The Salado Formation is a thick evaporite sequence located in the Permian Delaware Basin of southeastern New Mexico. This study focuses on the intense diagenetic alteration that has affected the small amounts of clay, feldspar, and quartz washed into the basin during salt deposition. These changes are of more than academic interest since this formation also houses the WIPP (Waste Isolation Pilot Plant). Site characterization concerns warrant compiling a detailed data base describing the clays in and around the facility horizon. An extensive sampling effort was undertaken to address these programmatic issues as well as to provide additional insight regarding diagenetic mechanisms in the Salado. Seventy-five samples were collected from argillaceous partings in halite at the stratigraphic level of the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP). These were compared with twenty-eight samples from cores of the Vaca Triste member of the Salado, a thin clastic unit at the top of the McNutt potash zone, and with a clay-rich sample from the lower contact of the Culebra Dolomite (in the overlying Rustler Formation). These settings were compared to assess the influence of differences in brine chemistry (i.e., halite and potash facies, normal to hypersaline marine conditions) and sediment composition (clays, sandy silt, dolomitized limestone) on diagenetic processes. 44 refs., 11 figs., 5 tabs.
The Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) is planned as the first mined geologic repository for transuranic (TRU) wastes generated by defense programs of the United States Department of Energy (DOE). Before disposing of waste at the WIPP, the DOE must evaluate compliance with the United states Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Standard, Environmental Radiation Protection Standards for Management and Disposal of Spent Nuclear Fuel, High-Level and Transuranic Radioactive Wastes (40 CFR Part 191, US EPA, 1985). Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) is evaluating long-term performance against criteria in Subpart B of the Standard. Performance assessment'' as used in this report includes analyses for the Containment Requirements ({section} 191.13(a)) and the Individual Protection Requirements ({section} 191.15). Because proving predictions about future human actions or natural events is not possible, the EPA expects compliance to be determined on the basis of specified quantitative analyses and informed, qualitative judgment. The goal of the WIPP performance-assessment team at SNL is to provide as detailed and thorough a basis as practical for the quantitative aspects of that decision. This report summarizes SNL's late-1990 understanding of the WIPP Project's ability to evaluate compliance with Subpart B. 245 refs., 88 figs., 23 tabs.
Severe nuclear reactor accidents - accidents involving the melting of the reactor core - dominate the residual risk associated with the use of nuclear power. The uninterrupted progression of a severe reactor accident is expected to lead to the expulsion of core debris into the reactor containment. Many safety-significant phenomena may be hypothesized to occur when core debris is expelled from the reactor coolant system. The exact nature of these events depends on whether or not the coolant system is pressurized at the time of melt expulsion and whether or not expulsion is into water. Regardless of what transient events are associated with the initial expulsion of core debris from the reactor coolant system, a protracted period of core debris interactions with the structural concrete of the reactor is expected in most analyses of severe reactor accidents.
Calculations were performed with CTH (a finite difference hydrodynamics code) to evaluate computational capabilities for predicting residual projectile length and position in high velocity penetration events. The calculations simulated selected tests in a set of armor penetration experiments conducted and reported by Los Alamos National Laboratory. The tests and simulations involved penetration of armor ranging from 6.4 to 50.8 mm in thickness by long rod projectiles over a range of velocities from 1.0 to 1.29 km/sec. Comparisons are made between the calculated and measured final projectile lengths and positions, and the sensitivity of the predicted results to target and projectile property variations is investigated. 8 refs., 11 figs., 8 tabs.
This study supports the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement and has two main objectives. First, it describes current ideas about the characteristics and potential impacts of the disturbed-rock zone (DRZ) known to develop with time around excavations at the WIPP horizon. Second, it presents new calculations of radionuclide migration within and from the WIPP repository for steady-state undisturbed conditions and for two cases that consider human intrusion into the repository. At the WIPP, the presence of a DRZ has been confirmed by geophysical studies, gas-flow tests, and direct observations. The DRZ will allow gas or brine from waste-emplacement panels to bypass panel seals and flow into adjacent portions of the underground workings unless preventive measures are taken. Revised calculations of the undisturbed performance of the repository indicate that no radionuclides will be released into the Culebra Dolomite within the regulatory period of 10,000 years. The human-intrusion calculations included here assume a connection between the WIPP repository, an occurrence of pressurized brine within the underlying Castile Formation, and the overlying Culebra Dolomite. 61 refs., 40 figs., 16 tabs.
The problem of calculating the vibrations of rotating structures has challenged analysts since the observation that use of traditional modal coordinates in such problems leads to the prediction of instability involving infinite deformation when rotation rates exceed the first natural frequency. Much recent published work on beams has shown that such predictions are artifacts of incorporating incomplete kinematics into the analysis, but that work addresses analysis of only simple structures such as individual beams and plates. The authors present a new approach to analyzing rotating flexible structures that applies to the rotation of general linear (unjointed) structures, using a system of nonlinearly coupled deformation modes. This technique is called a Method of Quadratic Modes. 37 refs., 5 figs., 1 tab.
Results for Cr/Fe/Ni films are reported, showing that the simulation of electron scattering in solids by Monte Carlo techniques is well suited to parallel computation. Significant gains in computation time are realized and make explicit calculation of convoluted composition profiles possible. Computation time is sufficiently shortened to enable such simulations to be used in a real-time experimental environment. Because such simulations break naturally into independent computational pieces that require little intercommunication, they are ideal candidates for fast parallel implementation on a MIMD machine such as the NCUBE 2. Similar performance gains should be possible for other kinds of Monte Carlo transport simulations.
The history and current status of dish-Stirling receiver development are presented and discussed. The technical challenges to be addressed by the dish-Stirling community and the future plans at Sandia National Laboratories are outlined. Stirling tube and reflux solar receiver technologies are discussed. Pool-boiler receiver technology has been successfully tested and a number of promising heat-pipe receiver designs are very close to hardware demonstrations. The high-efficiency potential of reflux receivers has been demonstrated. However, many of the technical challenges that led to the change from tube to reflux receivers-especially life and reliability, systems integration, and hybridization-are just beginning to be addressed by the dish-Stirling community.
A procedure for updating estimates of an object's pose using information from one or more monocular images is presented. Features in monocular images are assigned correspondence with modeled three-dimensional (3-D) features based on estimated object position. An improved position estimate is computed based on the feature correspondence. The method accommodates partial occlusion or contact among objects. Features need not appear in multiple views to be used for estimation. Results from this system are presented which demonstrate the location of multiple objects within approximately 0.1 in. in translation and 2° in rotation.
A general-purpose robotic grasping system for use in unstructured environments is described. Using computer vision and a compact set of heuristics, the system automatically generates the robot arm and hand motions required for grasping an unmodeled object. The utility of such a system is most evident in environments where the robot will have to grasp and manipulate a variety of unknown objects, but where many of the manipulation tasks may be relatively simple. Examples of such domains are planetary exploration and astronaut assistance, undersea salvage and rescue, and nuclear waste site clean-up. A two-stage model of grasping is described. Stage one is an orientation of the hand and wrist and a ballistic reach toward the object; stage two is hand preshaping and adjustment. Visual features are first extracted from the unmodeled object. These features and their relations are used by an expert system to generate a set of valid reaches/grasps for the object. These grasps are then used in driving the robot hand and arm to bring the fingers into contact with the object in the desired configuration.
A method is described for obtaining the boundary equations of configuration obstacles for stick-figure manipulators in three-dimensional environments. Polyhedral obstacles are represented as a collection of planar triangular patches, and the intersection conditions between a line segment and a triangular patch are used to derive boundary equations. It is shown that the boundary equation for the nth joint variable can be solved explicitly in terms of the 0th, 1st, ..., (n-1)th joint variables. The expressions can be used to compute configuration obstacles or to analyze the geometry of contacts between manipulators and obstacles.
The experimental results of model-based and sensor-based control strategies for a two-link, flexible, planar robot arm are analyzed. Off-line optimization determines a minimum-time, straight-line tip trajectory which stays within the torque constraints of the motors and ends in a quiescent state, i.e., no vibrational transients. An efficient finite-element model is used in the optimization to approximate the flexible arm dynamics. Control schemes tested include an open-loop torque profile, a closed-loop proportional-derivative (PD) joint controller, and a feedforward controller. This last scheme uses the torque profile created from the optimization, along with PD feedback of the joint angles and proportional feedback of the strain gages, to correct for errors in the model. The results show that the best performance is achieved with this feedforward approach.
The use of one or more monocular images to estimate the three-dimensional position of objects is investigated. The identities of the objects are known, and geometric models are assumed to be available. Linear features extracted from sensor data are interpreted as corresponding with model features by search of an interpretation tree built using prior position estimates. Object positions are updated by maximum-likelihood estimation. Position estimation results from an implemented system are presented, demonstrating the location of partially occluded objects in a cluttered scene.
