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At least 415 records · Page 23

A general unified approach to modelling switching-converter power stages

A method for modeling switching-converter power stages is developed, whose starting point is the unified state-space representation of the switched networks and whose end result is either a complete state-space description or its equivalent small-signal low-frequency linear circuit model. A new canonical circuit model is proposed, whose fixed topology contains all the essential input-output and control properties of any dc-to-dc switching converter, regardless of its detailed configuration, and by which different converters can be characterized in the form of a table conveniently stored in a computer data bank to provide a useful tool for computer aided design and optimization. The new canonical circuit model predicts that, in general, switching action introduces both zeros and poles into the duty ratio to output transfer function in addition to those from the effective filter network.

Middlebrook, R. D.↗

A general unified approach to modelling switching dc-to-dc converters in discontinuous conduction mode

A method for modelling switching converters in the discontinuous conduction mode is developed, whose starting point is the unified state-space representation, and whose end result is a complete linear circuit model which correctly represents all essential features, namely, the input, output, and transfer properties (static dc as well as dynamic ac small signal). While the method is generally applicable to any switching converter operating in the discontinuous conduction mode, it is extensively illustrated for the three common power stages (buck, boost, and buck-boost). The results for these converters are then easily tabulated owing to the fixed equivalent circuit topology of their canonical circuit model.

Cuk, S.↗

A global wave-driven magnetohydrodynamic solar model with a unified treatment of open and closed magnetic field topologies

We describe, analyze, and validate the recently developed Alfvén Wave Solar Model, a three-dimensional global model starting from the top of the chromosphere and extending into interplanetary space (out to 1-2 AU). This model solves the extended, two-temperature magnetohydrodynamics equations coupled to a wave kinetic equation for low-frequency Alfvén waves. In this picture, heating and acceleration of the plasma are due to wave dissipation and to wave pressure gradients, respectively. The dissipation process is described by a fully developed turbulent cascade of counterpropagating waves. We adopt a unified approach for calculating the wave dissipation in both open and closed magnetic field lines, allowing for a self-consistent treatment in any magnetic topology. Wave dissipation is the only heating mechanism assumed in the model; no geometric heating functions are invoked. Electron heat conduction and radiative cooling are also included. We demonstrate that the large-scale, steady state (in the corotating frame) properties of the solar environment are reproduced, using three adjustable parameters: the Poynting flux of chromospheric Alfvén waves, the perpendicular correlation length of the turbulence, and a pseudoreflection coefficient. We compare model results for Carrington rotation 2063 (2007 November-December) with remote observations in the extreme-ultraviolet and X-ray ranges from the Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory, Solar and Heliospheric Observatory, and Hinode spacecraft and with in situ measurements by Ulysses. The results are in good agreement with observations. This is the first global simulation that is simultaneously consistent with observations of both the thermal structure of the lower corona and the wind structure beyond Earth's orbit.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Research and development activities in unified control-structure modeling and design

Results of work to develop a unified control/structures modeling and design capability for large space structures modeling are presented. Recent analytical results are presented to demonstrate the significant interdependence between structural and control properties. A new design methodology is suggested in which the structure, material properties, dynamic model and control design are all optimized simultaneously. Parallel research done by other researchers is reviewed. The development of a methodology for global design optimization is recommended as a long-term goal. It is suggested that this methodology should be incorporated into computer aided engineering programs, which eventually will be supplemented by an expert system to aid design optimization.

Nayak, A. P.↗

Inclusive constraints on unified dark matter models from future large-scale surveys

In the very last years, cosmological models where the properties of the dark components of the Universe — dark matter and dark energy — are accounted for by a single ''dark fluid'' have drawn increasing attention and interest. Amongst many proposals, Unified Dark Matter (UDM) cosmologies are promising candidates as effective theories. In these models, a scalar field with a non-canonical kinetic term in its Lagrangian mimics both the accelerated expansion of the Universe at late times and the clustering properties of the large-scale structure of the cosmos. However, UDM models also present peculiar behaviours, the most interesting one being the fact that the perturbations in the dark-matter component of the scalar field do have a non-negligible speed of sound. This gives rise to an effective Jeans scale for the Newtonian potential, below which the dark fluid does not cluster any more. This implies a growth of structures fairly different from that of the concordance ΛCDM model. In this paper, we demonstrate that forthcoming large-scale surveys will be able to discriminate between viable UDM models and ΛCDM to a good degree of accuracy. To this purpose, the planned Euclid satellite will be a powerful tool, since it will provide very accurate data on galaxy clustering and the weak lensing effect of cosmic shear. Finally, we also exploit the constraining power of the ongoing CMB Planck experiment. Although our approach is the most conservative, with the inclusion of only well-understood, linear dynamics, in the end we also show what could be done if some amount of non-linear information were included.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Advanced Modeling and Uncertainty Quantification for Flight Dynamics; Interim Results and Challenges

