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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 253 records · Page 14
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1999

Eigenmodes of Ducted Flows With Radially-Dependent Axial and Swirl Velocity Components

This report characterizes the sets of small disturbances possible in cylindrical and annular ducts with mean flow whose axial and tangential components vary arbitrarily with radius. The linearized equations of motion are presented and discussed, and then exponential forms for the axial, circumferential, and time dependencies of any unsteady disturbances are assumed. The resultant equations form a generalized eigenvalue problem, the solution of which yields the axial wavenumbers and radial mode shapes of the unsteady disturbances. Two numerical discretizations are applied to the system of equations: (1) a spectral collocation technique based on Chebyshev polynomial expansions on the Gauss-Lobatto points, and (2) second and fourth order finite differences on uniform grids. The discretized equations are solved using a standard eigensystem package employing the QR algorithm. The eigenvalues fall into two primary categories: a discrete set (analogous to the acoustic modes found in uniform mean flows) and a continuous band (analogous to convected disturbances in uniform mean flows) where the phase velocities of the disturbances correspond to the local mean flow velocities. Sample mode shapes and eigensystem distributions are presented for both sheared axial and swirling flows. The physics of swirling flows is examined with reference to hydrodynamic stability and completeness of the eigensystem expansions. The effect of assuming exponential dependence in the axial direction is discussed.

Kousen, Kenneth A.↗
DOE OSTI2022

Low level coupling scheme between neutronics and thermal-hydraulics based on Anderson acceleration

The simulation of nuclear reactors is a multiphysics problem mixing, amongst other fields, neutron transport and thermal-hydraulics. The simplest and most used approach in multiphysics simulation is based on the coupling of single-physics codes in a black-box fashion. However, in order to reduce the computational time needed for such simulations, case-dependent optimizations are often required. In this paper, we aim at reducing the computational time required to solve a coupled neutronic/thermal-hydraulic steady-state problem on a simplified Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR) core. The idea is to deal simultaneously with the coupling of the energy groups of the deterministic neutronic description of the core and its thermal-hydraulic description with the Anderson acceleration. By doing so, the fission source terms are directly accelerated instead of the power map as done in most cases. The power method used to solve the k-eigenvalue problem inside the neutronic solver is thus accelerated with the Anderson acceleration. The numerical experimentations conducted in this work are performed using APOLLO3 and THEDI, and indicate that such coupling strategy improves the convergence rates in terms of number of iterations required and the total computational time. (authors)

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗
DOE OSTI2019

Clustering in structure and reactions using configuration interaction techniques

Atomic nuclei are remarkable quantum many-body systems where clustering properties develop naturally from underlying interactions between the constituent nucleons. Clustering degrees of freedom manifest themselves in multiple structure and reaction observables. Our goal is to study nuclear clustering and its emergence in many-nucleon dynamics from nucleon-nucleon interactions. Clustering is a phenomenon that is known to emerge on the boundary between structure and reactions, therefore developing appropriate techniques that bridge the structure-reaction divide and establishing connections to observables is among our principal objectives. Showing consistency and how the new techniques can be reduced to well established other methods is an important part of this work. Here, the configuration-interaction technique based on second quantization is used to treat the quantum many-body problem assuring that fermionic antisymmetry is fully satisfied. The use of the harmonic oscillator single-particle basis allows for the center-of-mass coordinate to be separated and prepared in a desired oscillator state for each cluster. The relative motion reaction basis channels are constructed by coupling clusters in different harmonic oscillator states with respect to their relative motion. Finally, using a resonating group method strategy we solve the generalized eigenvalue problem to obtain scattering channels. Structural clustering characteristics are discussed and the modified harmonic oscillator representation for scattering equations method is used to extract scattering observables. New methods for treating clustering problems have been put forward. We demonstrate broad applicability of the developed techniques. Examples highlight connections with algebraic techniques, and the role of approximations leading to algebraic limits is assessed using realistic examples. Various types of clustering characteristics are used to study alpha clustering in light nuclei that are relevant to currently ongoing experimental efforts. We demonstrate the emergence of strongly clustered bands of states in beryllium, triple alpha channels in 12 C, and molecular type clustering in 21 Ne. Starting from nucleon-nucleon interactions without any additional assumptions scattering phase shifts for alpha-alpha scattering are determined and shown to be consistent with those observed. In this work we put forward a new configuration-interaction-based method that targets the physics of clustering, and further unifies nuclear structure and reactions. We provide detailed discussions and many examples highlighting features and advantages of the approach.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
NASA NTRS1972

