Publications

HICUP models the angular dependent heavy ion upset cross section. It pulls together many of the parameters and concepts used to characterize the Single Event Upset (SEU) phenomena, unifying them in a single cohesive model. HICUP is based on a Rectangular Parallelepiped (RPP) geometry for the sensitive volume and the Weibull density function for the upset threshold energy. Excellent agreement is obtained between the model and heavy ion test data. HICUP is used to derive the correct scaling laws for transforming angular cross section data to normal incidence, reconciling two previously proposed inverse cosine scaling corrections. The angle-integrated HICUP model, I-HICUP, is used in Galactic Cosmic Ray (GCR) upset rate calculations with results nearly identical to the Space Radiation• code. Letaw [12] has procuced an automated SEU parameter fitting routine based on HICUP and the cH2 method. It ferrets out the best-fit critical SEU parameters embedded within the raw angular test data, including charge collection depth and funnel length. His method couples directly to the upset rate calculation in a self-consistent manner eliminating the need to arbitrarily assume a device depth. Results of this new procedure are presented. © 1995 IEEE

A sinkhole was observed over the edge of the two-level former salt mine that was converted for oil storage. Diagnostic studies suggest a direct connection exists between the surface collapse area and the underground mine as shown by correlative measurements of sediment slump rates and probable brine influx into the mine. The dissolution of salt below the sinkhole that initiated the leak into the mine was likely caused by several confluent geologic processes, and exacerbated by mining-induced stresses that created fractures which served as hydrologic flowpaths. Modelling studies of mine stresses show that years may be required before tensional cracking begins to occur, but once begun can continue to develop, and relieve the stress in that specific regime. The crack regime creates the avenue for incursion of groundwater. Mitigation measures include increasing the mine pressure, slowing the dissolution by injecting brine into the sinkhole throat, and construction of a freeze curtain to restrict hydrologic flowpaths. -from Authors

A general method for applying command shaping to various multiple degree of freedom cranes is described such that the payload moves to a specified point without residual oscillation. A dynamic programming is used for general command shaping for optimal maneuvers. The results taken are compared to near-optimal solutions where the commands are linear combinations of accelerations pulse basis functions. Simulation results and experimental verification for a variable load-line length rotary crane are also presented using design procedures.

The issues of verification, calibration, and validation of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) codes has been receiving increasing levels of attention in the research literature and in engineering technology. Both CFD researchers and users of CFD codes are asking more critical and detailed questions concerning the accuracy, range of applicability, reliability and robustness of CFD codes and their predictions. This is a welcomed trend because it demonstrates that CFD is maturing from a research tool to the world of impacting engineering hardware and system design. In this environment, the broad issue of code quality assurance becomes paramount, However, the philosophy and methodology of building confidence in CFD code predictions has proven to be more difficult than many expected. A wide variety of physical modeling errors and discretization errors are discussed. Here, discretization errors refer to all errors caused by conversion of the original partial differential equations to algebraic equations, and their solution. Boundary conditions for both the partial differential equations and the discretized equations will be discussed. Contrasts are drawn between the assumptions and actual use numerical method consistency and stability. Commen are also made concerning the existence and uniqueness solutions for both the partial differential equations and the discrete equations. Various techniques are suggested for the detection and estimation of errors caused by physical modeling and discretization of the partial differential equations.

Carbon Nitride (CNx) films have been grown by ion-assisted pulsed-laser deposition (IAPLD). Graphite targets were laser ablated while bombarding the substrate with ions from a broad-beam Kaufman-type ion source. The ion voltage, current density, substrate temperature, and feed gas composition (N2 in Ar) have been varied. The resultant films were characterized by Raman, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), and Rutherford back scattering (RBS) spectroscopy. Samples with ≈30% N/C ratio have been fabricated. The corresponding Raman and FTIR spectra indicate that nitrogen is incorporated into the samples by insertion into sp2- bonded structure. A low level of C≡N triple bonds is also found. As the ion current and voltage are increased with a pure Ar ion beam, Raman peaks associated with nanocrystalline graphite appear in the spectra. Adding low levels of nitrogen to the ion beam first reduces the Raman intensity in the vicinity of the graphite disorder peak without adding detectable amounts of nitrogen to the films (as measured by RBS). At higher nitrogen levels in the ion beam, significant amounts of nitrogen are incorporated into the samples, and the magnitude of the ″disorder″ peak increases. By increasing the temperature of the substrate during deposition, the broad peak due mainly to sp2-bonded C-N in the FTIR spectra is shifted to lower wavenumber. This could be interpreted as evidence of single-bonded C-N; however, it is more likely that the character of the sp2 bonding is changing.

Extensive surface pressure measurements were obtained on a hypersonic vehicle configuration at Mach 8. All of the experimental results were obtained in the Sandia National Laboratories Mach 8 hypersonic wind tunnel for lamipar boundary layer conditions. The basic vehicle configuration IS a spherically blunted 100 half-angle cone with a slice parallel with the axis of the vehicle. The bluntness ratio of the geometly IS 10% and the slice begins at 70% of the length of the vehicle. Surface pressure measurements were obtained for angles of attack from -10 to +180. for various roll angles, at 96 locations on the body surface. A new and innovative uncertainty analysis was devised to estimate the contributors to surface pressure meaSment uncenainty. Quantitative estimates were computed for the uncertainty contributions due to the complete insmmentation system, nonunifoxmity of flow in the test section of the wind Nnnel. and variations in the wind tunnel model. This extensive set of high-quality surface pressure measurements is recommended for use in the calibration and validation of computational fluid dynamics codes for hyuersonic flow conditions.

