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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 307 records · Page 17
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1991

High-performance multiprocessor architecture for a 3-D lattice gas model

The lattice gas method has recently emerged as a promising discrete particle simulation method in areas such as fluid dynamics. We present a very high-performance scalable multiprocessor architecture, called ALGE, proposed for the simulation of a realistic 3-D lattice gas model, Henon's 24-bit FCHC isometric model. Each of these VLSI processors is as powerful as a CRAY-2 for this application. ALGE is scalable in the sense that it achieves linear speedup for both fixed and increasing problem sizes with more processors. The core computation of a lattice gas model consists of many repetitions of two alternating phases: particle collision and propagation. Functional decomposition by symmetry group and virtual move are the respective keys to efficient implementation of collision and propagation.

Lee, F.↗
DOE OSTI2024

Quantifying the Effect of Pore‐Size Dependent Wettability on Relative Permeability Using Capillary Bundle Model

Abstract Relative permeability is a key parameter for characterizing the multiphase flow dynamics in porous media at macroscopic scale while it can be significantly impacted by wettability. Recently, it has been reported in microfluidic experiments that wettability is dependent on the pore size (Van Rooijen et al., 2022). To investigate the effect of pore‐size‐dependent wettability on relative permeability, we propose a theoretical framework informed by digital core samples to quantify the deviation of relative permeability curves due to wettability change. We find that the significance of impact is highly dependent on two factors: (i) the function between contact angle and pore size (ii) overall pore size distribution. Under linear function, this impact can be significant for tight porous media with a maximum deviation of 1,000%.

Yu, Siqin↗
DOE OSTI2020

Analytical integration of the tractions induced by non-singular dislocations on an arbitrary shaped triangular quadratic element

Here, an analytical model is proposed to evaluate the nodal force induced by a segment of dislocation upon an arbitrary shaped triangular element. This calculation is required in hybrid methods that associate dislocation dynamics to boundary or finite element to solve simultaneously the evolution of large ensembles of dislocations with complex boundary conditions. Nodal forces are defined as the triple integration of the unbalanced traction field induced by a straight dislocation upon the surface of the element. Following our previous approach (Queyreau et al 2014 Modelling Simul. Mater. Sci. Eng. 22 035004) on a simpler geometry and in the case of linear isotropic elasticity, triple integrals are solved by sequences of integration by parts that exhibit recurrence relations. The traction field is defined and finite everywhere even at the core of dislocations, thanks to the use of the non-singular stress expression formulated by Cai et al (2006 J. Mech. Phys. Solids 54 561–587). The nodal force expressions can be used when considering both a single convolution or double convolution of the Green's function with the core distribution. A solution is also proposed for the case of a semi-infinite segment through the study of the asymptotic behavior of the analytical expressions. The proposed approach is exact and very computationally efficient. The choice of an arbitrary shaped triangular element and quadratic shape functions allow the consideration of complex geometries and comply with automatic meshing procedures. These analytical expressions could also be employed to estimate dislocation interactions with interfaces.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2023

Exact Gaussian processes for massive datasets via non-stationary sparsity-discovering kernels

Abstract A Gaussian Process (GP) is a prominent mathematical framework for stochastic function approximation in science and engineering applications. Its success is largely attributed to the GP’s analytical tractability, robustness, and natural inclusion of uncertainty quantification. Unfortunately, the use of exact GPs is prohibitively expensive for large datasets due to their unfavorable numerical complexity of $$O(N^3)$$ O ( N 3 ) in computation and $$O(N^2)$$ O ( N 2 ) in storage. All existing methods addressing this issue utilize some form of approximation—usually considering subsets of the full dataset or finding representative pseudo-points that render the covariance matrix well-structured and sparse. These approximate methods can lead to inaccuracies in function approximations and often limit the user’s flexibility in designing expressive kernels. Instead of inducing sparsity via data-point geometry and structure, we propose to take advantage of naturally-occurring sparsity by allowing the kernel to discover—instead of induce—sparse structure. The premise of this paper is that the data sets and physical processes modeled by GPs often exhibit natural or implicit sparsities, but commonly-used kernels do not allow us to exploit such sparsity. The core concept of exact, and at the same time sparse GPs relies on kernel definitions that provide enough flexibility to learn and encode not only non-zero but also zero covariances. This principle of ultra-flexible, compactly-supported, and non-stationary kernels, combined with HPC and constrained optimization, lets us scale exact GPs well beyond 5 million data points.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗
DOE OSTI2022

