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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 289 records · Page 16

Static Aeroelastic Analysis with an Inviscid Cartesian Method

An embedded-boundary, Cartesian-mesh flow solver is coupled with a three degree-of-freedom structural model to perform static, aeroelastic analysis of complex aircraft geometries. The approach solves a nonlinear, aerostructural system of equations using a loosely-coupled strategy. An open-source, 3-D discrete-geometry engine is utilized to deform a triangulated surface geometry according to the shape predicted by the structural model under the computed aerodynamic loads. The deformation scheme is capable of modeling large deflections and is applicable to the design of modern, very-flexible transport wings. The coupling interface is modular so that aerodynamic or structural analysis methods can be easily swapped or enhanced. After verifying the structural model with comparisons to Euler beam theory, two applications of the analysis method are presented as validation. The first is a relatively stiff, transport wing model which was a subject of a recent workshop on aeroelasticity. The second is a very flexible model recently tested in a low speed wind tunnel. Both cases show that the aeroelastic analysis method produces results in excellent agreement with experimental data.

Aeroelastic↗

Safety Risk Reliability Model Library

SR2ML is a software package which contains a set of safety and reliability models designed to be interfaced with the INL developed RAVEN code. These models can be employed to perform both static and dynamic system risk analysis and determine risk importance of specific elements of the considered system. Two classes of reliability models have been developed; the first class includes all classical reliability models (Fault-Trees, Event-Trees, Markov models and Reliability Block Diagrams) which have been extended to deal not only with Boolean logic values but also time dependent values. The second class includes several components aging models. Models of these two classes are designed to be included in a RAVEN ensemble model to perform time dependent system reliability analysis (dynamic analysis). Similarly, these models can be interfaced with system analysis codes to determine failure time of systems and evaluate accident progression (static analysis).

Wang, Congjian↗

An Experimental Investigation of the Dynamics of the MSL Rover Landing Event

A developmental test program was conducted for the touchdown event of the Mars Science Laboratory rover. The test hardware consisted of a full-size 3/8th mass scaled test rover, a descent stage mass mock-up, and a Vectran triple-bridle system over 6 meters in length. More than eighty landing tests were performed on terrains of various types, including level rigid surfaces, level and sloped sand surfaces, and level and sloped surfaces with rocks. Landing velocities ranged between 0.4 m/s and 1.4 m/s. A computational model of the landings was developed using the ADAMS analysis program, and validation of this model has been performed through test-analysis comparisons.

Planetary Landing↗

Lunar Exploration Architecture Level Key Drivers and Sensitivities

Strategic level analysis of the integrated behavior of lunar transportation and lunar surface systems architecture options is performed to assess the benefit, viability, affordability, and robustness of system design choices. This analysis employs both deterministic and probabilistic modeling techniques so that the extent of potential future uncertainties associated with each option are properly characterized. The results of these analyses are summarized in a predefined set of high-level Figures of Merit (FOMs) so as to provide senior NASA Constellation Program (CxP) and Exploration Systems Mission Directorate (ESMD) management with pertinent information to better inform strategic level decision making. The strategic level exploration architecture model is designed to perform analysis at as high a level as possible but still capture those details that have major impacts on system performance. The strategic analysis methodology focuses on integrated performance, affordability, and risk analysis, and captures the linkages and feedbacks between these three areas. Each of these results leads into the determination of the high-level FOMs. This strategic level analysis methodology has been previously applied to Space Shuttle and International Space Station assessments and is now being applied to the development of the Constellation Program point-of-departure lunar architecture. This paper provides an overview of the strategic analysis methodology and the lunar exploration architecture analyses to date. In studying these analysis results, the strategic analysis team has identified and characterized key drivers affecting the integrated architecture behavior. These key drivers include inclusion of a cargo lander, mission rate, mission location, fixed-versus- variable costs/return on investment, and the requirement for probabilistic analysis. Results of sensitivity analysis performed on lunar exploration architecture scenarios are also presented.