Short-pulse accelerator technology developed during the early 1960's through the late 1980's is being extended to high average power systems capable of use in industrial and environmental applications. Processes requiring high dose levels and/or high volume throughput will require systems with beam power levels from several hundreds of kilowatts to megawatts. Beam accelerating potentials can range from less than 1 MeV to as much as 10 MeV depending on the type of beam, depth of penetration required, and the density of the product being treated. This paper addresses the present status of a family of high average power systems, with output beam power levels up to 200 kW, now in operation that use saturable core switches to achieve output pulse widths of 50 to 80 nanoseconds. Inductive adders and field emission cathodes are used to generate beams of electrons or x-rays at up to 2.5 MeV over areas of 1000 cm2. Similar high average power technology is being used at ≤ 1 MeV to drive repetitive ion beam sources for treatment of material surfaces over 100's of cm2. © 1995.

Performance of an electromagnetic induction launcher is considered for three types of armatures. These are: solid, 1-element wound and 16-element wound aluminum armatures. The one element wound armature has uniform current density throughout and thus can withstand field reversal (working against embedded armature flux) and still maintain low temperature. Slingshot simulations were performed for several configurations. Best performance was obtained for a single element wound armature with two field reversals. For a 60 kg projectile, 10.5 cm coil inner radius and 5.5 cm coil build, the velocity after 50 meters of launcher length (670 stages) exceeded 3.5 km/sec with an overall efficiency of about 45%. For the same parameters the solid and 16-element wound armatures reach a velocity of about 3.3 km/sec after 800 stages (60 meters of launcher length) but without field reversal. A velocity of 3.5 km/sec is possible after 60 meters of launcher length with the 16-element wound armature with one field reversal, but the temperature is close to the melting temperature of aluminum. In all simulations with a solid armature, melting of some of the surface material occurs. However, it is shown that most of the melting occurs after contribution has been made to the forward going pressure, that is, melting does not affect the electrical performance of the launcher. The effect of coil firing time jitter on launcher performance is also considered and is found to be very small for realistic perturbations. For ± 2 μ–secs random jitter, the reduction in the final velocity for a 60 meter launcher with a solid armature is less than 0.1% and the increase in temperature is only 2%. This holds for all types of armatures. © 1995 IEEE

Cold filling refers to flowing a fluid through piping or tubes that are at temperatures below the fluid’s freezing point. Since the piping and areas of the receiver in a molten-nitrate salt central-receiver solar power plant must be electrically heated to maintain their temperatures above the nitrate salt freezing point (430°F, 221 °C), considerable energy could be used to maintain such temperatures during nightly shutdown and bad weather. Experiments and analyses have been conducted to investigate cold filling receiver panels and piping as a way of reducing parasitic electrical power consumption and increasing the availability of the plant. The two major concerns with cold filling are (1) how far can the molten salt penetrate cold piping before freezing closed, and (2) what thermal stresses develop during the associated thermal shock. Cold fill experiments were conducted by flowing molten salt at 550°F (288°C) through cold panels, manifolds, and piping to determine the feasibility of cold filling the receiver and piping. The transient thermal responses were measured and heat transfer coefficients were calculated from the data. Nondimensional analysis is presented which quantifies the thermal stresses in a pipe or tube undergoing thermal shock. In addition, penetration distances were calculated to determine the distance salt could flow in cold pipes prior to freezing closed. © 1995 by ASME.

Understanding the evolution of porous silicon (PS) layers at the early stages of growth is important for determining the mechanism of PS film growth and controlling the film properties. We have used X-ray reflectivity (XRR) to determine the evolution of layer thickness and interfacial roughness during the growth of thin PS layers (< 200 nm) prepared by electrochemical anodization. The porous layer grows at a constant rate for films as thin as 15 nm indicating a very short incubation period during which the surface may be electropolished before the PS structure begins to form. Interface roughness measurements indicate that the top surface of the film remains relatively smooth during growth while the roughness of the PS/silicon interface increases only slightly with film thickness. The XRR results are compared with results obtained from the same films by cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy (XTEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and gravimetry.

Uncertainty and sensitivity analysis techniques based on Latin hypercube sampling, partial correlation analysis and stepwise regression analysis are used in an investigation with the MACCS model of the food pathways associated with a severe accident at a nuclear power station. The primary purpose of this study is to provide guidance on the variables to be considered in future review work to reduce the uncertainty in the important variables used in the calculation of reactor accident consequences. The effects of 87 imprecisely-known input variables on the following reactor accident consequences are studied: crop growing-season dose, crop long-term dose, milk growing-season dose, total food pathways dose, total ingestion pathways dose, total long-term pathways dose, area dependent cost, crop disposal cost, milk disposal cost, condemnation area, crop disposal area and milk disposal area. When the predicted variables are considered collectively, the following input variables were found to be the dominant contributors to uncertainty: fraction of cesium deposition on grain fields that is retained on plant surfaces and transferred directly to grain, maximum allowable ground concentrations of Cs-137 and Sr-90 for production of crops, ground concentrations of Cs-134, Cs-137 and I-131 at which the disposal of milk will be initiated due to accidents that occur during the growing season, ground concentrations of Cs-134, I-131 and Sr-90 at which the disposal of crops will be initiated due to accidents that occur during the growing season, rate of depletion of Cs-137 and Sr-90 from the root zone, transfer of Sr-90 from soil to legumes, transfer of Cs-137 from soil to pasture, transfer of cesium from animal feed to meat, and the transfer of cesium, iodine and strontium from animal feed to milk. © 1995.