Study of modal coupling procedures for the shuttle: A matrix method for damping synthesis

The damping method was applied successfully to real structures as well as analytical models. It depends on the ability to determine an appropriate modal damping matrix for each substructure. In the past, modal damping matrices were assumed diagonal for lack of being able to determine the coupling terms which are significant in the general case of nonproportional damping. This problem was overcome by formulating the damped equations of motion as a linear perturbation of the undamped equations for light structural damping. Damped modes are defined as complex vectors derived from the complex frequency response vectors of each substructure and are obtained directly from sinusoidal vibration tests. The damped modes are used to compute first order approximations to the modal damping matrices. The perturbation approach avoids ever having to solve a complex eigenvalue problem.

Hasselman, T. K.↗
NASA NTRS2014

Mean Flow Augmented Acoustics in Rocket Systems

Oscillatory motion in solid rocket motors and liquid engines has long been a subject of concern. Many rockets display violent fluctuations in pressure, velocity, and temperature originating from the complex interactions between the combustion process and gas dynamics. The customary approach to modeling acoustic waves inside a rocket chamber is to apply the classical inhomogeneous wave equation to the combustion gas. The assumption of a linear, non-dissipative wave in a quiescent fluid remains valid while the acoustic amplitudes are small and local gas velocities stay below Mach 0.2. The converging section of a rocket nozzle, where gradients in pressure, density, and velocity become large, is a notable region where this approach is not applicable. The expulsion of unsteady energy through the nozzle of a rocket is identified as the predominate source of acoustic damping for most rocket systems. An accurate model of the acoustic behavior within this region where acoustic modes are influenced by the presence of a steady mean flow is required for reliable stability predictions. Recently, an approach to address nozzle damping with mean flow effects was implemented by French [1]. This new approach extends the work originated by Sigman and Zinn [2] by solving the acoustic velocity potential equation (AVPE) formulated by perturbing the Euler equations [3]. The acoustic velocity potential (psi) describing the acoustic wave motion in the presence of an inhomogeneous steady high-speed flow is defined by, (del squared)(psi) − (lambda/c)(exp 2)(psi) − M(dot)[M(dot)(del)(del(psi))] − 2(lambda(M/c) + (M(dot)del(M))(dot)del(psi)−2(lambda)(psi)[M(dot)del(1/c)]=0 (1) with M as the Mach vector, c as the speed of sound, and lambda as the complex eigenvalue. French apply the finite volume method to solve the steady flow field within the combustion chamber and nozzle with inviscid walls. The complex eigenvalues and eigenvector are determined with the use of the ARPACK eigensolver. The present study employs the COMSOL Multphysics framework to solve the coupled eigenvalue problem using the finite element approach. The study requires one way coupling of the CFD High Mach Number Flow (HMNF) and mathematics module. The HMNF module evaluated the gas flow inside of a solid rocket motor using St. Robert's law modeling solid propellant burn rate, slip boundary conditions, and the supersonic outflow condition. Results from the HMNF model are used by the coefficient form of the mathematics module to determine the eigenvalues of the AVPE. The mathematics model is truncated at the nozzle sonic line, where a zero flux boundary condition is self-satisfying. The remaining boundaries are modeled with a zero flux boundary condition, assuming zero acoustic absorption on all surfaces. Pertinent results from these analyses are the complex valued eigenvalue and eigenvectors. Comparisons are made to the French results to evaluate the modeling approach. A comparison of the French results with that of the present analysis is displayed in figures 1 and 2, respectively. The graphic shows the first tangential eigenvector's real (a) and imaginary (b) values.

Fischbach, Sean R.↗
DOE OSTI2023

A Refinement-by-Superposition -Method for (curl)- and (div)-Conforming Discretizations

Here, we present refinement-by-superposition (RBS) hp-refinement infrastructure for computational electromagnetics (CEMs), which permits exponential rates of convergence. In contrast to dominant approaches to hp-refinement for continuous Galerkin methods, which rely on explicit constraint equations, the multilevel strategy presented drastically reduces the implementation complexity. Through the RBS methodology, enforcement of continuity occurs by construction, enabling arbitrary levels of refinement with ease, and without the practical (but not theoretical) limitations of constrained-node refinement. We outline the construction of the RBS hp-method for refinement with H (curl)- and H (div)-conforming finite cells. Numerical simulations for the 2-D finite element method (FEM) solution of the Maxwell eigenvalue problem demonstrate the effectiveness of RBS hp-refinement. As an additional goal of this work, we aim to promote the use of mixed-order (low- and high-order) elements in practical CEM applications.

