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At least 487 records · Page 27

Multidisciplinary Analysis of a Hypersonic Engine

This paper describes implementation of a technique used to obtain a high fidelity fluid-thermal-structural solution of a combined cycle engine at its scram design point. Single-discipline simulations are insufficient here since interactions from other disciplines are significant. Using off-the-shelf, validated solvers for the fluid, chemistry, thermal, and structural solutions, this approach couples together their results to obtain consistent solutions.

Stewart, M. E. M.↗

Wettability and friction of water on a MoS{sub 2} nanosheet

The molybdenum disulfide (MoS{sub 2}) nanosheet is a promising two-dimensional (2D) material and has recently been used in biological sensing. While the electronic structure of 2D MoS{sub 2} sheet has been actively studied, the role of its atomic structure and thus the interfacial interactions with bio-fluids are still elusive. Using Molecular dynamics simulations, we developed MoS{sub 2} force field parameters to reproduce the experimentally determined water contact angle of the MoS{sub 2} nanosheet and then predicted the slip-length of water that has not been measured in experiment yet. Simulation results suggest that the MoS{sub 2} nanosheet is a hydrophobic and low-friction surface, despite its seemingly significant charges of surface atoms and relatively strong strength of van der Waals potentials. We expect that the developed force fields for depicting surface atoms of MoS{sub 2} will facilitate future research in understanding biomolecule-MoS{sub 2} interactions in MoS{sub 2}-based biosensors.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Fluid/Structure Interaction Studies of Aircraft Using High Fidelity Equations on Parallel Computers

Abstract Aeroelasticity which involves strong coupling of fluids, structures and controls is an important element in designing an aircraft. Computational aeroelasticity using low fidelity methods such as the linear aerodynamic flow equations coupled with the modal structural equations are well advanced. Though these low fidelity approaches are computationally less intensive, they are not adequate for the analysis of modern aircraft such as High Speed Civil Transport (HSCT) and Advanced Subsonic Transport (AST) which can experience complex flow/structure interactions. HSCT can experience vortex induced aeroelastic oscillations whereas AST can experience transonic buffet associated structural oscillations. Both aircraft may experience a dip in the flutter speed at the transonic regime. For accurate aeroelastic computations at these complex fluid/structure interaction situations, high fidelity equations such as the Navier-Stokes for fluids and the finite-elements for structures are needed. Computations using these high fidelity equations require large computational resources both in memory and speed. Current conventional super computers have reached their limitations both in memory and speed. As a result, parallel computers have evolved to overcome the limitations of conventional computers. This paper will address the transition that is taking place in computational aeroelasticity from conventional computers to parallel computers. The paper will address special techniques needed to take advantage of the architecture of new parallel computers. Results will be illustrated from computations made on iPSC/860 and IBM SP2 computer by using ENSAERO code that directly couples the Euler/Navier-Stokes flow equations with high resolution finite-element structural equations.

Guruswamy, Guru↗

Fabrication of polylactide nanocomposite scaffolds for bone tissue engineering applications

Highly porous three-dimensional polylactide (PLA) scaffolds were obtained from PLA incorporated with different amounts of chitosan-modified montmorillonite (CS-MMT), through solvent casting and particulate leaching method. The processed scaffolds were tested in vitro for their possible application in bone tissue engineering. Scaffolds were characterized by Focused Ion Beam Scanning Electron Microscopy (FIB SEM), Fourier Transform Infra-Red (FTIR), and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) to study their structure and intermolecular interactions. Bioresorbability tests in simulated body fluid (pH 7.4) were conducted to assess the response of the scaffolds in a simulated physiological condition. The FIB SEM images of the scaffolds showed a porous architecture with gradual change in morphology with increasing CS-MMT concentration. FTIR analysis revealed the presence of both PLA and CS-MMT particles on the surface of the scaffolds. XRD showed that the crystalline unit cell type was the same for all the scaffolds, and crystallinity decreased with an increase in CS-MMT concentration. The scaffolds were found to be bioresorbable, with rapid bioresorbability on the scaffolds with a high CS-MMT concentration.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

