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

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At least 55 records · Page 3

Enabling real-time adaptation of machine learning models at x-ray Free Electron Laser facilities with high-speed training optimized computational hardware

The emergence of novel computational hardware is enabling a new paradigm for rapid machine learning model training. For the Department of Energy’s major research facilities, this developing technology will enable a highly adaptive approach to experimental sciences. In this manuscript we present the per-epoch and end-to-end training times for an example of a streaming diagnostic that is planned for the upcoming high-repetition rate x-ray Free Electron Laser, the Linac Coherent Light Source-II. We explore the parameter space of batch size and data parallel training across multiple Graphics Processing Units and Reconfigurable Dataflow Units. We show the landscape of training times with a goal of full model retraining in under 15 min. Although a full from scratch retraining of a model may not be required in all cases, we nevertheless present an example of the application of emerging computational hardware for adapting machine learning models to changing environments in real-time, during streaming data acquisition, at the rates expected for the data fire hoses of accelerator-based user facilities.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Direct modeling parameter signature analysis and failure mode prediction of physical systems using hybrid computer optimization

High speed automated identification and design of dynamic systems, both linear and nonlinear, are discussed. Special emphasis is placed on developing hardware and techniques which are applicable to practical problems. The basic modeling experiment and new results are described. Using the improvements developed successful identification of several systems, including a physical example as well as simulated systems, was obtained. The advantages of parameter signature analysis over signal signature analysis in go-no go testing of operational systems were demonstrated. The feasibility of using these ideas in failure mode prediction in operating systems was also investigated. An improved digital controlled nonlinear function generator was developed, de-bugged, and completely documented.

Drake, R. L.↗

Computational optimization and wind tunnel test of transonic wing designs

A practical procedure for the optimum design of transonic wings is demonstrated. The procedure uses an optimization program based on the method of feasible directions coupled with an aerodynamic analysis program which solves the three-dimensional potential equation for subsonic through transonic flow. Two new wings for the A-7 aircraft were designed by using the optimization procedure to achieve specified surface pressure distributions. The new wings, along with the existing A-7 wing, were tested in the Ames 11-foot transonic wind tunnel. The experimental data show that all of the performance goals were met.

Haney, H. P.↗

OPTIM: Computer program to generate a vertical profile which minimizes aircraft fuel burn or direct operating cost. User's guide

A profile of altitude, airspeed, and flight path angle as a function of range between a given set of origin and destination points for particular models of transport aircraft provided by NASA is generated. Inputs to the program include the vertical wind profile, the aircraft takeoff weight, the costs of time and fuel, certain constraint parameters and control flags. The profile can be near optimum in the sense of minimizing: (1) fuel, (2) time, or (3) a combination of fuel and time (direct operating cost (DOC)). The user can also, as an option, specify the length of time the flight is to span. The theory behind the technical details of this program is also presented.

Source record↗

Computable optimal value bounds for generalized convex programs

It has been shown by Fiacco that convexity or concavity of the optimal value of a parametric nonlinear programming problem can readily be exploited to calculate global parametric upper and lower bounds on the optimal value function. The approach is attractive because it involves manipulation of information normally required to characterize solution optimality. A procedure is briefly described for calculating and improving the bounds as well as its extensions to generalized convex and concave functions. Several areas of applications are also indicated.

Fiacco, Anthony V.↗

Development of an hp-version finite element method for computational optimal control

The purpose of this research effort is to develop a means to use, and to ultimately implement, hp-version finite elements in the numerical solution of optimal control problems. The hybrid MACSYMA/FORTRAN code GENCODE was developed which utilized h-version finite elements to successfully approximate solutions to a wide class of optimal control problems. In that code the means for improvement of the solution was the refinement of the time-discretization mesh. With the extension to hp-version finite elements, the degrees of freedom include both nodal values and extra interior values associated with the unknown states, co-states, and controls, the number of which depends on the order of the shape functions in each element.

