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DOE OSTI2023

Spatially quasi-periodic water waves of finite depth

We present a numerical study of spatially quasi-periodic gravity-capillary waves of finite depth in both the initial value problem and travelling wave settings. We adopt a quasi-periodic conformal mapping formulation of the Euler equations, where one-dimensional quasi-periodic functions are represented by periodic functions on a higher-dimensional torus. We compute the time evolution of free surface waves in the presence of a background flow and a quasi-periodic bottom boundary and observe the formation of quasi-periodic patterns on the free surface. Two types of quasi-periodic travelling waves are computed: small-amplitude waves bifurcating from the zero-amplitude solution and larger-amplitude waves bifurcating from finite-amplitude periodic travelling waves. We derive weakly nonlinear approximations of the first type and investigate the associated small-divisor problem. We find that waves of the second type exhibit striking nonlinear behaviour, e.g. the peaks and troughs are shifted non-periodically from the corresponding periodic waves due to the activation of quasi-periodic modes.

Science & Technology - Other Topics↗

DOE OSTI2023

A comparative genome analysis of the Bacillota ( Firmicutes ) class Dehalobacteriia

Dehalobacterium formicoaceticum is recognized for its ability to anaerobically ferment dichloromethane (DCM), and a catabolic model has recently been proposed. D. formicoaceticum is currently the only axenic representative of its class, the Dehalobacteriia, according to the Genome Taxonomy Database. However, substantial additional diversity has been revealed in this lineage through culture-independent exploration of anoxic habitats. Here we performed a comparative analysis of 10 members of the Dehalobacteriia, representing three orders, and infer that anaerobic DCM degradation appears to be a recently acquired trait only present in some members of the order Dehalobacteriales. Inferred traits common to the class include the use of amino acids as carbon and energy sources for growth, energy generation via a remarkable range of putative electron-bifurcating protein complexes and the presence of S-layers. The ability of D. formicoaceticum to grow on serine without DCM was experimentally confirmed and a high abundance of the electron-bifurcating protein complexes and S-layer proteins was noted when this organism was grown on DCM. We suggest that members of the Dehalobacteriia are low-abundance fermentative scavengers in anoxic habitats.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

DOE OSTI2025

Real Space Imaging of Field-Driven Decision-Making in Nanomagnetic Galton Boards

A possible spintronic route to hardware implementation for decision-making involves injecting a domain wall into a bifurcated magnetic nanostrip resembling a Y-shaped junction. A decision is made when the domain wall chooses a particular path through the bifurcation. Recently, it was shown that a structure like a nanomagnetic Galton board, which is essentially an array of interconnected Y-shaped junctions, produces outcomes that are stochastic and therefore relevant to artificial neural networks. However, the exact mechanism leading to the robust nature of randomness is unknown. Here, in this study, we directly image the decision-making process in nanomagnetic Galton boards using Lorentz transmission electron microscopy. We identify that the stochasticity in nanomagnetic Galton boards arises as a culmination of (1) the topology of the injected domain wall, (2) dissimilarly sized vertices, and (3) the strength of the applied field. Our results pave the way to a detailed understanding of stochasticity in nanomagnetic networks.

lorentz microscopy↗

DOE OSTI2023

Insights into ENSO Diversity from an Intermediate Coupled Model. Part II: Role of Nonlinear Dynamics and Stochastic Forcing

Abstract In this study, we investigate how a single leading linear El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) mode, as studied in Part I, leads to the irregular coexistence of central Pacific (CP) and eastern Pacific (EP) ENSO, a phenomenon known as ENSO spatiotemporal diversity. This diversity is fundamentally generated by deterministic nonlinear pathways to chaos via the period-doubling route and, more prevailingly, the subharmonic resonance route with the presence of a seasonally varying basic state. When residing in the weakly nonlinear regime, the coupled system sustains a weak periodic oscillation with a mixed CP/EP pattern as captured by the linear ENSO mode. With a stronger nonlinearity effect, the ENSO behavior experiences a period-doubling bifurcation. The single ENSO orbit splits into coexisting CP-like and EP-like ENSO orbits. A sequence of period-doubling bifurcation results in an aperiodic oscillation featuring irregular CP and EP ENSO occurrences. The overlapping of subharmonic resonances between ENSO and the seasonal cycle allows this ENSO irregularity and diversity to be more readily excited. In the strongly nonlinear regime, the coupled system is dominated by regular EP ENSO. The deterministic ENSO spatiotemporal diversity is thus confined to a relatively narrow range corresponding to a moderately unstable ENSO mode. Stochastic forcing broadens this range and allows ENSO diversity to occur when the ENSO mode is weakly subcritical. A close relationship among a weakened mean zonal temperature gradient, stronger ENSO activity, and more (fewer) occurrences of EP (CP) ENSO is noted, indicating that ENSO–mean state interaction may yield ENSO regime modulations on the multidecadal time scale.

