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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 595 records · Page 33
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2015

Negative magnetic eddy diffusivities from the test-field method and multiscale stability theory

The generation of a large-scale magnetic field in the kinematic regime in the absence of an α-effect is investigated by following two different approaches: the test-field method and the multiscale stability theory relying on the homogenization technique. Our computations of the magnetic eddy diffusivity tensor of the parity-invariant flow IV of G. O. Roberts and the modified Taylor–Green flow confirm the findings of previous studies and also explain some of their apparent contradictions. The two flows have large symmetry groups; this is used to considerably simplify the eddy diffusivity tensor. Finally, a new analytic result is presented: upon expressing the eddy diffusivity tensor in terms of solutions to auxiliary problems for the adjoint operator, we derive relations between the magnetic eddy diffusivity tensors that arise for mutually reverse small-scale flows v(x) and −v(x).

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Cross Section Generation Capability in Griffin

The Griffin code is a Multiphysics Object-Oriented Simulation Environment (MOOSE) based reactor multiphysics analysis application jointly developed by Idaho National Laboratory and Argonne National Laboratory. The code includes a variety of steady-state solvers for fixed-source, k-eigenvalue, adjoint, and subcritical multiplication, as well as transient solvers for point-kinetics, improved quasi-static, and spatial dynamics. The code reads multigroup cross sections in the ISOXML format generated from external deterministic or Monte Carlo cross section generation codes. The implementation of the cross section generation capability in Griffin was initiated last year by plugging in the cross section application programming interface (CSAPI) and reviewing the methodologies for treating particulate fuels. The focus this year was on improving the CSAPI integration and implementing advanced self-shielding methods for applications to advanced reactor problems with TRISO fuels. First, the process for cross section library generation was updated to accurately and rigorously produce isotopic cross section data. Second, the equivalent Dancoff factor cell method performing slowing down calculations on the fly for the resonance treatment was implemented in CSAPI to improve the accuracy of effective multigroup cross sections in the resonance energy range. Third, the iterative local spatial self-shielding method was implemented under the calculation framework of the equivalent Dancoff factor cell method to accurately deal with the double heterogeneity effect of particulate fuel. The updated CSAPI with the advanced self-shielding methods, together with the cross section libraries generated based on the improved process, were tested for pin-cell, unit-cell, and fuel assembly problems with various resonance self-shielding conditions based on very high temperature reactor, high temperature test reactor, and Empire benchmark cores, indicating that the updated CSAPI in Griffin is able to produce multigroup cross sections accurately and efficiently. We also showed that the methodology worked well for pebble bed fuel from HTR-10, but the capability still needs to be fully integrated into CSAPI. In the future, further benchmark tests will be performed for various thermal reactor core problems, including particulate fuel-based pebble bed reactors.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Cross Section Generation Capability in Griffin

The Griffin code is a Multiphysics Object-Oriented Simulation Environment (MOOSE) based reactor multiphysics analysis application jointly developed by Idaho National Laboratory and Argonne National Laboratory. The code includes a variety of steady-state solvers for fixed-source, k-eigenvalue, adjoint, and subcritical multiplication, as well as transient solvers for point-kinetics, improved quasi-static, and spatial dynamics. The code reads multigroup cross sections in the ISOXML format generated from external deterministic or Monte Carlo cross section generation codes. The implementation of the cross section generation capability in Griffin was initiated last year by plugging in the cross section application programming interface (CSAPI) and reviewing the methodologies for treating particulate fuels. The focus this year was on improving the CSAPI integration and implementing advanced self-shielding methods for applications to advanced reactor problems with TRISO fuels. First, the process for cross section library generation was updated to accurately and rigorously produce isotopic cross section data. Second, the on-the-fly slowing down method for the resonance treatment was implemented in CSAPI to improve the accuracy of effective multigroup cross sections in the resonance energy range. Among various on-the-fly slowing down methods, the equivalent Dancoff factor cell method was employed. Third, the iterative local spatial self-shielding method was implemented under the calculation framework of the equivalent Dancoff factor cell method to accurately deal with the double heterogeneity effect of particulate fuel. The updated CSAPI with the advanced self-shielding methods, together with the cross section libraries generated based on the improved process, were tested for the very high temperature reactor (VHTR), high temperature test reactor (HTTR), and Empire benchmark problems with various resonance self-shielding conditions, indicating that the updated CSAPI in Griffin is able to produce multigroup cross sections accurately and efficiently. We also show that the methodology works well for pebble bed fuel from HTR-10, but the capability still needs to be fully integrated into CSAPI. In the future, further benchmark tests will be performed for various thermal reactor core problems, including particulate fuel-based pebble bed reactors.

