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At least 253 records · Page 14

(U) PRAD0697 & PRAD0698: Complex Loading of CeO₂ Powder

Cerium(IV) oxide (CeO₂) powder is shock compressed using the Precision High Energy-density Liner Implosion eXperiment (PHELIX) platform. Experimental results are compared against several modeling approaches. Compaction behavior is best captured with a P-∝ model, which calculates CeO₂ powder bulk densities within 80-99% of experimental values but overpredicts densi cation at the cylindrical target's outer radius and center by up to 20%. Preliminary calculations suggest that accuracy could be increased with the inclusion of a coupled strength model. Several common computational modeling approaches for the shock compression response of granular materials and the magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) force upon the impactor/liner in pulsed power compression experiments are investigated and analyzed for their validity. The Bi-linear Ramp, P-∝ PACXP, and P-∝ Menikoff-Kober continuum compaction models are calibrated to planar impact Hugoniot data for CeO₂ powder and used to predict the powder's shock compaction response under non-planar shock wave compression. MHD calculations of the PHELIX pulsed power driver are performed using an idealized resistor-inductor-capacitor (RLC) circuit calibrated to previous experiments. All simulations are performed using the LANL code FLAG. Two validation experiments are computationally designed using the calibrated compaction and circuit models, executed using the PHELIX platform on CeO₂ targets with initial porous densities of 3.95 and 4.03 g/cm³, measured with proton radiography, and analyzed against the model predictions. The two P-∝ models more accurately describe CeO₂ powder densi cation than the Bi-linear Ramp model. However, the two P-∝ models overpredict bulk density of the shock compressed CeO₂ powder by up to 20% when the appropriate impact velocities are applied. MHD calculations for both validation experiments underpredict liner impact velocities by 4-11% when using the idealized RLC circuit model calibrated to previous experiments. Compensating underpredictions of impact velocity and overpredictions of powder densication lead to a false accuracy in pre-shot calculations compared to experimental data. To improve correlation between simulations and experiments, the following improvements are suggested: 1. A coupled strength model for CeO₂ powder that updates strength as a function of porosity and applied stress. 2. An improved MHD circuit model that more accurately captures the PHELIX machine.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Control of unsteady separated flow associated with the dynamic pitching of airfoils

Although studies have been done to understand the dependence of parameters for the occurrence of deep stall, studies to control the flow for sustaining lift for a longer time has been little. To sustain the lift for a longer time, an understanding of the development of the flow over the airfoil is essential. Studies at high speed are required to study how the flow behavior is dictated by the effects of compressibility. When the airfoil is pitched up in ramp motion or during the upstroke of an oscillatory cycle, the flow development on the upper surface of the airfoil and the formation of the vortex dictates the increase in lift behavior. Vortex shedding past the training edge decreases the lift. It is not clear what is the mechanism associated with the unsteady separation and vortex formation in present unsteady environment. To develop any flow control device, to suppress the vortex formation or delay separation, it is important that this mechanism be properly understood. The research activities directed toward understanding these questions are presented and the results are summarized.

Ahmed, Sajeer↗

Spatiotemporal evolution of high power laser pulses in relativistic magnetized inhomogeneous plasmas

In this work, the spatiotemporal evolution of Gaussian laser pulse propagated through a plasma is investigated in the presence of an external axial magnetic field. The coupled equations of self-focusing and self-compression are obtained via paraxial approximation by taking into account the relativistic nonlinearity. The effect of axial magnetic field on simultaneously relativistic self-focusing and self-compression of the laser pulse is studied for homogeneous and inhomogeneous plasmas. The results show that the simultaneous use of both axial magnetic field and density ramp-up leads to generate pulses with the smallest spot size and shortest compression length.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Scenario optimization for the tokamak ramp-down phase in RAPTOR: Part A. Analysis and model validation on ASDEX Upgrade