Goodliff, Kandyce↗

KBase Silver Case Study: Determining Media Formulation Requirements for Isolation of Microbiome Constituents

KBase has powerful tools for extracting microbial genomes from metagenomes and performing phylogenomic analysis and metabolic modeling. These tools can be used to predict key media ingredients for isolating uncultured members of microbiomes. Essential to this process are high-quality genomes extracted from metagenomic assemblies, and Kbase has a tool for assessing the quality of genomes too. Below we identify growth factors for a myxobacteria ("slime bacteria") yet to be isolated from the rhizosphere of Miscanthus xgiganteus (hybrid of "Silvergrass"), cultivated at the Kellogg Biological Station in Michigan. Data was transferred with Globus from JGI-IMG. This narrative and the "KBase Gold Case Study: Can you find Delftia?" make up the Silver and Gold Narrative Set for teaching metagenomics concepts to students in the BIT 477/577 course at North Carolina State University. This tutorial will guide the user through the process of extracting and annotating high-quality genomes from a metagenomic data, performing phylogenomic analysis, building a metabolic model, and using these to predict nutrient requirments for growth and isolation of corresponding microbes.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Analytical Models

A system-level design and analysis model was developed. This model was conceived to have several key elements: a solar pond thermodynamic performance model, a power generation subsystem model, and an economic analysis element. The basic approach was to create these elements or modules and refine them on an individual basis yet retain the capability to easily couple them into a full system design model. This building block approach allows for maximum flexibility and substitution of refined descriptions as the technology develops. A general overview of interconnecting these subsystem models is presented. The primary program control element will perform the administrative functions of data input, data output, information storage and transfer, and sequential calling of the subsystem models. From the point of view of the requirements of a system design model, a power conversion subsystem model was developed. The goal of the effort was a preliminary subsystem model compatible with the solar pond subsystem model so that a first order system simulation analysis could be performed.

Source record↗

Detailed mathematical models of a radioisotope thermoelectric generator.

Two new models for the design and performance analysis of RTG's are outlined in this paper. The first model assumes a small-signal transient-type calculational sequence that permits the separation of steady-state operation of the generator from its dynamic behavior. The second model uses a numerical (finite difference) solution of the performance equations of the RTG. Both models enable the investigation of transient and steady-state performance of RTG's. Simplifying assumptions have been kept to a minimum in the new RTG models and these models enable the inclusion of generator end losses, axial temperature gradients and heat interchange between thermoelements and thermal insulation in RTG performance calculations in a self-consistent manner.

Dewinter, F.↗

Modal Analysis and Model Correlation of the Mir Space Station

This paper will discuss on-orbit dynamic tests, modal analysis, and model refinement studies performed as part of the Mir Structural Dynamics Experiment (MiSDE). Mir is the Russian permanently manned Space Station whose construction first started in 1986. The MiSDE was sponsored by the NASA International Space Station (ISS) Phase 1 Office and was part of the Shuttle-Mir Risk Mitigation Experiment (RME). One of the main objectives for MiSDE is to demonstrate the feasibility of performing on-orbit modal testing on large space structures to extract modal parameters that will be used to correlate mathematical models. The experiment was performed over a one-year span on the Mir-alone and Mir with a Shuttle docked. A total of 45 test sessions were performed including: Shuttle and Mir thruster firings, Shuttle-Mir and Progress-Mir dockings, crew exercise and pushoffs, and ambient noise during night-to-day and day-to-night orbital transitions. Test data were recorded with a variety of existing and new instrumentation systems that included: the MiSDE Mir Auxiliary Sensor Unit (MASU), the Space Acceleration Measurement System (SAMS), the Russian Mir Structural Dynamic Measurement System (SDMS), the Mir and Shuttle Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs), and the Shuttle payload bay video cameras. Modal analysis was performed on the collected test data to extract modal parameters, i.e. frequencies, damping factors, and mode shapes. A special time-domain modal identification procedure was used on free-decay structural responses. The results from this study show that modal testing and analysis of large space structures is feasible within operational constraints. Model refinements were performed on both the Mir alone and the Shuttle-Mir mated configurations. The design sensitivity approach was used for refinement, which adjusts structural properties in order to match analytical and test modal parameters. To verify the refinement results, the analytical responses calculated using original and refined math models were compared with the measured responses. The results from this study show that the refined models predict more accurately the dynamics of the actual structure. The MiSDE test and analysis results provided the information and experience on test design, flight testing, and data analysis for the ISS and other future spacecraft, which are critical to the verification of analytical models and structural loads.