22 - GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗
DOE OSTI2022

Improved accuracy in degenerate variational integrators for guiding centre and magnetic field line flow

First-order-accurate degenerate variational integration (DVI) was introduced in Ellison et al. ( Phys. Plasmas , vol. 25, 2018, 052502) for systems with a degenerate Lagrangian, i.e. one in which the velocity-space Hessian is singular. In this paper we introduce second-order-accurate DVI schemes, both with and without non-uniform time stepping. We show that it is not in general possible to construct a second-order scheme with a preserved two-form by composing a first-order scheme with its adjoint, and discuss the conditions under which such a composition is possible. We build two classes of second-order-accurate DVI schemes. We test these second-order schemes numerically on two systems having non-canonical variables, namely the magnetic field line and guiding centre systems. Variational integration for Hamiltonian systems with non-uniform time steps, in terms of an extended phase space Hamiltonian, is generalized to non-canonical variables. It is shown that preservation of proper degeneracy leads to single-step (one-step) methods without parasitic modes, i.e. to non-uniform time step DVIs. This extension applies to second-order-accurate as well as first-order schemes, and can be applied to adapt the time stepping to an error estimate.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
NASA NTRS2020

Multi-Impulse to Time Optimal Finite Burn Trajectory Conversion

A novel conversion algorithm is presented that combines the fidelity of indirect optimization methods with the generality of direct methods to more easily solve time-optimal, finite-burn pseudo-rendezvous problems. An algorithm is described that converts a set of multiple-impulses, representing the entirety or a portion of a high- or low-thrust maneuver, to an exact time optimal finite-burn trajectory for a thrust limited, constant exhaust velocity spacecraft. A pseudo-rendezvous problem is one that yields a solution whose final time, position and velocity state is equal to that of the original post-impulsive trajectory. An iterative adjoint-control transformation is used to initialize the optimal control two-point boundary value problem. Examples are shown for both high and low-thrust non-coplanar Earth orbit transfers, as well as a low-thrust Hohmann-type Earth-Mars transfer.

Fogel, J.↗
DOE OSTI2016

Towards an IMEX Monolithic ALE Method with Integrated UQ for Multiphysics Shock-hydro

A number of critical science, engineering and advanced technology applications require predictive analysis of complex shock-hydrodynamics of fluid/solid materials with possible electromagnetic interaction. The physical mechanisms include wave-phenomena, material-transport, diffusion, chemical reactions, and electromagnetics. The highly nonlinear multiple-time and length-scale response of these mechanisms include discontinuities formed from shocks, contact surfaces, and complex tabular equations-of-state (EOS). Current dominant computational solution strategies use ad-hoc combinations of operator- splitting, semi-implicit, and explicit time-integration methods and decoupled nonlinear-solvers. While these approaches have enabled progress in forward simulation, the inherited mathematical structure has not provided stability, accuracy and efficiency to resolve all the dynamical time-scales of interest, nor has it enabled integrated fast sensitivity analysis and uncertainty quantification (UQ). This draft report describes initial progress towards developing a new multiphysics shock-hydro capability that is intended to be more robust, mathematically well-structured and can readily be combined with advanced higher-order implicit/explicit (IMEX) time integration and efficient adjoint-enhanced uncertainty quantification (UQ) techniques.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2024

Analytic Sensitivity Coefficients for General Multigroup Infinite Medium k-Eigenvalue Problems