As part of the NASA Vehicle Systems Safety Technologies (VSST), Assuring Safe and Effective Aircraft Control Under Hazardous Conditions (Technical Challenge #3), an effort is underway within Boeing Research and Technology (BR&T) to address Advanced Modeling and Uncertainty Quantification for Flight Dynamics (VSST1-7). The scope of the effort is to develop and evaluate advanced multidisciplinary flight dynamics modeling techniques, including integrated uncertainties, to facilitate higher fidelity response characterization of current and future aircraft configurations approaching and during loss-of-control conditions. This approach is to incorporate multiple flight dynamics modeling methods for aerodynamics, structures, and propulsion, including experimental, computational, and analytical. Also to be included are techniques for data integration and uncertainty characterization and quantification. This research shall introduce new and updated multidisciplinary modeling and simulation technologies designed to improve the ability to characterize airplane response in off-nominal flight conditions. The research shall also introduce new techniques for uncertainty modeling that will provide a unified database model comprised of multiple sources, as well as an uncertainty bounds database for each data source such that a full vehicle uncertainty analysis is possible even when approaching or beyond Loss of Control boundaries. Methodologies developed as part of this research shall be instrumental in predicting and mitigating loss of control precursors and events directly linked to causal and contributing factors, such as stall, failures, damage, or icing. The tasks will include utilizing the BR&T Water Tunnel to collect static and dynamic data to be compared to the GTM extended WT database, characterizing flight dynamics in off-nominal conditions, developing tools for structural load estimation under dynamic conditions, devising methods for integrating various modeling elements into a real-time simulation capability, generating techniques for uncertainty modeling that draw data from multiple modeling sources, and providing a unified database model that includes nominal plus increments for each flight condition. This paper presents status of testing in the BR&T water tunnel and analysis of the resulting data and efforts to characterize these data using alternative modeling methods. Program challenges and issues are also presented.

Hyde, David C.↗

A Datasheet Driven Unified Si/SiC Compact IGBT Model for N-Channel and P-Channel Devices

This paper presents a unified physics-based insulated-gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) compact model for circuit simulation that predicts the performance of both Si and SiC, n- and p-channel devices. The model can predict the detailed switching waveforms of these technologies based on its charge-based formulation. Further, this compact IGBT model is presented alongside a unique datasheet-driven parameter extraction process. The parameter extraction process enables users to quickly extract model parameters from data typically published without the need of taking physical measurements. The model has been validated with both Si and SiC devices for static and dynamic characteristics. The SiC IGBTs used for validation are a 12.5-kV n-channel device and a 13-kV p-channel device, while the Si IGBT chosen was IXDH30N120 from IXYS Corp. (Milpitas, CA, USA). This is the only IGBT model that predicts the performance of both n- and p-channel, Si and SiC devices, providing more freedom for the development of complex power electronics circuit designs. The convergence of the model has been verified by implementing a complex circuit consisting of both a dc-dc converter and a dc-ac inverter. The results presented here show that the unified model can be used to describe the behavior of a wide range of Si and SiC IGBT circuits. This paper is accompanied by a Verilog-A source code and a power point file demonstrating the model parameter extraction sequence.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Unifying the Validation of Ambient Solar Wind Models

Progress in space weather research and awareness needs community-wide strategies and procedures to evaluate our modeling assets. Here we present the activities of the Ambient Solar Wind Validation Team embedded in the COSPAR ISWAT initiative. We aim to bridge the gap between model developers and end-users to provide the community with an assessment of the state-of-the-art in solar wind forecasting. To this end, we develop an open online platform for validating solar wind models by comparing their solutions with in situ spacecraft measurements. The online platform will allow the space weather community to test the quality of state-of-the-art solar wind models with unified metrics providing an unbiased assessment of progress over time. In this study, we propose a metadata architecture and recommend community-wide forecasting goals and validation metrics. We conclude with a status update of the online platform and outline future perspectives.

Space weather↗

Ginga observations of Seyfert galaxies

We observed twenty-eight Seyfert 2 galaxies with the Japanese X-ray satellite, Ginga, and found Seyfert 2 galaxies, in general, have the X-ray spectral characteristics of obscured Seyfert 1 nuclei. This results agrees with the predictions from the Unified Seyfert model proposed by Antonucci and Miller. However, among the observed Seyfert 2 galaxies, there are a few galaxies with no evidence of an obscuration, contrary to the general predictions of the unified model. We note that type 2 active galactic nuclei (AGN) will contribute to the Cosmic Diffuse X-ray Background, if the unified Seyfert model can be extended to the far distant AGN such as quasars.