42 ENGINEERING↗
NASA NTRS1984

Rotordynamic Analysis of the SSME Turbopumps Using Reduced Models

Alternative methods for the rotor-dynamic and sensitivity analysis of large rotor systems are examined. The methods are assessed for their ability to utilize accurate models of reduced size along with effective procedures for describing the dynamic behavior of the systems. Frequency response-based techniques are developed for determining the steady state response to imbalance of the space shuttle main engine (SSME) turbopumps and the related eigenvalue problem. The rotor and housing are represented by reduced receptances associated with their coupling points. The housing may be described by all of its normal modes within a frequency range of interest. The effects of truncated higher and lower modes are accounted for in an approximate manner. A procedure is described for determining the sensitivity of the coupling forces to changes in the coupling elements and rotor speed of the turbopump systems. In addition, an eigenvalue sensitivity analysis technique is adopted for application to the systems. Computer programs were developed for the numerical implementation of the impedance and eigenvalue sensitivity formulated in this study.

Noah, S. T.↗
NASA NTRS1992

A theoretical approach for analyzing the restabilization of wakes

A linear stability analysis provides the basis for an analysis of the effects of prescribed changes upon the global stability characteristics of a bluff body wake. The analysis is applied in particular to the problem of placing a small cylinder in the wake of a larger one in order to suppress the vortex street. A prediction of the alteration in the critical Reynolds number of the system as a function of the location of the second cylinder relative to the first is presented and is shown to compare favorably with experimental results. The effect upon shedding frequency is also considered. The approach relies on the solution of an adjoint eigenvalue problem and an inhomogeneous adjoint boundary value problem. These adjoint solutions are shown to be a key component in the analysis of a variety of wake control strategies.

Hill, D. C.↗
DOE OSTI2018

On Inhomogeneous Polarized States near the Phase Transition Point in a Thin Ferroelectric Film

It is shown in terms of the phenomenological Landau theory of phase transitions that a phase transition to an inhomogeneous polar phase preceding in temperature a phase transition to a homogeneous polar state is possible. As a result of solving a boundary eigenvalue problem for the polarization equilibrium equation and electrostatics equations, wave vector k{sub ⊥} characterizing the inhomogeneous phase has been determined and the temperature boundaries of its existence in the dependence on the film thickness and its surface properties have been found.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2026

Negative fluxes and cell-miss errors in the random ray method

The random ray method is a recently developed stochastic method for solving neutral particle transport problems based on the method of characteristics. Perhaps surprisingly for a characteristics-based method using flat sources, we note that the random ray method can produce negative fluxes which may be numerically troublesome in several situations. These occur most severely in fixed source problems where the source is in a region with a small cross section. Additionally, we briefly discuss another source of bias which can occur in similar situations, namely a ray missing a mesh with a strong source and small cross section, resulting in the entirety of the source being unphysically deposited locally. This paper describes the mechanism by which negative fluxes may occur and several different methods to mitigate their effects. These fixes are tested on an eigenvalue problem, a ‘fusion-like’ shielding problem, and a shielding problem featuring an adjoint calculation. Even when extremely coarse random ray quadratures are used such that 20%–30% of cells are missed during a given iteration, use of the preferred fix technique ensures local flux tally errors remain trivial (below 1%). The preferred fix is now the default option in SCONE and OpenMC.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2023

Real-space solution to the electronic structure problem for nearly a million electrons

We report a Kohn–Sham density functional theory calculation of a system with more than 200 000 atoms and 800 000 electrons using a real-space high-order finite-difference method to investigate the electronic structure of large spherical silicon nanoclusters. Our system of choice was a 20 nm large spherical nanocluster with 202 617 silicon atoms and 13 836 hydrogen atoms used to passivate the dangling surface bonds. To speed up the convergence of the eigenspace, we utilized Chebyshev-filtered subspace iteration, and for sparse matrix–vector multiplications, we used blockwise Hilbert space-filling curves, implemented in the PARSEC code. For this calculation, we also replaced our orthonormalization + Rayleigh–Ritz step with a generalized eigenvalue problem step. We utilized all of the 8192 nodes (458 752 processors) on the Frontera machine at the Texas Advanced Computing Center. We achieved two Chebyshev-filtered subspace iterations, yielding a good approximation of the electronic density of states. Our work pushes the limits on the capabilities of the current electronic structure solvers to nearly 106 electrons and demonstrates the potential of the real-space approach to efficiently parallelize large calculations on modern high-performance computing platforms.

