Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “nonlinear function”

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.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 271 records · Page 15

Investigation of Nonlinear Difference-Frequency Wave Excitation on a Semisubmersible Offshore-Wind Platform with Bichromatic-Wave CFD Simulations: Preprint

The natural surge and pitch frequencies of semisubmersible offshore wind platforms are typically designed to be below the wave frequencies to avoid direct excitation. However, surge or pitch resonance can be excited by the nonlinear low-frequency loads generated by irregular incident waves. Second-order potential-flow models with added Morison drag have been found to underpredict this low-frequency excitation and response. As part of the OC6 project, Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations were performed to enable a better understanding of the low-frequency loads and the limitations of lower-fidelity models. The focus of the current paper is to set up a computationally cost-effective CFD simulation of a fixed semisubmersible platform to investigate nonlinear difference-frequency loads and establish the corresponding uncertainty in the results. Due to the high computing cost, CFD simulations of irregular waves can be challenging. Instead, simulations were performed with bichromatic waves having a shorter repeat period. A preliminary comparison with Quadratic Transfer Functions from second-order potential-flow theory shows that CFD models consistently predict higher nonlinear wave loads at the difference frequency, likely due to flow separation and viscous drag not accounted for in potential-flow theory.

2nd order↗

Synthesis, crystal and electronic structures, linear and nonlinear optical properties, and photocurrent response of oxyhalides CeHaVIO 4 (Ha = Cl, Br; VI = Mo, W)

Four heteroanionic oxyhalides, CeClMoO 4 , CeBrMoO 4 , CeClWO 4 , and CeBrWO 4 , have been studied as multifunctional materials, which show a combination of good second harmonic generation (SHG) response and photocurrent signals. Millimeter-sized CeHaVIO 4 (Ha = Cl, Br; VI = Mo, W) crystals were grown by halide salt flux. The crystal structure of CeHaVIO 4 crystals was accurately determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. CeClMoO 4 , CeBrMoO 4 , and CeBrWO 4 are isostructural to each other, and crystallize in the acentric LaBrMoO 4 structure type. CeClWO 4 crystallizes in a new structure type with unit cell parameters of a = 19.6059(2) Å, b = 5.89450(10) Å, c = 7.80090(10) Å, and β = 101.4746(8)°. The bandgaps of CeHaVIO 4 fall into the range of 2.8(1)–3.1(1) eV, which are much smaller than those of isotypic LaHaVIO 4 (Ha = Cl, Br; VI = Mo, W) in the range of 3.9(1)–4.3(1) eV. The narrowing of bandgaps in CeHaVIO 4 originates from the presence of partially filled 4f orbitals of cerium atoms, which was confirmed by density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The moderate bandgaps make CeHaVIO 4 suitable for infrared nonlinear optical (IR NLO) applications. CeBrMoO 4 and CeBrWO 4 exhibit moderate SHG responses of 0.58× AGS and 0.46× AGS, respectively, and are both type-I phase-matching materials. Moderate SHG response, easy growth of crystals, high ambient stability, and type-I phase-matching behavior make CeBrMoO 4 and CeBrWO 4 great materials for IR NLO applications. CeHaVIO 4 films also exhibited good photocurrent response upon light radiation. Furthermore, this work demonstrates the rich structural chemistry of the REHaVIO 4 (RE = Y, La–Lu; Ha = Cl, Br; VI = Mo, W) family and the potential presence of more multifunctional materials.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Machine‐learning‐based construction of barrier functions and models for safe model predictive control

Abstract In this paper, we propose a control Lyapunov‐barrier function‐based model predictive control method utilizing a feed‐forward neural network specified control barrier function (CBF) and a recurrent neural network (RNN) predictive model to stabilize nonlinear processes with input constraints, and to guarantee that safety requirements are met for all times. The nonlinear system is first modeled using RNN techniques, and a CBF is characterized by constructing a feed‐forward neural network (FNN) model with unique structures and properties. The FNN model for the CBF is trained based on data samples collected from safe and unsafe operating regions, and the resulting FNN model is verified to demonstrate that the safety properties of the CBF are satisfied. Given sufficiently small bounded modeling errors for both the FNN and the RNN models, the proposed control system is able to guarantee closed‐loop stability while preventing the closed‐loop states from entering unsafe regions in state‐space under sample‐and‐hold control action implementation. We provide the theoretical analysis for bounded unsafe sets in state‐space, and demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed control strategy using a nonlinear chemical process example with a bounded unsafe region.