The geochemical modeling codes EQ3NR/EQ6 were used to model the interaction of cementitious materials with ground water from the Yucca Mountain proposed nuclear waste repository site in Nevada. This paper presents a preliminary estimate of the compositional changes caused by these interactions in the ground water and in the cement-based compounds proposed for use as sealing and shaft liner materials at the Yucca Mountain site. The geochemical speciation/solubility/reaction path codes EQ3NR/EQ6 were used to model the interaction of cementitious materials and water. Interaction of water with a cementitious material will result in dissolution of certain cement phases and changes in the water chemistry. These changes in the water chemistry may further lead to the precipitation of minerals either in the concrete or in the surrounding tuff at the Yucca Mountain Site (YMS). As part of a larger scoping study, a range of water, cement, and tuff compositions, temperatures, and reaction path modes were used. This paper presents a subset of that study by considering the interaction of three different cement formulations at 25{degree}C with J-13 water using the ``closed`` reaction path mode. This subset was chosen as a base case to answer important questions in selecting the compositions of cementitious materials for use in the proposed repository. 8 refs., 1 fig., 3 tabs.
A pilot plant project was undertaken to develop a central refrigeration compressor station capable of providing the necessary cooling to a network of nine independently-controlled environmental test chambers operating at temperatures of {minus}85{degree}F to 350{degree}F. Design features of the central two-stage (cascade) vapor compression refrigeration system are described. Computer control of the central refrigeration station is a major contribution to the improved efficiency of the overall system. A second computer-control system was developed to perform the task of environmental chamber control, test management, and chamber performance monitoring. Data on performance of the Climatic Central Refrigeration System (CCRS) are presented. 7 refs., 18 figs.
American Samoa has no indigenous fossil fuels and is almost totally dependent for energy on seaborne petroleum. However, the seven Pacific Islands located at 14 degrees south latitude that constitute American Samoa have a wide variety of renewable resources with the potential for substituting for imported oil. Included as possible renewable energy conversion technologies are solar thermal, photovoltaics, wind, geothermal, ocean thermal, and waste-to-energy recovery. This report evaluates the potential of each of these renewable energy alternatives and establishes recommended priorities for their development in American Samoa. Rough cost estimates are also included. Although renewable energy planning is highly site specific, information in this report should find some general application to other tropical insular areas.
In this report, we provide a detailed discussion of methodology of predicting cable degradation versus dose rate, temperature, and exposure time and its application to data obtained on a number of additional nuclear power plant cable insulation (a hypalon, a silicon rubber and two ethylenetetrafluoroethylenes) and jacket (a hypalon) materials. We then show that the predicted, low-dose-rate results for our materials are in excellent agreement with long-term (7 to 9 years), low dose-rate results recently obtained for the same material types actually aged under nuclear power plant conditions. Based on a combination of the modelling and long-term results, we find indications of reasonably similar degradation responses among several different commercial formulations for each of the following generic'' materials: hypalon, ethylenetetrafluoroethylene, silicone rubber and PVC. If such generic'' behavior can be further substantiated through modelling and long-term results on additional formulations, predictions of cable life for other commercial materials of the same generic types would be greatly facilitated. Finally, to aid utilities in their cable life extension decisions, we utilize our modelling results to generate lifetime prediction curves for the materials modelled to data. These curves plot expected material lifetime versus dose rate and temperature down to the levels of interest to nuclear power plant aging. 18 refs., 30 figs., 3 tabs.
PRONTO 2D and PRONTO 3D are two- and three-dimensional transient solid dynamics codes for analyzing large deformations of highly nonlinear materials subjected to high strain rates. This newsletter is issued to document changes to these codes. As of this writing, the latest version of PRONTO 2D is Version 4.5.6, and the latest version of PRONTO 3D is Version 4.5.6. This update of the two codes discusses two major modifications to the numerical formulations, three new constitutive models, and the additions and improvements of contact surfaces. Changes in file formats, other miscellaneous revisions, and the availability of PRONTO 2D and PRONTO 3D are also discussed. In addition, updated commands for PRONTO 2D are provided in Appendix A of this newsletter. 29 refs., 12 figs., 2 tabs.
This report analyzes the effects of finite-precision arithmetic on discrete Fourier transforms (DFTs) calculated using the chirp-z transform algorithm. An introduction to the chirp-z transform is given together with a description of how the chirp-z transform is implemented in hardware. Equations for the effects of chirp rate errors, starting frequency errors, and starting phase errors on the frequency spectrum of the chirp-z transform are derived. Finally, the maximum possible errors in the chirp rate, the starting frequencies, and starting phases are calculated and used to compute the worst case effects on the amplitude and phase spectrums of the chirp-z transform. 1 ref., 6 figs.
Numerous gas flow measurements have been made at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) Facility horizon during 1988. All tests have been pressure decay or constant pressure tests from single boreholes drilled from the underground excavations. The test fluid has been nitrogen. The data have been interpreted as permeabilities and porosities by means of a transient numerical solution method. A closed-form steady-state approximation provides a reasonable order-of-magnitude permeability estimate. The effective resolution of the measurement system is less than 10{sup {minus}20} m{sup 2}. Results indicate that beyond 1 to 5 m from an excavation, the gas flow is very small and the corresponding permeability is below the system resolution. Within the first meter of an excavation, the interpreted permeabilities can be 5 orders of magnitude greater than the undisturbed or far-field permeability. The interpreted permeabilities in the region between the undisturbed region and the first meter from an excavation are in the range of 10{sup {minus}16} to 10{sup {minus}20} m{sup 2}. Measurable gas flow occurs to a greater depth into the roof above WIPP excavations of different sizes and ages than into the ribs and floor. The gas flows into the formation surrounding the smallest excavation tested are consistently lower than those at similar locations surrounding larger excavations of comparable age. Gas flow measured in the interbed layers near the WIPP excavations is highly variable. Generally, immediately above and below excavations, relatively large gas flow is measured in the interbed layers. These results are consistent with previous measurements and indicate a limited disturbed zone surrounding WIPP excavations. 31 refs., 99 figs., 5 tabs.
A workstation manufactured by International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) was loaned to the Simulation Technology Research Division for evaluation. We have found that these new UNIX workstations from IBM have superior cost to performance ratios compared to the CRAY supercomputers and Digital's VAX machines. Our appraisal of this workstation included floating-point performance, system and environment functionality, and cost effectiveness. Our assessment was based on a suite of radiation transport codes developed at Sandia that constitute the bulk of our division's computing workload. In this report, we also discuss our experience with features that are unique to this machine such as the AIX operating system and the XLF Fortran Compiler. The interoperability of the RS/6000 workstation with Sandia's network of CRAYs and VAXs was also assessed.
A complete external events probabilistic risk assessment has been performed for the N-Reactor power plant, making full use of all insights gained during the past ten years' developments in risk assessment methodologies. A detailed screening analysis was performed which showed that all external events had negligible contribution to core damage frequency except fires, seismic events, and external flooding. A limited scope analysis of the external flooding risk indicated that it is not a major risk contributor. Detailed analyses of the fire and seismic risks resulted in total (mean) core damage frequencies of 1.96E-5 and 4.60E-05 per reactor year, respectively. Detailed uncertainty analyses were performed for both fire and seismic risks. These results show that the core damage frequency profile for these events is comparable to that found for existing commercial power plants if proposed fixes are completed as part of the restart program. 108 refs., 85 figs., 80 tabs.
Automated entry control has become an increasingly important issue at facilities where budget constraints are limiting options for manned entry control points. Three questions are immediately raised when automated entry control is considered: What hardware is available How much does it cost How effective is it in maintaining security Ongoing work at Sandia National Labs is attempting to answer these questions and establish a data base for use by facility security managers working the problem of how to maintain security on a limited budget. 14 refs.
A wide variety of physical phenomena arising within many scientific disciplines can be described by systems of coupled partial differential equations (PDEs). The numerical approximation of these PDEs often involves the solution of a system of algebraic equations (possibly nonlinear) which are typically large, sparse and nonsymmetric. The increasing computational demands required by the solution of such complex scientific applications has motivated the current direction toward large-scale parallel computers. We, therefore, consider solution techniques of representative systems of equations on large scale MIMD machines. Our primary emphasis in this study is the evaluation of iterative methods for the solution of nonsymmetric systems. In particular, we discuss two Krylov subspace methods, the conjugate gradient squared algorithm (CGS) and the generalized minimum residual method (GMRES), along with the multigrid algorithm (MG) on massively parallel MIMD architectures. The focus of this evaluation considers the performance of various algorithm and implementation variations over a broad selection of problems using a parallel machine.