Dynamic mode decomposition with core sketch

With the increase in collected data volumes, either from experimental measurements or high fidelity simulations, there is an ever-growing need to develop computationally efficient tools to process, analyze, and interpret these datasets. Modal analysis techniques have gained great interest due to their ability to identify patterns in the data and extract valuable information about the system being considered. Dynamic mode decomposition (DMD) relies on elements of the Koopman approximation theory to compute a set of modes, each associated with a fixed oscillation frequency and a decay/growth rate. Extracting these details from large datasets can be computationally expensive due to the need to implement singular value decomposition of the input data matrix. Sketching algorithms have become popular in numerical linear algebra where statistical theoretic approaches are utilized to reduce the cost of major operations. A sketch of a matrix is another matrix, which is significantly smaller, but still sufficiently approximates the original system. We put forth an efficient DMD framework, SketchyDMD, based on a core sketching algorithm that captures information about the range and corange (their mutual relationship) of input data. The proposed sketching-based framework can accelerate various portions of the DMD routines, compared to classical methods that operate directly on the raw input data. We conduct numerical experiments using the spherical shallow water equations as a prototypical model in the context of geophysical flows. In conclusion, we show that the proposed SketchyDMD is superior to existing randomized DMD methods that are based on capturing only the range of the input data.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
NASA NTRS1975

Magnetostatic potential theory and the lunar magnetic dipole field

The lunar magnetic dipole moment is discussed. It is proposed that if a primordial core magnetic field existed, it would give rise to a present day nonzero external dipole magnetic field. This conclusion is based on the assumption that the lunar mantle is at least slightly ferromagnetic, and thus would maintain a permanent magnetization after the disappearance of the core magnetic field. Using a simple mathematical model of the moon, calculations are performed which support this hypothesis.

Goldstein, M. L.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Mechanisms of ilmenite reduction and their impact on the design of effective reactor systems

One of the first activities at a lunar base could be oxygen recovery from ilmenite (FeTiO3). Oxygen produced from lunar soils could be used to fuel transportation vehicles operating in near-earth space. The first step in developing a suitable reactor system for lunar operation is to determine the mechanisms and rates of oxygen removal from ilmenite. In-situ gravimetric measurements and microscopic examinations were used to determine the hydrogen reduction mechanisms of synthetic ilmenite discs between 823 to 1353 K. A shrinking core reaction model, modified to account for the growth of an iron film on the surface of discs, was capable of predicting experimentally observed conversion-time relationships. The observed reduction mechanism, kinetic rates, and associated activation energy established a base line from which comparisons could be made to improve oxygen yield and removal rates. One proposed technique to improve the rate and extent of oxygen removal was to preoxidize ilmenite. Preoxidation is commonly used during the reduction of ilmenite ores in the iron industry and has been employed for many years to lower operating temperatures and increase reduction rates. This technology could prove beneficial for oxygen production facilities on the Moon as less massive reactor vessels and/or less energy could be associated with a process including preoxidation. X ray diffraction and energy dispersive spectroscopy were utilized to follow the progression of ilmenite oxidation at 1123 and 1140 K and the reduction of pseudobrookite (Fe2TiO5) at 873 and 973 K. Structures formed during the progress of oxidation were related to the system's phase diagrams. Results indicated that after initially producing ilmenite-hematite solutions and rutile (TiO2), pseudobrookite was the end product of oxidation at all temperatures examined (1049 to 1273 K). Initial results from the reduction of pseudobrookite indicate a series of phases are produced including ferropseudobrookite (FeTi2O5), ulvospinel (Fe2TiO4), and ilmenite. Rates of pseudobrookite reduction were typically 50 to 200 times that of ilmenite.