Chen, Scarlett↗

An initial exploration of Bayesian model calibration for estimating the composition of rocks and soils on Mars

The Mars Curiosity rover carries an instrument, ChemCam, designed to measure the composition of surface rocks and soil using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS). The measured spectra from this instrument must be analyzed to identify the component elements in the target sample, as well as their relative proportions. This process, which we call disaggregation, is complicated by so-called matrix effects, which describe nonlinear changes in the relative heights of emission lines as an unknown function of composition due to atomic interactions within the LIBS plasma. In this work, we explore the use of the plasma physics code ATOMIC, developed at Los Alamos National Laboratory, for the disaggregation task. ATOMIC has recently been used to model LIBS spectra and can robustly reproduce matrix effects from first principles. The ability of ATOMIC to predict LIBS spectra presents an exciting opportunity to perform disaggregation in a manner not yet tried in the LIBS community, namely via Bayesian model calibration. However, using it directly to solve our inverse problem is computationally intractable due to the large parameter space and the computation time required to produce a single output. Therefore, we also explore the use of emulators as a fast solution for this analysis. We discuss a proof of concept Gaussian process emulator for disaggregating two-element compounds of sodium and copper. The training and test datasets were simulated with ATOMIC using a Latin hypercube design. After testing the performance of the emulator, we successfully recover the composition of 25 test spectra with Bayesian model calibration.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Fast model-based scenario optimization in NSTX-U enabled by analytic gradient computation

Model-based optimization offers a systematic approach to advanced scenario planning. In this case, the feedforward-control inputs (actuator trajectories) that are needed to attain and sustain a desired scenario are obtained by solving a nonlinear constrained optimization problem. This class of problems generally minimize a cost function that measures the difference between desired and actual plasma states. Several numerical optimization algorithms, such as sequential quadratic programming, require repeated calculation of the cost function gradients with respect to the input trajectories. Calculating these gradients numerically can be computationally intensive, increasing the time needed to solve the feedforward-control optimization problem. Here, this work introduces a method to analytically calculate these cost function gradients from the current profile evolution model. This can significantly reduce the computational time and allow for fast feedforward-control optimization, which would eventually enable optimal scenario planning between discharges. The performance of the feedforward optimizer with analytical gradients is compared to a traditional optimization algorithm based on numerical gradients for different NSTX-U scenarios. The plasma dynamics in the optimization algorithm are simulated using the Control Oriented Transport SIMulator (COTSIM). Results of the work show that analytical gradients consistently reduce the computation time while achieving trajectories that are comparable to those obtained by traditional optimization algorithms based on numerical gradients.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Effects of Salt on Phase Behavior and Rheological Properties of Alginate–Chitosan Polyelectrolyte Complexes

Oppositely charged polyelectrolytes often form polyelectrolyte complexes (PECs) due to the association through electrostatic interactions. Obtaining PECs using natural, biocompatible polyelectrolytes is of interest in the food, pharmaceutical, and biomedical industries. In this work, PECs were prepared from two biopolymers, positively charged chitosan and negatively charged alginate. We investigate the changes in the structure and properties of PECs by adding sodium chloride (salt doping) to the system. The shear modulus of PECs can be tuned from ~10 to 10 4 Pa by changing the salt concentration. The addition of salt led to a decrease in the water content of the complex phase with increasing shear modulus. However, at a very high salt concentration, the shear modulus of the complex phase decreased but did not lead to the liquid coacervate formation, typical of synthetic polyelectrolytes. This difference in phase behavior has likely been attributed to the hydrophobicity of chitosan and long semiflexible alginate and chitosan chains that restrict the conformational changes. Large amplitude oscillatory shear experiments captured nonlinear responses of PECs. The compositions of the PECs, determined as a function of salt concentration, signify the preferential partitioning of salt into the complex phase. Small-angle X-ray scattering of the salt-doped PECs indicates that the Kuhn length and radius of the alginate–chitosan associated structure qualitatively agree with the captured phase behavior and rheological data. This study provides insights into the structure–property as a function of salt concentration of natural polymer-based PECs necessary for developing functional materials from natural polyelectrolytes.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Nonlinear Scaling of Water–Ion Interactions and Dynamics in Alkaline Solutions

