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At least 379 records · Page 21
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2017

A CubeSat-Payload Radiation-Reliability Assurance Case using Goal Structuring Notation

CubeSats have become an attractive platform for universities, industry, and government space missions because they are cheaper and quicker to develop than full-scale satellites. One way CubeSats keep costs low is by using commercial off-the-shelf parts (COTS) instead of space-qualified parts. Space-qualified parts are often costlier, larger, and consume more power than their commercial counterparts precluding their use within the CubeSat form-factor. Given typical power budgets, monetary budgets, and timelines for CubeSat missions, conventional radiation hardness assurance, like the use of space-qualified parts and radiation testing campaigns of COTS parts, is not practical. Instead, a system-level approach to radiation effects mitigation is needed. In this paper an assurance case for a system-level approach to mitigate radiation effects of a CubeSat science experiment is expressed using Goal Structuring Notation (GSN), a graphical argument standard. The case specifically looks at three main mitigation strategies for the radiation environment: total ionizing dose (TID) screening of parts, detection and recovery from single-event latch-ups (SEL) and single-event functional interrupts (SEFI). The graphical assurance case presented makes a qualitative argument for the radiation reliability of the CubeSat experiment using part and system-level mitigation strategies.

COTS↗
DOE OSTI2011

MANAGING UNCERTAINTIES ASSOCIATED WITH RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL: TASK GROUP 4 OF THE IAEA PRISM PROJECT

It is widely recognized that the results of safety assessment calculations provide an important contribution to the safety arguments for a disposal facility, but cannot in themselves adequately demonstrate the safety of the disposal system. The safety assessment and a broader range of arguments and activities need to be considered holistically to justify radioactive waste disposal at any particular site. Many programs are therefore moving towards the production of what has become known as a Safety Case, which includes all of the different activities that are conducted to demonstrate the safety of a disposal concept. Recognizing the growing interest in the concept of a Safety Case, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is undertaking an intercomparison and harmonization project called PRISM (Practical Illustration and use of the Safety Case Concept in the Management of Near-surface Disposal). The PRISM project is organized into four Task Groups that address key aspects of the Safety Case concept: Task Group 1 - Understanding the Safety Case; Task Group 2 - Disposal facility design; Task Group 3 - Managing waste acceptance; and Task Group 4 - Managing uncertainty. This paper addresses the work of Task Group 4, which is investigating approaches for managing the uncertainties associated with near-surface disposal of radioactive waste and their consideration in the context of the Safety Case. Emphasis is placed on identifying a wide variety of approaches that can and have been used to manage different types of uncertainties, especially non-quantitative approaches that have not received as much attention in previous IAEA projects. This paper includes discussions of the current results of work on the task on managing uncertainty, including: the different circumstances being considered, the sources/types of uncertainties being addressed and some initial proposals for approaches that can be used to manage different types of uncertainties.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗
DOE OSTI2010

SURFACE SYMMETRY ENERGY OF NUCLEAR ENERGY DENSITY FUNCTIONALS

We study the bulk deformation properties of the Skyrme nuclear energy density functionals. Following simple arguments based on the leptodermous expansion and liquid drop model, we apply the nuclear density functional theory to assess the role of the surface symmetry energy in nuclei. To this end, we validate the commonly used functional parametrizations against the data on excitation energies of superdeformed band-heads in Hg and Pb isotopes, and fission isomers in actinide nuclei. After subtracting shell effects, the results of our self-consistent calculations are consistent with macroscopic arguments and indicate that experimental data on strongly deformed configurations in neutron-rich nuclei are essential for optimizing future nuclear energy density functionals. The resulting survey provides a useful benchmark for further theoretical improvements. Unlike in nuclei close to the stability valley, whose macroscopic deformability hangs on the balance of surface and Coulomb terms, the deformability of neutron-rich nuclei strongly depends on the surface-symmetry energy; hence, its proper determination is crucial for the stability of deformed phases of the neutron-rich matter and description of fission rates for r-process nucleosynthesis.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2010

Listing triangles in expected linear time on a class of power law graphs.