Awaki, H.↗

Research and development activities in unified control-structure modeling and design

Results of work sponsored by JPL and other organizations to develop a unified control/structures modeling and design capability for large space structures is presented. Recent analytical results are presented to demonstrate the significant interdependence between structural and control properties. A new design methodology is suggested in which the structure, material properties, dynamic model and control design are all optimized simultaneously. The development of a methodology for global design optimization is recommended as a long term goal. It is suggested that this methodology should be incorporated into computer aided engineering programs, which eventually will be supplemented by an expert system to aid design optimization. Recommendations are also presented for near term research activities at JPL. The key recommendation is to continue the development of integrated dynamic modeling/control design techniques, with special attention given to the development of structural models specially tailored to support design.

Nayak, A. P.↗

A unified approach to modelling the charge state of monatomic hydrogen and other defects in crystalline silicon

There are a number of existing models for estimating the charge states of defects in silicon. In order of increasing complexity, these are (a) the Fermi-Dirac distribution, (b) the Shockley-Last model, (c) the Shockley-Read-Hall model, and (d) the Sah-Shockley model. In this work, we demonstrate their consistency with the general occupancy ratio α, and show that this parameter can be universally applied to predict the charge states of both monovalent and multivalent deep levels, under either thermal equilibrium or steady-state conditions with carrier injection. The capture cross section ratio is shown to play an important role in determining the charge state under non-equilibrium conditions. The application of the general occupancy ratio is compared with the quasi-Fermi levels, which are sometimes used to predict the charge states in the literature, and the conditions where the latter can be a good approximation are identified. The general approach is then applied to the prediction of the temperature- and injection level-dependent charge states for the technologically important case of multivalent monatomic hydrogen, and several other key monovalent deep levels including Fe, Cr, and the boron-oxygen complex in silicon solar cells. For the case of hydrogen, we adapt the model of Herring et al., which describes the charge states of hydrogen in thermal equilibrium, and generalize it for non-equilibrium conditions via the inclusion of the general occupancy ratio, while retaining the pre-factors which make the model more complete. Based on these results, the impact of temperature and injection on the hydrogenation of the key monovalent defects, and other pairing reactions, are discussed, demonstrating that the presented model provides a rigorous methodology for understanding the impact of charge states.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Unified continuum damage model for matrix cracking in composite rotor blades

This paper deals with modeling of the first damage mode, matrix micro-cracking, in helicopter rotor/wind turbine blades and how this effects the overall cross-sectional stiffness. The helicopter/wind turbine rotor system operates in a highly dynamic and unsteady environment leading to severe vibratory loads present in the system. Repeated exposure to this loading condition can induce damage in the composite rotor blades. These rotor/turbine blades are generally made of fiber-reinforced laminated composites and exhibit various competing modes of damage such as matrix micro-cracking, delamination, and fiber breakage. There is a need to study the behavior of the composite rotor system under various key damage modes in composite materials for developing Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) system. Each blade is modeled as a beam based on geometrically non-linear 3-D elasticity theory. Each blade thus splits into 2-D analyzes of cross-sections and non-linear 1-D analyzes along the beam reference curves. Two different tools are used here for complete 3-D analysis: VABS for 2-D cross-sectional analysis and GEBT for 1-D beam analysis. The physically-based failure models for matrix in compression and tension loading are used in the present work. Matrix cracking is detected using two failure criterion: Matrix Failure in Compression and Matrix Failure in Tension which are based on the recovered field. A strain variable is set which drives the damage variable for matrix cracking and this damage variable is used to estimate the reduced cross-sectional stiffness. The matrix micro-cracking is performed in two different approaches: (i) Element-wise, and (ii) Node-wise. The procedure presented in this paper is implemented in VABS as matrix micro-cracking modeling module. Three examples are presented to investigate the matrix failure model which illustrate the effect of matrix cracking on cross-sectional stiffness by varying the applied cyclic load.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

PVRD-FASP: A Unified Solver for Modeling Carrier and Defect Transport in Photovoltaic Devices

In our paper, we present a simulator for modeling transport of charge carriers and electrically active defect centers in solar cells by treating them on an equal footing, which allows us to address metastability and reliability issues. The exact nonlinear differential equations set solved by our solver is presented. The formulation of such differential equations, namely the continuity equations, drift-diffusion equation, and Poisson equation, for studying charge and defect transport is explained. The parameters needed for forming the differential equations are taken from first principle calculations. The solver is verified with test cases built on PN heterojunctions, Cu diffusion in single crystal CdTe and comparing Silvaco simulations with our numerical results.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