High-performance parallel analysis of coupled problems for aircraft propulsion

This research program deals with the application of high-performance computing methods for the analysis of complete jet engines. We have entitled this program by applying the two dimensional parallel aeroelastic codes to the interior gas flow problem of a bypass jet engine. The fluid mesh generation, domain decomposition, and solution capabilities were successfully tested. We then focused attention on methodology for the partitioned analysis of the interaction of the gas flow with a flexible structure and with the fluid mesh motion that results from these structural displacements. This is treated by a new arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian (ALE) technique that models the fluid mesh motion as that of a fictitious mass-spring network. New partitioned analysis procedures to treat this coupled three-component problem are developed. These procedures involved delayed corrections and subcycling. Preliminary results on the stability, accuracy, and MPP computational efficiency are reported.

Felippa, C. A.↗

High-performance parallel analysis of coupled problems for aircraft propulsion

This research program deals with the application of high-performance computing methods to the numerical simulation of complete jet engines. The program was initiated in 1993 by applying two-dimensional parallel aeroelastic codes to the interior gas flow problem of a by-pass jet engine. The fluid mesh generation, domain decomposition and solution capabilities were successfully tested. Attention was then focused on methodology for the partitioned analysis of the interaction of the gas flow with a flexible structure and with the fluid mesh motion driven by these structural displacements. The latter is treated by an ALE technique that models the fluid mesh motion as that of a fictitious mechanical network laid along the edges of near-field fluid elements. New partitioned analysis procedures to treat this coupled 3-component problem were developed in 1994. These procedures involved delayed corrections and subcycling, and have been successfully tested on several massively parallel computers. For the global steady-state axisymmetric analysis of a complete engine we have decided to use the NASA-sponsored ENG10 program, which uses a regular FV-multiblock-grid discretization in conjunction with circumferential averaging to include effects of blade forces, loss, combustor heat addition, blockage, bleeds and convective mixing. A load-balancing preprocessor for parallel versions of ENG10 has been developed. It is planned to use the steady-state global solution provided by ENG10 as input to a localized three-dimensional FSI analysis for engine regions where aeroelastic effects may be important.

Felippa, C. A.↗

High-Performance Parallel Analysis of Coupled Problems for Aircraft Propulsion

This research program dealt with the application of high-performance computing methods to the numerical simulation of complete jet engines. The program was initiated in January 1993 by applying two-dimensional parallel aeroelastic codes to the interior gas flow problem of a bypass jet engine. The fluid mesh generation, domain decomposition and solution capabilities were successfully tested. Attention was then focused on methodology for the partitioned analysis of the interaction of the gas flow with a flexible structure and with the fluid mesh motion driven by these structural displacements. The latter is treated by a ALE technique that models the fluid mesh motion as that of a fictitious mechanical network laid along the edges of near-field fluid elements. New partitioned analysis procedures to treat this coupled three-component problem were developed during 1994 and 1995. These procedures involved delayed corrections and subcycling, and have been successfully tested on several massively parallel computers, including the iPSC-860, Paragon XP/S and the IBM SP2. For the global steady-state axisymmetric analysis of a complete engine we have decided to use the NASA-sponsored ENG10 program, which uses a regular FV-multiblock-grid discretization in conjunction with circumferential averaging to include effects of blade forces, loss, combustor heat addition, blockage, bleeds and convective mixing. A load-balancing preprocessor tor parallel versions of ENG10 was developed. During 1995 and 1996 we developed the capability tor the first full 3D aeroelastic simulation of a multirow engine stage. This capability was tested on the IBM SP2 parallel supercomputer at NASA Ames. Benchmark results were presented at the 1196 Computational Aeroscience meeting.

Felippa, C. A.↗

Dynamic Interaction Between Membrane-Bound Full-Length Cytochrome P450 and Cytochrome b 5 Observed by Solid-State NMR Spectroscopy