Kim, Hyoung M.↗

Modeling of Magnetic Properties of Magnetorheological Elastomers Using JA Hysteresis Model

Magnetorheological elastomers (MREs) are composite materials that consist of magnetically permeable particles in a nonmagnetic polymeric matrix. Under the influence of an external magnetic field, a reversible deformation change occurs in the mechanical properties of these materials. Due to their coupled magnetomechanical response, these materials have been found suitable for a range of applications including tunable vibration absorbers, sensors, and actuators. Notably, improvement of such devices are prerequisites to efficient energy conversion systems, hence the need to understand further the MRE technology. The Jiles-Atherton (JA) theory takes into consideration the magneto-coupling experienced by effective domains in a magnetic material. Algorithm based on the theory yields five model parameters; saturation magnetization (M s ), domain density (a), domain coupling (α), loss coefficient (k), and reversibility (c). Using JA theory, model parameters were calculated and linked to the physical attributes of Fe powder and isotropic MRE. The results show that the calculated Ms for the MRE is reasonably related to that of the Fe powder by a factor of the particle's volume fraction used in the MRE. Further, the calculated k, a, and α provided support for the reduced pinning factor, domain density, and increased domain coupling in the MRE due to the changes in the domain structure between the two materials. From the calculated JA parameters, finite-element modeling (FEM) of the MRE hysteresis loop was performed. The analysis showed that the modeled magnetic properties including coercivity, remanence, and coordinates of the hysteresis loop tip vary with geometric position.

42 ENGINEERING↗

A materials-informatics based study of solid electrolytes and protective coatings for Li batteries

All-solid-state batteries with Li metal anode can address the safety issues surrounding traditional Li-ion batteries as well as the demand for higher energy densities. However, the development of solid electrolytes and protective coatings simultaneously possessing high ionic conductivity and wide electrochemical stability has proven to be a challenge. Here, we present a data-driven approach to explore the Li compound space for promising solid electrolytes and coatings. This is accomplished through the generation of a large database of battery-related materials properties of Li compounds by computing Li+ migration barriers using bond-valence-based pair potentials, and stability windows using density functional theory energies. Using this database, we implement machine learning models that can accurately predict migration barriers and electrochemical stability windows for any new Li compound. Through feature engineering, we ensure that our models are both accurate and interpretable. We perform feature importance analysis on our models to highlight materials properties that can be tuned for future design of coatings/electrolytes. Our database and informatics approach provide a valuable tool for the rapid discovery of new solid-state battery chemistries.

Solid state batteries↗

Neutrino-assisted early dark energy: theory and cosmology

Abstract The tension between measurements of the Hubble constant obtained at different redshifts may provide a hint of new physics active in the relatively early universe, around the epoch of matter-radiation equality. A leading paradigm to resolve the tension is a period of early dark energy, in which a scalar field contributes a subdominant part of the energy budget of the universe at this time. This scenario faces significant fine-tuning problems which can be ameliorated by a non-trivial coupling of the scalar to the standard model neutrinos. These become non-relativistic close to the time of matter-radiation equality, resulting in an energy injection into the scalar that kick-starts the early dark energy phase, explaining its coincidence with this seemingly unrelated epoch. We present a minimal version of this neutrino-assisted early dark energy model, and perform a detailed analysis of its predictions and theoretical constraints. We consider both particle physics constraints — that the model constitute a well-behaved effective field theory for which the quantum corrections are under control, so that the relevant predictions are within its regime of validity — and the constraints provided by requiring a consistent cosmological evolution from early through to late times. Our work paves the way for testing this scenario using cosmological data sets.

