Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “Shape constraints”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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

At least 451 records · Page 25

Development of a vortex-lift-design method and application to a slender maneuver-wing configuration

A method has been developed to optimize the mean camber surface of a cranked slender wing having leading-edge vortex flow at transonic-maneuver conditions using the suction analogy. This type of flow was assumed because it was anticipated that the slenderness of the wing would preclude attached flow at the required lift coefficient. A constraint was imposed in that the camber deflections were to be restricted by a realistic structural-box requirement. The resulting application yielded mean-camber shapes which produced effective suction levels equivalent to 77 percent of the full-planar leading-edge value at the design lift coefficient.

Lamar, J. E.↗

Stability robustness improvement using constrained optimization techniques

In a multiloop feedback control system, stability margin improvement by singular value shaping can be achieved by a noise adjustment procedure. A direct method for shaping singular value spectrum using constrained optimization technique is described. The design algorithm minimizes a standard LQG performance index while trying to satisfy minimum singular value constraints at the plant input, or output, or at both. Selected parameters of a stabilizing control law are used as the design variables. The capabilities of this method are demonstrated using a two input two output system representing a drone aircraft and its lateral attitude control system.

Mukhopadhyay, V.↗

On the oblateness and rotation rate of Neptune's atmosphere

Recent observations of a stellar occultation by Neptune give an oblateness of 0.022 + or - 0.004 for Neptune's atmosphere at the 1-microbar pressure level. This results is consistent with hydrostatic equilibrium at a uniform atmospheric rotation period of 15 hours, although the error bars on quantities used in the calculation are such that an 18-hour period is not excluded. The oblateness of a planetary atmosphere is determined from stellar occultations by measuring the times at which a specified point on immersion or emersion occultation profiles is reached. Whether this standard procedure for deriving the shape of the atmosphere is consistent with what is known about vertical and horizontal temperature gradients in Neptune's atmosphere is evaluated. The nature of the constraint placed on the interior mass distribution by an oblateness determined in this manner is consided, as is the effects of possible differential rotation. A 15-hour Neptune internal mass distribution is approximately homologous to Uranus', but an 18-hour period is not. The implications for Neptune's interior structure if its body rotation period is actually 18 hours are discussed.

Hubbard, W. B.↗

Assembly of objects with not fully predefined shapes

An assembly problem in a non-deterministic environment, i.e., where parts to be assembled have unknown shape, size and location, is described. The only knowledge used by the robot to perform the assembly operation is given by a connectivity rule and geometrical constraints concerning parts. Once a set of geometrical features of parts has been extracted by a vision system, applying such a rule allows the dtermination of the composition sequence. A suitable sensory apparatus allows the control the whole operation.

Arlotti, M. A.↗

Experimental validation of structural optimization methods

The topic of validating structural optimization methods by use of experimental results is addressed. The need for validating the methods as a way of effecting a greater and an accelerated acceptance of formal optimization methods by practicing engineering designers is described. The range of validation strategies is defined which includes comparison of optimization results with more traditional design approaches, establishing the accuracy of analyses used, and finally experimental validation of the optimization results. Examples of the use of experimental results to validate optimization techniques are described. The examples include experimental validation of the following: optimum design of a trussed beam; combined control-structure design of a cable-supported beam simulating an actively controlled space structure; minimum weight design of a beam with frequency constraints; minimization of the vibration response of helicopter rotor blade; minimum weight design of a turbine blade disk; aeroelastic optimization of an aircraft vertical fin; airfoil shape optimization for drag minimization; optimization of the shape of a hole in a plate for stress minimization; optimization to minimize beam dynamic response; and structural optimization of a low vibration helicopter rotor.

