A framework for experimental data-driven assessment of Magnetized Liner Inertial Fusion stagnation image metrics
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The historic December 5, 2022 experiment at Lawrence Livermore National Lab’s (LLNL) National Ignition Facility (NIF) reached fusion energy ignition for the first time. This is the most important scientific breakthrough of the 21st century paves the way to future clean inertial fusion energy (IFE). The diamond (high density carbon (HDC)) ablator material used in this experiment displays detrimental effects due to the development of hydrodynamic instabilities at the diamond/fuel interface under shock compression. New alternatives to diamond ablators are required to step up the energy yield in ICF experiments. The unique combination of mechanical strength (approaching that of diamond), the ability to accommodate high-Z dopants (in contrast to diamond), and the tunability of the properties (through synthesis material with varying sp 3 content) make amorphous carbon (a-C) a promising material for next-generation IFE ablative capsules. However, despite its critical importance to the IFE program, the behavior of a-C carbon at extreme temperatures and pressures remains largely unexplored. The primary goals of this project were to perform groundbreaking dynamic compression experiments and predictive simulations to uncover the fundamental high-energy-density physics of amorphous carbon. Our goals were (1) to uncover the metastability range of amorphous carbon and probe phase transitions to diamond or metastable supercooled liquid carbon; (2) to acquire high-quality equation of state (EOS) data and develop an experimentally validated EOS from machine-learning MD simulations of the complex states of carbon; and (3) to uncover the complex behavior of carbon liquid in both thermodynamically stable and metastable supercooled states by accessing large areas of carbon phase diagram with amorphous samples with variable sp 3 content. Our proposed experimental program included measurements of equation of state and diffraction measurements using the Omega EP laser at the Laboratory of Laser Energetics at the University of Rochester. The theoretical/simulation program involved the development of machine-learning models of the complex response of amorphous carbon under dynamic compression by performing molecular dynamics simulations at experimental time and length scales using leadership class DOE supercomputers. Simulations guided experiments to observe predicted phenomena and acquire critical experimental data in specific pressure-temperature domains to validate theoretical models. This research delivered fundamental properties of novel amorphous carbon IFE ablator material, including phase diagram and EOS. These results will aid in IFE target design and implosion experiments. A unique combination of predictive simulations and dynamic and static experiments provided a highly inspirational intellectual environment for graduate students and postdocs involved in this project.
To meet the increasing anti-knocking quality demand of boosted spark-ignition engines, fuel additives are considered an effective approach to tailor fuel properties for satisfying the performance requirements. Thus, screening/developing bio-derived fuel additives that are best-suited for advanced spark-ignition engines has become a significant task. 2-Phenylethanol (2-PE) is an attractive candidate that features high research octane number, high octane sensitivity, low vapor pressure, and high energy density. Recognizing that the low temperature autoignition chemistry of 2-PE is not well understood and the need for fundamental experimental data at engine-relevant conditions, rapid compression machine (RCM) experiments are therefore conducted herein to measure ignition delay times (IDTs) of 2-PE in air over a wide range of conditions to fill this fundamental void. These newly acquired IDT data at low-to-intermediated temperatures, equivalence ratios of 0.35–1.5, and compressed pressures of 10–40 bar are then used to validate the 2-PE model developed by Shankar et al. (2017). It is found that this literature model greatly overpredicts the current RCM data. The comparison of experimental and simulated results also provides insights into 2-PE autoignition behaviors at varying conditions. Further chemical kinetic analyses demonstrate that the absence of the O2-addition pathway of β-R. radical in the 2-PE model of Shankar et al. (2017) could account for the model discrepancies observed at low-to-intermediated temperatures.
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Metabolic fluxes, the number of metabolites traversing each biochemical reaction in a cell per unit time, are crucial for assessing and understanding cell function. 13 C Metabolic Flux Analysis ( 13 C MFA) is considered to be the gold standard for measuring metabolic fluxes. 13 C MFA typically works by leveraging extracellular exchange fluxes as well as data from 13 C labeling experiments to calculate the flux profile which best fit the data for a small, central carbon, metabolic model. However, the nonlinear nature of the 13 C MFA fitting procedure means that several flux profiles fit the experimental data within the experimental error, and traditional optimization methods offer only a partial or skewed picture, especially in “non-gaussian” situations where multiple very distinct flux regions fit the data equally well. Here, we present a method for flux space sampling through Bayesian inference (BayFlux), that identifies the full distribution of fluxes compatible with experimental data for a comprehensive genome-scale model. This Bayesian approach allows us to accurately quantify uncertainty in calculated fluxes. We also find that, surprisingly, the genome-scale model of metabolism produces narrower flux distributions (reduced uncertainty) than the small core metabolic models traditionally used in 13 C MFA. The different results for some reactions when using genome-scale models vs core metabolic models advise caution in assuming strong inferences from 13 C MFA since the results may depend significantly on the completeness of the model used. Based on BayFlux, we developed and evaluated novel methods (P- 13 C MOMA and P- 13 C ROOM) to predict the biological results of a gene knockout, that improve on the traditional MOMA and ROOM methods by quantifying prediction uncertainty.