Uncertainty and sensitivity analysis techniques based on Latin hypercube sampling, partial correlation analysis and stepwise regression analysis are used in an investigation with the MACCS model of the chronic exposure pathways associated with a severe accident at a nuclear power station. The primary purpose of this study is to provide guidance on the variables to be considered in future review work to reduce the uncertainty in the important variables used in the calculation of reactor accident consequences. The effects of 75 imprecisely known input variables on the following reactor accident consequences are studied: crop growing-season dose, crop long-term dose, water ingestion dose, milk growing-season dose, long-term groundshine dose, long-term inhalation dose, total food pathways dose, total ingestion pathways dose, total long-term pathways dose, total latent cancer fatalities, area-dependent cost, crop disposal cost, milk disposal cost, population-dependent cost, total economic cost, condemnation area, condemnation population, crop disposal area and milk disposal area. When the predicted variables are considered collectively, the following input variables were found to be the dominant contributors to uncertainty: dry deposition velocity, transfer of cesium from animal feed to milk, transfer of cesium from animal feed to meet, ground concentration of Cs-134 at which the disposal of milk products will be initiated, transfer of Sr-90 from soil to legumes, maximum allowable ground concentration of Sr-90 for production of crops, fraction of cesium entering surface water that is consumed in drinking water, groundshine shielding factor, scale factor defining resuspension, dose reduction associated with decontamination, and ground concentration of I-131 at which disposal of crops will be initiated due to accidents that occur during the growing season. Reducing the uncertainty in the preceding variables was found to substantially reduce the uncertainty in the predicted variables under consideration. For total number of latent cancer fatalities, the dominant variable was dry deposition velocity, with small effects indicated for a large number of additional variables. © 1995.

The effect of the pump, signal, and idler wave phases on three-wave nonlinear parametric mixing is investigated in a series of single-pass- gain experiments. Measurements are made with two angle-tuned KTP crystals in a 532 nm pumped, walkoff-compensated, optical parametric amplifier that is seeded by an 800 nm cw diode laser. In one of the measurements the second crystal is orientated to have its effective nonlinearity deff. of opposite sign to that of the first crystal, so that all mixing that occurred in the first crystal is canceled by the second when the phase mismatch Δkcrystal 1 = Δkcrystal 2 = 0. Efficient two-crystal amplification is subsequently restored by selecting the correct phase relationship for the three waves entering the crystal by inserting a dispersive plate between the crystals. The experimental results are explained in a straightforward manner with diagrams involving the three input wave polarizations. These results demonstrate that walkoff-compensated geometries require phase correction to achieve efficient mixing in the second crystal whenever the nonlinear interaction involves two extraordinary waves (e-waves). One practical application of this work may be lower oscillation thresholds and enhanced performance in walkoff-compensated optical parametric oscillators which use two e-waves.

The Critical Dynamics in Microgravity Experiment, DYNAMX, is under development for space flight at Sandia National Laboratories and the University of New Mexico with Dr. Rob Duncan as the Principal Investigator. This experiment will investigate the effects on the superfluid transition in 4He of currents generated by heat flow, measuring the thermal conductivity in the fluid as a function of applfed heat. DYNAMX will also take advantage of the weightless environment to measure the conductivity properties in the region of the interface between the two phases. Thus, DYNAMX represents an experiment that will explore a system driven far from equilibrium. The experiment development is sponsored by the Microgravity Science and Applications Division of NASA, with the Jet Propulsion Laboratory as the managing center. This paper will describe the science objectives, the current design of the experiment apparatus, the steps being taken to prepare this experiment for flight, and the results of ground-based feasibility demonstrations now underway.

We present magnetoluminescence data which provides a quantitative measure of the energy- band dispersion curves of novel compound semiconductor optoelectronic materials. Data for a n-type strained-layer InGaAs/GaAs (quantum-well width approximately 8 nm) and a n-type 4.5 nm-wide GaAs/AlGaAs lattice-matched single-quantum well are presented. We find that the conduction-bands are almost parabolic, with a mass of about 0.068m0 for the GaAs/AlGaAs structure. The valence-bands are nonparabolic with wave vector dependent in- plane valence-band masses varying from about 0.1m0 at zone center to about 0.3m0 for 20 meV energies.

Sol-gel processing methods are frequently used for the fabrication of lead zirconate titanate (PZT) thin films for many electronic applications. Our standard approach for film fabrication utilizes lead acetate and acetic acid modified metal alkoxides of zirconium and titanium in the preparation of our precursor solutions. This report highlights some of our recent results on the effects of the addition of a second chelating ligand, acetylacetone, to this process. We discuss the changes in film drying behavior, densification and ceramic microstructure which accompany acetylacetone additions to the precursor solution and relate the observed variations in processing behavior to differences in chemical precursor structure induced by the acetylacetone ligand. Improvements in thin film microstructure, ferroelectric and optical properties are observed when acetylacetone is added to the precursor solution.

Since both FeS2 and MoS2 are optically opaque and have bandgaps in the near IR, photochemical applications of these materials are non-existent. It is however demonstrated in the study that nanosize FeS2 and MoS2 have bandgaps that can be adjusted to the visible and even UV region of the spectrum by control of the cluster size. Discussed are measurements of size, structure, optical absorbance and photoemission for these new materials. Also, briefly outlines are synthetic procedures and novel methods for chemical processing of these nanoclusters.

