyping
Transportation energy storage
Grid scale energy storage solutions
Power sources testing and evaluation
Battery safety research and development
Advanced power source concepts
Advanced diagnostic tool development

Availability

This facility is available to support applications that can benefit from its unique capabilities. To make arrangements, contact the user liaison.

User liaison

Christopher Orendorff
Sandia National Laboratories
PO Box 5800, MS-0613
Albuquerque, NM 87185
corendo@sandia.gov

Center for Security Systems

The Center for Security Systems is a fully integrated research-to-development-to-application center that provides systems and technologies that understand, identify, and solve the nation’s security problems. The Center includes extensive development and testing facilities for all aspects of physical security and robotics, including the following:

Sensor
Video
Image Processing
Alarm communications and display
Entry control
Contraband detection
Insider protection technologies
Barriers and activated delay
Modeling and simulation
Robotics

Find out more about the Center for Security Systems.

Availability

This facility is available to support any application that can benefit from its unique capabilities. However, because of the sensitivity of government security applications, some facilities and information may not be available to non-U.S. citizens. To make arrangements to use the Center for Security Systems, contact the user liaison.

User liaison

Chelsea Chavez
Sandia National Laboratories
PO Box 5800, MS 1002
Albuquerque, NM 87185
cmchav@sandia.gov
Phone: (505) 284-5007
Mobile: (505) 328-0918

Combustion Research Facility

For more than 35 years The Combustion Research Facility (CRF) has served as a national and international leader in combustion science and technology. The need for a thorough and basic understating of combustion and combustion-related processes lies at the heart of the CRF research, which ranges from studying chemical reactions in a flame to developing an instrument for the remote detection of gas leaks. Users and partners have access to state-of-the-art facilities and an expert staff that brings with them enhanced knowledge and new approaches to combustion and combustion related research.

Find out more about the Combustion Research Facility.

Availability

These facilities are available to support applications that can benefit from their unique capabilities. To find out more about opportunities to engage this facility in your work, contact the user liaison listed below.

User liaison

Sarah Allendorf
Sandia National Laboratories
PO Box 969, MS 9054
Livermore, CA 94551-0969
swallen@sandia.gov
(925) 294-3379

Design, Evaluation, and Test Technology Facility

The mission of this facility, composed of numerous specialized facilities, is to simulate a wide range of environments for component and system testing. The environments can range from normal in-use environments to extreme accident conditions. In addition, a wide array of diagnostic equipment, such as nondestructive testing, photometric and optics, and electronic data acquisition, is maintained and developed to support testing and research activities. Tests as diverse as characterization of printed circuit board solder connection strength to full-scale impact testing of transport vehicles have been accommodated.

User liaison

Charles D. Croessmann
Sandia National Laboratories
PO Box 5800, MS 0557
Albuquerque, NM 87185
cdcroes@sandia.gov
(505) 845-9517

Distributed Energy Technology Laboratory

The Distributed Energy Technologies Laboratory (DETL) is a power electronics testing facility capable of evaluating distributed energy resources (DER) connected the utility grid. The DETL has evaluation stations for residential and commercial DER devices that can be configured as 240V single phase and 480V, 3-phase systems. The DETL includes a motor control center microgrid with state-of-the-art synchronous generation controls coupled with enhanced utility support power electronic devices and controllable loads for microgrid assessments. These advanced support systems include photovoltaic inverters, microturbines, fuel cells, reciprocating engine-generators, and energy storage systems. New capabilities include interoperability and cyber security vulnerability assessments as well as interactions among various technologies.

DETL provides expertise and test support to perform the following functions to existing and emerging utility interconnection standards (IEEE P1547/P1547.1) and evaluations include:

Grid-connected performance evaluations (e.g., efficiency, power quality, voltage and frequency ride-through, voltage and frequency regulation function, and DER response to abnormal grid conditions)
Off-grid (stand-alone or microgrid) performance evaluations (e.g., transient response, compatibility with various load types, voltage and frequency regulations)
Specialized tests (cyber security, unintentional islanding, interoperability and interactions of multiple sources on a common grid and microgrid, surge tolerance and mitigation strategies)

Find out more about the Distributed Energy Technology Laboratory (PDF)

