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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 217 records · Page 12
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1979

A sensitivity analysis of volcanic aerosol dispersion in the stratosphere

A computer sensitivity analysis was performed to determine the uncertainties involved in the calculation of volcanic aerosol dispersion in the stratosphere using a 2 dimensional model. The Fuego volcanic event of 1974 was used. Aerosol dispersion processes that were included are: transport, sedimentation, gas phase sulfur chemistry, and aerosol growth. Calculated uncertainties are established from variations in the stratospheric aerosol layer decay times at 37 latitude for each dispersion process. Model profiles are also compared with lidar measurements. Results of the computer study are quite sensitive (factor of 2) to the assumed volcanic aerosol source function and the large variations in the parameterized transport between 15 and 20 km at subtropical latitudes. Sedimentation effects are uncertain by up to a factor of 1.5 because of the lack of aerosol size distribution data. The aerosol chemistry and growth, assuming that the stated mechanisms are correct, are essentially complete in several months after the eruption and cannot explain the differences between measured and modeled results.

Butler, C. F.↗
DOE OSTI2024

A Bayesian Multi-fidelity Neural Network to Predict Nonlinear Frequency Backbone Curves

The use of structural mechanics models during the design process often leads to the development of models of varying fidelity. Often low-fidelity models are efficient to simulate but lack accuracy, while the high-fidelity counterparts are accurate with less efficiency. Here, this paper presents a multi-fidelity surrogate modeling approach that combines the accuracy of a high-fidelity finite element model with the efficiency of a low-fidelity model to train an even faster surrogate model that parameterizes the design space of interest. The objective of these models is to predict the nonlinear frequency backbone curves of the Tribomechadynamics Research Challenge benchmark structure which exhibits simultaneous nonlinearities from frictional contact and geometric nonlinearity. The surrogate model consists of an ensemble of neural networks that learn the mapping between low and high-fidelity data through nonlinear transformations. Bayesian neural networks are used to assess the surrogate model's uncertainty. Once trained, the multi-fidelity neural network is used to perform sensitivity analysis to assess the influence of the design parameters on the predicted backbone curves. Additionally, Bayesian calibration is performed to update the input parameter distributions to correlate the model parameters to the collection of experimentally measured backbone curves.

42 ENGINEERING↗
NASA NTRS1985

Development of a sensitivity analysis technique for multiloop flight control systems

This report presents the development and application of a sensitivity analysis technique for multiloop flight control systems. This analysis yields very useful information on the sensitivity of the relative-stability criteria of the control system, with variations or uncertainties in the system and controller elements. The sensitivity analysis technique developed is based on the computation of the singular values and singular-value gradients of a feedback-control system. The method is applicable to single-input/single-output as well as multiloop continuous-control systems. Application to sampled-data systems is also explored. The sensitivity analysis technique was applied to a continuous yaw/roll damper stability augmentation system of a typical business jet, and the results show that the analysis is very useful in determining the system elements which have the largest effect on the relative stability of the closed-loop system. As a secondary product of the research reported here, the relative stability criteria based on the concept of singular values were explored.

Vaillard, A. H.↗
DOE OSTI2021

SAM Co-Development to Support Fluoride-salt-cooled High-temperature Reactor Design and Licensing (CRADA 2018-18177 Final Report)

This project aims to raise the SAM code's technical and commercial maturity level to enable the Kairos Power ("Kairos") to use SAM to support its KP-FHR design analysis and licensing application. Argonne National Laboratory ("Argonne") has actively developed and maintained SAM, a modern system-level analysis tool for advanced nonlight water reactors safety analysis. Kairos is currently actively pursuing development of an FHR design and associated technology, and consequently requires a pedigreed safety analysis tool. The purpose of this project is to increase the maturity of the SAM code for the modeling and simulation of the KP-FHR design, thus enabling its use in safety analyses that support licensing application. Argonne will primarily be responsible for software design, development, and testing; while Kairos will be responsible for software requirements, assessment of software capabilities, needs, gaps, and priorities, and development of proprietary models. The research and development activities for the joint SAM development project include: a series of identification and prioritization studies on design characteristics, event sequences, relevant phenomena, and software capabilities; SAM capability enhancements for specific KP-FHR systems and components; performing code verification and validations; integrating uncertainty quantification (UQ), model calibration, and sensitivity analysis (SA) techniques in safety analyses; and raising the software quality rigor level for commercial-grade applications.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗
DOE OSTI2020