The corrosion behavior of a rapidly solidified Al-Fe-Gd alloy glass was studied in aqueous chloride environments of varying pH using potentiodynamic polarization. The corrosion behavior of a rapidly solidified pure Al glass, crystalline Al-Fe-Gd alloy and crystalline Al were measured for comparison. Due to lattice disorder, the dissolution rate of the glasses in the passive region was greater than that of their crystalline counterparts. The breakaway potentials measured for the glasses were more positive than those of the crystalline metals because film breakdown initiation sites like second phase particles and internal boundaries were not present in the glass. Alloy glass specimens exposed to alkaline solutions exhibited lower passive current densities and higher breakaway potentials than expected. This appeared to be a result of an enrichment of oxidized Fe at the specimen surface. This Fe-rich protective film also appeared to form in pits which developed on crystallized specimens tested in neutral chloride solutions.
There are tremendous resources of natural gas in tight fissured rocks, but these formations require special care for hydraulic fracturing to be successful. Serious problems include leakoff, damage and complex fracturing. Leakoff may be constant, pressure-sensitive, or accelerating. Leakoff becomes most severe when fissures begin to dilate and accept large volumes of fracture fluid, which may rapidly dehydrate a sandladen slurry. Determining values of pressure-sensitive and accelerated leakoff coefficients is difficult, and generally requires both a pressure-decline analysis (after a minifrac) and an analysis of the injection pressure. Fine-mesh sand, often used in fissured reservoirs, will help control leakoff. Damage to the natural fractures, due to leakoff of the fluid and gels and to mechanical types of damage, must be avoided, since the fissures are the production mechanism. It is particularly important to minimize the amount of liquid and gels, since the fissures are narrow and easily blocked. These concepts are also applicable to oil reservoirs.
This document contains the steady-state and loss-of-pumping accident analysis of the representative design for the Savannah River heavy water new production reactor. A description of the reactor system and computer input model, the results of the steady-state analysis, and the results of four loss-of-pumping accident calculations are presented. 5 refs., 37 figs., 4 tabs.
This report lists the measurement capabilities of the Department of Energy Contractors' Standard Laboratories within the Nuclear Weapon Complex. It is intended to foster cross-utilization of measurements between laboratories and provides a guide for survey and audit activities. Although this report was prepared by Sandia Primary Standards Laboratory (PSL), the PSL was intentionally omitted. Capabilities of the PSL are documented in SAND88-3402.UC-700.
Early attempts at estimation of stress wave damage due to blasting by use of finite element calculations met with limited success due to numerical instabilities that prevented calculations from being carried to late times. An improved damage model allows finite element calculations which remain stable at late times. Reasonable agreement between crater profiles calculated with this model using the PRONTO finite element program and excavated crater profiles from blasting experiments in granite demonstrate a successful application of this model. Detailed instructions for use of this new damage model with the PRONTO finite element programs are included. 18 refs., 16 figs.
The DEBRIS module was developed to deal with the analysis of core melt processes in Light Water Reactors (LWR's). It was designed to address the important processes associated with the late phase'' of a core meltdown. This phase encompasses the period following the loss of intact rod geometry and ending with vessel head failure. It is characterized by the melting and relocation of ceramic rich materials through a rubblized medium composed primarily of fuel pellet and oxidized cladding fragments. Of particular interest are the dynamics of the melting process, the relocation of the components, the formation of crusts, retention of molten materials by the crust, and remelting of crusts. The DEBRIS module treats these processes in a two-dimensional (r,z) geometry solving the continuity, momentum, and energy equations to describe the dynamics of meltdown. The DEBRIS models are described together with some of the analyses to which the module has been applied. In particular, a description is given of the DEBRIS module analysis of the MP-1 experiment. The DEBRIS module appears to have significant potential for the analysis of late phase'' meltdown processes and can be effectively used both in a stand-alone mode or in conjunction with the severe accident analysis codes (MELCOR,SCDAP). In addition, the module may prove effective for treatment of the early phase processes as well. 19 refs., 16 figs.
Position location is a fundamental requirement in autonomous mobile robots which record and subsequently follow x,y paths. The Dept. of Energy, Office of Safeguards and Security, Robotic Security Vehicle (RSV) program involves the development of an autonomous mobile robot for patrolling a structured exterior environment. A straight-forward method for autonomous path-following has been adopted and requires digitizing'' the desired road network by storing x,y coordinates every 2m along the roads. The position location system used to define the locations consists of a radio beacon system which triangulates position off two known transponders, and dead reckoning with compass and odometer. This paper addresses the problem of combining these two measurements to arrive at a best estimate of position. Two algorithms are proposed: the optimal'' algorithm treats the measurements as random variables and minimizes the estimate variance, while the average error'' algorithm considers the bias in dead reckoning and attempts to guarantee an average error. Data collected on the algorithms indicate that both work well in practice. 2 refs., 7 figs.
The MC4039 Unique Signal Override Plug (USOP) provides the unique signal for the B90 when fielded on aircraft that are not equipped with unique signal capability. Since the USOP is field installed, the concern is that it might be susceptible to electromagnetic radiation prior to installation on the weapon. This report documents a characterization of the USOP, evaluates various techniques for attaching electromagnetic shields, and evaluates the susceptibility of a fully assembled passive-USOP. Tests conducted evaluated the electromagnetic susceptibility of the passive, unconnected USOP. During normal operation the USOP is powered directly from the weapon. During the course of this test program two prototypes were developed. The prototype 1 USOP internal circuitry contains one SA3727 chip, five diodes, three resistors, and two capacitors; these are mounted on a circular circuit board and contained inside a metal back shell cover, which serves as an electromagnetic shield. The prototype 2 design incorporated four changes. The manufacturer of the SA3727 chip was changed from Lasarray to LSI Logic, the circuit board ground was tied to the case ground through a straight wire, Cl was changed from 1 microfarad to 0.1 microfarads. and the circuit board was changed, as required. 2 refs., 17 figs., 3 tabs. (JF)
Using Sequoyah as a representative plant, calculations have been performed with a developmental version of the CONTAIN computer code to assess the effectiveness of various possible improvements to ice condenser containments in mitigating severe accident scenarios involving direct containment heating (DCH) and/or hydrogen combustion. Mitigation strategies considered included backup power for igniters and/or air return fans, augmented igniter systems, containment venting, containment inerting, subatmospheric containment operation, reduced ice condenser bypass, and primary system depressurization. Various combinations of these improvements were also considered. Only inerting the containment or primary system depressurization combined with backup power supplies for the igniter systems resulted in large decreases in the peak pressures calculated to result from DCH events. Potential hydrogen detonation threats were also assessed; providing backup power for both the igniter systems and the air return fans would significantly reduce the potential for detonations but might not totally eliminate it. Sensitivity studies using the NUREG-1150 PRA methodology indicated that primary system depressurization combined with backup power for both igniters and fans could reduce the contribution to the mean risk potential of the class of events considered by about a factor of three. 7 refs., 6 figs., 6 tabs.
Finding new and improved means of cooling small electronic packages are of great importance to today's electronic packaging engineer. Thermal absorption through the use of a material which changes phase is an attractive alternative. Taking advantage of the heat capacity of a material's latent heat of fusion is shown to absorb heat away from the electronics, thus decreasing the overall temperature rise of the system. The energy equation is formulated in terms of enthalpy and discretized using a finite-difference method. A FORTRAN program to solve the discretized equations is presented which can be used to analyze heat conduction in a rectangular region undergoing an isothermal phase change. An analysis of heat transfer through a miniature radar electronic module cooled by a phase-change reservoir is presented, illustrating the method's advantages over conventional heat sinks. 41 refs., 11 figs., 2 tabs.
This report gives an annotated bibliography of reports published in 1989 by the Nuclear Energy Technology Directorate. A listing is also given of reports published by the staff in the nuclear energy field since 1972.
Remote automated cask handling has the potential to reduce both the occupational exposure and the time required to process a nuclear waste transport cask at a handling facility. The ongoing Advanced Handling Technologies Project (AHTP) at Sandia National Laboratories is described. AHTP was initiated to explore the use of advanced robotic systems to perform cask handling operations at handling facilities for radioactive waste, and to provide guidance to cask designers regarding the impact of robotic handling on cask design. The proof-of-concept robotic systems developed in AHTP are intended to extrapolate from currently available commercial systems to the systems that will be available by the time that a repository would be open for operation. The project investigates those cask handling operations that would be performed at a nuclear waste repository facility during cask receiving and handling. The ongoing AHTP indicates that design guidance, rather than design specification, is appropriate, since the requirements for robotic handling do not place severe restrictions on cask design but rather focus on attention to detail and design for limited dexterity. The cask system design features that facilitate robotic handling operations are discussed, and results obtained from AHTP design and operation experience are summarized. The application of these design considerations is illustrated by discussion of the robot systems and their operation on cask feature mock-ups used in the AHTP project. 11 refs., 11 figs.