We report a real-time, two-dimensional light scattering study of the evolution of structure of a two component nonionic micelle system undergoing phase separation. The micelles act like molecular slug-a-beds whose domain growth is pathetically lathargic (i.e. slower than the cube root of time prediction for simple binary fluids). In fact, the growth kinetics can be empirically described as a stretched exponential approach to a pinned domain size. Although the kinetics are not yet understood, this anomalous behavior may be due to the ability of the spherical micelles to reorganize into more complex structures.

A jib crane consists of a pendulum-like end line attached to a rotatable jib. Within this general category of cranes there exist devices with multiple degrees of freedom including variable load-line length and variable jib length. These cranes are commonly used for construction and transportation applications. Point-to-point payload maneuvers using jib cranes are performed so as not to excite the spherical pendulum modes of their cable and payload assemblies. Typically, these pendulum modes, although time-varying, exhibit low frequencies. The resulting maneuvers are therefore performed slowly, contributing to high construction and transportation costs. The crane considered here consists of a spherical pendulum attached to a rigid jib. The other end of the jib is attached to a direct drive motor of generating rotational motion. A general approach is presented for determining the open-loop trajectories for the jib rotation for accomplishing fixed-time, point-to-point, residual oscillation free, symmetric maneuvers. These residual oscillation free trajectories purposely excite the pendulum modes in such a way that at the end of the maneuver the oscillatory degrees of freedom are quiescent. Simulation results are presented with experimental verification.

First-principles density-functional calculations utilizing ab initio pseudopotentials and plane- wave expansions are used to determine lattice parameters, bulk moduli, and band structures for AlN, GaN, and InN. It is found that large numbers of plane waves are necessary to resolve the nitrogen 2p wave functions and that explicit treatment of the gallium 3d and indium 4d electrons is important for an accurate description of GaN and InN. Several properties of ternary zinc-blende alloys are determined including their bond-length and bond-angle relaxation and their energy-gap bowing parameters. The similarity of the calculated zinc- blende and wurtzite direct gaps also allows estimates to be made of the energy gap versus composition for wurtzite alloys.

To address the need for a fast path planner, we present a learning algorithm that improves path planning by using past experience to enhance future performance. The algorithm relies on an existing path planner to provide solutions to difficult tasks. From these solutions, an evolving sparse network of useful robot configurations is learned to support faster planning. More generally, the algorithm provides a framework in which a slow but effective planner may be improved both cost-wise and capability-wise by a faster but less effective planner coupled with experience. We analyze the algorithm by formalizing the concept of improvability and deriving conditions under which a planner can be improved within the framework. The analysis is based on two stochastic models, one pessimistic (on task complexity), the other randomized (on experience utility). Using these models, we derive quantitative bounds to predict the learning behavior. We use these estimation tools to characterize the situations in which the algorithm is useful and to provide bounds on the training time. In particular, we show how to predict the maximum achievable speedup. Additionally, our analysis techniques are elementary and should be useful for studying other types of probabilistic learning as well.

A simultaneous determination of both the conduction and valence-band dispersion curves (and masses) from a single compound semiconductor quantum-well structure using magnetoluminescence is discussed. Data from InGaAs/GaAs strained-single-quantum wells and GaAs/AlGaAs lattice matched quantum wells are presented. The conduction bands are found to be parabolic for densities approaching 1 × 1012cm-2. However, the valence bands are highly nonparabolic and strongly affected by heavy-hole light-hole mixing. © 1995.

Barrier layers to limit percolation through cover systems are principal features of engineered, multi-component cover designs. Conventional barrier layer components developed for humid climates have limitations in dry climates. One alternative barrier layer is a capillary barrier, which consists of a fine-over-coarse soil arrangement. The capacity of capillary barriers to laterally divert downward moving water is the key to their success. Another alternative is a dry barrier, in which atmospheric air is circulated through a coarse layer within the cover to remove water vapor. Incorporating a coarse layer which stores water for subsequent removal by air flow reduces the requirements for the air flow velocity and increases the applicability of the dry barrier.

In the US, concrete containment buildings for commercial nuclear power plants have steel liners that act as the internal pressure boundary. The liner abuts the concrete, acting as the interior concrete form. The liner is attached to the concrete by either studs or by a continuous structural shape (such as a T-section or channel) that is either continuously or intermittently welded to the liner. Studs are commonly used in reinforced concrete containments, while prestressed containments utilize a structural element as the anchorage. The practice in some countries follows the US practice, while in other countries the containment does not have a steel liner. In this latter case, there is a true double containment, and the annular region between the two containments is vented. This paper will review the practice of design of the liner system prior to the consideration of severe accident loads (overpressurization loads beyond the design conditions). An overpressurization test of a 1:6 scale reinforced concrete containment at Sandia National Laboratories resulted in a failure mechanism in the liner that was not fully anticipated. Post-test analyses and experiments have been conducted to understand the failure better. This work and the activities that followed the test are reviewed. Areas in which additional research should be conducted are given. © 1995.

We have performed computational simulations to determine how energy from a large hypervelocity impact on the Earth's surface would couple to its interior. Because of the first-order axial symmetry of both the impact energy source and the stress-wave velocity structure of the Earth, a disproportionate amount of energy is dissipated along the axis defined by the impact point and its antipode (point opposite the impact). For a symmetric and homogeneous Earth model, all the impact energy that is radiated as seismic waves into the Earth at a given takeoff angle (ray parameter), independent of azimuthal direction, is refocused (minus attenuation) on the axis of symmetry, regardless of the number of reflections and refractions it has experienced. Material on or near the axis of symmetry experiences more strain cycles with much greater amplitude than elsewhere, and therefore experiences more irreversible heating. The focusing is most intense in the upper mantle, within the asthenosphere, where seismic energy is most effectively converted to heat. For a sufficiently energetic impact, this mechanism might generate enough local heating to create an isostatic instability leading to uplift, possibly resulting in rifting, volcanism, or other rearrangement of the interior dynamics of the planet. These simulations demonstrate how hypervelocity impact energy can be transported to the Earth's interior, supporting the possibility of a causal link between large impacts on Earth and major internally-driven geophysical processes. © 1995.