The general multigroup infinite medium k-eigenvalue neutron transport equation is used to derive analytic expressions for the infinite medium k-eigenvalue, the scalar neutron flux and adjoint, and the sensitivity of $k$ ∞ to perturbations in the multigroup nuclear data of a single species isotropic elastic scattering material. In the appendix, we present the multigroup nuclear data for U-235 and U-238 along with the corresponding k-eigenvalue, flux, adjoint, and sensitivity profiles, which include the sensitivity of $k$ ∞ to the total, fission, capture, and scattering macroscopic cross sections as well as to the group-to-group scattering cross section matrix, group neutron production, and the unconstrained and constrained fission neutron energy distribution.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
NASA NTRS2003

Performance Trades Study for Robust Airfoil Shape Optimization

From time to time, existing aircraft need to be redesigned for new missions with modified operating conditions such as required lift or cruise speed. This research is motivated by the needs of conceptual and preliminary design teams for smooth airfoil shapes that are similar to the baseline design but have improved drag performance over a range of flight conditions. The proposed modified profile optimization method (MPOM) modifies a large number of design variables to search for nonintuitive performance improvements, while avoiding off-design performance degradation. Given a good initial design, the MPOM generates fairly smooth airfoils that are better than the baseline without making drastic shape changes. Moreover, the MPOM allows users to gain valuable information by exploring performance trades over various design conditions. Four simulation cases of airfoil optimization in transonic viscous ow are included to demonstrate the usefulness of the MPOM as a performance trades study tool. Simulation results are obtained by solving fully turbulent Navier-Stokes equations and the corresponding discrete adjoint equations using an unstructured grid computational fluid dynamics code FUN2D.

Li, Wu↗
NASA NTRS1973

A mesh gradient technique for numerical optimization

A class of successive-improvement optimization methods in which directions of descent are defined in the state space along each trial trajectory are considered. The given problem is first decomposed into two discrete levels by imposing mesh points. Level 1 consists of running optimal subarcs between each successive pair of mesh points. For normal systems, these optimal two-point boundary value problems can be solved by following a routine prescription if the mesh spacing is sufficiently close. A spacing criterion is given. Under appropriate conditions, the criterion value depends only on the coordinates of the mesh points, and its gradient with respect to those coordinates may be defined by interpreting the adjoint variables as partial derivatives of the criterion value function. In level 2, the gradient data is used to generate improvement steps or search directions in the state space which satisfy the boundary values and constraints of the given problem.

Willis, E. A., Jr.↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Understanding and Utilizing PBL Height Data from Multiple Observing Systems in the GEOS System