Astronomy & Astrophysics↗

Interpreting Write Performance of Supercomputer I/O Systems with Regression Models

This work seeks to advance the state of the art in HPC I/O performance analysis and interpretation. In particular, we demonstrate effective techniques to: (1) model output performance in the presence of I/O interference from production loads; (2) build features from write patterns and key parameters of the system architecture and configurations; (3) employ suitable machine learning algorithms to improve model accuracy. We train models with five popular regression algorithms and conduct experiments on two distinct production HPC platforms. We find that the lasso and random forest models predict output performance with high accuracy on both of the target systems. We also explore use of the models to guide adaptation in I/O middleware systems, and show potential for improvements of at least 15% from model-guided adaptation on 70% of samples, and improvements up to 10× on some samples for both of the target systems.

Xie, Bing↗

Alternate Methods of Model Reduction to Avoid Dynamic Modal Truncation Error

Loads analysis is traditionally performed using dynamically reduced models, which provides the benefit to reduce run time. If the reduced model frequency cutoff is not chosen appropriately, the model will lack the dynamic content required to fully represent the response of the non-reduced model. Standard guidance for reduced model frequency content, provided in NASA-STD-5002, is to solve fixed base modes up to a minimum of 1.5x the model frequency content of interest and to employ static modal truncation methods such as residual vectors, the mode acceleration method, and the residual flexibility method to account for the truncated flexibility of the missing modes. Fixed base modes require the selection of a set of degrees of freedom to be constrained which, if not properly selected, may affect the accuracy of the reduced model by excluding some of the dynamic characteristic of the full model. In this case, the standard NASA guidance would be insufficient, but it may not be readily apparent that a portion of the reduced model response is missing. This error was encountered during an independent verification and validation (IV&V) effort, where it was observed that the resulting dynamic response was lower than the inline analysis. In this specific case, despite following the standard NASA model reduction guidelines in the selection of the frequency cutoff, the inline model still did not fully capture the necessary dynamic content. As part of the IV&V, an alternate reduction methodology was employed using an unconstrained mode acceleration method. The original model initially performed a constrained reduction to twice the frequency content of interest before doing a free-free run, employing the mode acceleration method to account for the truncated modes. In contrast in the IV&V, the unconstrained model reduced directly to the needed frequency content of the free-free run, avoiding any interactions between constraints and dynamic content. To verify the model, the original reduction methodology was used to generate a series of Hurty-Craig-Bampton reductions, each with a higher frequency cutoff than the previous. The results were shown to converge once the frequency cutoff increased past eight times the frequency content of interest. At the same frequency cutoff, the results of the Hurty-Craig-Bampton model converged with the results of the unconstrained mode acceleration model. This comparative study provided confidence that the results of the unconstrained modal acceleration reduced model were correct and that the Hurty-Craig-Bampton needed to increase its frequency cutoff to fully capture the dynamic response.