In this work we report condensation heat transfer coefficient and pressure drop data for R-454B, R-32, and R-454C. These refrigerants are low Global Warming Potential (GWP) replacements for R-410A. We obtained these data in a smooth 7.2 mm outer diameter (5.94 mm inner diameter) aluminum tube. In these experiments, the key variables were condensation temperature (35 °C ≤ T cond ≤ 50 °C) and refrigerant mass flux (151.1 ≤ G ≤ 347.3 kg m –2 s –1 ). In general, for similar nominal operating conditions, we measured the highest heat transfer coefficients for R-32 and the lowest for R-454C. Among the correlations we used to predict the heat transfer data for all three refrigerants, the one developed by Thome et al. (2003) predicted the data with the greatest accuracy. Deviations between experimental data and predictions of this correlation were 21.7% for R-454B (with SBG correction), 22.0% for R-32, and 18.8% for R-454C (with SBG correction). Experimental pressure gradient data were predicted by the Friedel correlation Friedel (1979) with deviations of 13.8% for R-454B, 9.8% for R-32, and 10.2% for R-454C. In this work, we also compare the predictions of the Cavallini et al. correlation Cavallini et al. (2006) for R-454B and R-32 in smooth copper versus smooth aluminum tubes. To improve this correlation’s predictive capability for aluminum tubes, we have proposed some modifications. After incorporating these modifications, the deviations between the correlation’s predictions and our data were 10% for R-454B (with SBG correction), 8.1% for R-32, and 5.2% for R-454C (with SBG correction). Furthermore, these data and findings will assist the HVAC and refrigeration industry to implement low-GWP refrigerants in condensers using smooth aluminum tubes.
Photovoltaic (PV) inverter manufacturers use custom, proprietary control approaches and topologies in their inverter design. The proprietary nature of these approaches makes it challenging to share electromagnetic transients (EMT) domain models for system studies. This research work presents an approach to develop EMT models from experimental data. We use novel approach in experimental design, high fidelity data collection, use of learning-based modeling, and co-simulation to reduce the time taken to develop an EMT model for an inverter under test (IUT). We used a 20 kW off-the-shelf grid following PV inverter and subjected the inverter to controlled tests. The tests include voltage and frequency step changes, as well as solar irradiance variations. The recorded high frequency data were used to train a neural network model representing the dynamic behavior of the IUT. The model was subsequently imported into an EMT tool using co-simulation techniques, and thus completing the modeling effort.
An Arrhenius–Wescott–Stewart–Davis (AWSD) reactive flow model for high explosive PBX 9404 is developed. We specifically calibrate an AWSD model for PBX 9404 by fitting equations of state for reactants and detonation products to the results of thermochemical calculations and to experimental data from multiple sources. The calibrated equations of state are then coupled with an Arrhenius rate law based on shock temperature that describes the reaction progress during PBX 9404 detonation. The parameter values in the rate law are calibrated to experimental gas-gun data and diameter effect results. The results of the calibrated AWSD model are in strong agreement with available experimental data for PBX 9404. A similar level of agreement between predicted and experimental results is observed when the calibrated model is validated on data that were not used in the model parameterization procedure. Our results illustrate that the AWSD model is capable of accurately describing the many important properties and observables in the reactive burn of PBX 9404. Because of the historical significance of PBX 9404 in high explosives research and its current use in aging studies, this work provides an important model of a legacy material, which can be used to make comparisons to new high explosive formulations.