The accuracy of PBL height simulation is a key issue in many applications including forecasting near surface meteorology and air quality, however, it is a very challenging problem due to the lack of not only comprehensive, global Planetary Boundary Layer (PBL) observations but also a strategy and infrastructure to utilize PBL height data from a variety of sensors. Following the designation of PBL as an incubation class observable in the 2017 Decadal Survey, the PBL Incubation Study Team Report [14] made clear that “a future global PBL observing system requires modeling and data assimilation as essential components.” There is an urgent need for global modeling development in order to utilize Program of Record (POR) observations, assess their impacts, and identify gaps to be filled by future PBL missions. Our overall objective is to develop PBL data assimilation capabilities in the NASA Global Earth Observing System (GEOS), focusing on PBL height from multiple observing systems, to support the assessment and use of future PBL observations. The NASA GEOS system is composed of the GEOS global atmospheric general circulation model (AGCM) and the atmospheric data assimilation system (ADAS). The PBL parameterizations include the “Lock” K-profile scheme driven by surface and cloud-top buoyancy fluxes ([4]), and the “Louis” local scheme for stable conditions based on the Richardson number ([5]). Above the mixed layer defined by the Lock surface plume, shallow cumulus convection is represented by the mass flux scheme of [9]. Additional parameterizations are summarized in [1]. The ADAS employs the hybrid 4D Ensemble- Variational (EnVar) configuration ([15]), with the ensemble providing flow-dependent background error covariance information. The resultant analysis increments are fed back to the forecast model through the 4D incremental analysis update (IAU) approach ([11]). In this study, PBL height data are being or have been generated from radiosondes, GNSS RO, satellite (CATS, CALIPSO and ICESat-2) and ground-based (MPLNET) lidars, and wind profiler. Investigations have been conducted to specify quality marks for PBL height retrievals for the data assimilation purpose. These PBL height data have different strengths and weaknesses ([2], [3], [6], [7], [8], [10]), and the satellite PBL height data provide better global coverage and complement in-situ PBL height data. Radiosondes offer high accuracy and in situ measurement of temperature and humidity profiles, but with poor spatio-temporal sampling. The in-situ observing systems like MPLNET and wind profiler provide long history of PBL height records at each station. The GNSS RO based PBL height is retrieved based on the sharp gradients in refractivity profile that represent the fine vertical structure of temperature and moisture changes above the PBL. However, not all RO refractivity profiles reach the surface depending on location and regime, and RO refractivity retrievals can be negatively biased below 2km. The PBL height data from satellite lidars provide high resolution along track PBL height retrievals, but over land they are affected by previous day convective PBL aerosol and strongly associated with mixing layer and retrievals cannot be made below thick, attenuating clouds. A successful assimilation of PBL height data requires a thorough understanding of the observing method and the retrieval algorithm for each observing system in order to use the PBL height data from multiple observing systems properly. Due to the sensitivity of PBL height data to the observing method and choice of algorithm, it is important to use a model definition appropriate for each observation type to compute differences between PBL height data and model PBL height (OmFs). The GEOS model currently includes two PBL height definitions suitable for direct comparison with observed PBL height, and additional definitions are being added in this study. Evaluation of different model PBL height definitions is underway. Meanwhile, efforts have been made in the GEOS data assimilation system to develop PBL height data assimilation capability. PBL height data can be assimilated using two different approaches. The traditional approach is to construct an observation operator and its tangent linear and adjoint, which link control variables to PBL height data from each observing system. This observation operator can be very complicated, e.g., the lidar-based PBL height observation operator includes the backscatter lidar forward observation operator, the algorithm to derive PBL height from attenuated total backscatter, interpolation, and calculations handling the mismatch between observed and model scales. The other approach is to augment PBL height to the control variable vector, and it is adopted in this study. The latter approach was also used in previous studies, e.g., the assimilation of PBL height data from radiosonde and aircraft in the Real Time Mesoscale Analysis (RTMA) system for a dispersion modelling study ([13]); the PBL height assimilation study using lidar PBL height data at Greensburg, Kansas for a field campaign ([12]). The PBL height assimilation from multiple observing systems in this study allows us to take advantage of the diverse PBL height data that provide much better global coverage collectively under different meteorological conditions and with different temporal and spatial scales. As all the PBL heights are tightly coupled with the PBL thermodynamic variables, the strong correlations, which are provided by the 4D ensemble forecast, enable PBL height data from various sources to interact and combine coherently and provide additional information for PBL temperature and moisture fields. The results of comparisons among PBL height data from different sources and the evaluation of the model PBL height definitions with the PBL height data will be presented, and the PBL height data synergy strategies and preliminary results will also be discussed at the conference.

Y. Zhu↗
NASA NTRS1976

Design of efficient stiffened shells of revolution

A method to produce efficient piecewise uniform stiffened shells of revolution is presented. The approach uses a first order differential equation formulation for the shell prebuckling and buckling analyses and the necessary conditions for an optimum design are derived by a variational approach. A variety of local yielding and buckling constraints and the general buckling constraint are included in the design process. The local constraints are treated by means of an interior penalty function and the general buckling load is treated by means of an exterior penalty function. This allows the general buckling constraint to be included in the design process only when it is violated. The self-adjoint nature of the prebuckling and buckling formulations is used to reduce the computational effort. Results for four conical shells and one spherical shell are given.