Chemistry↗
DOE OSTI2022

Rethinking the ill-posedness of the spectral function reconstruction — Why is it fundamentally hard and how Artificial Neural Networks can help

Reconstructing hadron spectral functions through Euclidean correlation functions are of the important missions in lattice QCD calculations. However, in a Källen–Lehmann (KL) spectral representation, the reconstruction is observed to be ill-posed in practice. It is usually ascribed to the fewer observation points compared to the number of points in the spectral function. In this paper, by solving the eigenvalue problem of continuous KL convolution, we show analytically that the ill-posedness of the inversion is fundamental and it exists even for continuous correlation functions. We discussed how to introduce regulators to alleviate the predicament, in which include the Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) representations recently proposed by the Authors in another study. The uniqueness of solutions using ANNs representations is manifested analytically and validated numerically. Reconstructed spectral functions using different regularization schemes are also demonstrated, together with their eigen-mode decomposition. We observe that components with large eigenvalues can be reliably reconstructed by all methods, whereas those with low eigenvalues need to be constrained by regulators.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗
NASA NTRS1996

Expendable Launch Vehicle Studies

Analytical support studies of expendable launch vehicles concentrates on the stability of the dynamics during launch especially during or near the region of maximum dynamic pressure. The in-plane linearized dynamic equations of a generic launch vehicle with multiple flexible bending and fuel sloshing modes are developed. The design of a robust LQR controller based on the reduced order system is accomplished using the parameter perturbation technique. The ELV modeling and analysis team has spent the past three years working on the theoretical development and application of sensitivity analysis to solve eigenvalue problems associated with structural dynamics. Specific application areas include stochastic vibrations, viscously damped vibrations and nonlinear dynamics. In stochastic linear vibrations, sensitivity analysis methods have been developed which determined the expectation and variance of the response for given probability density functions of various stochastic parameters. Examples worked include beam vibrations with up to six stochastic parameters; and the eigensensitivity results differ little from those obtained, with much effect, from Monte Carlo techniques. For viscously damped vibrations, eigensensitivity analysis has given excellent results for homogeneous beams, modeled by either quadratic or quartic eigenvalue equations. Specific applications include Kevin and Maxwell-type viscoelastic beams.

Bainum, P. M.↗
DOE OSTI2023

The Random Ray Method Versus Multigroup Monte Carlo: The Method of Characteristics in OpenMC and SCONE

The Random Ray Method (TRRM) is a recently developed approach to solving neutral particle transport problems based on the Method of Characteristics. While the method previously has been implemented only in closed-source or limited-functionality codes, this work describes its implementation in two open-source Monte Carlo codes: OpenMC and SCONE. The random ray implementations required small modifications to the existing Multigroup Monte Carlo (MGMC) solvers, offering a rare venue for redundant, fine-grained, "apples-to-apples" speed and accuracy comparisons between transport methods. To this end, TRRM and MGMC solvers are evaluated against each other using each code's native capabilities on reactor eigenvalue problems with different degrees of energy discretization. On the C5G7 benchmark (featuring only seven energy groups), TRRM achieves a maximum pin power error comparable to or lower than that of MGMC for a given run time. On a problem with 69 energy groups, MGMC is found to scale more efficiently, obtaining a lower pin power error for a given run time. However, the defining difference between the two transport methods is found to be their vastly different uncertainty distributions. Specifically, TRRM is found to maintain similar levels of accuracy and uncertainty throughout the simulation domain whereas MGMC can exhibit orders-of-magnitude greater errors in areas of the problem that feature low neutron flux. For instance, TRRM provided an up to 373 times speed advantage compared with MGMC for computing the flux in low-flux regions in the moderator surrounding the C5G7 core.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2018

A new method for multi-bit and qudit transfer based on commensurate waveguide arrays