Adelman, Howard M.↗

The Atacama Cosmology Telescope: Weighing Distant Clusters with the Most Ancient Light

We use gravitational lensing of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) to measure the mass of the most distant blindly selected sample of galaxy clusters on which a lensing measurement has been performed to date. In CMB data from the the Atacama Cosmology Telescope and the Planck satellite, we detect the stacked lensing effect from 677 near-infrared-selected galaxy clusters from the Massive and Distant Clusters of WISE Survey (MaDCoWS), which have a mean redshift of (z)=1.08. There are currently no representative optical weak lensing measurements of clusters that match the distance and average mass of this sample. We detect the lensing signal with a significance of . We model the signal with a halo model framework to find the mean mass of the population from which these clusters are drawn. Assuming that the clusters follow Navarro–Frenk–White (NFW) density profiles, we infer a mean mass of (M(500c))=(1.7 ± 0.4) x 10^14M(ʘ). We consider systematic uncertainties from cluster redshift errors, centering errors, and the shape of the NFW profile. These are all smaller than 30% of our reported uncertainty. This work highlights the potential of CMB lensing to enable cosmological constraints from the abundance of distant clusters populating ever larger volumes of the observable universe, beyond the capabilities of optical weak lensing measurements.

Mathew S. Madhavacheril↗

The Temperature and Distribution of Organic Molecules in the Inner Regions of T Tauri Disks

"High-resolution NIR spectroscopic observations of warm molecular gas emission from young circumstellar disks allow us to constrain the temperature and composition of material in the inner planet-forming region. By combining advanced data reduction algorithms with accurate modeling of the terrestrial atmospheric spectrum and a novel double-differencing data analysis technique, we have achieved very high-contrast measurements (S/N approx. 500-1000) of molecular emission at 3 microns. In disks around low-mass stars, we have achieved the first detections of emission from HCN and C2H2 at near-infrared wavelengths from several bright T Tauri stars using the CRIRES spectrograph on the Very Large Telescope and NIRSPEC spectrograph on the Keck Telescope. We spectrally resolve the line shape, showing that the emission has both a Keplerian and non-Keplerian component as observed previously for CO emission. We used a simplified single-temperature local thermal equilibrium (LTE) slab model with a Gaussian line profile to make line identifications and determine a best-fit temperature and initial abundance ratios, and we then compared these values with constraints derived from a detailed disk radiative transfer model assuming LTE excitation but utilizing a realistic temperature and density structure. Abundance ratios from both sets of models are consistent with each other and consistent with expected values from theoretical chemical models, and analysis of the line shapes suggests that the molecular emission originates from within a narrow region in the inner disk (R < 1 AU)."

Mandell, Avi↗

Adjoint Formulation for an Embedded-Boundary Cartesian Method

Many problems in aerodynamic design can be characterized by smooth and convex objective functions. This motivates the use of gradient-based algorithms, particularly for problems with a large number of design variables, to efficiently determine optimal shapes and configurations that maximize aerodynamic performance. Accurate and efficient computation of the gradient, however, remains a challenging task. In optimization problems where the number of design variables dominates the number of objectives and flow- dependent constraints, the cost of gradient computations can be significantly reduced by the use of the adjoint method. The problem of aerodynamic optimization using the adjoint method has been analyzed and validated for both structured and unstructured grids. The method has been applied to design problems governed by the potential, Euler, and Navier-Stokes equations and can be subdivided into the continuous and discrete formulations. Giles and Pierce provide a detailed review of both approaches. Most implementations rely on grid-perturbation or mapping procedures during the gradient computation that explicitly couple changes in the surface shape to the volume grid. The solution of the adjoint equation is usually accomplished using the same scheme that solves the governing flow equations. Examples of such code reuse include multistage Runge-Kutta schemes coupled with multigrid, approximate-factorization, line-implicit Gauss-Seidel, and also preconditioned GMRES. The development of the adjoint method for aerodynamic optimization problems on Cartesian grids has been limited. In contrast to implementations on structured and unstructured grids, Cartesian grid methods decouple the surface discretization from the volume grid. This feature makes Cartesian methods well suited for the automated analysis of complex geometry problems, and consequently a promising approach to aerodynamic optimization. Melvin e t al. developed an adjoint formulation for the TRANAIR code, which is based on the full-potential equation with viscous corrections. More recently, Dadone and Grossman presented an adjoint formulation for the Euler equations. In both approaches, a boundary condition is introduced to approximate the effects of the evolving surface shape that results in accurate gradient computation.