Enumerating triangles (3-cycles) in graphs is a kernel operation for social network analysis. For example, many community detection methods depend upon finding common neighbors of two related entities. We consider Cohen's simple and elegant solution for listing triangles: give each node a 'bucket.' Place each edge into the bucket of its endpoint of lowest degree, breaking ties consistently. Each node then checks each pair of edges in its bucket, testing for the adjacency that would complete that triangle. Cohen presents an informal argument that his algorithm should run well on real graphs. We formalize this argument by providing an analysis for the expected running time on a class of random graphs, including power law graphs. We consider a rigorously defined method for generating a random simple graph, the erased configuration model (ECM). In the ECM each node draws a degree independently from a marginal degree distribution, endpoints pair randomly, and we erase self loops and multiedges. If the marginal degree distribution has a finite second moment, it follows immediately that Cohen's algorithm runs in expected linear time. Furthermore, it can still run in expected linear time even when the degree distribution has such a heavy tail that the second moment is not finite. We prove that Cohen's algorithm runs in expected linear time when the marginal degree distribution has finite 4/3 moment and no vertex has degree larger than {radical}n. In fact we give the precise asymptotic value of the expected number of edge pairs per bucket. A finite 4/3 moment is required; if it is unbounded, then so is the number of pairs. The marginal degree distribution of a power law graph has bounded 4/3 moment when its exponent {alpha} is more than 7/3. Thus for this class of power law graphs, with degree at most {radical}n, Cohen's algorithm runs in expected linear time. This is precisely the value of {alpha} for which the clustering coefficient tends to zero asymptotically, and it is in the range that is relevant for the degree distribution of the World-Wide Web.

99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS↗
DOE OSTI2011

Complex Biological Event Extraction from Full Text using Signatures of Linguistic and Semantic Features

Building on technical advances from the BioNLP 2009 Shared Task Challenge, the 2011 challenge sets forth to generalize techniques to other complex biological event extraction tasks. In this paper, we present the implementation and evaluation of a signature-based machine-learning technique to predict events from full texts of infectious disease documents. Specifically, our approach uses novel signatures composed of traditional linguistic features and semantic knowledge to predict event triggers and their candidate arguments. Using a leave-one out analysis, we report the contribution of linguistic and shallow semantic features in the trigger prediction and candidate argument extraction. Lastly, we examine evaluations and posit causes for errors of infectious disease track subtasks.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2011

Quantum Locality?

Robert Griffiths has recently addressed, within the framework of a ‘consistent quantum theory’ (CQT) that he has developed, the issue of whether, as is often claimed, quantum mechanics entails a need for faster-than-light transfers of information over long distances. He argues, on the basis of his examination of certain arguments that claim to demonstrate the existence of such nonlocal influences, that such influences do not exist. However, his examination was restricted mainly to hidden-variable-based arguments that include in their premises some essentially classical-physics-type assumptions that are fundamentally incompatible with the precepts of quantum physics. One cannot logically prove properties of a system by attributing to the system properties alien to that system. Hence Griffiths’ rejection of hidden-variable-based proofs is logically warranted. Griffiths mentions the existence of a certain alternative proof that does not involve hidden variables, and that uses only macroscopically described observable properties. He notes that he had examined in his book proofs of this general kind, and concluded that they provide no evidence for nonlocal influences. But he did not examine the particular proof that he cites. An examination of that particular proof by the method specified by his ‘consistent quantum theory’ shows that the cited proof is valid within that restrictive framework. This necessary existence, within the ‘consistent’ framework, of long range essentially instantaneous influences refutes the claim made by Griffiths that his ‘consistent’ framework is superior to the orthodox quantum theory of von Neumann because it does not entail instantaneous influences. An added section responds to Griffiths’ reply, which cites a litany of ambiguities that seem to restrict, devastatingly, the scope of his CQT formalism, apparently to buttress his claim that my use of that formalism to validate the nonlocality theorem is flawed. But the vagaries that he cites do not upset the proof in question. It is show here in detail why the precise statement of this theorem justifies the specified application of CQT. It is also shown, in response to his challenge, why a putative proof of locality that he has proposed is not valid.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2015

Java Source Code Analysis for API Migration to Embedded Systems

Embedded systems form an integral part of our technological infrastructure and oftentimes play a complex and critical role within larger systems. From the perspective of reliability, security, and safety, strong arguments can be made favoring the use of Java over C in such systems. In part, this argument is based on the assumption that suitable subsets of Java’s APIs and extension libraries are available to embedded software developers. In practice, a number of Java-based embedded processors do not support the full features of the JVM. For such processors, source code migration is a mechanism by which key abstractions offered by APIs and extension libraries can made available to embedded software developers. The analysis required for Java source code-level library migration is based on the ability to correctly resolve element references to their corresponding element declarations. A key challenge in this setting is how to perform analysis for incomplete source-code bases (e.g., subsets of libraries) from which types and packages have been omitted. This article formalizes an approach that can be used to extend code bases targeted for migration in such a manner that the threats associated the analysis of incomplete code bases are eliminated.