We discuss how the combination of experimental observations and rapid modeling has enabled to improve understanding of the tokamak ramp-down phase in ASDEX Upgrade. A series of dedicated experiments has been performed, to disentangle the effect of individual actuators like plasma current, auxiliary heating and plasma shaping. Optimized discharge termination strategies with increased margin with respect to radiative and vertical stability limits are proposed and tested in experiment. Radiative collapse of the edge $T$ $e$ profile after the HL back-transition is avoided by initially maintaining auxiliary heating during L-mode, showing beneficial effects even after the auxiliary heating is turned off. The capability of the RAPTOR code to model the time evolution of the internal inductance $\ell$ $i3$ has been validated, including the effect of a change in the $I$ $p$ ramp-down rate and the HL transition timing. The reduction of $\ell$ $i3$ caused by rapid compression of the plasma cross-section has been quantitatively recovered in simulations. Successful modeling of the $\ell$ $i3$ time evolution is essential to optimize ramp-down scenarios for future fusion reactors, for which vertical stability and power balance control will be more challenging.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Effect on compression of lowering the design adiabat in the SQ-n campaign

A set of experiments in the SQ-n campaign attempts to increase the compression in layered implosions by reducing the design adiabat from 3.0 down to ∼ 2.6. The experiments utilize nanocrystalline high density carbon ablators driven by a ramped laser pulse drive. Contrary to expectations, the lower design adiabat layered implosion reaches the same level of compression, within the measurement uncertainty, as the previous set of SQ-n layered implosions at the higher design adiabat. Here, we examine potential explanations for this result, including incomplete melting or refreezing of the ablator after the first shock passes into the fuel layer, reproducibility, and dopant areal density. We also discuss additional potential paths to reaching lower adiabat including increased dopant areal density, ramped dopant profiles, and increased initial capsule size which are also based on experimental campaign results from the National Ignition Facility.

Physics - Plasma physics↗

Mechanical response of lithium fluoride under off-principal dynamic shock-ramp loading

Single crystal lithium fluoride (LiF), oriented [100], was shock loaded and subsequently shocklessly compressed in two experiments at the Z Machine. We employed velocimetry measurements in order to obtain an impactor velocity, shock transit times, and in-situ particle velocities for LiF samples up to ~1.8 mm thick. We also performed a dual thickness Lagrangian analysis on the in-situ velocimetry data to obtain the mechanical response along the loading path of these experiments. Finally, we observed an elastic response on one experiment during initial shockless compression from 100 GPa before yielding. The relatively large thickness differences utilized for the dual sample analyses (up to ~1.8 mm) combined with a relative timing accuracy of ~0.2 ns resulted in an uncertainty of less than 1% on density and stress at ~200 GPa peak loading on one experiment and <4% on peak loading at ~330 GPa for another. The stress-density analyses from these experiments compare favorably with recent equation of state models for LiF.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Computation of separated flow on a ramp using the space marching conservative supra-characteristics method

Steady, hypersonic viscous flows over compression corners with streamwise separation have been computed using the space marching Conservative Supra-Characteristics Method (CSCM-S) of Lombard. The CSCM-S method permits stable space marching of the parabolized Navier-Stokes (PNS) equations through large separated flow regions. The present method has been used to compute surface pressure, heat transfer, and skin friction coefficients for two compression corner cases studied experimentally by Holden and Moselle. The computed results compare favorably with previous Navier-Stokes results and the experimental data. The present method has also been compared with the conventional Beam-Warming scheme for solving the PNS equations. Comparison are made for accuracy, computer time, and computer storage.