This report describes the clutter model developed at Sandia National Laboratories for the SRIM code version 2.2s. The SNL clutter model is a fully polarimetric model that includes both coherent and incoherent scattering effects. The input parameters to the SNL clutter model are chosen so that an acceptable match is obtained between the model predicted data and the appropriate experimental data. These input parameters are then used in the SRIM code to simulated the desired clutter type. 12 refs., 13 figs., 2 tabs.
The DF-4 in-pile fuel damage experiment investigated the behavior of boiling water reactor (BWR) fuel canisters and control blades in the high temperature environment of an unrecovered reactor accident. This experiment, which was carried out in the Annular Core Research Reactor (ACRR) at Sandia National Laboratories, was performed under the USNRC's internationally sponsored severe fuel damage (SFD) program. The DF-4 test is described herein and results from the experiment are presented. Important findings from the DF-4 test include the low temperature melting of the stainless steel control blade caused by reaction with the B{sub 4}C, and the subsequent low temperature attack of the Zr-4 channel box by the relocating molten blade components. Hydrogen generation was found to continue throughout the experiment, diminishing slightly following the relocation of molten oxidizing zircaloy to the lower extreme of the test bundle. A large blockage which was formed from this material continued to oxidize while steam was being fed into the the test bundle. The results of this test have provided information on the initial stages of core melt progression in BWR geometry involving the heatup and cladding oxidation stages of a severe accident and terminating at the point of melting and relocation of the metallic core components. The information is useful in modeling melt progression in BWR core geometry, and provides engineering insight into the key phenomena controlling these processes. 12 refs., 12 figs.
University of Kentucky, Office of Engineering Services, (Bulletin) UKY BU
Arlowe, H.D.; Coleman, D.E.
A description is presented of MIDAS, the Mobile Intrusion Detection and Assessment System. MIDAS is a security system that can be quickly deployed to provide wide area coverage for a mobile asset. MIDAS uses two passive infrared imaging sensors, one for intruder detection and one for assessment. Detected targets are tracked while assessment cameras are directed to view the intruder location for operator observation and assessment. The dual sensor design allows simultaneous detection, assessment, and tracking. Control and status information is provided to an operator using a color graphics terminal, touch panel driven menus, and a joystick for control of the assessment sensor pan and tilt.
The Hydrologic Code Intercomparison Project (HYDROCOIN) was formed to evaluate hydrogeologic models and computer codes and their use in performance assessment for high-level radioactive-waste repositories. This report describes the results of a study for HYDROCOIN of model sensitivity for isothermal, unsaturated flow through layered, fractured tuffs. We investigated both the types of flow behavior that dominate the performance measures and the conditions and model parameters that control flow behavior. We also examined the effect of different conceptual models and modeling approaches on our understanding of system behavior. The analyses included single- and multiple-parameter variations about base cases in one-dimensional steady and transient flow and in two-dimensional steady flow. The flow behavior is complex even for the highly simplified and constrained system modeled here. The response of the performance measures is both nonlinear and nonmonotonic. System behavior is dominated by abrupt transitions from matrix to fracture flow and by lateral diversion of flow. The observed behaviors are strongly influenced by the imposed boundary conditions and model constraints. Applied flux plays a critical role in determining the flow type but interacts strongly with the composite-conductivity curves of individual hydrologic units and with the stratigraphy. One-dimensional modeling yields conservative estimates of distributions of groundwater travel time only under very limited conditions. This study demonstrates that it is wrong to equate the shortest possible water-travel path with the fastest path from the repository to the water table. 20 refs., 234 figs., 10 tabs.
The US Department of Energy is responsible for the design, construction, operation, and decommission of a site for the deep geologic disposal of high-level radioactive waste (HLW). This involves site characterization and the use of performance assessment to demonstrate compliance with regulations for HLW disposal from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The EPA standard states that a performance assessment should consider the associated uncertainties involved in estimating cumulative release of radionuclides to the accessible environment. To date, the majority of the efforts in uncertainty analysis have been directed toward data and parameter uncertainty, whereas little effort has been made to treat model uncertainty. Model uncertainty includes conceptual model uncertainty, mathematical model uncertainty, and any uncertainties derived from implementing the mathematical model in a computer code. Currently there is no systematic approach that is designed to address the uncertainty in conceptual models. The purpose of this investigation is to take a first step at addressing conceptual model uncertainty. This will be accomplished by assessing the relative impact of alternative conceptual models on the integrated release of radionuclides to the accessible environment for an HLW repository site located in unsaturated, fractured tuff. 4 refs., 2 figs.
An intermediate step in the development of inertial confinement fusion (ICF) for power production will be the development and testing of a high-gain facility. One concept being considered for this facility is the Laboratory Microfusion Facility (LMF). Other projected applications of the LMF include high-energy-density physics experiments and nuclear effects testing. At the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT), Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), and Sandia National Laboratories Albuquerque (SNLA), we have been studying the use of the LMF for nuclear effects experiments. Because of the amount of energy that will be released in a high-gain ICF test and the size of the LMF, test objects could be any size from very small electronic components to large systems; and nuclear effects in the LMF may include thermal radiation, x-rays, electromagnetic pulse, gamma rays, neutrons, or others. At AFIT, LLNL, and SNLA we have been investigating a test to expose systems to high-energy x-ray pulses, and have completed predictions of x-ray fluence, dose, etc. in various conceptual LMF reactors. However, comparison of our results is more meaningful if our prediction methods produce the same results for the same design. To establish a basis for comparison, we set up a simple benchmark problem and we each computed x-ray and neutron transport. The model and codes are described and the results are compared and discussed.
Partial least squares multivariate calibration methods were applied to the infrared spectra of a new set of borophosphosilicate glass (BPSG) thin films on silicon wafers. The calibration samples were prepared by a low pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD) process. The statistically designed calibration set included data from nearly 400 coated Si wafers. Calibrations were attempted for properties such as dopant concentrations, thickness, etch rate, film stress, and electrical parameters. It was found that annealed films were predicted more precisely than unannealed films. B, P, and thickness measurements yielded the most precise results by these techniques. Multivariate calibration methods applied to etch rate for annealed films and unannealed film stress provided some limited predictive ability. The detection and removal of outliers greatly improved the analysis precisions. Finally, within wafer and between wafer dopant uniformity may be responsible for degrading the precision of these analytical methods.
The proposed high-level nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain, Nevada will have many miles of underground openings. Because of the long-term nature of this project it is important to gain a high level of understanding of the dynamic behavior of its underground openings. The site, located on and adjacent to the Nevada Test Site (NTS), is subject to seismic loading from both natural events and underground nuclear explosions (UNEs). While ground motions from both of these seismic sources are of interest to the Yucca Mountain Project, those resulting from earthquakes are expected to be the larger of the two and, therefore, more significant in design. It would be difficult, however, to collect underground data from earthquakes because of their unpredictable nature. In contrast, UNEs have been conducted on a regular basis at the NTS and present an opportunity to obtain data useful in understanding the seismic behavior of underground openings. To this end, the Tunnel Dynamics Experiment (TDE) was fielded adjacent to a recent UNE in a pre-existing tunnel. The objective of this experiment was to document tunnel damage corresponding to measured and observed ground motions.
This report contains the full papers submitted to the Committee on the Safety of Nuclear Installations (CSNI) Workshop on Probabilistic Safety Assessment (PSA) Applications and Limitations held in Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA, on September 4 through 6, 1990. The purpose of the Workshop was to provide an avenue for discussions in the following areas: (1) current PSA result, (2) current uses of PSA, (3) views on current limitations, (4) expert opinion, and (5) low probability numbers. The papers contained herein address these issues, along with several other related topics.
This report summarizes the advanced development of the Spectrum Sciences Model 5005-TF, Single-Event Test Fixture. The Model 5005-TF uses a Californium-252 (Cf-252) fission-fragment source to test integrated circuits and other devices for the effects of single-event phenomena. Particle identification methods commonly used in high-energy physics research and nuclear engineering have been incorporated into the Model 5005-TF for estimating the particle charge, mass, and energy parameters. All single-event phenomena observed in a device under test (DUT) are correlated with an identified fission fragment, and its linear energy transfer (LET) and range in the semiconductor material of the DUT.