Nemec, Marian↗

Inducing optimally directed non-routine designs

Non-routine designs are characterized by the creation of new variables and thus an expansion of the design space. These differ from routine designs in that the latter are restricted to a fixed set of variables and thus a pre-defined design space. In previous papers, the 1stPRINCE non-routine design methodology that expands the design space in such a way that optimal trends dictate the direction and form of this expansion is described. How inductive techniques can determine these optimal trends are examined. The induction techniques in 1stPRINCE utilize constraint information from monotonicity analysis to determine how to mutate the design space. The process observes the constraint information of mutated designs and induces trends from those constraints. Application of 1stPRINCE to a beam under flexural load leads to an optimally directed tapered beam. An interesting application of 1stPRINCE to determine the optimally directed shape of a spinning square block such that resistance to spinning is minimized leads to the discovery of a circular wheel.

Cagan, Jonathan↗

Distance Estimates for High Redshift Clusters SZ and X-Ray Measurements

I present interferometric images of the Sunyaev-Zel'dovich effect for the high redshift (z $ greater than $ 0.5) galaxy clusters in the \emph(Einstein) Medium Sensitivity Survey: MS0451.5-0305 (z = 0.54), MS0015.9+1609 (z = 0.55), MS2053.7-0449 (z = 0.58), MS1 137.5+6625 (z = 0.78), and MS 1054.5-0321 (z = 0.83). Isothermal $\beta$ models are applied to the data to determine the magnitude of the Sunyaev-Zel'dovich (S-Z) decrement in each cluster. Complementary ROSAT PSPC and HRI x-ray data are also analyzed, and are combined with the S-Z data to generate an independent estimate of the cluster distance. Since the Sunyaev-Zel'dovich Effect is invariant with redshift, sensitive S-Z imaging can provide an independent determination of the size, shape, density, and distance of high redshift galaxy clusters; we will discuss current systematic uncertainties with this approach, as well as future observations which will yield stronger constraints.

Joy, Marshall K.↗

Dark Energy Survey Year 6 Results: Cosmological Constraints from Galaxy Clustering and Weak Lensing

We present cosmology results combining galaxy clustering and weak gravitational lensing measured in the full six years (Y6) of observations by the Dark Energy Survey (DES) covering $\sim$5000 deg$^2$. We perform a large-scale structure analysis using three two-point correlation functions (3$\times$2pt): (i) cosmic shear from 140 million source galaxy shapes, (ii) galaxy clustering of 9 million lens galaxy positions, and (iii) galaxy-galaxy lensing from their cross-correlation. We model the data in flat $Λ$CDM and $w$CDM cosmologies. The combined analysis yields $S_8\equiv σ_8 (Ω_{\rm m}/0.3)^{0.5} = 0.789^{+0.012}_{-0.012}$ and matter density $Ω_{\rm m} = 0.333^{+0.023}_{-0.028}$ in $Λ$CDM (68% CL), where $σ_8$ is the clustering amplitude. These constraints show a (full-space) parameter difference of 1.8$σ$ from a combination of cosmic microwave background (CMB) primary anisotropy datasets from Planck 2018, ACT-DR6, and SPT-3G DR1. Projected only into $S_8$ the difference is $2.6σ$. In $w$CDM the Y6 3$\times$2pt results yield $S_8 = 0.782^{+0.021}_{-0.020}$, $Ω_{\rm m} = 0.325^{+0.032}_{-0.035}$, and dark energy equation-of-state parameter $w = -1.12^{+0.26}_{-0.20}$. For the first time, we combine all DES dark-energy probes: 3$\times$2pt, SNe Ia, BAO and Clusters. In $Λ$CDM this combination yields a $2.8σ$ parameter difference from the CMB. When combining DES 3$\times$2pt with other low-redshift datasets (DESI DR2 BAO, DES SNe Ia, SPT clusters), we find a 2.3$σ$ parameter difference with CMB. A joint fit of Y6 3$\times$2pt, CMB, and those low-redshift datasets produces the tightest $Λ$CDM constraints to date: $S_8 = 0.806^{+0.006}_{-0.007}$, $Ω_{\rm m} = 0.302^{+0.003}_{-0.003}$, $h = 0.683^{+0.003}_{-0.002}$, and $\sum m_ν< 0.14$ eV (95% CL). In $w$CDM, this combination yields $w = -0.981^{+0.021}_{-0.022}$.