Microsomal monoxygenase enzymes of the cytochrome-P450 family are found in all biological kingdoms, and play a central role in the breakdown of metabolic as well as xenobiotic, toxic and 70% of the drugs in clinical use. Full-length cytochrome-b5 has been shown to be important for the catalytic activity of cytochrome-P450. Despite the significance in understanding the interactions between these two membrane-associated proteins, only limited high-resolution structural information on the full-length cytochrome-P450 and the cytochromes-b5-P450 complex is available. Here, we report a structural study on a functional ,72-kDa cytochromes-b5-P450 complex embedded in magnetically-aligned bicelles without having to freeze the sample. Functional and solid-state NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance) data reveal interactions between the proteins in fluid lamellar phase bilayers. In addition, our data infer that the backbone structure and geometry of the transmembrane domain of cytochrome-b5 is not significantly altered due to its interaction with cytochrome-P450, whereas the mobility of cytochrome-b5 is considerably reduced.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Thermal Hydraulic Modeling of an Advanced Nuclear Reactor using open-source MOOSE tools

The aim of this study is to develop model of a small High Temperature Gas cooled Reactor (HTGR) including the balance of plant. This microreactor produces electricity using the thermal power of the nuclear reaction. This work utilizes the MOOSE Multiphysics simulation tools, which are mainly developed at Idaho National Laboratory (INL, Idaho, United States of America). Its thermal-hydraulics and Heat conduction Modules are used to study the fluids behavior in the primary loop and power conversion system and their interactions with the heating structures. More specifically, one verifies that the temperatures, pressures and mass flow rates of the fluids in both loops are consistent and that, at the same time, all the power transfers occur as expected. Moreover, the various mechanical components characteristics (turbine, compressor, pump) are adapted to the reactor operating conditions. This first analysis is conducted using simplified and one-dimensional model for the core. Ultimately, the obtained results are used to build a higher fidelity core model. This step aims to verify that the initial simplified simulation is consistent with the three-dimensional core modeling. In addition, the calculated material temperatures are checked. This study provides a fairly complete model of the thermal hydraulic phenomena for a particular design of High Temperature Gas cooled Reactor.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗

Fabricating Single Crystal Quantum Dot Solids

The central goal of this research program was to establish fundamental synthesis and processing principles to enable the fabrication of single crystal quantum dot solids (QDS) with programmable structure (i.e., hexagonal and square) and composition. Our approach towards that goal leveraged access to and experience with unique in-situ, multi-probe characterization techniques to understand and ultimately control the fundamental relationship between processing conditions and nucleation and growth of QDS. The program integrated synthesis and fabrication (Hanrath) with in-situ TEM analysis (Kourkoutis) and computational modeling (Clancy) to gain atomic-level insights into the underlying physical phenomena governing assembly and attachment and to guide the development of optimized processing methods. We have established a foundational understanding of physicochemical interactions of self-assembly at a fluid interface, superlattice structure transformation pathways, the critical role of disorder during the initial dimerization of colloidal quantum dot monomers, and the residual strain distribution within the inter-dot epitaxial bridge which hampers the formation of novel electronics states of the quantum dot solids. Collectively, these insights have contributed towards advancing the mechanistic understanding of the complex choreography of assembly and attachment as well as understanding what currently limits further advances in high-fidelity quantum dot solids and tiles.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Adapting SAFT-γ perturbation theory to site-based molecular dynamics simulation. II. Confined fluids and vapor-liquid interfaces

In this work, a new classical density functional theory is developed for group-contribution equations of state (EOS). Details of implementation are demonstrated for the recently-developed SAFT-γ WCA EOS and selective applications are studied for confined fluids and vapor-liquid interfaces. The acronym WCA (Weeks-Chandler-Andersen) refers to the characterization of the reference part of the third-order thermodynamic perturbation theory applied in formulating the EOS. SAFT-γ refers to the particular form of “statistical associating fluid theory” that is applied to the fused-sphere, heteronuclear, united-atom molecular models of interest. For the monomer term, the modified fundamental measure theory is extended to WCA-spheres. A new chain functional is also introduced for fused and soft heteronuclear chains. The attractive interactions are taken into account by considering the structure of the fluid, thus elevating the theory beyond the mean field approximation. The fluctuations of energy are also included via a non-local third-order perturbation theory. The theory includes resolution of the density profiles of individual groups such as CH{sub 2} and CH{sub 3} and satisfies stoichiometric constraints for the density profiles. New molecular simulations are conducted to demonstrate the accuracy of each Helmholtz free energy contribution in reproducing the microstructure of inhomogeneous systems at the united-atom level of coarse graining. At each stage, comparisons are made to assess where the present theory stands relative to the current state of the art for studying inhomogeneous fluids. Overall, it is shown that the characteristic features of real molecular fluids are captured both qualitatively and quantitatively. For example, the average pore density deviates ∼2% from simulation data for attractive pentadecane in a 2-nm slit pore. Another example is the surface tension of ethane/heptane mixture, which deviates ∼1% from simulation data while the theory reproduces the excess accumulation of ethane at the interface.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Density effects on post-shock turbulence structure and dynamics