Geng, Licheng↗

DOE OSTI2024

Novel microbial based enzymatic CO2 fixation mechanisms: Conformational control of enzymatic reactivity

The broad, long-term goal of the research is to provide insight into the mechanism of novel carboxylation and electron bifurcation reactions as paradigms to study how enzyme utilized protein conformational change to protect reactive intermediates and/or control the pathway in a catalytic cycle. catalyzed by enzymes involved in bacterial alkene, ketone, and epoxide metabolism. We are examining two paradigms in which conformational change is a key mechanistic feature of 1) protecting reaction intermediates that are sensitive to breakdown in the presence of water and 2) directing electron flow in reactions that split electron pairs along two pathways in reactions that fine tune metabolic efficiency in microbial metabolism. Both paradigms are of key importance in defining the molecular determinants of reactions relevant to CO 2 capture and fuel upcycling. In the first paradigm the compounds acetone and bicarbonate are activated by the addition of phosphate creating reaction intermediates (phosphoenolacetone and carboxyphosphate) that are very sensitive to breakdown in the presence of water. We are studying the mechanism of how the enzyme protects these reactive intermediates from water by encapsulating them upon their formation within a hydrophobic protein channel leading to an enzyme active site approximately 40 Å away. In the second paradigm, we are examining how the direction of electron transfer reactions can be modulated through protein conformational change that alters either the difference driving force or distance or both between electron transfer pathways in enzymes that catalyze electron bifurcation. We are using a combination of enzyme kinetics, mass spectrometry, spectroscopy, and structural analysis through X-ray diffraction and scattering methods to characterize the mechanism of conformational changes along the catalytic path. Within the context of the mission of the Department of Energy and the core activities of the Energy Biosciences, the results obtained in the study will reveal new insights into the fundamentals of novel carboxylation / CO 2 capture chemical transformations and electron transfer reactions that equate to biological fuel upcycling.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

DOE OSTI2025

Energetic Electron Transport in Magnetized Plasma with Magnetic Islands (Final Technical Report)

The main scientific goal of this project was to investigate the interactions between energetic electrons and magnetic islands in magnetized plasmas from lab to space. The proposed plan of addressed the following specific objectives: (1) Determine if energetic electrons are trapped by magnetic islands. Specifically, test the hypothesis that energetic electrons are trapped near island O-points due to stable orbits and de-confined near island X-points due to X-point tangles. (2) Determine how electron transport changes with island width and location. Specifically, test the hypothesis that electrons are accelerated by contracting magnetic islands through a Fermi acceleration process. (3) Assess how electron transport is affected by island dynamics, including island rotation, bifurcation, and/or island overlap. Specifically, test the hypothesis that electrons are deconfined and possibly accelerated during island rotations, bifurcations, and overlap due to stochastization of the magnetic field lines.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

DOE OSTI2022

Parametric model-order-reduction development for unsteady convection

A time-averaged error indicator with POD- h Greedy is developed to drive parametric model order reduction (pMOR) for 2D unsteady natural convection in a high-aspect ratio slot parameterized with the Prandtl number, Rayleigh number, and slot angle with respect to the gravity. The error indicator is extended to accommodate the energy equation and Leray regularization. Despite being two-dimensional and laminar, the target flow regime presents several challenges: 1) there is a bifurcation in the angle parameter space; 2) the solution can be multivalued, even at steady state; and 3) the solution exhibits spatio-temporal chaos at several points in the parameter space. The authors explore several reduced-order models (ROMs) and demonstrate that Leray-regularized Galerkin ROMs provide a robust solution approach for this class of flows. They further demonstrate that error-indicated pMOR can efficiently predict several QOIs, such as mean flow, mean Nusselt number and mean turbulent kinetic energy, even in the presence of a bifurcation. Finally, they show that spatio-temporal chaos can lead to lack of reproducibility in both the full-order model and the reduced-order model and that the variance in the full-order model provides a lower bound on the pMOR error in these cases.