A major objective of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission`s (NRC) Individual Plant Examination (IPE) Insights Program is to identify the important determinants of core damage frequency (CDF) for the different reactor and containment types and plant designs as indicated in the IPEs. The human reliability analysis (HRA) is a critical component of the probabilistic risk assessments (PRAS) which were done for the IPES. The determination and selection of human actions for incorporation into the event and fault tree models and the quantification of their failure probabilities can have an important impact on the resulting estimates of CDF and risk. Therefore, two important goals of the NRCs IPE Insights Program are (1) to determine the extent to which human actions and their corresponding failure probabilities influenced the results of the IPEs and (2) to identify which factors played significant roles in determining the differences and similarities in the results of the HRA analyses across the different plants. To obtain the relevant information, the NRC`s IPE database, which contains information on plant design, CDF, and containment performance obtained from the IPES, was used in conjunction with a systematic examination of the HRA analyses and results from the IPES. Regarding the extent to which the results of the HRA analyses were significant contributors to the plants` CDFs, examinations of several different measures indicated that while individual human actions could have important influences on CDF for particular initiators, the HRA results did not appear to be the most significant driver of plant risk (CDF). Another finding was that while there were relatively wide variations in the calculated human error probabilities (HEPs) for similar events across plants, there was no evidence for any systematic variation as a function of the HRA methods used in the analyses.

SEMATECH and the Department of Energy have established a Contamination Free Manufacturing Research Center (CFMRC) located at Sandia National Laboratories. One of the programs underway at the CFMRC is directed towards defect reduction in semiconductor process reactors by the application of computational modeling. The goal is to use fluid, thermal, plasma, and particle transport models to identify process conditions and tool designs that reduce the deposition rate of particles on wafers. The program is directed toward defect reduction in specific manufacturing tools, although some model development is undertaken when needed. The need to produce quantifiable improvements in tool defect performance requires the close cooperation among Sandia, universities, SEMATECH, SEMATECH member companies, and equipment manufacturers. Currently, both plasma (e.g., etch, PECVD) and nonplasma tools (e.g., LPCVD, rinse tanks) are being worked on under this program. In this paper the authors summarize their recent efforts to reduce particle deposition on wafers during plasma-based semiconductor manufacturing.

This is the final report on a series of experiments concerned with transient radiation-induced absorption in materials for a Cr,Nd:GSGG laser. Both the Sandia National Laboratories SPR III pulsed reactor and the Hermes III pulsed X-ray machine are used as radiation sources. The time dependence and the magnitude of the induced absorption in filter glasses and in doped and undoped LiNbO{sub 3} Q-switch materials have been measured. Gain has been observed in Cr,Nd:GSGG, the laser medium, when it is irradiated by X-rays.

We have used {sup 13}C magic-angle spinning (MAS) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) to characterize the structure and rotational dynamics of C{sub 60} containing oxygen molecules located in the interstitial sites of the fcc lattice. Under normal conditions, a narrow peak at 143.7 ppm is observed for C{sub 60}. When exposed to oxygen at moderate pressures, several additional resonances appear in the {sup 13}C MAS NMR spectrum. These secondary resonances are shifted downfield from the main peak at 143.7 ppm and are due to the Fermi-contact interaction of the paramagnetic oxygen molecules with the {sup 13}C nuclear spins. The presence of oxygen depresses the orientational ordering transition by ca. 20 K as observed by DSC. The spin-lattice relaxation time (T{sub 1}) of each secondary peak shows a minimum near the ordering transition, indicating that this transition is not dependent on the number of oxygen molecules surrounding an individual C{sub 60} molecule. The T{sub 1}, due to paramagnetic relaxation, normalized by the number of surrounding oxygen molecules, is constant. This observation demonstrates that within a given sample, the dynamics of C{sub 60} molecules are independent of the number of surrounding oxygen molecules.

This paper describes a process of combining two state-of-the-art CFD tools, SPRINT and INCA, in a manner which extends the utility of both codes beyond what is possible from either code alone. The speed and efficiency of the PNS code, SPRING, has been combined with the capability of a Navier-Stokes code to model fully elliptic, viscous separated regions on high performance, high speed flight systems. The coupled SPRINT/INCA capability is applicable for design and evaluation of high speed flight vehicles in the supersonic to hypersonic speed regimes. This paper describes the codes involved, the interface process and a few selected test cases which illustrate the SPRINT/INCA coupling process. Results have shown that the combination of SPRINT and INCA produces correct results and can lead to improved computational analyses for complex, three-dimensional problems.

Sampling during environmental drilling is essential to fully characterize the spatial distribution and migration of near surface contaminants. However, the analysis of these samples is not only expensive, but can take weeks or months when sent to an off-site laboratory. In contrast, measurement-while-drilling (MWD) screening capability could save money and valuable time by quickly distinguishing between contaminated and uncontaminated areas. Real-time measurements provided by a MVM system would enable on-the-spot decisions to be made regarding sampling strategies, enhance worker safety, and provide the added flexibility of being able to ``steer`` the drill bit in or out hazardous zones. During measurement-while-drilling, down-hole sensors are located behind the drill bit and linked by a rapid data transmission system to a computer at the surface. As drilling proceeds, data are collected on the nature and extent of the subsurface contamination in real-time. The down-hole sensor is a Geiger-Mueller tube (GMT) gamma radiation detector. In addition to the GMT signal, the MWD system monitors these required down-hole voltages and two temperatures associated with the detector assembly. The Gamma Ray Detection System (GRDS) and electronics package are discussed in as well as the results of the field test. Finally, our conclusions and discussion of future work are presented.