Abbott, T. M.C. [Cerro-Tololo InterAmerican Obs.]↗

Crystallization of Silicon Ribbons

Purity constraints for reasonable solar-cell efficiency require that silicon-ribbon growth for photovoltaics occur in a regime in which constitutional supercooling or other compositional effects on the crystallization front are not important. A major consideration in the fundamentals of crystallization is the removal of the latent heat of fusion. The direction of removal, compared with the growth direction, has a major influence on the crystallization rate and the development of localized stresses. The detailed shape of the crystallization front appears to have two forms: that required for dendritic-web growth, and that occurring in all others. After the removal of the latent heat of fusion, the thermal-mechanical behavior of all ribbons appears similar within the constraints of the exothermal gradient. The technological constraints in achieving the required thermal and mechanical conditions vary widely among the growth processes.

Leipold, M. H.↗

Impact of cross-section uncertainties on supernova neutrino spectral parameter fitting in the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment

A primary goal of the upcoming Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) is to measure the 𝒪⁡(10) MeV neutrinos produced by a Galactic core-collapse supernova if one should occur during the lifetime of the experiment. The liquid-argon-based detectors planned for DUNE are expected to be uniquely sensitive to the 𝜈 𝑒 component of the supernova flux, enabling a wide variety of physics and astrophysics measurements. A key requirement for a correct interpretation of these measurements is a good understanding of the energy-dependent total cross section 𝜎⁡(𝐸 𝜈 ) for charged-current 𝜈 𝑒 absorption on argon. In the context of a simulated extraction of supernova 𝜈 𝑒 spectral parameters from a toy analysis, we investigate the impact of 𝜎⁡(𝐸 𝜈 ) modeling uncertainties on DUNE’s supernova neutrino physics sensitivity for the first time. We find that the currently large theoretical uncertainties on 𝜎⁡(𝐸 𝜈 ) must be substantially reduced before the 𝜈𝑒 flux parameters can be extracted reliably; in the absence of external constraints, a measurement of the integrated neutrino luminosity with less than 10% bias with DUNE requires 𝜎⁡(𝐸 𝜈 ) to be known to about 5%. The neutrino spectral shape parameters can be known to better than 10% for a 20% uncertainty on the cross-section scale, although they will be sensitive to uncertainties on the shape of 𝜎⁡(𝐸 𝜈 ). A direct measurement of low-energy 𝜈𝑒-argon scattering would be invaluable for improving the theoretical precision to the needed level.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Antarctic Rebound and the Time-Dependence of the Earth's Shape

Great strides have been made during the past 30 years in refining models of the last global glaciation. The refinements draw upon a vastly expanded relative sea level and sedimentary core record. Furthermore, we now possess a sharpened understanding of the mechanisms that drive climate changes associated with deglaciation. Some 15 years ago, using only 5.5 years of ranging data, analyses of the drift in LAGEOS I node acceleration was used to infer that postglacial rebound was responsible for a secular change in the Earth's ellipsoidal shape (Yoder et al., .1983]. Today there exists a wealth of geodynamics satellite orbit data that constrain the secular time-dependence of the Earth's shape and low order gravity field, which includes mass redistribution from present-day glacier and great ice sheet imbalance and from postglacial rebound. We have shown that an unambiguous determination of the secular variation in the Earth's pear shaped harmonic (l = 3, m = 0) might provide information that bears on the present-day mass balance of Antarctica. This issue is revisited in light of new constraints on glacial loading during the late-Pleistocene and Holocene. An especially critical issue for the interpretation of secular odd degree zonal harmonics, l = 3 to 7, is the timing and magnitude of the deglaciation of Antarctica from Last Glacial Maximum. We explore ways in which the recovery of secular variation in both zonal and non-zonal harmonics for l = 2 through 7 can improve constraints on both rebound and present-day ice sheet balance.

Ivins, Erik R.↗

Under-Track CFD-Based Shape Optimization for a Low-Boom Demonstrator Concept

The detailed outer mold line shaping of a Mach 1.6, demonstrator-sized low-boom concept is presented. Cruise trim is incorporated a priori as part of the shaping objective, using an equivalent-area-based approach. Design work is performed using a gradient-driven optimization framework that incorporates a three-dimensional, nonlinear flow solver, a parametric geometry modeler, and sensitivities derived using the adjoint method. The shaping effort is focused on reducing the under-track sonic boom level using an inverse design approach, while simultaneously satisfying the trim requirement. Conceptual-level geometric constraints are incorporated in the optimization process, including the internal layout of fuel tanks, landing gear, engine, and crew station. Details of the model parameterization and design process are documented for both flow-through and powered states, and the performance of these optimized vehicles presented in terms of inviscid L/D, trim state, pressures in the near-field and at the ground, and predicted sonic boom loudness.