Erin Simmons↗

Alternate Methods of Model Reduction to Avoid Dynamic Modal Truncation Error

Loads analysis is traditionally performed using dynamically reduced models, which provides the benefit to reduce run time. If the reduced model frequency cutoff is not chosen appropriately, the model will lack the dynamic content required to fully represent the response of the non-reduced model. Standard guidance for reduced model frequency content, provided in NASA-STD-5002, is to solve fixed base modes up to a minimum of 1.5x the model frequency content of interest and to employ static modal truncation methods such as residual vectors, the mode acceleration method, and the residual flexibility method to account for the truncated flexibility of the missing modes. Fixed base modes require the selection of a set of degrees of freedom to be constrained which, if not properly selected, may affect the accuracy of the reduced model by excluding some of the dynamic characteristic of the full model. In this case, the standard NASA guidance would be insufficient, but it may not be readily apparent that a portion of the reduced model response is missing. This error was encountered during an independent verification and validation (IV&V) effort, where it was observed that the resulting dynamic response was lower than the inline analysis. In this specific case, despite following the standard NASA model reduction guidelines in the selection of the frequency cutoff, the inline model still did not fully capture the necessary dynamic content. As part of the IV&V, an alternate reduction methodology was employed using an unconstrained mode acceleration method. The original model initially performed a constrained reduction to twice the frequency content of interest before doing a free-free run, employing the mode acceleration method to account for the truncated modes. In contrast in the IV&V, the unconstrained model reduced directly to the needed frequency content of the free-free run, avoiding any interactions between constraints and dynamic content. To verify the model, the original reduction methodology was used to generate a series of Hurty-Craig-Bampton reductions, each with a higher frequency cutoff than the previous. The results were shown to converge once the frequency cutoff increased past eight times the frequency content of interest. At the same frequency cutoff, the results of the Hurty-Craig-Bampton model converged with the results of the unconstrained mode acceleration model. This comparative study provided confidence that the results of the unconstrained modal acceleration reduced model were correct and that the Hurty-Craig-Bampton needed to increase its frequency cutoff to fully capture the dynamic response.

Erin Simmons↗

A discourse on sensitivity analysis for discretely-modeled structures

A descriptive review is presented of the most recent methods for performing sensitivity analysis of the structural behavior of discretely-modeled systems. The methods are generally but not exclusively aimed at finite element modeled structures. Topics included are: selections of finite difference step sizes; special consideration for finite difference sensitivity of iteratively-solved response problems; first and second derivatives of static structural response; sensitivity of stresses; nonlinear static response sensitivity; eigenvalue and eigenvector sensitivities for both distinct and repeated eigenvalues; and sensitivity of transient response for both linear and nonlinear structural response.

Adelman, Howard M.↗

Frame synchronization performance and analysis

The analysis used to generate the theoretical models showing the performance of the frame synchronizer is described for various frame lengths and marker lengths at various signal to noise ratios and bit error tolerances.

Aguilera, C. S. R.↗

CFD Simulations of Lower Plenum Mixing

Review of model development and validation performed in the Advanced Reactor Technologies (ART) program for thermal mixing at the outlet of High Temperature Gas Reactors (HTGRs). Understanding the mixing that occurs in the lower plenum in an HTGR is necessary to facilitate design improvements and to perform reactor safety analysis. Numerical models are one possible approach to gain a better understanding of mixing in the lower plenum. Given the complexity of the geometry and the intense mixing present, it is important to perform validation of numerical models. Three models have been developed during FY2025: a porous media with Pronghorn, a Reynolds Averaged Navier Stokes (RANS) with STAR-CCM+, and a Large Eddy Simulation (LES) with NekRS. The reference facility is a scaled-down version of the lower plenum of the High Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactor - Pebble-bed Module (HTR-PM) demonstration reactor. Preliminary results of the porous media and the RANS shows general good agreement against experimental benchmark data. Future work will leverage high-fidelity results obtained through LES to guide model selection and improvements to the lower-fidelity models, with particular attention to the Pronghorn porous media.

22 - GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗

Post-Fukushima Research and Development Strategy for MELCOR

Numerous MELCOR modeling improvements and analyses have been performed in the time since the severe accidents at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station that occurred in March 2011. This report briefly summarizes the related accident reconstruction and uncertainty analysis efforts. It further discusses a number of potential pursuits to further advance MELCOR modeling and analysis of the severe accidents at Fukushima Daiichi and severe accident modeling in general. Proposed paths forward include further enhancements to identified MELCOR models primarily impacting core degradation calculations, and continued application of uncertainty analysis methods to improve model performance and a develop deeper understanding of severe accident progression.

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