Briggs, R. A.↗
NASA NTRS2013

Prediction of Ablation Rates from Solid Surfaces Exposed to High Temperature Gas Flow

A mathematical model and a solution algorithm is developed to study the physics of high temperature heat transfer and material ablation and identify the problems associated with the flow of hydrogen gas at very high temperatures and velocities through pipes and various components of Nuclear Thermal Rocket (NTR) motors. Ablation and melting can be experienced when the inner solid surface of the cooling channels and the diverging-converging nozzle of a Nuclear Thermal Rocket (NTR) motor is exposed to hydrogen gas flow at temperatures around 2500 degrees Kelvin and pressures around 3.4 MPa. In the experiments conducted on typical NTR motors developed in 1960s, degradation of the cooling channel material (cracking in the nuclear fuel element cladding) and in some instances melting of the core was observed. This paper presents the results of a preliminary study based on two types of physics based mathematical models that were developed to simulate the thermal-hydrodynamic conditions that lead to ablation of the solid surface of a stainless steel pipe exposed to high temperature hydrogen gas near sonic velocities. One of the proposed models is one-dimensional and assumes the gas flow to be unsteady, compressible and viscous. An in-house computer code was developed to solve the conservations equations of this model using a second-order accurate finite-difference technique. The second model assumes the flow to be three-dimensional, unsteady, compressible and viscous. A commercial CFD code (Fluent) was used to solve the later model equations. Both models assume the thermodynamic and transport properties of the hydrogen gas to be temperature dependent. In the solution algorithm developed for this study, the unsteady temperature of the pipe is determined from the heat equation for the solid. The solid-gas interface temperature is determined from an energy balance at the interface which includes heat transfer from or to the interface by conduction, convection, radiation, and ablation. Two different ablation models are proposed to determine the heat loss from the solid surface due to the ablation of the solid material. Both of them are physics based. Various numerical simulations were carried out using both models to predict the temperature distribution in the solid and in the gas flow, and then predict the ablation rates at a typical NTR motor hydrogen gas temperature and pressure. Solid mass loss rate per foot of a pipe was also calculated from these predictions. The results are presented for fully developed turbulent flow conditions in a sample SS pipe with a 6 inch diameter.

Akyuzlu, Kazim M.↗
DOE OSTI2026

Cross-slip and easy-glide CRSS in titanium: Theoretical predictions and in-situ TEM measurements

This study investigates the mechanics of prismatic and first-order pyramidal $\langle$a$\rangle$ slip in titanium (Ti), elucidating the physics of easy-glide and cross-slip through a combination of theory and experiments. Screw-character prismatic (Pr) dislocations in Ti are of particular interest because their complex cores can be stable or unstable, leading to activation by either cross-slip or planar glide. To investigate these mechanisms, site-specific micro tensile samples were prepared using focused ion beam (FIB) milling and mounted on a push-to-pull (PTP) device for in-situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM) tensile testing. The in-situ experiments provide direct observations of the onset of dislocation motion and the precise determination of the critical resolved shear stress (CRSS) for the activated mechanisms, and its evolution with load cycling. A comprehensive theory has been developed to predict the CRSS values for easy glide, cross-slip, and multiplication of dislocations. Predicted critical stresses for pyramidal (π)-to-Pr and reverse cross-slip agree closely with the experimental measurements. The latter cross-slip stress is a factor of two higher than that of unobstructed planar slip. The model accounts for overlapping dislocation cores and employs a Wigner-Seitz based cell to evaluate misfit energies. By combining ab initio density functional theory (DFT) with anisotropic elasticity, the framework identifies minimum energy pathways for dislocation glide, which can be intermittent and zig-zag. A simplified expression utilizing (π) and Pr Schmid factor ratios is proposed for critical stress corresponding to (π)-to-Pr cross-slip transition. The results are strongly dependent on crystal orientation, underscoring non-Schmid behavior. Overall, this study explores key critical stress parameters essential for informing higher-scale simulations of plasticity in Ti.