Winter, Victor↗
DOE OSTI2012

The LLWR's 2011 Environmental Safety Case - 12143

The Low Level Waste Repository (LLWR) is the United Kingdom's principal facility for the disposal of LLW. The LLWR recently submitted an Environmental Safety Case (ESC), which will support applications to regulatory and government authorities to dispose of LLW and to start to install final closure engineering. The ESC is a major submission, with important implications for the future of the LLWR and the United Kingdom's management of LLW. The paper describes the context of the ESC, the ESC, its results and conclusions, and its implementation. The description shows that our ESC is a modern safety case developed as a range of safety arguments concerning our management, scientific and technical understanding, optimisation of the facility, as well as assessment calculations. The LLWR's 2011 ESC is a major submission, with important implications for the future of the LLWR and the United Kingdom's management of LLW. The description given of the scope of the ESC shows that it is a modern safety case developed as a range of safety arguments concerning our management, scientific and technical understanding, optimisation of the facility, as well as assessment calculations. A number of key advances have been made since the previous submission. In particular, the 2011 ESC addresses the criticisms made by the regulator on the previous submission in 2002, including those relating to lack of demonstration of optimisation, high calculated doses and risks compared with guidance levels, treatment of coastal erosion, and treatment of uncertainty. The ESC is being reviewed by the environmental regulator and it is hoped that a new permit for disposal of LLW and installation of closure engineering, along with the appropriate planning permission, will be obtained during 2013. The ESC, including its proposed waste acceptance arrangements, is already being implemented by the LLWR where consistent with our current Permit. (authors)

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗
DOE OSTI2018

Safety Concept and Safety Assessment for a HLW Repository in Bedded Salt in Germany - 18253

The German site selection act for a repository for vitrified HLW and SNF demands the consideration of various host rock formations for deep geological disposal. One of the eligible and presently investigated host rock formations is bedded rock salt. Within the framework of the national R and D project KOSINA the scientific bases for the design and safety assessment of a repository for HLW and SNF in bedded salt formations were provided. The research findings presented in this paper include the formulation of a safety concept and safety demonstration concept as well as exemplary radiological consequences analysis for a generic repository in bedded rock salt formations. The safety concept describes in a verbal, argument-based way how the natural conditions, processes and technical measures at large yield a status of safety. Fundamental principle of the safety concept is the concentration and containment of the radioactive and other pollutants in the waste in the containment providing rock zone (CRZ), which ensures isolation from the biosphere. Based on the principle of safe containment inside the CRZ guiding principles, design objectives and strategic measures are derived. The safety demonstration concept describes the means, such as analyses and arguments, which are used in the safety case to demonstrate the safety of a repository system in bedded salt on the basis of the safety concept and its guiding principles and design objectives. The decisive elements are: the demonstration of integrity of the geological barrier, the demonstration of integrity of the geotechnical barriers, the scenario analysis, and the evaluation of the identified scenarios. These elements are complemented in the safety demonstration by concepts on how to consider criticality, non-radiological protection goals and operational safety. The radiological consequences analysis primarily consists of the calculation of the radiological safety indicator for different test cases and scenarios for the various repository design and waste emplacement options. Within the KOSINA project the disposal concepts of drift disposal, horizontal and vertical borehole disposals were investigated in detail by means of computational flow and transport modelling of the repository mine (near field) and assessment of the radiological consequences (biosphere model). The applied software package RepoTREND is introduced; the modelling concept and employed radiological indicators are explained. Examples of the modelling results for the reference cases of the drift disposal repository concept for bedded salt will be given, demonstrating the capabilities of the model and the applicability to close-to-reality repository systems for deep geological disposal. (authors)

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗
DOE OSTI2024

Can an Efficient Nuclear Energy Industry Still be Resilient? On the Nature of Efficiency and Resiliency in Complex Systems