Uncertainty and sensitivity analysis techniques based on Latin hypercube sampling, partial correlation analysis and stepwise regression analysis are used in an investigation with the MACCS model of the early health effects associated with a severe accident at a nuclear power station. The primary purpose of this study is to provide guidance on the variables to be considered in future review work to reduce the uncertainty in the important variables used in the calculation of reactor accident consequences. The effects of 34 imprecisely known input variables on the following reactor accident consequences are studied: number of early fatalities, number of cases of prodromal vomiting, population dose within 10 mi of the reactor, population dose within 1000 mi of the reactor, individual early fatality probability within 1 mi of the reactor, and maximum early fatality distance. When the predicted variables are considered collectively, the following input variables were found to be the dominant contributors to uncertainty: scaling factor for horizontal dispersion, dry deposition velocity, inhalation protection factor for nonevacuees, groundshine shielding factor for nonevacuees, early fatality hazard function alpha value for bone marrow exposure, and scaling factor for vertical dispersion.

This report summarizes two approaches to time-optimal control of a nonlinear magnetically levitated platen. The system of interest is a candidate technology for next-generation photolithography machines used in the manufacture of integrated circuits. The dynamics and the variable peak control force of the electro-magnetic actuators preclude the direct application of classical time-optimal control methodologies for determining optimal rest-to-rest maneuver strategies. Therefore, this study explores alternate approaches using a previously developed computer simulation. In the first approach, conservative estimates of the available control forces are used to generate suboptimal switching curves. In the second approach, exact solutions are determined iteratively and used as a training set for an artificial neural network. The trained network provides optimal actuator switching times that incorporate the full nonlinearities of the magnetic levitation actuators. Sample problems illustrate the effectiveness of these techniques as compared to traditional proportional-derivative control.

Active control of structures has been under intensive development for the last ten years. Reference 2 reviews much of the identification and control technology for structural control developed during this time. The technology was initially focused on space structure and weapon applications; however, recently the technology is also being directed toward applications in manufacturing and transportation. Much of this technology focused on multiple-input/multiple-output (MIMO) identification and control methodology because many of the applications require a coordinated control involving multiple disturbances and control objectives where multiple actuators and sensors are necessary for high performance. There have been many optimal robust control methods developed for the design of MIMO robust control laws; however, there appears to be a significant gap between the theoretical development and experimental evaluation of control and identification methods to address structural control applications. Many methods have been developed for MIMO identification and control of structures, such as the Eigensystem Realization Algorithm (ERA), Q-Markov Covariance Equivalent Realization (Q-Markov COVER) for identification; and, Linear Quadratic Gaussian (LQG), Frequency Weighted LQG and H-/ii-synthesis methods for control. Upon implementation, many of the identification and control methods have shown limitations such as the excitation of unmodelled dynamics and sensitivity to system parameter variations. As a result, research on methods which address these problems have been conducted.

This paper describes numerical simulations that were performed to study laminar flow through a square duct with a 900 bend. The purpose of this work was two fold. First, an improved understanding was desired of the flow physics involved in the generation of secondary vortical flows in three-dimensions. Second, adaptive gridding techniques for structured grids in three- dimensions were investigated for the purpose of determining their utility in low Reynolds number, incompressible flows. It was also of interest to validate the commercial computer code CFD-ACE. Velocity predictions for both non-adaptive and adaptive grids are compared with experimental data. Flow visualization was used to examine the characteristics of the flow though the curved duct in order to better understand the viscous flow physics of this problem. Generally, moderate agreement with the experimental data was found but shortcomings in the experiment were demonstrated. The adaptive grids did not produce the same level of accuracy as the non-adaptive grid with a factor of four more grid points.

A series of experiments was conducted to determine hydrogen combustion behavior under conditions of rapidly condensing steam caused by water sprays. Experiments were conducted in the Surtsey facility under conditions that were nearly prototypical of those that would be expected in a severe accident in the CE System 80+ containment. Mixtures were initially nonflammable owing to dilution by steam. The mixtures were ignited by thermal glow plugs when they became flammable after sufficient steam was removed by condensation caused by water sprays. No detonations or accelerated flame propagation was observed in the Surtsey facility. The combustion mode observed for prototypical mixtures was characterized by multiple deflagrations with relatively small pressure rises. The thermal glow plugs were effective in burning hydrogen safely by igniting the gases as the mixtures became marginally flammable.

This report identifies the key features noted as requirements in the diagnostic decision-making process of Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) cardiac imaging. The report discusses the critical issues that create the basic system framework for design of an automatic target recognizer (ATR) algorithm prototype to support diagnosis of coronary artery disease. Candidate feature discovery algorithms that may form the basis of future work include Adaptive Resonance Theory and Bayesian Decision Network. A framework for the practitioner-Human-System-Interface would include baseline patient history and demographic data; reference cardiac imagery history; and current overlay imagery to provide complementary information (i.e., coronary angiography, echocardiography, and SPECT images). The goal is to design a prototype that would represent a fused present and historical {open_quotes}whole{close_quotes} functional, structural, and physiologic cardiac patient model. This framework decision-assisting platform would be available to practitioner and student alike, with no {open_quotes}real-world{close_quotes} consequences.