User liaison

Sigifredo Gonzales
Sandia National Laboratories
PO Box 5800, MS 1033
Albuquerque, NM 87185
sgonza@sandia.gov
(505) 845-8942

Explosive Components Facility

The 98,000-square-foot Explosive Components Facility (ECF) is a state-of-the-art facility that provides a full-range of chemical, material, and performance analysis capabilities for energetic materials and explosive components:

advanced design of energetic devices and subsystems
optical ordnance
energetic materials
testing of explosives and explosive components and subsystems
advanced explosives diagnostics
reliability analyses
failure modes evaluation
safety evaluation

User liaison

Leanna Minier
lminier@sandia.gov
Sandia National Laboratories
P.O. Box 5800, MS-1455
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87185-1455
phone: (505) 844-2352
FAX: (505) 844-5924

Microsystems Engineering, Science and Applications (MESA)

Sandia's primary mission is ensuring the U.S. nuclear arsenal is safe, secure, reliable, and can fully support the nation's deterrence policy. Employing only the most advanced and failsafe technologies to fulfill our responsibilities as stewards of the nuclear stockpile, Sandia is responsible for the development, design and maintenance of approximately 90 percent of the several thousand parts found in any given weapon system, including radiation-hardened microelectronics.

In support of this mission, Sandia has a significant role in advancing the state-of-the-art in microsystems research and development and in introducing microsystems into the nuclear stockpile. Microsystems incorporate radiation-hardened microelectronics, and other advanced components such as micromachines, optoelectronics, and photonic systems. The MESA Complex is designed to integrate the numerous scientific disciplines necessary to produce functional, robust, integrated microsystems and represents the center of Sandia's investment in microsystems research, development, and prototyping activities. This suite of facilities encompasses approximately 400,000 square feet and includes cleanroom facilities, laboratories, and offices.

Find out more about the MESA Complex.

Availability

User liaison

Dede Valerio
Sandia National Laboratories
P.O. Box 5800, MS 1083
Albuquerque, NM 87185-1074
Phone: (505) 844-8571
dlvaler@sandia.gov

Explosive Technology Group

The Explosive Technology Group (ETG) provides diverse technical expertise and an agile, integrated approach to solve complex challenges for all classes of energetic materials (EM) and explosive components. The Explosive Technology Group has a plethora of unique technical capabilities that enable an engineering science approach to component design and development, and probe the science underlying EM performance, safety, and reliability in normal and abnormal environments.

Our customer and partner base includes the National Nuclear Security Administration,, other Department of Energy partners, and numerous Work-for-Other customers including Department of Defense , academia, and industry.

Available Resources:

Four specialized buildings housing laboratories and facilities with state-of-the-art equipment, diagnostics, and multiple indoor/outdoor testing sites that support a broad spectrum of engineering and science operations utilizing milligrams to 5,000 pounds of EM.
Integrated multi-disciplinary teams of more than 100 experienced engineers, chemists, physicists, and modelers.
Complete suite of chemical/thermal/physical/mechanical characterization tools; ultrafast and advanced diagnostics; optics and cameras for performance measurements; inert and EM machining; rapid prototype lab for specialized hardware and explosive component device manufacture; and specialized tools/diagnostics to meet validation and testing needs.

Resources enable multiple key technologies:

Extensive expertise in research, development, and application of energetic materials
Conventional and advanced explosive component design, development, evaluation, and modeling
Unique combinations of physical/chemical characterization and testing of EM for advancing energetic material science and technologies
Model development for design engineers and understanding the physics of EM in static and dynamic conditions
Miniaturization of explosive components
Aging and failure modes analysis
Safety and reliability assessments
Development of advanced EM detection technologies
Quantitative analysis of EM performance in abnormal environments
Ballistic testing and analysis
Ability to integrate multiple technologies to address new areas of interest

Explosive Technology Group
Geomechanics Laboratory
Materials Science and Engineering Center (MSE)
Mechanical Test and Evaluation Facility
Microsystems Engineering, Science and Applications (MESA)
National Solar Thermal Test Facility (NSTTF)

Geomechanics Laboratory

The Geomechanics Laboratory allows its users to measure rock properties under a wide range of simulated service conditions up to very high pressures and complex load paths. The laboratories capabilities make it useful for research and development in underground construction, mining, oil and gas production/reservoir management, hydrocarbon and compressed air storage and much more.