This report describes the features and use of the Sandia National Laboratories Assembly Test Chip Ver. 01 (ATC01). This chip contains a variety of Al conductor features which are intended for use in corrosion testing. These include triple tracks with a variety of line and gap widths, ladder structures, straight line structures, and van der Pauw sheet resistance structures. The chip is square, approximately 0.250 in. on a side, with a minimum Al feature size of 1.25 {mu}m. The various test structures on the die are described in detail and bonding layout data are given. Finally, we give an example of measurements made on ATC01 when packaged in a 40 lead CERDIP. 15 refs., 7 figs., 7 tabs.
Sub-gridding techniques enable finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) electromagnetic codes to model apertures that are much narrower than the spatial resolution of the FDTD mesh. Previous thin-slot methods have assumed that the slot walls are perfectly conducting. As the slot depth-to-width ratio becomes large, interior wall losses for realistic materials can significantly affect the coupling through the slot, and therefore these loss effects should not be neglected. This paper presents two methods for incorporating loss for walls with good, but not perfect conductivity, into the FDTD calculations. The first method modifies an FDTD equation internal to the slot to include a surface-impedance contribution. This method is appropriate for the usual FDTD thin-slot formalisms. The second method includes the losses into a half-space'' integral equation that can be used by the recently introduced Hybrid Thin-Slot Algorithm. Results based on the two methods are compared for a variety of slot parameters and wall conductivities.
The establishment of a database for the materials that are used in production Li(Si)/FeS{sub 2} thermal batteries designed at Sandia National Laboratories is described. The database is a Hewlett-Packard (HP) network type (IMAGE) designed to run on an HP3000 computer. Heavy emphasis is placed on the use of screen forms for entry, editing, and retrieval of data. Custom screen forms were used for the various materials in the battery. For the purposes of the materials database, each battery is composed of four mixes: cathode, separator, anode, and heat (pyrotechnic) powders. A consistent lot-numbering system was adopted for both the mixes and the discrete components that make up the mixes. Each serial number of a particular battery is linked to the lot numbers of the four mixes used in the battery. Each mix, in turn, is linked to the lot numbers of the discrete components that are contained within the mix. This allows traceability of each of the components used in any given serial number of a particular battery. The materials database provides the necessary traceability, as required by the Department of Energy, for the lifetime of the program associated with the battery. 3 refs., 23 figs.
A method which is capable of efficient calculation of the axisymmetric flow field produced by a large system of ring vortices is presented in this report. The system of ring vortices can, in turn, be used to model body surfaces and wakes in incompressible unsteady axisymmetric flow fields. This method takes advantage of source point and field point series expansions which enables one to make calculations for interactions between groups of vortices which are in well separated spatial domains rather than having to consider interactions between every pair of vortices. In this work, series expansions for the stream function of the ring vortex system are obtained. Such expansions explicitly contain the radial and axial velocity components. A Fortran computer code RSOLV has been written to execute the fast solution technique to calculate the stream function and the axial and radial velocity components at points in the flow field. Test cases have been run to optimize the code and to benchmark the truncation errors and CPU time savings associated with the method. Non-dimensional truncation errors for the stream function and total velocity field are on the order of 5 {times} 10{sup {minus}5} and 3 {times} 10{sup {minus}3} respectively. Single precision accuracy produces errors in these quantities up to about 1 {times} 10{sup {minus}5}. For 100 vortices in the field, there is virtually no CPU time savings with the fast solver. For 10,000 vortices in the flow, the fast solver obtains solutions in about 1% to 3% of the time required for the direct solution technique. Simulations of vortices with square and circular cores were run in order to obtain expressions for the self-induced velocities of such vortices. 8 refs., 26 figs.
A balloon-borne integrating nephelometer has been successfully developed and flown by Sandia National Laboratories and Radiance Research. This report details instrument design, calibration and data conversion procedure. Free and tethered balloon transport and telemetry systems are described. Data taken during March 1989 South-Central New Mexico free flight ascents are presented as vertical profiles of atmospheric particle scattering coefficient, temperature and balloon heading. Data taken during December 1989 Albuquerque, New Mexico tethered flights are also presented as vertical profiles. Data analysis shows superior instrument performance. 5 refs., 22 figs.
This report describes the computer program used at the Tonopah Test Range to maintain the explosive inventory. The program, which uses dBASE III or dBASE III Plus and runs on an IBM PC or compatible, has the capabilities to update (add or subtract) items, edit or delete, append, and generate various reports.
Mass measurements may be greatly enhanced by an understanding of the operation of balances, the effects of buoyancy, practices encountered in weighing and the impacts and meanings of revelant mass standards. Beginning with the basic forces acting on weights, the equations brought to equality in balances are developed. These give explanation of the weighing process and an appreciation for some balance characteristics. The requirements of relevant mass standards are also reviewed. Recommendations are made for operation of practical mass calibration. An appendix is attached which gives computation examples using apparent mass'' and also gives a method for determining the density of mass artifacts or unknown materials. 2 tabs.
This project is a collaboration between Sandia National Laboratories and Harvey E. Yates Company being conducted under the auspices of the Oil Recovery Technology Partnership. The project seeks to apply perspectives related to the effects of natural fractures, stress, and sedimentology to the simulation and production of low-permeability gas reservoirs to low-permeability oil reservoirs as typified by the Bone Spring sandstones of the Permian Basin, southeast New Mexico. This report presents the results and analysis obtained in 1989 from 233 ft of oriented core, comprehensive suite of logs, various in situ stress measurements, and detailed well tests conducted in conjunction with the drilling of two development wells. Natural fractures were observed in core and logs in the interbed carbonates, but there was no direct evidence of fractures in the sandstones. However, production tests of the sandstones indicated permeabilities and behavior typical of a dual porosity reservoir. A general northeast trend for the maximum principal horizontal stress was observed in an elastic strain recovery measurements and in strikes of drilling-induced fractures; this direction is subparallel to the principal fracture trend observed in the interbed carbonates. Many of the results presented are believed to be new information for the Bone Spring sandstones. 57 figs., 18 tabs.
This report addresses the need for commercially available lighting design computer programs and evaluates several of these programs. Sandia National Laboratories uses these programs to provide lighting designs for exterior closed-circuit television camera intrusion detection assessment for high-security perimeters.
This report summarizes the role of performance assessment in assessing compliance with the containment requirements in 40 CFR Part 191, the Environmental Protection Agency's Standard for the disposal of spent nuclear fuel, high-level and transuranic radioactive wastes. In 1986, Hunter et al. prepared a similar report (NUREG/CR-4510, SAND86-0121) which provided an overview of the approach to assess compliance with this standard. The present report builds on its predecessor in that it incorporates advances in performance assessment subsequent to Hunter et al.'s report. The main purpose of this report is to serve as a mechanism for transferring to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and its contractors the performance assessment methodologies (PAMs) developed by Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) for high-level radioactive waste repositories. The report starts with a discussion of the requirements in 40 CFR Part 191 and focuses on the containment requirements (Section 191.13). It follows with a discussion of the role of performance assessment and its use in regulatory compliance. The report concludes with a discussion of sources of uncertainty, treatment of uncertainties, and the construction of the complementary cumulative distribution function of summed normalized total releases to the accessible environment for one or more scenarios. Examples are presented of the demonstration of performance assessment methodologies for high-level waste disposal at two hypothetical sites. Consistent with the technology transfer objective, numerous references are made throughout this report to publications related to the SNL PAMs. As such, this is not a stand-alone report and the reader is encouraged to consult those references. 30 refs., 9 figs., 1 tab.
NIRVANA is an effort to standardize electrical computer-aided design workstations at Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The early effect of this project will be the introduction of at least 60 new engineering workstations at Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, and at Allied Signal, Kansas City Division. These workstations are expected to begin arriving in September 1990. This paper outlines the requirements that a NIRVANA Network must satisfy to comply with the Government Open Systems Interconnect Profile (GOSIP). The author also identifies several issues involved in achieving GOSIP compliance. 4 refs., 1 fig.
Response to interrupts within a certain time frame is an important issue for all software operating in real-time environment. A knowledge-based system (KBS) is no exception. Prior work on real-time knowledge-based systems either concentrated on improving the performance of the KBS in order to meet these constraints or focused on producing a better solution as more time was allowed. However, a problem with much of the latter research was that it required inference-time costs to be hardcoded into the different branches of reasoning. This limited the type of reasoning possible and the size of the KBS. Furthermore, performing the analysis required to derive those numbers is very difficult in knowledge based systems. This research explored a model for overcoming these drawbacks. It is based on integrating conventional programming techniques used to control task processing with knowledge-based techniques used to actually produce task results. The C-Language Integrated Production System (CLIPS) was used for the inference engine in the KBS; using CLIPS for the inference engine simplified the rapid context switching required. Thus, the KBS could respond in a timely manner while maintaining the fullest spectrum of KBS functionality.