Search for Electron Neutrinos in Multiple Topologies with the MicroBooNE Experiment

This note presents the status of the measurement of electron neutrinos from the Fermilab Booster Neutrino Beamline (BNB) with the MicroBooNE experiment. The analysis is aimed at investigating the nature of the low energy excess of electromagnetic activity observed by the MiniBooNE experiment. The $ν_e$ event selection relies on topological and calorimetric information to characterise particles produced in these interactions, leveraging the Pandora multi-algorithm reconstruction framework as well as custom particle identification and pattern recognition tools. Results presented in this note use 5.88 × 10 20 protons on target of data collected between 2015 and 2018. These include the performance of particle identification tools for $\mu/p$ and $e/\gamma$ separation, along with electromagnetic shower calibration with the largest sample of $\pi^0$ events measured on argon. Progress towards the completion of this analysis is shown through the measurement of high-energy charged-current $ν_e$ interactions and their kinematic distributions using both inclusive (1eX) and exclusive (1$e$0$p$0$\pi$ and 1$e$N$p$0$\pi$) channels. Measurements of charged-current $ν_µ$ interactions aimed at constraining flux and cross-section systematic uncertainties are also shown. We present the analysis’ preliminary sensitivity of an electron-like signal hypothesis to the MiniBooNE excess which includes flux, cross-section, and detector systematic uncertainties.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2023

Mu2e Run I Sensitivity Projections for the Neutrinoless Conversion Search in Aluminum

The Mu2e experiment at Fermilab will search for the neutrinoless conversion in the field of an aluminum nucleus. The Mu2e data-taking plan assumes two running periods, Run I and Run II, separated by an approximately two-year-long shutdown. This paper presents an estimate of the expected Mu2e Run I search sensitivity and includes a detailed discussion of the background sources, uncertainties of their prediction, analysis procedures, and the optimization of the experimental sensitivity. The expected Run I discovery sensitivity is , with a total expected background of events. In the absence of a signal, the expected upper limit is at 90% CL. This represents a three order of magnitude improvement over the current experimental limit of at 90% CL set by the SINDRUM II experiment.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
NASA NTRS1974

NASTRAN variance analysis and plotting of HBDY elements

The NASTRAN Thermal Analyzer has been intended to do variance analysis and plot the thermal boundary elements. The objective of the variance analysis addition is to assess the sensitivity of temperature variances resulting from uncertainties inherent in input parameters for heat conduction analysis. The plotting capability provides the ability to check the geometry (location, size and orientation) of the boundary elements of a model in relation to the conduction elements. Variance analysis is the study of uncertainties of the computed results as a function of uncertainties of the input data. To study this problem using NASTRAN, a solution is made for both the expected values of all inputs, plus another solution for each uncertain variable. A variance analysis module subtracts the results to form derivatives, and then can determine the expected deviations of output quantities.

Harder, R. L.↗
DOE OSTI2022

Experimental Ignition Delay Time Measurements and Chemical Kinetics Modeling of Hydrogen/Ammonia/Natural Gas Fuels