Find out more about the Geomechanics Laboratory, including a definitive set of our capabilities.

Availability

To make arrangements to use the Geomechanics Laboratory, contact the user liaison.

User liaison 

Moo Y. Lee
mylee@sandia.gov
Sandia National Laboratories 
P.O. Box 5800, MS-0751 
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87185-0751 
Phone: (505) 844-2366 
FAX: (505) 844-7354

National Solar Thermal Test Facility

The National Solar Thermal Test Facility (NSTTF) is the only test facility in the United States of its type. This unique facility provides experimental engineering data for the design, construction, and operation of unique components and systems in proposed solar thermal electrical plants; planned for large-scale power generation. At 200 feet tall, the NSTTF’s distinct height advantage along with its heat capabilities, offers a unique and complete testing environment to government contractors and agencies, research institutes, universities and private companies.

Find out more about the National Solar Thermal Test Facility.

Availability

First-come, first-serve basis to government agencies and to the private sector. Proposed project activities must not compete with those offered in the private industry.

Private sector organizations can contract for use of these facilities and services through a Designated Technology Deployment Center Agreement.
Government organizations can contract with Sandia through a Work for Others Agreement.

Both agreements are easy to implement and provide for cost reimbursement for the use of Sandia’s staff and facilities.

User Liaison

Paul Gauche, PhD
Manager - Concentrating Solar Technologies Dept.
Sandia National Laboratories
P.O. Box 5800, MS 1127
Albuquerque, NM 87185-1127
pgauche@sandia.gov
(505) 844-0964
www.sandia.gov/csp

Materials Science and Engineering Center

The Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) Center at Sandia provides knowledge of materials structure, properties, and performance and the processes to produce, transform, and analyze materials to ensure mission success for our customers and partners, both internal and external. Find out more about the Materials Science and Engineering Center.

For additional information about capabilities, facilities and how to access, contact:

Coby Davis
Manager, 01854 Materials Aging and Lifetime
Material, Physical and Chemical Sciences Center
Sandia National Laboratories
P.O. Box 5800, MS 0889
Albuquerque, NM 87185
cldavis@sandia.gov
Phone: (505) 284-9524
Fax: (505) 844-7910

Nuclear Energy Safety Technologies (NEST)

Sandia National Laboratories' Nuclear Energy and Fuel Cycle Programs provide a dynamic, multifaceted approach to systems-based research and development of nuclear energy and fuel cycle technologies. Sandia supports the safe, secure, reliable, and sustainable use of nuclear power worldwide through strengths in repository science, nonproliferation, safety and security, transportation, modeling, and system demonstrations. As a national leader, Sandia strives to enhance the nation's security and prosperity through sustainable, transformative approaches to the world's most difficult nuclear energy challenges.

Find out more about Nuclear Energy Safety Technologies (NEST), including a definitive set of our capabilities.

Availability

The NEST facility is available to support any application that can benefit from its unique capabilities. To make arrangements for support from this facility, contact the user liaison.

User liaison

Eric Boatman
Project Manager
edboatm@sandia.gov
(505) 844-0359

Mechanical Test and Evaluation Facility

The Micromechanics & Materials Mechanics Test Facilities at Sandia, California, conduct experimental research and develop diagnostics to study the mechanical behavior of materials. Material systems of interest include metals, structural foams, ceramics, polymers, and composites. Our work for Department of Energy customers includes material characterization, fracture and failure mechanics, validation of massively parallel engineering mechanics computer codes, and mechanical testing of prototype hardware. The following research capabilities are available:

multi-axial testing
coupled thermal/mechanical testing from cryogenic to high temperature
in-situ mechanical testing in microscopes
high strain-rate testing
nanoindentation and thin film evaluation
high force testing
friction/wear Testing

Availability

These facilities are available to support applications that can benefit from their unique capabilities. For more information, contact the user liaison listed below.