Welcome to this first issue of Manufacturing Technology, one of three new technology bulletins published at Sandia National Laboratories in which we seek to share information with US industry about applications of technology. Inside this issue: industry/DOE/Sandia agreement to strengthen specialty metals competitiveness; silicon micromachining produces microscopic parts; Sandia develops state-of-the-art capacitor winding machine; new robotic system spells finis to manual edge finishing; and milling assistant speeds numerically controlled machine programming.
This paper discusses several methods to detect the presence of and track the frequency of a chirping signal in broadband noise. The dynamic behavior of each of the methods is described and tracking error bounds are investigated in terms of the chirp rate. Frequency tracking and behavior in the presence of varying levels of noise are illustrated in examples. 11 refs., 29 figs.
The authors have developed and applied a methodology to evaluate and prioritize proposed waste minimization activities affecting Department of Energy (DOE) programs. The approach provides a systematic and defensible method for selecting a set of waste minimization proposals that maximizes the benefits to DOE while maintaining costs within a specified budget. The report discusses the development of a structured set of evaluation criteria to characterize waste minimization issues; techniques for documenting the anticipated and potential costs, risks, and benefits of waste minimization proposals; and a method of translating disparate data into a figure of merit for each proposal. A test case demonstration of this prioritization approach was applied to proposals currently being considered at two DOE weapons production facilities. Recommendations are provided for combining this approach with the existing DOE proposal selection process. 9 refs., 9 figs., 3 tabs.
NIRVANA is an effort to standardize electrical computer-aided design workstations at Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The early effect of this project will be the introduction of at least 60 new engineering workstations at Sandia National Laboratories. Albuquerque, and at Allied Signal, Kansas City Division. These workstations are expected to begin arriving in September 1990. This paper proposes a design and outlines the requirements for a network to support the NIRVANA project. The author proposes a near-term network design, describes the security profile and caveats of this design, and proposes a long-term networking strategy for NIRVANA. 6 refs., 7 figs.
This WIPP Bin-Scale CH TRU Waste Test program described herein will provide relevant composition and kinetic rate data on gas generation and consumption resulting from TRU waste degradation, as impacted by synergistic interactions due to multiple degradation modes, waste form preparation, long-term repository environmental effects, engineered barrier materials, and, possibly, engineered modifications to be developed. Similar data on waste-brine leachate compositions and potentially hazardous volatile organic compounds released by the wastes will also be provided. The quantitative data output from these tests and associated technical expertise are required by the WIPP Performance Assessment (PA) program studies, and for the scientific benefit of the overall WIPP project. This Test Plan describes the necessary scientific and technical aspects, justifications, and rational for successfully initiating and conducting the WIPP Bin-Scale CH TRU Waste Test program. This Test Plan is the controlling scientific design definition and overall requirements document for this WIPP in situ test, as defined by Sandia National Laboratories (SNL), scientific advisor to the US Department of Energy, WIPP Project Office (DOE/WPO). 55 refs., 16 figs., 19 tabs.
Calculations have been performed with the HULL hydrocode to study ground shock effects for multiple earth penetrator weapon (EPW) bursts in hexagonal-close-packed (HCP) arrays. Several different calculational approaches were used to treat this problem. The first simulations involved two-dimensional (2D) calculations, where the hexagonal cross-section of a unit-cell in an effectively-infinite HCP array was approximated by an inscribed cylinder. Those calculations showed substantial ground shock enhancement below the center of the array. To refine the analysis, 3D unit-cell calculations were done where the actual hexagonal cross-section of the HCP array was modelled. Results of those calculations also suggested that the multiburst array would enhance ground shock effects over those for a single burst of comparable yield. Finally, 3D calculations were run in which an HCP array of seven bursts was modelled explicitly. In addition, the effects of non-simultaneity were investigated. Results of the seven-burst HCP array calculations were consistent with the unit-cell results and, in addition, provided information on the 3D lethal contour produced by such an array.
Analyses of the internal argon gas concentrations monitored on surveillance units of the W84 indicates that field aging of this weapon for times up to {approximately}4 years does not lead to important increases in the rate at which water leaks into the interior of the weapon. This implies that the EPDM environmental seals used on the W84 do not age significantly over this time period. By comparing the percentages of oxygen and argon in the internal atmosphere, an estimate of the oxygen consumption rate is made for a typical W84 unit. The argon gas analysis approach is then applied to the W88, which is sealed with a new EPDM material. Predictive expressions are derived which relate the anticipated argon gas concentrations of future, field-returned units to their water leakage rates. The predictions are summarized in convenient plots, which can be immediately and easily applied to surveillance data as reported. Since the argon approach is sensitive enough to be useful over the entire lifetime of the W88, it can be used to point out leaking units and to determine whether long-term aging has any significant effect on the new EPDM material. 11 refs., 10 figs., 3 tabs.
The Robotic Edge Finishing Laboratory at Sandia National Laboratories is developing four areas of technology required for automated deburring, chamfering, and blending of machined edges: (1) the automatic programming of robot trajectories and deburring processes using information derived from a CAD database, (2) the use of machine vision for locating the workpiece coupled with force control to ensure proper tool contact, (3) robotic deburring, blending, and machining of precision chamfered edges, and (4) in-process automated inspection of the formed edge. The Laboratory, its components, integration, and results from edge finishing experiments to date are described here. Also included is a discussion of the issues regarding implementation of the technology in a production environment. 24 refs., 17 figs.
A series of impact experiments on a composite propellant, an energetic propellant, and their simulants was recently completed using a light-gas gun. Previous experiments were done to obtain Hugoniot data, to investigate the pressure threshold at which a reaction occurs, and to measure spall damage at various impact velocities. The present studies measured the attenuation of shock waves in these materials, completing the shock characterization needed for material modeling. An initial impulse of 2.0 GPa magnitude and {approximately}0.6 {mu}s duration was imposed upon samples of various thicknesses. VISAR was used to measure the free-surface velocity at the back of the samples; these data were used to generate a curve of shock-wave attenuation versus sample thickness for each material. Results showed that all four materials attenuated the shock wave very similarly. Material thicknesses of 3.0, 7.62, 12.7, and 19.0 mm attenuated the shock wave {approximately}16%, 33%, 50%, and 66% respectively. 14 refs., 12 figs., 4 tabs.
This report concerns the evaluation of the Stellar Systems Inc. E-Field intrusion detection system Series 800 control unit and the 5000 Series hardware components. Included are functional descriptions, installation procedures, testing procedures, and testing/operational results. 35 figs.
The WhiteStar project provides design engineers with needed part design data. WhiteStar encourages the use of preferred parts by providing a user-convenient parts database. This report shows selections the user makes in order to obtain information on a particular part. 15 figs.
This report investigates the behavior of a family of finite element error estimators based on projected stresses, i.e., continuous stresses that are a least squared error fit to the conventional Gauss point stresses. An error estimate based on element force equilibrium appears to be quite effective. Examples of adaptive mesh refinement for a one-dimensional problem are presented. Plans for two-dimensional adaptivity are discussed. 12 refs., 82 figs.
This report describes the design intent, design considerations, system use, development, product characteristics, and early production history of the MC3714 Thermal Battery. This battery has a required operating life of 146 s above 24.0 V with a constant current load of 0.5 A. It is activated when the MC3830 Actuator initiates the WW42C1 Percussion Primer in the battery. The MC3714 employs the Li(Si)/LiCl-CCl/lithiated FeS{sub 2} electrochemical system. The battery is a hermetically sealed right-circular cylinder with an antirotation ring brazed to the base of the cylinder. The battery is 50 mm long and 38.1 mm in diameter. The mass of the battery is 165 g. The battery was designed and developed to provide the power for the W82 JTA Telemetry System. 8 refs., 12 figs., 11 tabs.
Infrared video thermograms of a portion of the surface of graphite limiters in Textor were taken during several disruptions. Estimates of the deposition power density were made by comparison of the observed temperature histories with those calculated from a numerical thermal conduction model. It was found that the heat flux, at the observed locations, often occurred in sharp submillisecond bursts, the magnitudes of which were much larger than the heat flux density averaged over the whole disruption. 5 refs., 4 figs.
The mechanical properties of a coring from the bottom of the MOSAIK KfK cask were determined as a function of through wall position for the 21 cm thick section. The elastic moduli were determined from ultrasonic velocity measurements. The standard tensile properties were determined as a function of strain rate at {minus}29{degree}C. The Charpy impact behavior was measured as a function of temperature from {minus}100 to {plus}100{degree}C. The fracture toughness was determined for both static and elevated loading rates (at {minus}29{degree}C). In addition to these mechanical properties, the variation in microstructure and composition with position in the coring is reported. The mechanical properties provide the essential information for the stress analysis modeling of the behavior of the cask during a drop test which will be conducted to simulate a very severe accident condition. The results from the elevated loading rate fracture toughness tests are used to suggest the severity of the flaws that should be introduced into the cask for the sequential series of drops which are scheduled to begin in March 1990. 24 refs., 16 figs., 6 tabs.