Critical stress↗
DOE OSTI2026

Technoeconomic Design Optimization for Fast Reactors. Part II: Impact of Technoeconomic Constraints on Optimal Design

There is a current drive toward optimizing reactors, particularly small/micro reactors to minimize cost and maximize performance. Previous work has investigated the development of technoeconomic workflows for the design optimization of pool-type fast reactors that aim to deploy into district energy grids. Initial scoping studies verified that the workflow was capable of capturing design trends throughout a variety of design configurations and problem formulations while remaining sufficiently flexible. In this paper, this methodology is applied to understand how cost functions and technoeconomic constraints can drive optimal reactor design. Specifically, the UPu10Zr-fueled fast reactor model from Part I is adapted to include changes in the fissile content limits, control rod worth limits, control rod drive cost, and assumed fuel form. In the case of constraint relaxation at fixed power (fissile content and control rod worth limits), cost sensitivities of 5% to 10% were uncovered. Multi-objective optimization at varying reactor power levels with individualized control rod drives for each assembly (as opposed to one operational and one safety drive) increased cost by $\$10$ to $\$25$ million and substantially altered the optimal core geometry, favoring geometries with substantially fewer control rod placements relative to baseline optimization. Finally, a multi-objective optimization was performed at varying power levels with the fuel form overhauled to metallic, high-assay low-enriched uranium–based U10Zr with more refined fuel cost models. In the case of uranium fueling, the costs increased by at least $50 million relative to the baseline case. Furthermore, economic fuel zoning and lower reactivity swing cores were recovered. Each case serves to demonstrate the value of applying technoeconomic workflows to initial reactor design scoping studies to better understand the trade-off for a proposed concept between different design options.

Argonne Reactor Computation (ARC) codes↗
DOE OSTI2020

Evaluating proxy influence in assimilated paleoclimate reconstructions – Testing the exchangeability of two ensembles of spatial processes

Climate field reconstructions (CFR) attempt to estimate spatiotemporal fields of climate variables in the past using climate proxies such as tree rings, ice cores, and corals. Data Assimilation (DA) methods are a recent and promising new means of deriving CFRs that optimally fuse climate proxies with climate model output. Despite the growing application of DA-based CFRs, little is understood about how much the assimilated proxies change the statistical properties of the climate model data. To address this question, we propose a robust and computationally efficient method, based on functional data depth, to evaluate differences in the distributions of two spatiotemporal processes. In this study, we apply our test to study global and regional proxy influence in DA-based CFRs by comparing the background and analysis states, which are treated as two samples of spatiotemporal fields. We find that the analysis states are significantly altered from the climate-model-based background states due to the assimilation of proxies. Moreover, the difference between the analysis and background states increases with the number of proxies, even in regions far beyond proxy collection sites. Our approach allows us to characterize the added value of proxies, indicating where and when the analysis states are distinct from the background states.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2024

Bridging the Gap Between LLMs and LNS with Dynamic Data Format and Architecture Codesign