Turbulence structure resulting from multi-fluid or multi-species, variable-density isotropic turbulence interaction with a Mach 2 shock is studied using turbulence-resolving shock-capturing simulations and Eulerian (grid) and Lagrangian (particle) methods. The complex roles that density plays in the modification of turbulence by the shock wave are identified. Statistical analyses of the velocity gradient tensor (VGT) show that density variations significantly change the turbulence structure and flow topology. Specifically, a stronger symmetrization of the joint probability density function (PDF) of second and third invariants of the anisotropic VGT, PDF $(Q^{\ast },R^{\ast })$ , as well as the PDF of the vortex stretching contribution to the enstrophy equation, are observed in the multi-species case. Furthermore, subsequent to the interaction with the shock, turbulent statistics also acquire a differential distribution in regions having different densities. This results in a nearly symmetric PDF $(Q^{\ast },R^{\ast })$ in heavy-fluid regions, while the light-fluid regions retain the characteristic tear-drop shape. To understand this behaviour and the return to ‘standard’ turbulence structure as the flow evolves away from the shock, Lagrangian dynamics of the VGT and its invariants is studied by considering particle residence times and conditional particle variables in different flow regions. The pressure Hessian contributions to the VGT invariants transport equations are shown to be not only affected by the shock wave, but also by the density in the multi-fluid case, making them critically important to the flow dynamics and turbulence structure.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Acoustic-Structure Interaction in Rocket Engines: Validation Testing

While analyzing a rocket engine component, it is often necessary to account for any effects that adjacent fluids (e.g., liquid fuels or oxidizers) might have on the structural dynamics of the component. To better characterize the fully coupled fluid-structure system responses, an analytical approach that models the system as a coupled expansion of rigid wall acoustic modes and in vacuo structural modes has been proposed. The present work seeks to experimentally validate this approach. To experimentally observe well-coupled system modes, the test article and fluid cavities are designed such that the uncoupled structural frequencies are comparable to the uncoupled acoustic frequencies. The test measures the natural frequencies, mode shapes, and forced response of cylindrical test articles in contact with fluid-filled cylindrical and/or annular cavities. The test article is excited with a stinger and the fluid-loaded response is acquired using a laser-doppler vibrometer. The experimentally determined fluid-loaded natural frequencies are compared directly to the results of the analytical model. Due to the geometric configuration of the test article, the analytical model is found to be valid for natural modes with circumferential wave numbers greater than four. In the case of these modes, the natural frequencies predicted by the analytical model demonstrate excellent agreement with the experimentally determined natural frequencies.

Davis, R. Benjamin↗

Aeroelastic, CFD, and Dynamics Computation and Optimization for Buffet and Flutter Applications

Accomplishments achieved during the reporting period are listed. These accomplishments included 6 papers published in various journals or presented at various conferences; 1 abstract submitted to a technical conference; production of 2 animated movies; and a proposal for use of the National Aerodynamic Simulation Facility at NASA Ames Research Center for further research. The published and presented papers and animated movies addressed the following topics: aeroelasticity, computational fluid dynamics, structural dynamics, wing and tail buffet, vortical flow interactions, and delta wings.

Kandil, Osama A.↗

A new theory of simple classical fluids

The paper presents a unified structural and thermodynamic theory of simple classical fluids in which the interactions between the particles can be represented by spherically symmetric pairwise potentials. Both the excess entropy and the gross features of the radial distribution function are determined mainly by excluded volume effects, which are in turn governed by a hard-core property intrinsic to any pair potential. The potential beyond this effective hard core is considered relatively weak and can be treated as a perturbation. It is also considered essential to sum all subclasses of diagrams to infinite order. The basic form of a diagrammatic scheme which allows both summation and the determination of the structure and excess entropy is presented, and a statement of universality is derived. The statement has been confirmed within the accuracy of present-day computer simulations, and a possible procedure for calculating both the structure and thermodynamics of every physically conceivable pair potential is presented.