Stookesberry, D. C.↗

Hydrogen no-vent fill testing in a 5 cubic foot (142 liter) tank using spray nozzle and spray bar liquid injection

A total of 38 hydrogen no-vent fill tests were performed in this test series using various size spray nozzles and a spray bar with different hole sizes in a 5 cubic foot receiver tank. Fill levels of 90 percent by volume or greater were achieved in 26 of the tests while maintaining a receiver tank pressure below 30 psia. Spray nozzles were mounted at the top of the tank, whereas, the spray bar was centered in the tank axially. The spray nozzle no-vent fills demonstrated tank pressure and temperature responses comparable to previous test series. Receiver tank pressure responses for the spray bar configuration were similar to the spray nozzle tests with the pressure initially rising rapidly, then leveling off as vapor condenses onto the discharging liquid streams, and finally ramping up near the end of the test due to ullage compression. Both liquid injection techniques tested were capable of filling the receiver tank to 90 percent under variable test conditions. Comparisons between the spray nozzle and spray bar configurations for well matched test conditions indicate the spray nozzle injection technique is more effective in minimizing the receiving tank pressure throughout a no-vent fill compared to the spray bar under normal gravity conditions.

Moran, Matthew E.↗

Hydrogen no-vent testing in a 5 cubic foot (142 liter) tank using spray nozzle and spray bar liquid injection

A total of 38 hydrogen no-vent fill tests were performed in this test series using various size spray nozzles and a spray bar with different hole sizes in a 5 cubic foot receiver tank. Fill levels of 90 percent by volume or greater were achieved in 26 of the tests while maintaining a receiver tank pressure below 30 psia. Spray nozzles were mounted at the top of the tank, whereas, the spray bar was centered in the tank axially. The spray nozzle no-vent fills demonstrated tank pressure and temperature responses comparable to previous test series. Receiver tank pressure responses for the spray bar configuration were similar to the spray nozzle tests with the pressure initially rising rapidly, then leveling off as vapor condenses onto the discharging liquid streams, and finally ramping up near the end of the test due to ullage compression. Both liquid injection techniques tested were capable of filling the receiver tank to 90 percent under variable test conditions. Comparisons between the spray nozzle and spray bar configurations for well matched test conditions indicate the spray nozzle injection technique is more effective in minimizing the receiving tank pressure throughout a no-vent fill compared to the spray bar under normal gravity conditions.

Moran, Matthew E.↗

Navier-Stokes computations of cavity aeroacoustics with suppression devices

Effectiveness of two devices to suppress the cavity acoustics was computationally investigated. Two dimensional, computational simulations were performed for the transonic, turbulent flows past a cavity, which was first equipped with a rear face ramp and then with a spoiler. The Reynolds-averaged, unsteady, compressible, full Navier-Stokes equations were solved time accurately by a second-order accurate, implicit, upwind, finite-volume method. The effect of turbulence was included through a Baldwin-Lomax model with modifications for the multiple-wall effects and for the highly vortical flow with a shear layer. The results included instantaneous and time-averaged flow properties, and time-series analyses of the pressure inside the cavity, which compared favorably with the available experimental data. These results were also contrasted with the computed aeroacoustics of the same cavity (length-to-depth ratio of 4.5), but without a device, to demonstrate the suppression effectiveness.

Baysal, Oktay↗

Response of a small-turboshaft-engine compression system to inlet temperature distortion

An experimental investigation was conducted into the response of a small-turboshaft-engine compression system to steady-state and transient inlet temperature distortions. Transient temperature ramps range from less than 100 K/sec to above 610 K/sec and generated instantaneous temperatures to 420 K above ambient. Steady-state temperature distortion levels were limited by the engine hardware temperature list. Simple analysis of the steady-state distortion data indicated that a particle separator at the engine inlet permitted higher levels of temperature distortion before onset of compressor surge than would be expected without the separator.

Biesiadny, T. J.↗

Inviscid-viscous interaction on triple-deck scales in a hypersonic flow with strong wall cooling

The influence of wall temperatures on the flow structure in a region near a laminar separation is presently studied on the triple-deck scales, for the case of a high supersonic flow's inviscid-viscous interactions. A critical wall-temperature range is identified whose lower deck pressure-displacement relation departs from that of the classical formulation; below it, the pressure-displacement relation undergoes still greater transformations in conjunction with drastic scale-changes in the triple deck. The reduced lower-deck problem falls into supercritical, transcritical, and subcritical domains. A computational study is conducted for the compressive free-interaction solutions, and solutions are obtained for a sharp-corner ramp in the three wall-temperature ranges.