Water-ion interactions govern many solvent properties critical to solution-phase chemistry and the behavior of liquid water. The water-ion interactions in alkaline conditions were probed using two-dimensional infrared spectroscopy (2D IR), small-angle x-ray scattering (SAXS), and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR). Energy transfer between the donor molecule KSeCN, used as a 2D IR probe, and the acceptor molecule NaOD was used to track the average separation distance of ions in a D 2 O solution, while SAXS measurements showed effects in the bulk D 2 O solvent. Here, we observe consistent nonlinear scaling in the SeCN - and OD - average separation distance as a function of NaOD concentration while bulk solution D 2 O-to-D 2 O average separation distance remained highly linear. Ultrafast measurements of solution dynamics via 2D IR and polarization-selective pump-probe spectroscopy show consistent scaling in correlation times as a function of concentration. These results suggests that the SeCN - and OD - anions participate in a water-ion network that significantly reduces the degrees of freedom for the distribution of ions in solution below the standard stochastic for ion distribution.

2D IR Spectroscopy↗

Bayesian inference in band excitation scanning probe microscopy for optimal dynamic model selection in imaging

The universal tendency in scanning probe microscopy (SPM) over the last two decades is to transition from simple 2D imaging to complex detection and spectroscopic imaging modes. The emergence of complex SPM engines brings forth the challenge of reliable data interpretation, i.e., conversion from detected signals to descriptors specific to tip–surface interactions and subsequently to material’s properties. In this work, we implemented a Bayesian inference approach for the analysis of the image formation mechanisms in band excitation SPM. Compared to the point estimates in classical functional fit approaches, Bayesian inference allows for the incorporation of extant knowledge of materials and probe behavior in the form of corresponding prior distribution and return the information on the material functionality in the form of readily interpretable posterior distributions. We explore the nonlinear mechanical behaviors spatially in a classical ferroelectric material, PbTiO 3 . We observe the non-trivial evolution of the Duffing stiffness term and the nonlinearity of the sample surface, determine spatial clustering of the nonlinear response, and perform a Landau analysis on predicting the nonlinear coefficient, which indicates that ferroelectric behavior can be a cause of the observed results. These observations suggest that the spectrum of anomalous behaviors at the ferroelectric domain walls may be broader than previously believed and can extend to non-conventional mechanical properties in addition to static and microwave conductance.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Nonlinear fluorescence spectroscopy of layered perovskite quantum wells

Interest in layered organohalide perovskites is motivated by their potential for use in optoelectronic devices. In these systems, the smallest and largest quantum wells are primarily concentrated near the glass and air interfaces of a film, thereby establishing a gradient in the average values of the bandgaps. It has been suggested that this layered architecture promotes the funneling of electronic excitations through space in a manner similar to light-harvesting processes in photosynthetic antennae. Whereas energy and charge transfer are difficult to distinguish by conventional transient absorption techniques, it has recently been shown that these competing relaxation mechanisms may be separately targeted with nonlinear fluorescence (NLFL) and photocurrent “action spectroscopies.” Here, we present perturbative rate functions to describe NLFL experiments conducted on layered perovskite systems. The formulas reproduce the patterns of resonances observed in experimental measurements and show how signatures of energy transfer manifest in two-dimensional spectra. Overall, this work suggests that NLFL spectroscopy may be used to fully reveal the trajectories of electronic excitations by correlating ultrafast energy transfer pathways to fluorescence emission from the thickest quantum wells.