User liaison

Jake Ostien
Manager, Research & Development
Sandia National Laboratories
P.O. Box 969, MS 9042
Livermore, CA
jtostie@sandia.gov
(925) 294-3528

Nuclear Facilities Resource Center (NUFAC)
Photovoltaic System Evaluation Laboratory (PSEL)
Primary Standards Laboratory
Shock Thermodynamic Applied Research Facility (STAR)
Center for Security Systems

Nuclear Facilities Resource Center (NUFAC)

The Nuclear Facilities Resource Center (NUFAC) represents an exceptional national resource in providing unique capabilities for developing and applying nuclear solutions to problems of national importance.

NUFAC's nuclear engineering technology resource is derived from a combination of unique facilities and highly qualified people in a synergistic structure. NUFAC supports a wide variety of programs including designing, operating, and experimenting with nuclear reactors; performing in core testing of reactor fuel and criticality experiments; radiation processing of semiconductor materials; testing of electronic piece parts and components; performing activation analyses; characterizing radioactive materials; and producing radioisotopes.

Facilities

Interrelated facilities include:

Annular Core Research Reactor
Gamma Irradiation Facilities
Sandia Pulse Reactor Facility/Critical Experiments
State-of-the-art dosimetry, diagnostic, data acquisition, modeling and analysis capabilities
The Center has the analytical and experimental infrastructure necessary to meet customer needs in the following areas: design nuclear facilities and assess their safety; modify facilities to meet experimenter's needs; characterize radiation environments; produce support research; develop, test and evaluate experiments; neutron and ion single-event effects testing.

Availability

This facility is available to support any application that can benefit from its unique capabilities.

Contact

For all inquiries, please contact TAV_nuclear@sandia.gov

Photovoltaic System Evaluation Laboratory

The Photovoltaic System Evaluation Laboratory (PSEL) is a multi-user, multi-sponsor facility that conducts research in photovoltaic (PV) cells and modules and performs detailed analysis in PV systems design and characterization. PSEL accelerates the development and adoption of new and emerging photovoltaic technologies. The site location in Albuquerque, NM provides more than 300 days of sun per year, and offers partners premier testing conditions along with highly precise equipment and an experienced and knowledgeable staff.

Find out more about the Photovoltaic System Evaluation Laboratory, including a definitive set of our capabilities.

Availability

PSEL is available to support any application that can benefit from their unique capabilities. To make arrangements for support from these facilities, contact the user liaison.

User liaison 

Anthony Martino
Sandia National Laboratories
PO Box 5800, MS 0734
Albuquerque, NM 87185-0734
martino@sandia.gov
(505) 844-0652

The Primary Standards Laboratory

The Primary Standards Laboratory (PSL) develops and maintains primary standards traceable to national standards and calibrates and certifies customer reference standards. The PSL provides technical guidance, support, and consultation; develops precision measurement techniques; provides oversight, including technical surveys and measurement audits; and anticipates future measurement needs of the nuclear weapons complex and other Department of Energy programs. The PSL also helps industry, universities, and government agencies establish or verify new capabilities and products and improve measurement technology.

Find out more about the Primary Standards Laboratory, including a definitive set of our capabilities.

Availability

This facility is available to support any firm whose applications can benefit from its unique capabilities. To make arrangements, contact one of the user liaisons below.

User liaisons

Meaghan Carpenter
Manager, Primary Standards Laboratory
mscarpe@sandia.gov
Phone: 284-8268
Fax: 844-4372

Shock Thermodynamic Applied Research Facility

The Shock Thermodynamic Applied Research Facility (STAR) facility, within Sandia’s Solid Dynamic Physics Department, is one of a few institutions in the world with a major shock-physics program. This is the only experimental test facility in the world that can cover the full range of pressure (bars to multi-Mbar) for material property study utilizing gas/propellant launchers, ramp-loading pulsers, and ballistic applications.

Find out more about the Shock Thermodynamic Applied Research Facility (STAR).

Availability

This facility is available to support any institution whose applications can benefit from its unique capabilities; contact the user liaison.

User liaison 

William D. Reinhart
wdreinh@sandia.gov
Sandia National Laboratories 
P.O. Box 5800, MS-1150
Albuquerque, NM 87185-1150 
Phone: 505-284-3185 

Scott Alexander, Ph.D.
Dynamic Material Properties
Sandia National Laboratories
P.O. Box 5800, MS-1150
Albuquerque, NM 87185-1150
Phone: 505-845-3572
Fax: 505-844-8467