Deep neural networks (DNNs) have achieved tremendous success in the past few years. However, their training and inference demand exceptional computational and memory resources. Quantization has been shown as an effective approach to mitigate the cost, with the mainstream data types reduced from FP32 to FP16/BF16 and recently FP8 in the latest NVIDIA H100 GPUs. With increasingly aggressive quantization, however, the conventional floating-point formats suffer from limited precision in representing numbers around zero. Recently, NVIDIA demonstrated the potential of using a Logarithmic Number System (LNS) for the next generation of tensor cores. While LNS mitigates the hurdles in representing small numbers, in this work we observed a mismatch between LNS and the emerging Large Language Models (LLM), where LLM exhibits significant outliers when directly adopting the LNS format. In this paper, we present a data-format/architecture codesign to bright this gap. On the format side, we propose a dynamic LNS format to flexibly represent outliers at a higher precision, by exploiting asymmetry in the LNS representation and identifying outliers through a per-vector basis. On the architecture side, for demonstration, we realize the dynamic LNS format in a systolic array, which can handle the irregularity of the outliers at runtime. We implement our approach on an Alveo U280 FPGA as a prototype. Experimental results show that our design can effectively handle the outliers and resolve the mismatch between LNS and LLM, contributing to an accuracy improvement of 15.4% and 16% over the floating-point and the original LNS baselines, using four state-of-the-art LLM models. Our observation and design lay a solid foundation for the large-scale adoption of the LNS format in the next-generation deep learning hardware.

Haghi, Pouya↗
NASA NTRS1973

A lunar core of Fe-Ni-S.

It has been proposed that lunar samples were magnetized by a field created by a lunar core of molten Fe. Low abundances of siderophile elements in lunar rocks are compatible with formation of a metallic lunar core. A molten Fe core requires that the bulk of the moon was above, or close to, the melting point, a requirement which disagrees with most models of the lunar thermal regime. A core (or perhaps a layer or pockets) of molten Fe-Ni-S, at or close to the eutectic composition would act as a lunar dynamo, and be at a temperature (approximately 1000 C) consistent with some reasonable models of lunar thermal history. The existence of a Fe-Ni-S core would also partly explain the depletion in volatile elements in lunar basalts. Such a core, occupying up to 20% of the moon's radius, requires a bulk S content for the moon of only 0.3 wt %.

Brett, R.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Initial development of a new empirical model of the earth's inner magnetosphere for density, temperature, and composition

The analytical representation of plasma characteristics in the near earth environment is a valuable tool for studying wave propagation, for new instrument and spacecraft design, and for developing a better theoretical understanding of plasmaspheric processes. There are no empirical models currently available that encompass the near-earth environment and include the core or low-energy plasma characteristic of that region. The initial steps to constructing a new empirical model of plasmaspheric density, temperature, and composition are discussed. A limited set of density measurements from the retarding ion mass spectrometer and the plasma wave instrument on the Dynamics Explorer 1 spacecraft is used to demonstrate features of the proposed analytical formalism.

Gallagher, D. L.↗
NASA NTRS2002

Core Research Program, Year 5

Dramatic losses of bone mineral density (BMD) and muscle strength are two of the best documented changes observed in humans after prolonged exposure to microgravity. Recovery of muscle upon return to a 1-G environment is well studied, however, far less is known about the rate and completeness of BMD recovery to pre-flight values. Using the mature tail-suspended adult rat model, this proposal will focus on the temporal course of recovery in tibial bone following a 28-d period of skeletal unloading. Through the study of bone density and muscle strength in the same animal, time-points during recovery from simulated microgravity will be identified when bone is at an elevated risk for fracture. These will occur due to the rapid recovery of muscle strength coupled with a slower recovery of bone, producing a significant mismatch in functional strength of these two tissues. Once the time-point of maximal mismatch is defined, various mechanical and pharmacological interventions will be tested at and around this time-point in attempt to minimize the functional difference of bone and muscle. The outcomes of this research will have high relevance for optimizing the rehabilitation of astronauts upon return to Earth, as well as upon landing on the Martian surface before assuming arduous physical tasks. Further. it will impact significantly on rehabilitation issues common to patients experiencing long periods of limb immobilization or bed rest.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS2017

Advanced Noise Abatement Procedures for a Supersonic Business Jet

Supersonic civil aircraft present a unique noise certification challenge. High specific thrust required for supersonic cruise results in high engine exhaust velocity and high levels of jet noise during takeoff. Aerodynamics of thin, low-aspect-ratio wings equipped with relatively simple flap systems deepen the challenge. Advanced noise abatement procedures have been proposed for supersonic aircraft. These procedures promise to reduce airport noise, but they may require departures from normal reference procedures defined in noise regulations. The subject of this report is a takeoff performance and noise assessment of a notional supersonic business jet. Analytical models of an airframe and a supersonic engine derived from a contemporary subsonic turbofan core are developed. These models are used to predict takeoff trajectories and noise. Results indicate advanced noise abatement takeoff procedures are helpful in reducing noise along lateral sidelines.