This report describes the process used by Sandia National Laboratories, New Mexico to characterize weapon hardware for disposition. The report describes the following basic steps: (1) the drawing search process and primary hazard identification; (2) the development of Disassembly Procedures (DPs), including demilitarization and sanitization requirements; (3) the generation of a ``disposal tree``; (4) generating RCRA waste disposal information; and (5) documenting the information. Additional data gathered during the characterization process supporting hardware grouping and recycle efforts is also discussed.

Supercomputing `94, a high-performance computing and communications conference, was held November 14th through 18th, 1994 in Washington DC. For the past four years, Sandia National Laboratories has used this conference to showcase and focus its communications and networking endeavors. At the 1994 conference, Sandia built a Switched Multimegabit Data Service (SMDS) network running at 44.736 megabits per second linking its private SMDS network between its facilities in Albuquerque, New Mexico and Livermore, California to the convention center in Washington, D.C. For the show, the network was also extended from Sandia, New Mexico to Los Alamos National Laboratory and from Sandia, California to Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. This paper documents and describes this network and how it was used at the conference.

The interstitial oxygen (O{sub i}) concentration in Czochralski silicon and the subsequent SiO{sub x} precipitation are important parameters for integrated circuit fabrication. Uncontrolled SiO{sub x} precipitation during processing can create detrimental mechanical and electrical effects that contribute to poor performance. An inability to consistently and accurately measure the initial O{sub i} concentration in heavily doped silicon has led to contradictory results regarding the effects of dopant type and concentration on SiO{sub x} precipitation. The authors have developed a software package for reliably determining and comparing O{sub i} in heavily doped silicon. The SiFTIR{copyright} code implements three independent oxygen analysis methods in a single integrated package. Routine oxygen measurements are desirable over a wide range of silicon resistivities, but there has been confusion concerning which of the three numerical methods is most suitable for the low resistivity portion of the continuum. A major strength of the software is an ability to rapidly produce results for all three methods using only a single Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) spectrum as input. This ability to perform three analyses on a single data set allows a detailed comparison of the three methods across the entire range of resistivities in question. Integrated circuit manufacturers could use the enabling technology provided by SiFTIR{copyright} to monitor O{sub i} content. Early detection of O{sub i} using this diagnostic could be beneficial in controlling SiO{sub x} precipitation during integrated circuit processing.

FITTING is a Fortran subroutine that constructs a smooth, generalized four-parameter probability distribution model. It is fit to the first four statistical moments of the random variable X (i.e., average values of X, X{sup 2}, X{sup 3}, and X{sup 4}) which can be calculated from data using the associated subroutine CALMOM. The generalized model is produced from a cubic distortion of the parent model, calibrated to match the first four moments of the data. This four-moment matching is intended to provide models that are more faithful to the data in the upper tail of the distribution. Examples are shown for two specific cases.

This report documents a study (Stage Right Operational Safety Analysis) that was performed to evaluate the effects of new Stage Right operations on the safety of Pantex personnel who perform the operations and maintain the equipment. The primary concern of the evaluation was for personnel safety during Stage Right operations, but operations equipment damage and degradation also were taken into account. This analysis evaluates safety of the work process in the staging of dismantled nuclear weapon pits within the modified Richmond magazines only. This Stage Right Process and Operational Safety Analysis includes the following processes: moving the pelletized drums from the pallet trailer to the pallet turner, staging of pallets and removal of pallets from the magazine, recovery from an incident in a magazine, setting up, opening, and closing a Zone 4 magazine, inventory of pelletized drums in the magazines, transporting pelletized drums from Zone 12 to Zone 4, and maintenance on the shielded lift truck that involves removal of the cab shielding. The analysis includes the following undesirable consequences: injury to personnel, breach of an AL-R8 container, drop of a loaded pallet, damage to equipment, and equipment unreliability.

The development of two new probabilistic accident consequence codes, MACCS and COSYMA, was completed in 1990. These codes estimate the risks presented by nuclear installations based on postulated frequencies and magnitudes of potential accidents. In 1991, the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and the Commission of the European Communities (CEC) began a joint uncertainty analysis of the two codes. The ultimate objective of the joint effort was to develop credible and traceable uncertainty distributions for the input variables of the codes. Expert elicitation was identified as the best technology available for developing a library of uncertainty distributions for the selected consequence parameters. The study was formulated jointly and was limited to the current code models and to physical quantities that could be measured in experiments. Experts developed their distributions independently. To validate the distributions generated for the wet deposition input variables, samples were taken from these distributions and propagated through the wet deposition code model. Resulting distributions closely replicated the aggregated elicited wet deposition distributions. To validate the distributions generated for the dispersion code input variables, samples from the distributions and propagated through the Gaussian plume model (GPM) implemented in the MACCS and COSYMA codes. Project teams from the NRC and CEC cooperated successfully to develop and implement a unified process for the elaboration of uncertainty distributions on consequence code input parameters. Formal expert judgment elicitation proved valuable for synthesizing the best available information. Distributions on measurable atmospheric dispersion and deposition parameters were successfully elicited from experts involved in the many phenomenological areas of consequence analysis. This volume is the first of a three-volume document describing the project.

An ovenized 10 pF standard capacitor was constructed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). The dielectric material used as Wuprasil II grade fused silica. This report discusses a temperature coefficient analysis of the capacitor performed at the Primary Standards Laboratory (PSL) of Sandia National Laboratories (SNL). The effects of temperature change on dielectric loss will also be discussed.