Majumder, D. K.↗
NASA NTRS2006

Model Predictive Optimal Control of a Time-Delay Distributed-Parameter Systems

This paper presents an optimal control method for a class of distributed-parameter systems governed by first order, quasilinear hyperbolic partial differential equations that arise in many physical systems. Such systems are characterized by time delays since information is transported from one state to another by wave propagation. A general closed-loop hyperbolic transport model is controlled by a boundary control embedded in a periodic boundary condition. The boundary control is subject to a nonlinear differential equation constraint that models actuator dynamics of the system. The hyperbolic equation is thus coupled with the ordinary differential equation via the boundary condition. Optimality of this coupled system is investigated using variational principles to seek an adjoint formulation of the optimal control problem. The results are then applied to implement a model predictive control design for a wind tunnel to eliminate a transport delay effect that causes a poor Mach number regulation.

Nguyen, Nhan↗
DOE OSTI2022

Inverse deep learning methods and benchmarks for artificial electromagnetic material design

In this work we investigate the use of deep inverse models (DIMs) for designing artificial electromagnetic materials (AEMs) – such as metamaterials, photonic crystals, and plasmonics – to achieve some desired scattering properties (e.g., transmission or reflection spectrum). DIMs are deep neural networks (i.e., deep learning models) that are specially-designed to solve ill-posed inverse problems. There has recently been tremendous growth in the use of DIMs for solving AEM design problems however there has been little comparison of these approaches to examine their absolute and relative performance capabilities. In this work we compare eight state-of-the-art DIMs on three unique AEM design problems, including two models that are novel to the AEM community. Our results indicate that DIMs can rapidly produce accurate designs to achieve a custom desired scattering on all three problems. Although no single model always performs best, the Neural-Adjoint approach achieves the best overall performance across all problem settings. As a final contribution we show that not all AEM design problems are ill-posed, and in such cases a conventional deep neural network can perform better than DIMs. We recommend that a deep neural network is always employed as a simple baseline approach when addressing AEM design problems. Furthermore, we publish python code for our AEM simulators and our DIMs to enable easy replication of our results, and benchmarking of new DIMs by the AEM community.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2025

LATTE: open-source, high-performance traveltime computation, tomography and source location in acoustic and elastic media

Traveltime-based tomography and source location are fundamental approaches for imaging subsurface structures and understanding the spatiotemporal distribution of seismicity from local to global scales. We present an open-source, high-performance framework integrating eikonal equation solvers and adjoint-state theory for traveltime computation, velocity tomography, source location and joint tomography-location in 2-D/3-D acoustic and elastic media. We introduce novel regularization schemes based on total generalized p-variation, structural similarity and multitask machine learning to enhance the fidelity and interpretability of inverted models and source locations. Key features of our implementation also include the ability to leverage both absolute-difference and double-difference traveltime misfits for high-fidelity velocity tomography and source parameter estimation; support for traveltime computation and inversion in diverse 2-D/3-D scenarios with arbitrary source and receiver distributions; and a perturbation-based optimal step-size estimation method to reduce computational costs. In addition, our implementation employs shared-memory and distributed-memory parallelization to provide an efficient solution for traveltime computation, tomography, and source location. In conclusion, we validate the efficacy and accuracy of our approach through multiple synthetic data examples.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2026

PDE-constrained high-order mesh optimization

Here, we present a novel framework for PDE-constrained r-adaptivity of high-order meshes. The proposed method formulates mesh movement as an optimization problem, with an objective function defined as a convex combination of a mesh quality metric and a measure of the accuracy of the PDE solution obtained via finite element discretization. The proposed formulation achieves optimized, well-defined high-order meshes by integrating mesh quality control, PDE solution accuracy, and robust gradient regularization. We adopt the Target-Matrix Optimization Paradigm to control geometric properties across the mesh, independent of the PDE of interest. To incorporate the accuracy of the PDE solution, we introduce error measures that control the finite element discretization error. The implicit dependence of these error measures on the mesh nodal positions is accurately captured by adjoint sensitivity analysis. Additionally, a convolution-based gradient regularization strategy is used to ensure stable and effective adaptation of high-order meshes. We demonstrate that the proposed framework can improve mesh quality and reduce the error by up to 10 times for the solution of Poisson and linear elasto-static problems. The approach is general with respect to the dimensionality, the order of the mesh, the types of mesh elements, and can be applied to any PDE that admits well-defined adjoint operators.