The aim of this document is to lay out a first draft of the specifications for the MEDUSAL database (Machine-readable Experimental Data User App & Library) that is being described by OECD/NEA/WPEC SG-50. The EXFOR database (Otuka et al., 2014) has a format that is based on code-value pairs, and a significant portion of the information in the EXFOR entry is contained in free text sections. Several high-level requirements for the MEDUSAL database, as laid out in the Use Cases and Requirements Working Paper (citation), relate to the definition of the specifications
Numerical simulations of high energy-density experiments require equation of state (EOS) models that relate a material’s thermodynamic state variables—specifically pressure, volume/density, energy, and temperature. EOS models are typically constructed using a semi-empirical parametric methodology, which assumes a physics-informed functional form with many tunable parameters calibrated using experimental/simulation data. Since there are inherent uncertainties in the calibration data (parametric uncertainty) and the assumed functional EOS form (model uncertainty), it is essential to perform uncertainty quantification (UQ) to improve confidence in EOS predictions. Model uncertainty is challenging for UQ studies since it requires exploring the space of all possible physically consistent functional forms. Thus, it is often neglected in favor of parametric uncertainty, which is easier to quantify without violating thermodynamic laws. This work presents a data-driven machine learning approach to constructing EOS models that naturally captures model uncertainty while satisfying the necessary thermodynamic consistency and stability constraints. We propose a novel framework based on physics-informed Gaussian process regression (GPR) that automatically captures total uncertainty in the EOS and can be jointly trained on both simulation and experimental data sources. A GPR model for the shock Hugoniot is derived, and its uncertainties are quantified using the proposed framework. We apply the proposed model to learn the EOS for the diamond solid state of carbon using both density functional theory data and experimental shock Hugoniot data to train the model and show that the prediction uncertainty is reduced by considering thermodynamic constraints.
Machine learning (ML) can offer many advantages in predicting material properties over traditional materials development methods based solely on limited experimental investigations or physical-based simulations with the capability to reduce development cost, risk, and time. However, so far, limited efforts have been made to predict alloy oxidation kinetics and spallation behavior via ML due to the lack of consistently measured and sufficient experimental data and the inherent complexity in oxidation behavior of multicomponent high-temperature alloys. A previous study reported the ability of ML to predict oxidation kinetics of NiCr-based alloys as a function of alloy composition and operating conditions. Here, the performance of a ML model in predicting rate constants and spallation probability was evaluated in light of the roles of the data distribution of the experimental dataset (data analytics), the alloy composition, the exposure environment and the chosen oxidation approach to extracting kinetic values from the measured mass changes (but using either a simple parabolic law or a statistical cyclic oxidation model). Potential strategies to improve the predictions and enhance the extrapolative capability of the previously trained model will be discussed.
Thermal neutron scattering cross-section data for light water available in the major nuclear data libraries observes significant differences especially at reactor operating temperatures. During the past few years there has been a renewed interest in reviewing the existing thermal scattering models and generating more accurate and reliable thermal scattering cross sections using existing experimental data and in some cases based on Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations. There is a need for performing new time-of-flight experiments at high temperatures and pressures, to have a better understanding of the physics involved in the scattering process that could help improve the existing TSL data.Lack of experimental thermal scattering data for light water at high temperatures led to a new measurement campaign within the INSIDER project at the Institut de radioprotection et de sûreté nucléaire (IRSN). Double differential scattering cross section for light water have been measured at the SEQUOIA spectrometer based at the Spallation Neutron Source (SNS), Oak Ridge National Laboratory, United States. Several measurements have been carried out at different temperatures and pressures corresponding to liquid light water. Measurements at five different incident neutron energies Ei (8, 60, 160, 280 and 800 meV) have been carried out to help exploring different regions of the frequency spectrum. This paper presents the analysis of the dynamic structure factor and the derived frequency spectrum of light water. The analysis of the experimental data would provide one with better confidence, the behavior of thermal scattering cross sections for light water at high temperatures, knowledge of which is very important for the design of novel reactors as well as existing pressurized water reactors.
Nuclear reaction data libraries make use of experimental data that are differential in reaction and neutron energy for evaluation and data that are integral in reaction and energy for validation. In many cases, integral measurements can provide lower experimental uncertainties than differential measurements, but the impact of individual reactions and energies cannot generally be determined from the single experimental observable. “Quasi-integral” or “quasi-differential” measurements, which are integral in one characteristic (energy or reaction) and differential in the other, can often provide a middle ground of lower experimental uncertainties combined with some ability to unpack the impact of individual reactions or energies. Furthermore, the Flexible Neutron Source (FNS) at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, is a new experimental facility that can perform integral and quasi-integral measurements by removing components of the integral configuration to determine the impact of specific reactions. Possible flux-averaged cross-section measurements, flux perturbation measurements, and neutron downscattering measurements are simulated here to show the value of the FNS to evaluation and validation of nuclear data.