In recent years, hydrogen-carrying compounds have accrued interest as an alternative to traditional fossil fuels due to their function as zero-emission fuels. As such, there is interest in investigating hydrogen-carrying compounds to improve understanding of the fuels' characteristics for use in high pressure systems. In the current study, the oxidation of ammonia/natural gas/hydrogen mixtures was carried out to study carbon monoxide (CO) formation profiles as well as the ignition delay times (IDTs) behind reflected shock waves in order to refine chemical kinetic models. Experiments were carried out in the University of Central Florida's shock tube facility by utilizing chemiluminescence to obtain OH* emission and laser absorption spectroscopy to obtain CO profiles over a temperature range between 1200 K and 1800 K with an average pressure of 2.2 atm. Experimental mixtures included both neat and combination natural gas/hydrogen with ammonia addition, with all mixtures except one having an equivalence ratio of 1. Results were then compared with the GRI 3.0 mechanism, as well as the newly developed UCF 2022 mechanism utilizing chemkin-pro software. In general, both models were able to capture the trend in auto-ignition delay times and CO time histories for natural gas and ammonia mixtures. However, for ammonia–hydrogen mixtures, GRI 3.0 failed to predict ignition delay times, whereas the UCF 2022 mechanism was able to capture the IDTs within the uncertainty limits of the experiments. A sensitivity analysis was conducted for different mixtures to understand the important reactions at the experimental conditions. Lastly, a reaction pathway analysis was carried out to understand important ammonia decomposition pathways in the presence of hydrogen and natural gas.

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗
DOE OSTI2022

Autoignition Delay Time Measurements and Chemical Kinetic Modeling of Hydrogen/Ammonia/Natural Gas Mixtures

Abstract In recent years, hydrogen-carrying compounds have accrued interest as an alternative to traditional fossil fuels due to their function as zero-emission fuels. As such, there is interest in investigating hydrogen-carrying compounds to improve understanding of the fuels’ characteristics for use in high-pressure systems. In the current study, the oxidation of ammonia/natural gas/hydrogen mixtures was carried out to study CO formation profiles as well as the ignition delay times behind reflected shock waves in order to refine chemical kinetic models. Experiments were carried out in the University of Central Florida’s shock tube facility by utilizing chemiluminescence to obtain OH* emission and laser absorption spectroscopy to obtain CO profiles. Experimental results were then compared with the GRI 3.0 mechanism, as well as the proprietary UCF 2022 mechanism utilizing CHEMKIN-Pro software. In general, both models were able to capture the trend in autoignition delay times and CO time histories for natural gas and ammonia mixtures. However, for ammonia-hydrogen mixtures, GRI 3.0 failed to predict ignition delay times whereas the UCF 2022 mechanism was able to capture the IDTs within the uncertainty limits of the experiments. A sensitivity analysis was conducted for different mixtures to understand the important reactions at the experimental conditions. Finally, a reaction pathway analysis was carried out to understand important ammonia decomposition pathways in the presence of hydrogen and natural gas.

Baker, Jessica B.↗
DOE OSTI2026

TSEUQLib

TSEUQLib (Taylor Series Expansion Uncertainty Quantification Library): Conduct UQ and sensitivity analysis with the Taylor series expansion surrogate model.

Balcer, Matthew↗
DOE OSTI2020

UQTk User Manual (V.3.1.0)

The UQ Toolkit (UQTk) is a collection of libraries and tools for the quantification of uncertainty in numerical model predictions. Version 3.1.0 offers intrusive and non-intrusive methods for propagating input uncertainties through computational models, tools for sensitivity analysis, methods for sparse surrogate construction, and Bayesian inference tools for inferring parameters from experimental data. This manual discusses the download and installation process for UQTk, provides pointers to the UQ methods used in the toolkit, and describes some of the examples provided with the toolkit.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗
DOE OSTI2021

UQTk Version 3.1.1 User Manual

The UQ Toolkit (UQTk) is a collection of libraries and tools for the quantification of uncertainty in numerical model predictions. Version 3.1.1 offers intrusive and non-intrusive methods for propagating input uncertainties through computational models, tools for sensitivity analysis, methods for sparse surrogate construction, and Bayesian inference tools for inferring parameters from experimental data. This manual discusses the download and installation process for UQTk, provides pointers to the UQ methods used in the toolkit, and describes some of the examples provided with the toolkit.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗
DOE OSTI2022

UQTk Version 3.1.2 User Manual

The UQ Toolkit (UQTk) is a collection of libraries and tools for the quantification of uncertainty in numerical model predictions. Version 3.1.2 offers intrusive and non-intrusive methods for propagating input uncertainties through computational models, tools for sensitivity analysis, methods for sparse surrogate construction, and Bayesian inference tools for inferring parameters from experimental data. This manual discusses the download and installation process for UQTk, provides pointers to the UQ methods used in the toolkit, and describes some of the examples provided with the toolkit.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗
DOE OSTI2025