Ouyang, Zhenyu↗

Anisotropic-strain-enhanced hole mobility in GaN by lattice matching to ZnGeN 2 and MgSiN 2

The key obstacle toward realizing integrated gallium nitride (GaN) electronics is its low hole mobility. Here, we explore the possibility of improving the hole mobility of GaN via epitaxial matching to II–IV nitride materials that have recently become available, namely, ZnGeN 2 and MgSiN 2 . We perform state-of-the-art calculations of the hole mobility of GaN using the ab initio Boltzmann transport equation. We show that effective uniaxial compressive strain of GaN along the [$1\bar{1}00$] by lattice matching to ZnGeN 2 and MgSiN 2 results in the inversion of the heavy hole band and split-off hole band, thereby lowering the effective hole mass in the compression direction. We find that lattice matching to ZnGeN 2 and MgSiN 2 induces an increase in the room-temperature hole mobility by 50% and 260% as compared to unstrained GaN, respectively. Further, examining the trends as a function of strain, we find that the variation in mobility is highly nonlinear; lattice matching to a hypothetical solid solution of Zn 0.75 Ge 0.75 Mg 0.25 Si 0.25 N 2 would already increase the hole mobility by 160%.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Effects of low-frequency voltage on nonlinear standing wave excitation, plasma uniformity, and ion dynamics in dual-frequency asymmetric capacitive discharges

Abstract It is known that in very-high-frequency (VHF) capacitively coupled plasmas, the higher harmonics generated by nonlinear sheath motion can enhance the standing wave effect (SWE), which can lead to center-peaked plasma density profiles. In this work, an improved nonlinear electromagnetic model incorporating a transmission line model, an electron momentum balance model, a bulk plasma model, a collisionless nonlinear numerical sheath model, and an ion Monte-Carlo collision (MCC) model is developed to study the effects of low-frequency (LF) voltage V L on the nonlinear standing wave excitation, plasma uniformity, and ion energy and angular distribution functions (IEDFs and IADFs) in dual-frequency (DF) asymmetric capacitive argon discharges at relatively low pressure of 3 Pa. The plasma diffusion in the radial direction and ion dynamics within the LF oscillating sheath are self-consistently considered. The LF voltage V L at 2 MHz varies from 0 to 700 V while the HF voltage V H at 60 MHz is fixed at 100 V. Simulation results indicate that without the addition of an LF source (i.e. V L = 0 V), there are a considerable number of high-order harmonics with short wavelengths, leading to significant SWE and central peak in the radial plasma density profile. Nevertheless, the high-order harmonic excitations tend to be weakened and merely occur around the phase of the full LF sheath collapse due to a shorter characteristic damping time of the surface waves as V L increases. This, combined with increased surface wavelengths of both the driving frequency and the higher harmonics at a higher V L , leads to suppressed standing waves and improved plasma uniformity. Meanwhile, the simulations show that both the low and the high energy peaks of IEDF move towards higher energies, and the energy peak separation width ΔEbecomes wider with the increase of V L . The IEDF at the radial center of the powered electrode exhibits a broader ΔEthan that at the edge. For the IADF, an increased V L results in more ions incident on the electrode with a smaller deflection angle. Because of a thinner sheath and a higher sheath voltage at the electrode center, the peak value of IADF at the electrode center is greater than that at the edge.

Physics↗

Cooling and instabilities in colliding flows

ABSTRACT Collisional self-interactions occurring in protostellar jets give rise to strong shocks, the structure of which can be affected by radiative cooling within the flow. To study such colliding flows, we use the AstroBEAR AMR code to conduct hydrodynamic simulations in both one and three dimensions with a power-law cooling function. The characteristic length and time-scales for cooling are temperature dependent and thus may vary as shocked gas cools. When the cooling length decreases sufficiently and rapidly, the system becomes unstable to the radiative shock instability, which produces oscillations in the position of the shock front; these oscillations can be seen in both the one- and three-dimensional cases. Our simulations show no evidence of the density clumping characteristic of a thermal instability, even when the cooling function meets the expected criteria. In the three-dimensional case, the nonlinear thin shell instability (NTSI) is found to dominate when the cooling length is sufficiently small. When the flows are subjected to the radiative shock instability, oscillations in the size of the cooling region allow NTSI to occur at larger cooling lengths, though larger cooling lengths delay the onset of NTSI by increasing the oscillation period.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Conductance of a dissipative quantum dot: Nonequilibrium crossover near a non-Fermi-liquid quantum critical point