Rosenfeld, Y.↗

Elucidating molecular scale interactions underlying the freezing behavior of salt solutions in silica nanopores

Elucidating the influence of nanoscale confinement on the freezing behavior of salt solutions is of fundamental interest to environmental security and materials science and engineering. Specific structural information such as the coordination environment of ions in confined aqueous medium, effects on the extended hexagonal network of water molecules and their mutual non-bonding interactions in confinement are sparse in the literature along with the change in the dynamical characteristics of water in the presence of ions. To address these knowledge gaps, the current study is focused on investigating the influence of reduced dimensionality arising from nanoscale confinement on the structural evolution of salt solutions on freezing and the associated fluid–surface interactions. In this regard, operando wide-angle X-ray scattering (WAXS) measurements and classical molecular dynamics (MD) simulations are conducted with water and 0.5 M CaCl 2 , MgCl 2 and KCl solutions confined in 4 nm sized SBA-15 silica pores upon cooling from 300 K to 200 K. The freezing point of the salt solutions is depressed to 235 K which is about 10 K lower than that of confined water. The translational dynamics of confined salt solutions indicates shifts in the fragile-to-strong dynamical crossover to a lower temperature compared to pure water. The strong electrostatic attraction between the cations and the surrounding water molecules contributes to the freezing point depression in confined salt solutions. These insights unlock the molecular-scale basis and mechanisms underlying the freezing behavior of confined salt solutions.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

A CFD/CSD Interaction Methodology for Aircraft Wings

With advanced subsonic transports and military aircraft operating in the transonic regime, it is becoming important to determine the effects of the coupling between aerodynamic loads and elastic forces. Since aeroelastic effects can contribute significantly to the design of these aircraft, there is a strong need in the aerospace industry to predict these aero-structure interactions computationally. To perform static aeroelastic analysis in the transonic regime, high fidelity computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis tools must be used in conjunction with high fidelity computational structural fluid dynamics (CSD) analysis tools due to the nonlinear behavior of the aerodynamics in the transonic regime. There is also a need to be able to use a wide variety of CFD and CSD tools to predict these aeroelastic effects in the transonic regime. Because source codes are not always available, it is necessary to couple the CFD and CSD codes without alteration of the source codes. In this study, an aeroelastic coupling procedure is developed which will perform static aeroelastic analysis using any CFD and CSD code with little code integration. The aeroelastic coupling procedure is demonstrated on an F/A-18 Stabilator using NASTD (an in-house McDonnell Douglas CFD code) and NASTRAN. In addition, the Aeroelastic Research Wing (ARW-2) is used for demonstration of the aeroelastic coupling procedure by using ENSAERO (NASA Ames Research Center CFD code) and a finite element wing-box code (developed as part of this research).

Bhardwaj, Manoj K.↗

Microgravity Science in Space Flight Gloveboxes

Microgravity science studies the influences of gravity on phenomena in fluids, materials processes, combustion, and human cell growth in the low acceleration environment of space flight. During the last decade, the accomplishment of the flight research in the field has evolved into an effective cooperation between the flight crew in the Shuttle and the ground-based investigator using real-time communication via voice and video links. This team structure has led to interactive operations in which the crew performs the experimentation while guided, as necessary, by the science investigator who formulated the investigation and who will subsequently interpret and analyze the data. One of the primary challenges to implementing this interactive research has been the necessity of structuring a means of handling fluids, gases, and hazardous materials in a manned laboratory that exhibits the novelty of weightlessness. Developing clever means of designing experiments in closed vessels is part of the solution- but the space flight requirement for one and two failure-tolerant containment systems leads to serious complications in the physical handling of sample materials. In response to the conflict between the clear advantage of human operation and judgment, versus the necessity to isolate the experiment from the crewmember and the spacecraft environment, the Microgravity Research Program has initiated a series of Gloveboxes in the various manned experiment carriers. These units provide a sealed containment vessel whose interior is under a negative pressure with respect to the ambient environment but is accessible to a crewmember through the glove ports.

Baugher, Charles↗