Hodges, Dewey H.↗

BioWires: Conductive DNA Nanowires in a Computationally-Optimized, Synthetic Biological Platform for Nanoelectronic Fabrication

DNA is an ideal template for a biological nanowire-it has a linear structure several atoms thick; it possesses addressable nucleobase geometry that can be precisely defined; and it is massively scalable into branched networks. Until now, the drawback of DNA as a conducting nanowire been, simply put, its low conductance. To address this deficiency, we extensively characterize a chemical variant of canonical DNA that exploits the affinity of natural cytosine bases for silver ions. We successfully construct chains of single silver ions inside double-stranded DNA, confirm the basic dC-Ag+-dC bond geometry and kinetics, and show length-tunability dependent on mismatch distribution, ion availability and enzyme activity. An analysis of the absorbance spectra of natural DNA and silver-binding, poly-cytosine DNA demonstrates the heightened thermostability of the ion chain and its resistance to aqueous stresses such as precipitation, dialysis and forced reduction. These chemically critical traits lend themselves to an increase in electrical conductivity of over an order of magnitude for 11-base silver-paired duplexes over natural strands when assayed by STM break junction. We further construct and implement a genetic pathway in the E. coli bacterium for the biosynthesis of highly ionizable DNA sequences. Toward future circuits, we construct a model of transcription network architectures to determine the most efficient and robust connectivity for cell-based fabrication, and we perform sequence optimization with a genetic algorithm to identify oligonucleotides robust to changes in the base-pairing energy landscape. We propose that this system will serve as a synthetic biological fabrication platform for more complex DNA nanotechnology and nanoelectronics with applications to deep space and low resource environments.

DNA↗

GASP Advancements With Symbolic Computations, Optimization, and Decoupled Numerical Methods

NASA is exploring advancements in hybrid-electric propulsion concepts for aircraft design. A new analysis capability has been deployed at NASA’s Ames Research Center using a new mathematical modeling framework in Python that leverages symbolic representation of mathematical expressions, optimization-based problem formulations, and standalone numerical methods. This capability, called Gascon, has been verified against NASA’s General Aviation Synthesis Program (GASP) results for several vehicles that exercise the analysis capability for a variety of aircraft classes and engine models, including both turbofans and turboprops. We believe this capability will set the stage for more rapid development of novel aircraft models with more flexible design assessments using optimization, and more traceable analysis for reproducibility. Additionally, a novel Pareto optimization-based design space exploration that shows the trade between range flown and fuel burn by manipulating the thrust split during cruise for a true parallel hybrid aircraft was developed by leveraging the unique features of Gascon.

aircraft design↗

Computationally optimized and manufactured acoustic metamaterials

A method, system, and apparatus for fabricating an acoustic metamaterial is provided. In an embodiment, a method for fabricating an acoustic metamaterial includes determining at least one tuned physical property for each of a plurality of micro-resonators according to a desired acoustic property of the acoustic metamaterial. For a particular physical property, a value of the tuned physical property for at least one of the plurality of micro-resonators is different from a value of the tuned physical property for at least one other of the plurality of micro-resonators. The method also includes additively forming the acoustic metamaterial such that the acoustic metamaterial comprises a first structure and the plurality of micro-resonators embedded within the first structure. Forming the acoustic metamaterial is performed such that an actual physical property of each of the plurality of micro-resonators is equal to a corresponding tuned physical property for each of the plurality of micro-resonators.

Walsh, Timothy F.↗

Distributed-Computer System Optimizes SRB Joints

Initial calculations of redesign of joint on solid rocket booster (SRB) that failed during Space Shuttle tragedy showed redesign increased weight. Optimization techniques applied to determine whether weight could be reduced while keeping joint closed and limiting stresses. Analysis system developed by use of existing software coupling structural analysis with optimization computations. Software designed executable on network of computer workstations. Took advantage of parallelism offered by finite-difference technique of computing gradients to enable several workstations to contribute simultaneously to solution of problem. Key features, effective use of redundancies in hardware and flexible software, enabling optimization to proceed with minimal delay and decreased overall time to completion.

Rogers, James L., Jr.↗

Approximate algorithms for fast optimal attitude computation

Fast accurate algorithms are presented for computing an optimal attitude which minimizes a quadratic loss function. These algorithms compute an optimal rotation which carries a set of reference vectors into a set of corresponding observation vectors. Simplifications of these algorithms are obtained for the case of small rotation angles. Applications to the Magsat mission are discussed.

Shuster, M. D.↗