In this work, we find the nonlinear conductance of a dissipative resonant level in the nonequilibrium steady state near its quantum critical point. The system consists of a spin-polarized quantum dot connected to two resistive leads that provide ohmic dissipation. We focus on the crossover from the strong-coupling, non-Fermi-liquid regime to the weak-coupling, Fermi-liquid ground state, a crossover driven by the instability of the quantum critical point to hybridization asymmetry or detuning of the level in the dot. We show that the crossover properties are given by tunneling through an effective single barrier described by the boundary sine-Gordon model. The nonlinear conductance is then obtained from thermodynamic Bethe ansatz results in the literature, which were developed to treat tunneling in a Luttinger liquid. The current-voltage characteristics are thus found for any value of the resistance of the leads. For the special case of lead resistance equal to the quantum resistance, we find mappings onto, first, the two-channel Kondo model and, second, an effectively noninteracting model from which the nonlinear conductance is found analytically. A key feature of the general crossover function is that the nonequilibrium crossover driven by applied bias is different from the crossover driven by temperature---we find that the nonequilibrium crossover is substantially sharper. Finally, we compare to experimental results for both the bias and temperature crossovers: the agreement is excellent.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Opportunities for gas-phase science at short-wavelength free-electron lasers with undulator-based polarization control

Free-electron lasers (FELs) are the world's most brilliant light sources with rapidly evolving technological capabilities in terms of ultrabright and ultrashort pulses over a large range of photon energies. Their revolutionary and innovative developments have opened new fields of science regarding nonlinear light-matter interaction, the investigation of ultrafast processes from specific observer sites, and approaches to imaging matter with atomic resolution. A core aspect of FEL science is the study of isolated and prototypical systems in the gas phase with the possibility of addressing well-defined electronic transitions or particular atomic sites in molecules. Notably for polarization-controlled short-wavelength FELs, the gas phase offers new avenues for investigations of nonlinear and ultrafast phenomena in spin-orientated systems, for decoding the function of the chiral building blocks of life as well as steering reactions and particle emission dynamics in otherwise inaccessible ways. This roadmap comprises descriptions of technological capabilities of facilities worldwide, innovative diagnostics and instrumentation, as well as recent scientific highlights, novel methodology, and mathematical modeling. The experimental and theoretical landscape of using polarization controllable FELs for dichroic light-matter interaction in the gas phase will be discussed and comprehensively outlined to stimulate and strengthen global collaborative efforts of all disciplines. Published by the American Physical Society 2025

Ilchen, Markus↗

Advanced Laboratory and Field Arrays (ALFA)/Lab Collaboration Project (LCP) for Marine Energy (Final Scientific/Technical Report)