Recently an appreciable number of continuous release profiles have been measured from dynamic experiments with geological materials. For each material an empirical generalization of the available release curves may be constructed to allow easy application of the experimental data to problems in much the same way as a linear shock velocity -- particle velocity fit allows easy application of Hugoniot data. This generalization is made in two steps. The first is to compute the Eulerian axial modulus at the Hugoniot pressure and its first three pressure derivatives along the release for each test. This corresponds to a partial Taylor series of the axial modulus, which integrates to give a very close match to the original release. An alternative formulation, which takes volume as the independent variable, fails because that Taylor series does not converge with the rapidity needed for these calculations. The second step is to plot each of these quantities against the Hugoniot pressure for the suite of tests, and fit these data. A release from an arbitrary pressure within the general range of the experimental data may be computed by using the interpolated modulus and its interpolated derivatives. This generalization, which allows volume to be computed as a function of pressure, reproduces the experimental curves fairly well. We present the results of applying this technique to release data for Mini Jade 2 grout, and briefly compare these results with those from several Nevada Test Site tuffs, saturated and dry Indiana Limestone, and aluminum. Finally, we use the generalized Mini Jade 2 data to solve a sample problem, that of estimating the error produced by making the release = Hugoniot'' assumption in the analysis of ground motion gauges in an underground test. 12 refs., 14 figs., 5 tabs.
Exposure of polymers to air during aging (radiation, thermal, UV) often results in inhomogeneously oxidized samples, a complication which impacts attempts both to understand the oxidation process and to extrapolate accelerated exposures to long-term conditions. The most important such complication involves diffusion-limited oxidation which can occur if the rate of oxygen consumption in a material is greater than the rate at which oxygen can be resupplied by diffusion processes from the surrounding air atmosphere. Thus, in order to confidently extrapolate accelerated simulations to long-term, air-aging conditions, one must be able to monitor and quantitatively understand diffusion-limited oxidation effects. Experimental techniques for monitoring diffusion-limited oxidation profiles have recently been reviewed. By comparing experimental profiles with theoretically derived profiles, the theories can be verified and then confidently used to predict the importance of diffusion effects prior to the initiation of aging tests. This paper summarizes what we believe is the first quantitative experimental confirmation of diffusion-limited oxidation theories.
The tests described in this report were conducted to obtain information on the effects target characteristics have on portal type metal detector response. A second purpose of the tests was to determine the effect of detector type and settings on the detection of the targets. Although in some cases comparison performance of different types and makes of metal detectors is found herein, that is not the primary purpose of the report. Further, because of the many variables that affect metal detector performance, the information presented can be used only in a general way. The results of these tests can show general trends in metal detection, but do little for making accurate predictions as to metal detector response to a target with a complex shape such as a handgun. The shape of an object and its specific metal content (both type and treatment) can have a significant influence on detection. Thus it should not be surprising that levels of detection for a small 100g stainless steel handgun are considerably different than for detection of the 100g stainless steel right circular cylinder that was used in these tests. 7 figs., 1 tab.
A steam blowdown test was performed at the Surtsey Direct Heating Test Facility to test the steam supply system and burst diaphragm arrangement that will be used in subsequent Surtsey Direct Containment Heating (DCH) experiments. Following successful completion of the steam blowdown test, the HIPS-10S (High-Pressure Melt Streaming) experiment was conducted to demonstrate that the technology to perform steam-driven, high-pressure melt ejection (HPME) experiments has been successfully developed. In addition, the HIPS-10S experiment was used to assess techniques and instrumentation design to create the proper timing of events in HPME experiments. This document discusses the results of this test.
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High pressure Hugoniot and release equation of state data are provided for samples from three Nevada Test Site rock units. These are the MC-2 and MC-3 members of the P-Tunnel (Paintbrush) Tuff and the N-Tunnel (Tunnel Bed) Tuff. The technique used provides continuous release trajectories from the Hugoniot pressure down to approximately half of the Hugoniot pressure. Hugoniot and release results for the MC-2 and MC-3 members are very similar, while the Hugoniot of the N-Tunnel Tuff is somewhat stiffer, consistent with the higher density of this tuff as tested. The materials were tested at less than full saturation; correcting for this tends to narrow the difference in the properties of the two rock types sufficiently that the data do not provide a basis for predicting significantly different groundshock properties of the three units, leaving unexplained the anomalously high groundshock attenuation observed in the Mission Cyber event (performed in the MC-2 unit of the Paintbrush tuff). 26 refs., 61 figs., 9 tabs.
During rapid solidification, nonequilibrium interface kinetics alter the predictions of the Mullins-Sekerka theory for the stability of a planar interface against cellular breakdown. The velocity-dependence of the partition coefficient and of the Sn concentration at the onset of cellular breakdown have been measured during pulsed laser melting of Si--Sn alloys. The Mullins-Sekerka theory is modified by inserting a velocity-dependent partition coefficient and a velocity-dependent slope of the kinetic liquids,'' both of which are extracted from the Continuous Growth Model for interface kinetics. These nonequilibrium interface kinetic effects increase the predicted critical concentration for cellular breakdown by two orders of magnitude for Sn in Si, and account fairly well for the experimental results. 34 refs., 3 figs.
Several models of runaway electron generation during a disruption are described and applied to the problem of determining the radiation loss and energy limit of runaway electrons. In particular the prediction of orbits and energy limits for proposed ITER design are discussed. It was found that resonance between the electron gyrofrequency and the fundamental ripple frequency can lead to large synchrotron radiation losses and create an upper bound on runaway energy. Interactions with the second harmonic of the ripple field are very sensitive to ripple amplitude and may lead to a further reduction in runaway energy. In ITER this effect can limit the runaway energy to values of 270 MeV. A lump circuit model of the plasma can be used to determine the coupled interactions of the runaway currents with the plasma and control circuit currents. Depending on what is assumed about the perpendicular energy of the runaway electrons. Maximum values of runaway energy predicted for ITER are in the range of 35 to 120 MeV. 4 refs., 15 figs.
A bilateral teleoperation system consists of a local master manipulator and a remotely located slave manuipulator. Generalized velocity commands are sent forward from the master to the slave, and generalized force/torque information is reflected'' back from the slave to the master. Often there is a transmission delay incurred when communicating between the two subsystems which causes instability in the bilateral teleoperator. Recently, a solution for this instability problem was found, based on mimicking the behavior of a lossless transmission line. Although this solution provides steady-state force and velocity tracking, it does not provide steady-state force and position tracking, as is desired for bilateral teleoperation. In this paper a modification is given to the basic control law which overcomes this difficulty. 13 refs., 6 figs., 1 tab.
This document serves as the proceedings for the annual project review meeting held by Sandia's Photovoltaic Cell Research Division and Photovoltaic Technology Division. It contains information supplied by each organization making a presentation at the meeting, which was held August 7 through 9, 1990 at the Sheraton Hotel in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Sessions were held to discuss national photovoltaic programs, one-sun crystalline silicon cell research, concentrator silicon cell research, concentrator 3-5 cell research, and concentrating collector development.
The Center for Compound Semiconductor-Technology (CCST)at Sandia National Laboratories encompasses the full range of required activities--theoretical and experimental solid-state physics, materials science, crystal growth, device design, and fabrication--to develop the next generation of electronic and optoelectronic devices. Semiconductor electronics are vital to the communications and computer industries and to the nation's defense. Compound semiconductors offer very high-speed electronics and integrated optical and electronic capabilities not available with silicon, and will underlie future electronic, optoelectronic, and photonic technologies. The purpose of the CCST is to perform collaborative research generic to electronic and optoelectronic technologies in compound semiconductors. The CCST also includes related research in high-temperature superconducting electronics and hybrid superconductor-semiconductor devices. Facilities in the CCST include extensive molecular-beam epitaxy and metal-organic chemical vapor deposition crystal growth capabilities, a 400-keV ion implanter, and a new 3700 net square foot, class 1000/100 clean room with state-of-the-art processing equipment. Addition of an electron-beam lithography system to permit fabrication of devices with feature sizes below 100 nm is planned for the near future.