Climate-Weather Modeling Studies Using a Prototype Global Cloud-System Resolving Model: ALCF-2 Early Science Program

Clouds remain the largest source of uncertainty in our understanding of global climate change. Different aspects of the planetary cloud field can provide positive and negative feedback to the Earth’s energy balance, and clouds of course are directly implicated in changes to the planetary distribution of precipitation. A fundamental problem in our current understanding of the role of clouds in the dynamics of climate are that current resolutions do not resolve the fundamental length scales associated with clouds. We expect our understanding of the role of clouds in climate to undergo a qualitative change as the resolutions of global models begin to encompass clouds. At these resolutions (which roughly scale with the tropopause height of 10km) non-hydrostatic dynamics become significant and deep convective processes are resolved. We are poised at the threshold of being able to run global scale simulations that include direct, nonparameterized, simulations of deep convective clouds. The goal of this research is to use the Argonne Leadership Computing Facility to explore the frontier of weather prediction and climate modeling with the newly developed Geophysical Fluid Dynamics (GFDL) global cloud-resolving model. A single unified atmospheric modeling system with a cubed-sphere dynamical core and bulk cloud micro-physics running at 3.5km resolutions was run with the goal of capturing the climatology of clouds and severe storms in a warming world. The ability to reproduce historical tropical storm statistics will be used as a test of this ground-breaking model.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

New Mechanistic Models of Creep-Fatigue Interactions for Gas Turbine Components (Final Report)

This report documents activities for DE-FE0011796 New Mechanistic Models of Creep-Fatigue Interactions for Gas Turbine Components. As part of the computational mechanics work two rate dependent strain gradient plasticity models are developed. One model is an extension of the Norton model and the other model an extension of the Kocks-Mecking model of unified viscoplasticity. Both models are used to compute results for time dependent deformation problems (gradient creep, void growth, a rotating turbine disk). Detailed numerical verification studies are reported. A plasticity model appointing for the strength differential effect in IN 718 is implemented and employed to analyze indentation experiments. Crack growth simulations are conducted with a cohesive zone model approach combining a rate independent fatigue damage component with a time dependent damage model. Crack growth simulations reported for several combinations of the cohesive zone model with the strain gradient plasticity formulations. Plastic strain gradients lead to local suppression of plastic strain which alters the fatigue crack growth response and crack tip fields locally. It also contributes to the condition of crack deflection and bifurcation at interfaces and interlayers as relevant for the understanding of the crack growth response in certain conditions of IN 718 manufactured additively. IN 718 from a conventional and additive manufacturing route (including a HIP process) are considered. Detailed microstructure characterization is reported. Fatigue crack growth at room temperature and at 650°C are reported for all three material variants, and microscale mechanisms are described.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Inelastic analysis procedure based on the Grade 91 unified viscoplastic constitutive model for ASME implementation

This report describes a design by inelastic analysis procedure for Grade 91 to be proposed for incorporation in the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code. The package of proposed additions includes guidance on inelastic modeling and a reference constitutive model for Grade 91 to be used with the existing Section III, Division 5, Subsection HB, Subpart B rules for design by inelastic analysis. The current Code specifies acceptance criteria for design by inelastic analysis but does not provide an acceptable constitutive model for Grade 91 or any of the other Class A materials. The proposed Nonmandatory Appendix would provide such a reference model, greatly easing the use of design by inelastic analysis. As the inelastic methods produce significantly less overconservative designs than the design by elastic analysis rules this proposed Code change could reduce the design and fabrication cost of future high temperature reactors.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Unifying Quantum Materials Modeling and Experiments: The Role of Machine Learning Interatomic Potentials

Computational experiments have emerged as a powerful complement to traditional experiments in the design of new materials. The development of machine learning (ML) and deep learning techniques, combined with database construction and data mining, has significantly enhanced traditional quantum mechanical methods. This synergy enables the rapid development of structure-property relationships. In this talk, I will discuss our recent efforts in applying Machine Learning Interatomic Potentials (MLIAPs) to accelerate materials modeling across various material classes and challenging applications where traditional methods fall short. First, I will highlight the success of MLIAPs in accurately modeling the melting behavior of complex materials. Our results demonstrate high fidelity with experimental observations and also with calculated reference melting temperatures. In the second application, I will discuss how MLIAPs are trained and applied to elucidate the interplay between segregation tendencies and surface reconstructions in CuNi alloys under oxidizing conditions. A key factor in the success of these MLIAP applications is the design of minimalistic yet flexible datasets along with a computational framework for training MLIAPs.

Saidi, Wissam↗