Computer science↗
DOE OSTI2016

PROTEUS-SN User Manual

PROTEUS-SN is a three-dimensional, highly scalable, high-fidelity neutron transport code developed at Argonne National Laboratory. The code is applicable to all spectrum reactor transport calculations, particularly those in which a high degree of fidelity is needed either to represent spatial detail or to resolve solution gradients. PROTEUS-SN solves the second order formulation of the transport equation using the continuous Galerkin finite element method in space, the discrete ordinates approximation in angle, and the multigroup approximation in energy. PROTEUS-SN’s parallel methodology permits the efficient decomposition of the problem by both space and angle, permitting large problems to run efficiently on hundreds of thousands of cores. PROTEUS-SN can also be used in serial or on smaller compute clusters (10’s to 100’s of cores) for smaller homogenized problems, although it is generally more computationally expensive than traditional homogenized methodology codes. PROTEUS-SN has been used to model partially homogenized systems, where regions of interest are represented explicitly and other regions are homogenized to reduce the problem size and required computational resources. PROTEUS-SN solves forward and adjoint eigenvalue problems and permits both neutron upscattering and downscattering. An adiabatic kinetics option has recently been included for performing simple time-dependent calculations in addition to standard steady state calculations. PROTEUS-SN handles void and reflective boundary conditions. Multigroup cross sections can be generated externally using the MC2-3 fast reactor multigroup cross section generation code or internally using the cross section application programming interface (API) which can treat the subgroup or resonance table libraries. PROTEUS-SN is written in Fortran 90 and also includes C preprocessor definitions. The code links against the PETSc, METIS, HDF5, and MPICH libraries. It optionally links against the MOAB library and is a part of the SHARP multi-physics suite for coupled multi-physics analysis of nuclear reactors. This user manual describes how to set up a neutron transport simulation with the PROTEUS-SN code. A companion methodology manual describes the theory and algorithms within PROTEUS-SN.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗
DOE OSTI2016

The Casualidad method for uncertainty evaluation of best-estimate system thermal-hydraulics calculations

The present paper deals with the description of the salient features of three independent approaches for estimating uncertainties associated with predictions of complex system codes. The first approach is the 'standard' one and the most used at the industrial level: it is based upon the selection of input uncertain parameters, on assigning related ranges of variations and, possibly, PDF (Probability Density Functions) and on performing a suitable number of code runs to get the combined effect of variation on the results. In the second approach the uncertainty derives from the comparison between relevant measured data and results of corresponding code calculations. The third approach is based on the Bayesian inference technique and on the availability of experimental data by which computer model predictions can be improved and the ranges of variation of (in theory) 'all' input parameters can be characterized. More details are provided in respect with the third approach that has been named CASUALIDAD (Code with the capability of Adjoint Sensitivity and Uncertainty Analysis by Internal Data Adjustment and assimilation). (authors)

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2013

The Aharonov–Bohm effect in scattering theory

The Aharonov–Bohm effect is considered as a scattering event with nonrelativistic charged particles of the wavelength which is less than the transverse size of an impenetrable magnetic vortex. The quasiclassical WKB method is shown to be efficient in solving this scattering problem. We find that the scattering cross section consists of two terms, one describing the classical phenomenon of elastic reflection and another one describing the quantum phenomenon of diffraction; the Aharonov–Bohm effect is manifested as a fringe shift in the diffraction pattern. Both the classical and the quantum phenomena are independent of the choice of a boundary condition at the vortex edge, providing that probability is conserved. We show that a propagation of charged particles can be controlled by altering the flux of a magnetic vortex placed on their way. -- Highlights: •Aharonov–Bohm effect as a scattering event. •Impenetrable magnetic vortex of nonzero transverse size. •Scattering cross section is independent of a self-adjoint extension employed. •Classical phenomenon of elastic reflection and quantum phenomenon of diffraction. •Aharonov–Bohm effect as a fringe shift in the diffraction pattern.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