The faithful state transfer is an important requirement in the construction of classical and quantum computers. While the high-speed transfer is realized by optical-fibre interconnects, its implementation in integrated optical circuits is affected by cross-talk. The cross-talk between densely packed optical waveguides limits the transfer fidelity and distorts the signal in each channel, thus severely impeding the parallel transfer of states such as classical registers, multiple qubits and qudits. Here, we leverage on the suitably engineered cross-talk between waveguides to achieve the parallel transfer on optical chip. Waveguide coupling coefficients are designed to yield commensurate eigenvalues of the array and hence, periodic revivals of the input state. While, in general, polynomially complex, the inverse eigenvalue problem permits analytic solutions for small number of waveguides. We present exact solutions for arrays of up to nine waveguides and use them to design realistic buses for multi-(qu)bit and qudit transfer. Advantages and limitations of the proposed solution are discussed in the context of available fabrication techniques.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
NASA NTRS1983

Reanalysis and design in structural dynamics

A unified efficient formulation for the static and dynamic reanalysis of locally modified structures is presented. The reanalysis problem is to find the structural responses when some of the element properties are adjusted as a result of design modifications or when additional structures are appended to the original system. The reanalysis problem is formulated as a problem of much lower order than the original system. This is achieved by utilizing the linearity property of the structure using the pseudoload concept together with the solution of the original system. The modifications to the structure are treated as displacement-dependent pseudoloads of the system. By expressing the modified system response as linear combinations of the response of the original system and a term depending on the pseudoload, a reduced set of response equations can be obtained. In the static and sinusoidal steady state analysis, this leads to a set of linear algebraic equations. For a free vibration analysis, this results in a reduced eigenvalue problem. Using these reduced equations, a design problem can be solved; that is, the magnitude of a specified local modification for given dynamic response characteristics can be calculated. Several examples are presented to illustrate the general formulations.

Wang, B. P.↗
NASA NTRS1999

The Application of a Boundary Integral Equation Method to the Prediction of Ducted Fan Engine Noise

The prediction of ducted fan engine noise using a boundary integral equation method (BIEM) is considered. Governing equations for the BIEM are based on linearized acoustics and describe the scattering of incident sound by a thin, finite-length cylindrical duct in the presence of a uniform axial inflow. A classical boundary value problem (BVP) is derived that includes an axisymmetric, locally reacting liner on the duct interior. Using potential theory, the BVP is recast as a system of hypersingular boundary integral equations with subsidiary conditions. We describe the integral equation derivation and solution procedure in detail. The development of the computationally efficient ducted fan noise prediction program TBIEM3D, which implements the BIEM, and its utility in conducting parametric noise reduction studies are discussed. Unlike prediction methods based on spinning mode eigenfunction expansions, the BIEM does not require the decomposition of the interior acoustic field into its radial and axial components which, for the liner case, avoids the solution of a difficult complex eigenvalue problem. Numerical spectral studies are presented to illustrate the nexus between the eigenfunction expansion representation and BIEM results. We demonstrate BIEM liner capability by examining radiation patterns for several cases of practical interest.

Dunn, M. H.↗
DOE OSTI2026

Excited-state uncertainties in lattice-QCD calculations of multi-hadron systems

Excited-state effects lead to hard-to-quantify systematic uncertainties in lattice quantum chromodynamics (LQCD) spectroscopy calculations when computationally accessible imaginary times are smaller than inverse excitation gaps, as often arises for multi-hadron systems with signal-to-noise problems. Lanczos residual bounds address this by providing two-sided constraints on energies that do not require assumptions beyond Hermiticity, but often give very conservative systematic uncertainty estimates. Here, a more-constraining set of gap bounds is introduced for hadron spectroscopy. These bounds provide tighter constraints whose validity requires an explicit assumption about an energy gap. Exactly solvable lattice field theory correlators are used to test the utility of residual and gap bounds at finite and infinite statistics. Two-sided bounds and other analysis methods are then applied to a high-statistics LQCD calculation of nucleon-nucleon scattering at $m_π\sim 800$ MeV. Generalized eigenvalue problem (GEVP) and Lanczos energy estimators are compatible when applied to the same correlator data, but analyses including different interpolating operators show statistically significant inconsistencies. However, two-sided bounds from all operators are consistent. Under the assumption that the number of energy levels below $NΔ$ and $ΔΔ$ thresholds is the same as for non-interacting nucleons, gap bounds are sufficient to constrain nucleon-nucleon scattering amplitudes at phenomenologically relevant precision. Lanczos methods further reveal that energy-eigenstate estimates from previously studied asymmetric correlators have not converged over accessible imaginary times. Nevertheless, data-driven examples demonstrate why assumptions are required to draw conclusions about the natures of two-nucleon ground states at these masses.

Detmold, William [MIT, Cambridge, CTP]↗