leray regularization↗

NASA NTRS1973

Interhemispheric comparison of atmospheric circulation features as evaluated from Nimbus satellite data

Reiter, E. R.↗

NASA NTRS1973

A contribution to the synoptic climatology of the extratropics

A relationship is established between relative geostrophic vorticity on an isobaric surface and the Laplacian of the underlying layer-mean temperature. This relationship is used to investigate the distribution of vorticity and baroclinicity in a jet-stream model which is constantly recurrent in the winter troposhere. The investigation shows that the baroclinic and vorticity fields of the extratropical troposphere must be bifurcated with two extrema in the middle and subpolar latitudes. This pattern is present in daily tropospheric meridional cross-sections. The reasons for the disappearance of bifurcation in the time-and-longitude averaged distributions are discussed. The implications of the geographical distribution for the maintenance of the observed kinetic energy and baroclinicity distributions in the extratropical troposphere in winter are discussed. It is shown that the subtropical and subpolar ridges are nearly antiparallely distributed as is required by the observed distribution of temporal r.m.s. vorticity at the jet-stream level.

Srivatsangam, S.↗

NASA NTRS1976

Study leading to the refinement of the SRB structural analysis program

The constructed SRB math model was used for the analysis of the 85/32/5(VV/VH/theta) cavity collapse load condition for the aft end of the SRB structure. Linear, nonlinear collapse and bifurcation buckling analyses were performed. The linear and bifurcation buckling analyses showed that structural integrity and positive margins of safety are maintained for the applied maximum load case using a design factor of 1.25. The nonlinear collapse analysis predicts stresses in the skirt above the yield for a load factor of 1.0. Applying the 1.25 design factor gives a negative margin of safety against the material ultimate. The predicted collapse occurs at a load factor higher than 1.25.

Jones, W. E.↗

NASA NTRS1978

A theory of local and global processes which affect solar wind electrons. 1: The origin of typical 1 AU velocity distribution functions: Steady state theory

A detailed first principle kinetic theory for electrons which is neither a classical fluid treatment nor an exospheric calculation is presented. This theory illustrates the global and local properties of the solar wind expansion that shape the observed features of the electron distribution function, such as its bifurcation, its skewness and the differential temperatures of the thermal and suprathermal subpopulations. Coulomb collisions are substantial mediators of the interplanetary electron velocity distribution function and they place a zone for a bifurcation of the electron distribution function deep in the corona. The local cause and effect precept which permeates the physics of denser media is modified for electrons in the solar wind. The local form of transport laws and equations of state which apply to collision dominated plasmas are replaced with global relations that explicitly depend on the relative position of the observer to the boundaries of the system.

Scudder, J. D.↗

NASA NTRS1980

Acoustic propagation in rigid sharp bends and branches

The linear acoustic propagation in rigid planar sharp bends and bifurcation ducts is analyzed using a Green's-function integral technique often known as the surface element method. The acoustic characteristics of the sharp bend differ substantially from those of a circular bend with identical turning angle, width, and centerline length. The acoustic loading resulting from a duct bifurcation is highly two dimensional beyond the first cutoff frequency.

El-Raheb, M.↗

NASA NTRS1980

The shape and stability of rotating liquid drops

Equilibrium shapes and stability of rotating drops held together by surface tension are found by computer-aided analysis that uses expansions in finite-element basis functions. Shapes are calculated as extrema of appropriate energies. Stability and relative stability are determined from curvatures of the energy surface in the neighborhood of the extremum. Families of axisymmetric, two-, three-, and four-lobed drop shapes are traced systematically. Bifurcation and turning points are located and the principle of exchange of stabilities is tested. The axisymmetric shapes are stable at low rotation rates but lose stability at the bifurcation to two-lobed shapes. Two-lobed drops isolated with constant angular momentum are stable. The results bear on experiments designed to further those of Plateau (1863).