Global Framework for Emulation of Nuclear Calculations

We introduce a hierarchical framework that combines ab initio many-body calculations with a Bayesian neural network, developing emulators capable of accurately predicting nuclear properties across isotopic chains simultaneously and being applicable to different regions of the nuclear chart. We benchmark our developments using the oxygen isotopic chain, achieving accurate results for ground-state energies and nuclear charge radii, while providing robust uncertainty quantification. Our framework enables global sensitivity analysis of nuclear binding energies and charge radii with respect to the low-energy constants that describe the nuclear force.

FOS: Computer and information sciences↗
NASA NTRS1977

Attitude determination system for Seasat-A mission

The attitude determination (AD) system hardware of Seasat-A consists of two sun aspect sensors, two infrared (IR) horizon scanners, related electronics, telemetry, and science sensors. The earth horizon pulse signal sensing is accomplished by a variable thresholding method intended to self-adjust for earth radiance variations. The use of sun sensors rather than star trackers for yaw determination calls for estimation rather than measurement of yaw attitude about 50% of mission time. Features of the yaw interpolation algorithm include adaptability and automatic incorporation of time-varying confidence levels of various data sources. The performance accuracy of the AD system was assessed, where it is found that the most important error source is the variation in earth atmospheric radiance. Analysis of science instrument sensitivity to AD uncertainties was performed, and the most sensitive instrument, the scatterometer system, shows only gradual degradation of performance in the vicinity of the AD accuracy requirement.

Ohtakay, H.↗
NASA NTRS2004

Finite Element Modeling Used to Study Stress Distribution on the Foot

A method to study the stress distribution inside the forefoot during walking was developed at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation by a researcher from the NASA Glenn Research Center. In this method, a semiautomated process was outlined to create a three-dimensional, patient-specific, finite element model (FEM) of the forefoot using magnetic resonance images (MRI). The images were processed in Matlab using the k-nearest neighbor (k-NN) classification algorithm and Sobel edge detection to separate the different tissue types: bone, skin, fat, and muscle. This information was used to create curves and surfaces that were exported to an FEM preprocessor known as Truegrid. In Truegrid, eight-noded or brick elements were created by using surface mapping. The FEM was processed and postprocessed in Abaqus. Material properties of the models were obtained from past experiments such as fat pad confined compression, skin axial and biaxial tests, muscle in vivo compressive tests, and reference literature (bone properties). Nonlinear (hyperelastic) material models were used for the skin (epidermis and dermis), fat, and muscles; and a linear elastic model was used for the bones. Muscle activation during walking yielded uncertainties in the muscle material model since contracted muscles are stiffer than relaxed muscles. These uncertainties were resolved by performing a sensitivity analysis of the muscle material properties. The original properties were multiplied by arbitrary factors of 2, 3, 0.5, and 0.33. The strain and stress distributions, as well as the locations of peak values, were similar in all cases. The peak contact pressure P obtained for each case varied with respect to the applied factor f as follows:

Morales, Nelson↗
DOE OSTI2022

Analysis of SCALE Criticality and Sensitivity Calculations for Reflected HEU Cylinders [Slides]

The SCALE code package offers multiple nuclear data libraries supporting Monte Carlo transport, with sensitivity and uncertainty methods derived from MC transport solutions. Several libraries are multigroup, which introduce bias differing by system. Previous work has shown poor S/U results in several reflector materials: ICSBEP benchmark HMF-084 was selected to analyze biases and S/U method applicability to a variety of reflectors. Prior and ongoing work found inaccuracies in CSAS and TSUNAMI results, which were further investigated utilizing the HEU-MET-FAST-084 ICSBEP critical benchmark, chosen for its geometrical simplicity and variety of reflector materials. Perturbation of reflector thickness across various reflector materials allowed for an assortment of materials is to be tested swiftly for each sequence and method. Observation was an increasing bias of MG $k_{eff}$ relative to CE, in both direction and magnitude. IFP produced extremely reliable results. >85% of CLUTCH cases were found satisfactory.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