Brown, S. N.↗

Highly Loaded Composite Strut Test Results

Highly loaded composite struts from a proposed truss-based Altair lunar lander descent stage concept were selected for development under NASA's Advanced Composites Technology program. Predicted compressive member forces during launch and ascent of over -100,000 lbs were much greater than the tensile loads. Therefore, compressive failure modes, including structural stability, were primary design considerations. NASA's industry partner designed and built highly loaded struts that were delivered to NASA for testing. Their design, fabricated on a washout mandrel, had a uniform-diameter composite tube with composite tapered ends. Each tapered end contained a titanium end fitting with facing conical ramps that are overlaid and overwrapped with composite materials. The highly loaded struts were loaded in both tension and compression, with ultimate failure produced in compression. Results for the two struts tested are presented and discussed, along with measured deflections, strains and observed failure mechanisms.

Wu, K. C.↗

TPSAS-NF1676L-13538-DND

Highly loaded composite struts from a proposed truss-based Altair lunar lander descent stage concept were selected for development under NASA's Advanced Composites Technology program. Predicted compressive member forces during launch and ascent of over -100,000 lbs were much greater than the tensile loads. The development of a capability for experimental evaluation of the structural performance of these struts is presented. Strut lengths range from 60 to over 120 inches, and compressive launch and ascent loads can exceed -100,000 lbs, or approximately two times the corresponding tensile loads. Allowing all possible compressive structural responses, including elastic buckling, were primary considerations for designing the test hardware. NASA's industry partner designed and built highly loaded struts that were delivered to NASA for testing. Their design, fabricated on a washout mandrel, had a uniform-diameter composite tube with composite tapered ends. Each tapered end contained a titanium end fitting with facing conical ramps that are overlaid and overwrapped with composite materials. The highly loaded struts were loaded in both tension and compression, with ultimate failure produced in compression. Test results for these struts are presented and discussed, along with measured deflections, strains and observed failure mechanisms.

K Chauncey Wu↗

Turbulence measurements in a compressible reattaching shear layer

Detailed hot-wire measurements of the longitudinal component of the mass-flow fluctuations have been made in an approximately self-preserving free shear layer reattaching on a 20 degree ramp at Mach number of 2.9. The experimental configuration is especially designed to provide a well-defined initial condition for the reattachment process. The absolute mass-flow turbulence intensity increases dramatically through the compression in the reattachment region, which is in sharp contrast to similar subsonic reattachments. It is clear that the mean dilatation contributes significantly to the turbulence amplification. In addition, the length scale is affected strongly by the presence of extra strain rates. Prediction of this flow will require some sophisticated modelling, and the challenge to the predictor is clear.

Hayakawa, K.↗

Exploring implosion designs for increased compression on the National Ignition Facility using high density carbon ablators

It has long been recognized that high compression, and hence good confinement, is essential to achieving high yields in inertial confinement fusion implosions. In pursuit of multi-megajoule yields on the National Ignition Facility (NIF), a new campaign has begun aimed at testing the hypothesis that controlling hydrodynamic stability is key to achieving effective higher compression with the high density carbon ablators currently fielded on NIF. This campaign is built around a new implosion design, called SQ-n, that is derived from the uniquely stable Bigfoot design tested on NIF in 2016–2019. While very stable and with performance that was quite close to one-dimensional expectations, Bigfoot was a relatively high adiabat, and consequently lower compression design. The goal of SQ-n is then to evolve Bigfoot toward a higher compression design but without compromising its unique stability characteristics. Specifically, SQ-n adopts a ramped foot pulse shape to minimize early time Richtmyer–Meshkov instability growth and uses an ablator dopant distribution extending all of the way to the fuel–ablator interface that simulations suggest further reduces perturbation growth. In conclusion, this paper describes the design philosophy pursued with SQ-n, the results of instability modeling of the candidate design, and the experimental campaign planned to test these ideas in the near future.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