A breakthrough at PNNL could free friction stir from current constraints—and open the door for increased use of the advanced manufacturing technique on commercial assembly lines.
Researchers at PNNL advised elementary and middle school student teams with their problem-solving research for the FIRST® LEGO® League robotics competitions.
By combining computational modeling with experimental research, scientists identified a promising composition that reduces the need for a critical material in an alloy that can withstand extreme environments.
PNNL researchers have developed a new, physics-informed machine learning model that accurately predicts how heat accumulates and dissipates during friction stir processing.
Biomedical scientist George Bonheyo has been selected as chair of a new International Electrotechnical Commission committee charged with creating standards for researching and measuring biofouling on marine energy systems.
Rotational Hammer Riveting, developed by PNNL, joins dissimilar materials quickly without preheating rivets. The friction-based riveting enables use of lightweight magnesium rivets and also works on aluminum and speeds manufacturing.
PNNL-developed Water Balance Tool estimates consumption for major water end-uses. Understanding the breakout of water use identifies water efficiency opportunities and allows facility managers to spot potential system losses.
Buildings account for around 40 percent of our nation's energy use and consume 75 percent of our nation’s electricity each year. Energy use is also one of the biggest costs for facility owners.
The Marine and Coastal Research Laboratory (MCRL), part of PNNL, in Sequim, Washington, is the U.S. Department of Energy’s only marine research facility. It has a rich history and expanding research scope.
PNNL’s longstanding grid and buildings capabilities are driving two projects that test transactive energy concepts on a grand scale and lay the groundwork for a more efficient U.S. energy system.
Twelve energy-related technologies developed at PNNL have been selected for additional technology maturation funding to help move them from the laboratory and field tests to the marketplace.
Superman may be known as the "Man of Steel," but scientific superheroes at the Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory are developing a novel approach for manufacturing metals with superior strength.
A PNNL study that evaluated the use of friction stir technology on stainless steel has shown that the steel resists erosion more than three times that of its unprocessed counterpart.
Following the energy crisis of 2000-2001, the State of Washington received financial settlements from six energy companies, a fraction of which was used for energy-efficiency research.