Brown, R. A.↗

NASA NTRS1981

An experimental investigation on the subcritical instability in plane Poieseuille flow

The relationship between the three dimensional properties of the fundamental flow of a plane Poieseuille flow and subcritical stability was studied. An S-T wave was introduced into the flow and the three dimensional development of the wave observed. Results indicate that: (1) the T-S wave has three dimensional properties which are synchronous with the fundamental flow, but there is damping at microamplitude; (2) when the amplitude reaches a certain threshold, subcritical instability and peak valley bifurcation occur simultaneously and a peak valley structure is formed; (3) this threshold depends to a great extent on the frequency; and (4) after the peak valley bifurcation there is a transition to a turbulent flow by the process of laminar flow collapse identical to that in Blasius flow.

Nishioka, T.↗

NASA NTRS1981

Transition in the axisymmetric jet

Unsteady particle trajectories are used to study structural features associated with the Reynolds-number dependence of an axisymmetric jet. It is found that transition in the unbounded jet is in the nature of transition in Couette flow and occurs at specific critical values of the Reynolds number rather than in some range over which small disturbances are amplified. In the case of the creeping-flow solution, the particle-path pattern exhibits a structure which is not easily discerned in any of the other variables that govern the flow. For sufficiently small Reynolds number, the particle paths converge to a single stable node which lies on the axis of the jet. At a Reynolds number of 6.7806, the pattern bifurcates to a saddle and two stable nodes; at a Reynolds number of 10.09089, it bifurcates a second time to form a saddle and two stable foci.

Cantwell, B. J.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Vibration and buckling studies of pretensioned structures

Results of analyses and tests of a simple pretensional structure are presented. Linear finite element analysis correlated well with experimental small amplitude vibration data. The buckling and vibration behavior of a pretensional stayed column was studied in detail. The bifurcation buckling load was also predicted accurately. Postbuckling behavior of the column was unusual and results in a post buckling restoring force of only 1/64 the bifurcation buckling load. Interaction between lateral accelerations and compressive load creates isolated stay slackening at loads above 50 percent of the buckling load. Further research will be required to fully understand their impact on the use of pretensioned structures as large space structures.

Belvin, W. K.↗

NASA NTRS1981

The compressive failure of graphite/epoxy plates with circular holes

The results of an experimental investigation of the compressive behavior of T300/5203 graphite/epoxy laminated plates measuring 127.0 by 254.0 mm and containing circular holes ranging to 38.1 mm are reported. Two thicknesses, 24-ply and 48-ply, were chosen to differentiate between stability failures resulting from buckling and strength failures caused by the hole. Both quasi-isotropic and orthotropic stacking arrangements were used. The critical buckling load of the 24-ply panels was independent of hole size. Bifurcation occurred in the two half-wave mode longitudinally and one half-wave mode laterally in the quasi-isotropic panels. For the orthotropic 24-ply panels, bifurcation began in the one half-wave mode shape in each direction, but changed to the two half-wave mode before failure. Consistent post-buckling strength was exhibited by both laminated configurations. Panels with hole diameters below 3.175 mm displayed buckling before failure; those with holes larger than 6.35 mm experienced material failure around the hole before panel collapse.

Knauss, J. F.↗

NASA NTRS1983

Finite element methods for nonlinear elastostatic problems in rubber elasticity

A number of finite element methods for the analysis of nonlinear problems in rubber elasticity are outlined. Several different finite element schemes are discussed. These include the augmented Lagrangian method, continuation or incremental loading methods, and associated Riks-type methods which have the capability of incorporating limit point behavior and bifurcations. Algorithms for the analysis of limit point behavior and bifurcations are described and the results of several numerical experiments are presented. In addition, a brief survey of some recent work on modelling contact and friction in elasticity problems is given. These results pertain to the use of new nonlocal and nonlinear friction laws.

Oden, J. T.↗