The near-field, explosive dispersal of a liquid into air has been explored using a combination of analytical and numerical models. The near-field flow regime is transient, existing only as long as the explosive forces produced by the detonation of the burster charge dominate or are approximately equal in magnitude to the aerodynamic drag forces on the liquid. The near-field model provides reasonable initial conditions for the far-field model, which is described in a separate report. The near-field model consists of the CTH hydrodynamics code and a film instability model. In particular, the CTH hydrodynamics code is used to provide initial temperature, pressure, and velocity fields, and bulk material distribution for the far-field model. The film instability model is a linear stability model for a radially expanding fluid film, and is used to provide a lower bound on the breakup time and an upper and lower bound on the initial average drop diameter for the liquid following breakup. Predictions of the liquid breakup time and the initial arithmetic average drop diameter from the model compare favorably with the sparse experimental data. 26 refs., 20 figs., 8 tabs.
This report highlights Sandia National Laboratories' work in the following areas: photometrics and optical development; still and time-lapse photography; real-time motion photography; high-speed photography; image-motion photography; schlieren photography; ultra-high-speed photography; electronic imaging; shuttered video and high-speed video; infrared imaging radiometry; exoatmospheric photography and videography; microdensitometry and image analysis; and optical system design and development.
This report describes reference concepts for a hydrogen-oxygen combustion, turboalternator power system that supplies power during battle engagement to a space-based, ballistic missile defense platform. All of the concepts are open''; that is, they exhaust hydrogen or a mixture of hydrogen and water vapor into space. We considered the situation where hydrogen is presumed to be free to the power system because it is also needed to cool the platform's weapon and the situation where hydrogen is not free and its mass must be added to that of the power system. We also considered the situation where water vapor is an acceptable exhaust and the situation where it is not. The combination of these two sets of situations required four different power generation systems, and this report describes each, suggests parameter values, and estimates masses for each of the four. These reference concepts are expected to serve as a baseline'' to which other types of power systems can be compared, and they are expected to help guide technology development efforts in that they suggest parameter value ranges that will lead to optimum system designs. 7 refs., 18 figs., 5 tabs.
This report covers the development of improved assembly processes for the Quartz Digital Accelerometer cantilever. In this report we discuss improved single-assembly tooling, the development of tooling and processes for precision application of polyimide adhesive, the development of the wafer scale assembly procedure, and the application of eutectic bonding to cantilever assembly. 2 refs., 17 figs.
A computer code, PREGO, has been developed to perform calculations for three related problems: reflection of an acoustic wave against a layered viscoelastic medium: (water/medium); transmission of an acoustic wave through such a medium (water/medium/water); and radiation of an acoustic wave through such a medium: (medium/water). This code draws an experience gained in writing and using a predecessor code, IMPEDE, which was devised to calculate the steady state reflection of an acoustic wave impinging on a layered substrate of elastic or viscoelastic materials. That code employed a finite element formulation to discretize the complex-valued, second order ordinary differential equations for monochromatic steady state acoustics. The principles of numerical analysis that underlie PREGO are different and less subject to discretization error than those used in IMPEDE. The formulation used in PREGO is similar to that of higher dimensional boundary integral formulations in that it uses closed form expressions for the complex velocity fields in each layer, given in terms of the velocities at the boundary of that layer. The solutions for each layer are coupled together by requiring that stresses and velocities be continuous across interfaces. 5 refs., 4 figs.
A performance assessment methodology has been developed for use by the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission in evaluating license applications for low-level waste disposal facilities. This report provides a summary of background reports on the development of the methodology and an overview of the models and codes selected for the methodology. The overview includes discussions of the philosophy and structure of the methodology and a sequential procedure for applying the methodology. Discussions are provided of models and associated assumptions that are appropriate for each phase of the methodology, the goals of each phase, data required to implement the models, significant sources of uncertainty associated with each phase, and the computer codes used to implement the appropriate models. In addition, a sample demonstration of the methodology is presented for a simple conceptual model. 64 refs., 12 figs., 15 tabs.
Glass-to-metal seals are an integral part of many electronic components. When seals are formed at elevated temperatures and cooled to room temperature, residual stresses are generated by the unequal thermal contractions of the constituent materials. The combination of high stress and low fracture resistance of glass makes it extremely difficult to design and build hermetic glass-to-metal seals. Rigorous and robust stress analyses must incorporate the complex and coupled changes in volumetric strain and stress relaxation which occur as glass passes through the liquid/solid temperature regime. The phenomenological behavior of glass can be modeled viscoelastically. The theory and numerical discretization of the viscoelastic equations is presented for use in finite element programs. Vectorizable integration schemes are derived for both the traditional hereditary integrals of viscoelasticity and the equivalent rate forms of the equations. The general behavior of glass is discussed and related to the viscoelastic model. Solutions to discretized viscoelastic equations are applied to an example problem and compared to results obtained from experimental data. The viscoelastic model of glass provides a new capability to analyze and design actual manufacturing processes by predicting, a priori, the effects of temperature history on the residual stress state.
Kerberos is a network user authentication system that was recently developed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). It has been adopted by Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, for use in the Secure Supercomputing Network (SSN) which is currently under development. FTP and TELNET are two of the most important network applications for the SSN, which is to use the TCP/IP protocol suite. FTP provides capabilities for bulk file transfer between nodes and TELNET provides a remote interactive login capability across the network. This design describes how authentication is currently performed in FTP and TELNET using clear text passwords and proposes a method for modifying them to use Kerberos authentication.
When the boundary integral equation method is applied to exterior acoustics problems, singularities occur in the resulting algebraic equations at various frequencies associated with the eigenvalues of an interior problem. These frequencies are referred to as forbidden,'' and various methods have been devised to overcome the computational difficulties presented at these frequencies. The work presented here is an extension to the CHIEF method in that higher derivatives, in addition to the function itself, are constrained to be zero at selected points in the interior domain. Whereas the relative success of either method depends on the quantity and selection of interior points, the SuperCHIEF method requires fewer interior points and is less sensitive to point selection, resulting in improved robustness without significant increase in computational complexity. 3 refs., 14 refs.
Massively parallel computers and computer networks are beginning to appear as an integral part of the scientific computing workplace. This report documents the goals and the corresponding development plan of the massively parallel project of Departments 1530 and 1420. The main goal of the project is to provide a clear understanding of the issues and difficulties involved in bringing the current production hydrocode CTH to the state of being portable to a number of currently available parallel computing architectures. In the process of this research, various working versions of the code will be produced. 6 refs., 6 figs.
This report examines effects of aging on cables, connections, and containment electrical penetration assemblies (EPAs). Aging is defined as the cumulative effects that occur to a component with the passage of time. If unchecked, these effects can lead to a loss of function and a potential impairment of plant safety. This study includes a review of component usage in nuclear power plants; a review of some commonly used components and their materials of construction; a review of the stressors that the components might be exposed to in both normal and accident environments; a compilation and evaluation of industry failure data; a discussion of component failure modes and causes; and a brief description of current industry testing and maintenance practices. 51 refs., 12 figs., 12 tabs.
CEPXS/ONELD is a discrete ordinates code package for one-dimensional coupled electron-photon transport over the energy range of 100 MeV to 1.0 keV. In this Results Guide, CEPXS/ONELD predictions are compared to the predictions of Monte Carlo codes and to experiment. These comparisons are made for a variety of quantities, including energy deposition, charge deposition and electron current spatial profiles as well as electron and photon spectra. Sensitivity studies are presented that show how the numerical approximations of CEPXS/ONELD can affect the accuracy of predictions. Guidelines for the efficient and accurate use of the code package are given. All examples involve one-dimensional planar geometry and non-adjoint transport. 35 refs.
Charge exchange results in the transfer of momentum from an ion to a neutral atom, thus it is equivalent to a slowing down mechanism for ions. This might be helpful in IFR propagation of relativistic electron beams. The effect of charge exchange on the ion hose instability and channel expansion after beam passage is investigated in this report. For parameters of interest to current experiments, it is found that the effect on growth of the ion hose instability is insignificant, but there is significant reduction in the energy of the expanding ions after passage of the electron beam. 5 refs., 5 figs.
The nickel/hydrogen battery was developed in the 1970s as an energy storage subsystem for commercial communication satellites. The advantages offered by nickel/hydrogen batteries, including long life, low maintenance and high reliability, make it very attractive for terrestrial applications such as stand-alone photovoltaic systems. The major drawback to the wider use of the nickel/hydrogen battery is its high initial cost. Sandia National Laboratories has directed cost-shared contracts at Comsat Laboratories and Johnson Controls, Inc. to reduce the cost, and a battery consisting of prismatic cells in a common pressure vessel has evolved. Contract deliverables include cells and batteries that are evaluated at Sandia. This report summarizes the results over the past two years of both cycle and solar testing. 6 refs., 12 figs., 5 tabs.
This report will present the development history, characterization data and the qualification activities for the SA3646. This device is manufactured by SEEQ Technology Inc., with part number LM28C256-250/B and is a 256K Electricity Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory (EEPROM). 14 refs., 25 figs.