At the time of writing, the nuclear industry is on the precipice of a long-hoped for, but as-yet-unrealized, “nuclear renaissance.” Nuclear power plants in the United States and around the globe are aging, emphasizing the criticality of this moment. The importance of carbon free power sources combined with advancements in nuclear technology and innovation have brought a new potential landscape. As existing reactors and utilities cope with increased economic pressure by seeking out efficiencies the push towards novel nuclear platforms like microreactors and fission batteries will only increase this quest for efficiency gains, potentially at the detriment of safety. This paper argues that the concepts of efficiency and resiliency are fundamentally linked and that the change in one necessarily affects the other. As nuclear power is known for being incredibly resilient, this dichotomy needs attention from the current wave of research towards nuclear power efficiencies. This paper argues for resiliency at any cost. We argue that this resilience-first approach is the right path for nuclear power to take in this net-zero future. The paper is laid out as follows. Section 1 introduces the economic context and resilient nature of nuclear power. Section 2 discusses efficiency, resiliency, and the struggle between the two in nuclear power. Section 3 exemplifies our argument through case studies in the aviation and manufacturing industries and extends the argument to the nuclear industry. Section 4 concludes with a discussion of the implications of this idea.

22 - GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Safety Assurance Framework for Nuclear Digital Instrumentation and Control Software

Software in digital instrumentation and control (D&C) systems poses unique challenges for the safety assurance of nuclear power plants. Through a literature survey of 21 sources, we analyzed various claims, arguments, and evidence used in safety assurance cases across industries. These were organized into a Goal Structuring Notation (GSN) safety assurance case framework to organize and visualize the various arguments for DI&C safety. We developed a classification for the levels of the framework, which can be used in other safety assurance cases to improve clarity.

46 - INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AN↗
DOE OSTI2019

A framework for assessment of predictive capability maturity and its application in nuclear thermal hydraulics

Here this work presents a formalized and computerized framework for the assessment of decision regarding the adequacy of a simulation tool for a nuclear reactor application. The decision regarding a code’s adequacy for an application is dependent on the assessment of different attributes that govern verification, validation, and uncertainty quantification of the code. In this work, the focus is on code validation. Therefore, the framework is developed and illustrated from the perspective of decision regarding the validation assessment of a code. Code validation assessment is performed based on the validation test results, data applicability, and process quality assurance factors. The process quality assurance factors warrant the trustworthiness of the evidence and help in checking people and process compliance with respect to the standard requirements. The proposed framework is developed using an argument modeling technique called Goal Structuring Notation (GSN). Goal structuring notation facilitates structural knowledge representation, information abstraction, evidence incorporation, and provides a skeletal structure for quantitative maturity assessment. The decision schema for the development of the decision model is based on the Predictive Capability Maturity Model (PCMM) and Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and formalized using Goal structuring notation. Each decision attribute is formulated as a claim, where the degree of validity of the claim (attribute’s assessment) is expressed using different maturity levels. The GSN representation of the decision model is transformed into a confidence network to provide evidence-based quantitative maturity assessment using the Bayesian network. A metric based on the expected utility of maturity levels, called expected distance metric, is proposed to measure the distance between target maturity and achieved maturity on a scale of zero to one. Expected distance metric helps in comparing the assessment of different attributes and identification of major areas of concern in terms of modeling capability, data needs, and quality of assessment process. The practical application of the framework is demonstrated by a case study on validation assessment of a thermal-hydraulic code for a challenge problem called Departure from Nucleate Boiling (DNB).

42 ENGINEERING↗
NASA NTRS2022

AdvoCATE User Guide

This tutorial gives an overview of AdvoCATE - the assurance case automation toolset - which provides a suite of features for safety risk management, including hazard analysis, the linking of hazards to requirement logs, risk modeling using bow tie diagrams, structured arguments, and evidence logs. In this tutorial we show how these related assurance artifacts can be combined with each other in an integrated assurance case.

Safety assurance↗
DOE OSTI2015

Identification of the dominant ULF wave mode and generation mechanism for obliquely propagating waves in the Earth's foreshock

Abstract We discuss mechanisms of the generation of ultralow frequency (ULF) upstream waves in the terrestrial foreshock that are essential for the acceleration of ions in space plasmas. The analysis is based on global hybrid kinetic simulations of the magnetosphere that provide realistic environment for the growth of the ULF waves in a quasi‐radial configuration of the interplanetary magnetic field. We focus on a long‐debated problem of the generation mechanism of oblique and parallel ULF waves and provide quantitative arguments in favor of the ion/ion cyclotron resonant instability. We also show that parallel propagating waves are predominantly generated in this configuration, but geometrical effects related to the phase space density in wave vector space lead to apparent predominance of obliquely propagating waves. Correspondence between the results outlined above and previously published experimental claims is thoroughly discussed and our results are shown to be consistent with spacecraft measurements.