Wintzer, Mathias↗

Dark Energy Survey Year 3 Results: Cosmological constraints from second- and third-order shear statistics

Here, we present a cosmological analysis of the third-order aperture mass statistic using Dark Energy Survey Year 3 (DES Y3) data. We perform a complete tomographic measurement of the three-point correlation function of the Y3 weak lensing shape catalog with the four fiducial source redshift bins. Building upon our companion methodology paper, we apply a pipeline that combines the two-point function ξ ± with the mass aperture skewness statistic ⟨ M ap 3 ⟩ , which is an efficient compression of the full shear three-point function. We use a suite of simulated shear maps to obtain a joint covariance matrix. By jointly analyzing ξ ± and ⟨ M ap 3 ⟩ measured from DES Y3 data with a Λ CDM model, we find S 8 = 0.780 ± 0.015 and Ω m = 0.26 6 - 0.040 + 0.039 , yielding 111% of figure-of-merit improvement in the Ω m - S 8 plane relative to ξ ± alone, consistent with expectations from simulated likelihood analyses. With a w CDM model, we find S 8 = 0.74 9 - 0.026 + 0.027 and w 0 = - 1.39 ± 0.31 , which gives an improvement of 22% on the joint S 8 - w 0 constraint. Our results are consistent with w 0 = - 1 . Our new constraints are compared to CMB data from the Planck satellite, and we find that with the inclusion of ⟨ M ap 3 ⟩ the existing tension between the datasets is at the level of 2.3 σ . We show that the third-order statistic enables us to self-calibrate the mean photometric redshift uncertainty parameter of the highest redshift bin with little degradation in the figure of merit. Our results demonstrate the constraining power of higher-order lensing statistics and establish ⟨ M ap 3 ⟩ as a practical observable for joint analyses in current and future surveys.

Gomes, R. C. H. [University of Pennsylvania] (ORCI↗

Hybrid model predictive control techniques for safety factor profile and stored energy regulation while incorporating NBI constraints

Abstract A novel hybrid Model Predictive Control (MPC) algorithm has been designed for simultaneous safety factor ( q ) profile and stored energy ( w ) control while incorporating the pulse-width-modulation constraints associated with the neutral beam injection (NBI) system. Regulation of the q -profile has been extensively shown to be a key factor for improved confinement as well as non-inductive sustainment of the plasma current. Simultaneous control of w is necessary to prevent the triggering of pressure-driven magnetohydrodynamic instabilities as the controller shapes the q profile. Conventional MPC schemes proposed for q -profile control have considered the NBI powers as continuous-time signals, ignoring the discrete-time nature of these actuators and leading in some cases to performance loss. The hybrid MPC scheme in this work has the capability of incorporating the discrete-time actuator dynamics as additional constraints. In nonlinear simulations, the proposed hybrid MPC scheme demonstrates improved q -profile+ w control performance for NSTX-U operating scenarios.

Physics↗

Design of a compact, cryogen-free superconducting solenoid for the electron lens of the Fermilab Integrable Optics Test Accelerator (IOTA)

The proposed electron lens for Fermilab's Integrable Optics Test Accelerator (IOTA) will broaden its capabilities by enabling new research in nonlinear integrable optics, space-charge compensation, proton beam cooling, and more. The electron lens is based on a 5–10 keV, 1–2 A electron beam, shaped using a 0.7 m long, 0.8 T solenoidal magnetic field. A cryogen-free superconducting solenoid has been designed to provide this solenoidal field, taking into consideration the constraints on space, utilities, and infrastructure in the IOTA experimental hall. The solenoid is made of copper stabilized niobium-titanium conductor, conduction-cooled using 4 K closed-cycle cryocoolers. This paper describes the overall design of the solenoid encompassing its mechanical construction, current leads optimization, cryogenic thermal modeling that provides estimates of cooldown time and static/dynamic heat loads, and quench analysis.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