Award Data

In this STTR effort nGimat will partner with the University of Kentucky to develop a new process for manufacturing scandia-doped tungsten powder for use in vacuum tube cathode devices. While a significant amount of research over the last several decades has shown promise for scandate cathode materials, reliable manufacturing processes that enable commercialization of this technology have remained ...

Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations are routinely used by NASA to optimize the design of propulsion systems. Current methods for CFD modeling rely on general materials properties to determine fluid structure interactions. This introduces uncertainty when modeling extreme conditions, where materials degrade and properties may change as a consequence. This also limits the use of CFD as a ...

High-energy space radiation from Galactic Cosmic Rays and Solar Particle Events (SPEs) pose significant risks to equipment and astronaut health in NASA missions. In particular, energetic particles from SPEs associated with flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs) constitute a highly dynamic and penetrating radiation environment that may adversely affect not only beyond-Low-Earth-Orbit missions, bu ...

The proposed technology builds off GTL's advanced solid ramjet fuel. The method uses additive manufacturing methods to produce an innovative new type of fuel grain that regresses quickly and has a high Isp and combustion efficiency. With this technology, the performance of a liquid rocket engine can be had with a hybrid rocket system. This technology allows for a simple, low cost, high performanc ...

A comprehensive model-based approach will be enabled for space systems design via the work started on Phase I of this project. The OpenMETA toolkit is a cyber-physical modeling tool for the design and virtual integration of complex systems, developed under the DARPA AVM Program. OpenMETA will be leveraged and extended to support NASA/JPL goals for multi-physics, multi-domain modeling, analysis, ...

Computational Sciences LLC will collaborate with the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) to develop and validate a stand-alone computational module that naturally accounts for the effects of turbulence. Such fluctuations and transitions may be associated with compressible flows and boundary layer interactions. The module will be designed for implementation in to existing legacy codes for use in ...

Turbulent shear flows in naval applications are characterized by vastly different lengths and time scales associated with rotor tip vortices and the vortical structures shed from the ship, and additional phase from water drops and water vapor. To tackle the modeling challenges, we propose a novel methodology that combines a vorticity preserving method and a new approach to LES turbulence modeling ...

GTL has been developing a suite of transformational technologies that have the capability to disrupt the traditional launch vehicle paradigm. BHL composite cryotank technology provides a four times improvement over large aluminum iso-grid tanks, offering a 6 percentage point improvement in small stage PMF. Superior Stability Engine is an innovative liquid rocket engine configured to maximize comb ...

Despite the rapid commercialization of additive manufacturing technology such as selective laser melting, SLM, there are gaps in process modeling and material property prediction that contribute to slow and costly process development, process qualification and product certification. To address these gaps, CFDRC and our partner Dr. Kevin Chou, University of Alabama, will develop multiple computatio ...

To handle the so-called black start fault contingency, Energy to Power Solutions proposes the use of a novel hybrid cable design. The cable would be designed to handle the full 100 % electric power load under normal operating and battle conditions (i.e. a fully/partially functioning cryogenic cooling system operating at cryogenic temperatures ~ 50-60 K), and capable of handling 30 % of the rated p ...