Strumik, M.↗
DOE OSTI2015

Correlated Pc4-5 ULF waves, whistler-mode chorus, and pulsating aurora observed by the Van Allen Probes and ground-based systems

Theory and observations have linked equatorial VLF waves with pulsating aurora for decades, invoking the process of pitch angle scattering of tens of keV electrons in the equatorial magnetosphere. Recently published satellite studies have strengthened this argument, by showing strong correlation between pulsating auroral patches and both lower-band chorus and tens of keV electron modulation in the vicinity of geosynchronous orbit. Additionally, a previous link has been made between Pc4–5 compressional pulsations and modulation of whistler-mode chorus using Time History of Events and Macroscale Interactions during Substorms. In the current study, we present simultaneous in situ observations of structured chorus waves and an apparent field line resonance (in the Pc4–5 range) as a result of a substorm injection, observed by Van Allen Probes, along with ground-based observations of pulsating aurora. We demonstrate the likely scenario being one of substorm-driven Pc4–5 ULF pulsations modulating chorus waves, and thus providing the driver for pulsating particle precipitation into the Earth's atmosphere. Interestingly, the modulated chorus wave and ULF wave periods are well correlated, with chorus occurring at half the periodicity of the ULF waves. We also show, for the first time, a particular few-Hz modulation of individual chorus elements that coincides with the same modulation in a nearby pulsating aurora patch. As a result, such modulation has been noticed as a high-frequency component in ground-based camera data of pulsating aurora for decades and may be a result of nonlinear chorus wave interactions in the equatorial region.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2017

Scaling the Ion Inertial Length and Its Implications for Modeling Reconnection in Global Simulations

Abstract We investigate the use of artificially increased ion and electron kinetic scales in global plasma simulations. We argue that as long as the global and ion inertial scales remain well separated, (1) the overall global solution is not strongly sensitive to the value of the ion inertial scale, while (2) the ion inertial scale dynamics will also be similar to the original system, but it occurs at a larger spatial scale, and (3) structures at intermediate scales, such as magnetic islands, grow in a self‐similar manner. To investigate the validity and limitations of our scaling hypotheses, we carry out many simulations of a two‐dimensional magnetosphere with the magnetohydrodynamics with embedded particle‐in‐cell (MHD‐EPIC) model. The PIC model covers the dayside reconnection site. The simulation results confirm that the hypotheses are true as long as the increased ion inertial length remains less than about 5% of the magnetopause standoff distance. Since the theoretical arguments are general, we expect these results to carry over to three dimensions. The computational cost is reduced by the third and fourth powers of the scaling factor in two‐ and three‐dimensional simulations, respectively, which can be many orders of magnitude. The present results suggest that global simulations that resolve kinetic scales for reconnection are feasible. This is a crucial step for applications to the magnetospheres of Earth, Saturn, and Jupiter and to the solar corona.

Tóth, Gábor↗
DOE OSTI2020

A New Family of Proton‐Conducting Electrolytes for Reversible Solid Oxide Cells: BaHf x Ce 0.8− x Y 0.1 Yb 0.1 O 3− δ

Abstract Reversible solid oxide cells based on ceramic proton conductors have potential to be the most efficient system for large‐scale energy storage. The performance and long‐term durability of these systems, however, are often limited by the ionic conductivity or stability of the proton‐conducting electrolyte. Here new family of solid oxide electrolytes, BaHf x Ce 0.8− x Y 0.1 Yb 0.1 O 3− δ (BHCYYb), which demonstrate a superior ionic conductivity to stability trade‐off than the state‐of‐the‐art proton conductors, BaZr x Ce 0.8− x Y 0.1 Yb 0.1 O 3− δ (BZCYYb), at similar Zr/Hf concentrations, as confirmed by thermogravimetric analysis, Raman, and X‐ray diffraction analysis of samples over 500 h of testing are reported. The increase in performance is revealed through thermodynamic arguments and first‐principle calculations. In addition, lab scale full cells are fabricated, demonstrating high peak power densities of 1.1, 1.4, and 1.6 W cm −2 at 600, 650, and 700 °C, respectively. Round‐trip efficiencies for steam electrolysis at 1 A cm −2 are 78%, 72%, and 62% at 700, 650, and 600 °C, respectively. Finally, CO 2 H 2 O electrolysis is carried out for over 700 h with no degradation.

Murphy, Ryan↗