A common limitation to performance in data acquisition systems is storage of the collected data. Compressing the data would increase the amount of data that could be stored. However, most compression routines require that the data be collected and analyzed before compression is performed. Also, these compression routines often store the information required for decompression along with the data, thus decreasing the storage available for data. One solution to this problem is to create an encoding tree known to both the encoder and the decoder based on apriori knowledge of the data. Once the tree is created, optimal encoding schemes such as the Huffman algorithm may be used on the data as it is being collected. In this way the data is compressed as each byte is received and there is no overhead associated with storing decompression data. In this paper the idea of using a fixed Huffman tree is explored and the results are compared to a defacto standard in data compression, PKZIP.

Experiments have been conducted with a molten salt loop at Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, NM to resolve issues associated with the operation of the 10MW{sub e} Solar Two Central Receiver Power Plant located near Barstow, CA. The salt loop contained two receiver panels, components such as flanges and a check valve, vortex shedding and ultrasonic flow meters, and an impedance pressure transducer. Tests were conducted on procedures for filling and thawing a panel, and assessing components and instrumentation in a molten salt environment. Four categories of experiments were conducted: (1) cold filling procedures, (2) freeze/thaw procedures, (3) component tests, and (4) instrumentation tests. Cold-panel and -piping fill experiments are described, in which the panels and piping were preheated to temperatures below the salt freezing point prior to initiating flow, to determine the feasibility of cold filling the receiver and piping. The transient thermal response was measured, and heat transfer coefficients and transient stresses were calculated from the data. Freeze/thaw experiments were conducted with the panels, in which the salt was intentionally allowed to freeze in the receiver tubes, then thawed with heliostat beams. Slow thermal cycling tests were conducted to measure both how well various designs of flanges (e.g., tapered flanges or clamp type flanges) hold a seal under thermal conditions typical of nightly shut down, and the practicality of using these flanges on high maintenance components. In addition, the flanges were thermally shocked to simulate cold starting the system. Instrumentation such as vortex shedding and ultrasonic flow meters were tested alongside each other, and compared with flow measurements from calibration tanks in the flow loop.

A dry barrier may be formed by circulating dry air through a soil layer above or below a waste disposal site, thus reducing the soil moisture content to very low values. Drying a horizontal soil layer creates a barrier to vertical water movement in three ways. First, the drying removes water from the system, intercepting water infiltrating down from the surface. Second, drying a soil layer increases its water storage capacity so the soil will tend to retain rather than transmit water. Third, as a soil layer dries, moisture is removed from progressively smaller interstitial pores so that the hydraulic conductivity of the formation (for liquid flow) decreases. For example, the hydraulic conductivity of a typical sand may decrease by three orders of magnitude as its moisture content is reduced from 20 to 10 percent. This study analyzed the technical and economic feasibility of the subsurface dry barrier concept for containment of a migrating contaminant plume in unsaturated soil. The concept was shown to be a viable option for limiting aqueous migration of pollutants through unsaturated media, with estimated capital costs of between $130,000 and $260,000 for a 1-hectare barrier, and annual operating costs of $10,000 per year.

As photovoltaic (PV) systems gain more acceptance in utility-interactive applications throughout the world, many organizations are placing increasingly higher priorities on writing guidelines, codes and standards. These guidelines and codes are being written to improve safety, installation, acceptance, listing or certification of the PV components or systems. Sandia National Laboratories` PV System Applications Department is working closely with the PV industry to address issues that are associated with fire and personnel safety and with National Electrical Code (NEC) requirements. Additionally, the United States has agreed to participate in two of the International Energy Agency (IEA) Annexes (topical tasks) of the Implementing Agreement for a Cooperative Programme on Photovoltaic Power Systems. This paper describes events and activities associated with the NEC and the IEA that are being led by Sandia National Laboratories with broad participation by the US PV industry.

A method is reported for generating mechanical spacecraft propulsion from unsymmetrical magnetic induction fields. It is based on an unsymmetrical three-dimensional loop antenna structure driven by a repetitively-pulsed high-current power supply. Antenna geometry is optimized for generating propulsive thrust rather than radiating electromagnetic energy. Part of this antenna consists of flat electrical conductors, which form a partially-closed quasi-cylindrical volume around a center conductor. Magnetic flux concentrates at the closed end of the quasicylindrical volume thereby creating a magnetic field flux density gradient along a single axis collinear to the Center Conductor. This magnetic field density gradient imbalances the magneto-mechanical forces that result from the interactions of the internal magnetic induction field with the current in the conductors of the antenna structure, in accordance with Lorentz`s Force Law. Also, there are electrically isolated prismatic conductor surfaces attached to the inside surface of the flat conductors which form the closed end of the quasi-cylindrical volume. Mechanical pressures occur on these conductor prisms because of the changing internal magnetic field and are a consequence of Faraday`s Induction Law and Lenz`s Law. Input current rise time and wave shape are crucial to maximizing spacecraft propulsive thrust.

The Department of Energy is conducting an ongoing investigation of the consequences of taking fuel burnup into account in the design of spent fuel transportation packages. A series of experiments, collectively called the Spent Fuel Safety Experiment (SFSX), has been devised to provide integral benchmarks for testing computer-generated predictions of spent fuel behavior. A set of experiments is planned in which sections of unirradiated fuel rods are interchanged with similar sections of spent PWR fuel rods in a critical assembly. By determining the critical size of the arrays, one can obtain benchmark data for comparison with criticality safety calculations. The integral reactivity worth of the spent fuel can be assessed by comparing the measured delayed critical fuel loading with and without spent fuel. An analytical effort to model the experiments and anticipate the core loadings required to yield the delayed critical conditions runs in parallel with the experimental effort.