Berton, Jeffrey J.↗
DOE OSTI2021

Searching for solar KDAR with DUNE

The observation of 236 MeV muon neutrinos from kaon-decay-at-rest (KDAR) originating in the core of the Sun would provide a unique signature of dark matter annihilation. Since excellent angle and energy reconstruction are necessary to detect this monoenergetic, directional neutrino flux, DUNE with its vast volume and reconstruction capabilities, is a promising candidate for a KDAR neutrino search. In this work, we evaluate the proposed KDAR neutrino search strategies by realistically modeling both neutrino-nucleus interactions and the response of DUNE. We find that, although reconstruction of the neutrino energy and direction is difficult with current techniques in the relevant energy range, the superb energy resolution, angular resolution, and particle identification offered by DUNE can still permit great signal/background discrimination. Moreover, there are non-standard scenarios in which searches at DUNE for KDAR in the Sun can probe dark matter interactions.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2022

Development of an MC&A toolbox for liquid-fueled molten salt reactors with online reprocessing (Final Report)

A critical barrier to the deployment of MSRs is the absence of a well-defined nuclear material control and accounting (MC&A) approach, a vital prerequisite to meet NRC licensing requirements as well as facilitating future international exports. Liquid-fueled MSR variants (especially those incorporating online refueling or reprocessing) present a unique set of challenges to traditional nuclear material control and accountancy. Unlike solid-fueled light-water reactors, traditional item-counting methods cannot be applied as an accountancy strategy. Rather, MC&A approaches to MSR variants (including both uranium and thorium fueled designs) are more analogous to bulk material handling facilities (e.g., enrichment and reprocessing); yet further complicating matters is the fact that fuel medium is also highly radioactive. Meanwhile, the space of MSRs covers a broad range of design parameters, including thermal and fast spectra designs; operation in actinide breeder or burner modes, choice of actinide fuel used (e.g., 235 U, 232 Th / 233 U, denatured 233 U, etc.), pool or loop-type configuration, and even different salt chemistry. Each of these design choices introduce significant challenges to MC&A approaches within MSR facilities. We propose to bridge this gap for liquid-fueled MSRs by developing a modular, component-based test framework for evaluating viable process monitoring and MC&A techniques specifically suited to liquid-fueled MSR system variants employing online refueling or reprocessing. This test platform will consist of a toolbox of independent process modules representing discrete physical units (such as the reactor core, off-gas processing, decay tanks, and actinide separation units), each with its own self-contained physics responsive to the input mass flow, along with appropriate measurement models that can be coupled to key flow points. These dynamic physical signatures thus afford the ability to test the viability and efficacy of potential accountancy techniques under the full range of reactor operating conditions. As process modules are connected via mass flows, the result is a reconfigurable, generic MSR mass flow model capable of serving as an MC&A test platform for a broad spectrum of possible MSR configurations. The resulting MSR MC&A toolbox will enable robust assessment of accountancy strategies for this unique facility type, including analysis of physical feedbacks arising both from depletion of the fuel over time as well as from potential off-normal events, including those introduced by equipment failures (e.g., a pump failure) as well as by malicious action (i.e., attempts to divert material). The proposed toolbox both addresses a critical needs area for the MPACT analysis toolkit while leveraging existing MPACT-sponsored tools, especially with respect to simulation of measurement and accountancy techniques for advanced fuel cycle facilities. Beyond enabling new analysis capabilities for MSR systems, the design of this toolbox will be to such to maximize compatibility with existing MPACT tools, such to enhance existing facility MC&A analysis capabilities.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