The objective of the Advanced Laboratory and Field Arrays (ALFA) project was to reduce the Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) of Marine and Hydrokinetic (MHK) energy by leveraging research, development, and testing capabilities at Oregon State University, University of Washington, and the University of Alaska, Fairbanks. ALFA is a project within the Pacific Marine Energy Center (PMEC; formerly NNMREC), a multi-institution entity with a diverse funding base that focuses on research and development for marine renewables. The ALFA project aimed to accelerate the development of next-generation arrays of wave energy conversion (WEC) and tidal energy conversion (TEC) devices through a suite of field-focused R&D activities spanning a broad range of strategic opportunity areas identified in the Funding Opportunity Announcement: • Device and/or array operation and maintenance (O&M) logistics development; • High-fidelity resource characterization and/or modeling technique development and validation; • Array-specific component technology development (e.g. moorings and foundations, transmission, and other offshore grid components); • Array performance testing and evaluation; and • Novel cost-effective environmental monitoring techniques and instrumentation testing and evaluation. The objective of the Lab Collaboration Project (LCP) was to accelerate the development of next-generation marine energy conversion systems. The LCP aimed to achieve these project objectives in collaboration with the national laboratories by: • Developing concept generation and assessment tools; • Improving access to existing testing resources; • Validating collision risk models between fish and turbines; and • Advancing analysis and simulation capabilities for wave-WEC interactions and PTO analysis in nonlinear ocean waves. The ALFA portion of the project was comprised of six overarching technical tasks: • Task 1: Debris Modeling, Detection and Mitigation; • Task 2: Autonomous Monitoring & Intervention; • Task 3: Resource Characterization for Extreme Conditions; • Task 4: Robust Models for Design of Offshore Anchoring and Mooring Systems; • Task 5: Performance Enhancement for Marine Energy Converter (MEC) Arrays; and • Task 6: Evaluating Sampling Techniques for MHK Biological Monitoring. The LCP was divided into four overarching technical tasks: • Task 7: Project Management and Reporting • Task 8: Novel Design and Assessment Methodologies for Wave Energy Converter Design (Wave- SPARC) • Task 9: Testing Access for Commercial Marine Renewable Energy Technology Developers • Task 10: Quantifying Collision Risk for Fish and Turbines • Task 11: Nonlinear Ocean Waves and PTO Control Strategy Each ALFA/LCP task listed above functioned as a separate and discreet project. A final Technical Report was written for each individual task and these reports were uploaded to OSTI, after receiving DOE approval. The following document is a compilation of each of these final, approved reports arranged as individual chapters.

13 HYDRO ENERGY↗

Optimal Operation of PV Sources in DC Grids for Improving Technical, Economical, and Environmental Conditions by Using Vortex Search Algorithm and a Matrix Hourly Power Flow

This document presents a master–slave methodology for solving the problem of optimal operation of photovoltaic (PV) distributed generators (DGs) in direct current (DC) networks. This problem was modeled using a nonlinear programming model (NLP) that considers the minimization of three different objective functions in a daily operation of the system. The first one corresponds to the minimization of the total operational cost of the system, including the energy purchasing cost to the conventional generators and maintenance costs of the PV sources; the second objective function corresponds to the reduction of the energy losses associated with the transport of energy in the network, and the third objective function is related to the minimization of the total emissions of CO2 by the conventional generators installed on the DC grid. The minimization of these objective functions is achieved by using a master–slave optimization approach through the application of the Vortex Search algorithm combined with a matrix hourly power flow. To evaluate the effectiveness and robustness of the proposed approach, two test scenarios were used, which correspond to a grid-connected and a standalone network located in two different regions of Colombia. The grid-connected system emulates the behavior of the solar resource and power demand of the city of Medellín-Antioquia, and the standalone network corresponds to an adaptation of the generation and demand curves for the municipality of Capurganá-Choco. A numerical comparison was performed with four optimization methodologies reported in the literature: particle swarm optimization, multiverse optimizer, crow search algorithm, and salp swarm algorithm. The results obtained demonstrate that the proposed optimization approach achieved excellent solutions in terms of response quality, repeatability, and processing times.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

An Empirical Quantile Estimation Approach for Chance-Constrained Nonlinear Optimization Problems

We investigate an empirical quantile estimation approach to solve chance-constrained nonlinear optimization problems. Our approach is based on the reformulation of the chance constraint as an equivalent quantile constraint to provide stronger signals on the gradient. In this approach, the value of the quantile function is estimated empirically from samples drawn from the random parameters, and the gradient of the quantile function is estimated via a finite-difference approximation on top of the quantile-function-value estimation. We establish a convergence theory of this approach within the framework of an augmented Lagrangian method for solving general nonlinear constrained optimization problems. The foundation of the convergence analysis is a concentration property of the empirical quantile process, and the analysis is divided based on whether or not the quantile function is differentiable. In contrast to the sampling-and-smoothing approach used in the literature, the method developed in this paper does not involve any smoothing function and hence the quantile-function gradient approximation is easier to implement and there are less accuracy-control parameters to tune. Furthermore, we demonstrate the effectiveness of this approach and compare it with a smoothing method for the quantile-gradient estimation. Numerical investigation shows that the two approaches are competitive for certain problem instances.

Applied Probability↗