We have performed a computational study of TATB. The study is composed of two parts, one where we perform static T = 0 K calculations with several different DFT functionals, to investigate structural properties and obtain a cold curve. Even though the functionals used in this study give poor results at ambient pressure, they perform much better at compression, when the dominance of the van der Waals’ forces in the binding is replaced by more normal interactions. In particular AM05 gives good results, mainly because it doesn’t include any “faulty” van der Waals’. Indeed the van der Waals’ corrected functional (PBE+D2) results shows the worst performance on structural properties. For the cold curve the PBE+D2 functional gives the best results compared to experiments (room temperature) but since the structural properties were bad with this functional we cannot for sure say that this is in any way a validation. It is shown that scaling the AM05 results with a common factor reproduces the experimental data. We leave the question on why to a follow up study but speculate that maybe the experiment and our calculations do not represent the same system set-up. From the structural properties we identify a site in the TATB lattice that contains a high concentration of oxygen and hydrogen. The consequences of this finding, if any, are left to a future project. In the second part of the study we perform extensive high-quality DFT-MD (molecular dynamics with DFT forces) calculations to obtain points on the Hugoniot. This part of the study did not get finished within this project and a more extensive summary of this part will be given in a follow up report at a future date. However, we show that obtaining calculated data is essential for equations of state development since the existing experimental Hugoniot data barely deviates from room temperature isotherm data and thus give no information of the high temperature dependency of materials properties. Our conclusion so far in the project is that being able to calculate materials properties is essential for high explosives since experiments are unable to give information in the high temperature part of phase space. While blind use of DFT cannot (yet) give unambiguous answers, we can still explore qualitatively and use such information to guide us in EOS development. However, the main conclusion is that we need better functionals in DFT to easily extract needed properties from calculations.
Abstract Conventional phase diagram generation involves experimentation to provide an initial estimate of the set of thermodynamically accessible phases and their boundaries, followed by use of phenomenological models to interpolate between the available experimental data points and extrapolate to experimentally inaccessible regions. Such an approach, combined with high throughput first-principles calculations and data-mining techniques, has led to exhaustive thermodynamic databases (e.g. compatible with the CALPHAD method), albeit focused on the reduced set of phases observed at distinct thermodynamic equilibria. In contrast, materials during their synthesis, operation, or processing, may not reach their thermodynamic equilibrium state but, instead, remain trapped in a local (metastable) free energy minimum, which may exhibit desirable properties. Here, we introduce an automated workflow that integrates first-principles physics and atomistic simulations with machine learning (ML), and high-performance computing to allow rapid exploration of the metastable phases to construct “metastable” phase diagrams for materials far-from-equilibrium. Using carbon as a prototypical system, we demonstrate automated metastable phase diagram construction to map hundreds of metastable states ranging from near equilibrium to far-from-equilibrium (400 meV/atom). We incorporate the free energy calculations into a neural-network-based learning of the equations of state that allows for efficient construction of metastable phase diagrams. We use the metastable phase diagram and identify domains of relative stability and synthesizability of metastable materials. High temperature high pressure experiments using a diamond anvil cell on graphite sample coupled with high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) confirm our metastable phase predictions. In particular, we identify the previously ambiguous structure of n -diamond as a cubic-analog of diaphite-like lonsdaelite phase.
The First Research Coordination Meeting of the CRP on “Updating Fission Yield Data for Applications” was held by video conference from 31 August to 4 September 2020 with more than 50 international experts from 16 countries attending the meeting. The CRP is devoted to evaluation efforts of cumulative and independent fission yields for incident energies from the thermal point up to 14 MeV on actinide targets. Produced fission yield evaluations should include full uncertainty quantification and are expected to combine available experimental data and state-of-art model information. Four working groups were created within the collaboration: 1) Availability of experimental fission product yield data for evaluations; 2) New fission product yield experimental data; 3) Fission product yield evaluation; and 4) Fission product yield validation. Technical discussions and the resulting work plan of the Coordinated Research Programme are summarized in this report.
The First Research Coordination Meeting of the CRP on “Updating Fission Yield Data for Applications” was held by video conference from 31 August to 4 September 2020 with more than 50 international experts from 16 countries attending the meeting. The CRP is devoted to evaluation efforts of cumulative and independent fission yields for incident energies from the thermal point up to 14 MeV on actinide targets. Produced fission yield evaluations should include full uncertainty quantification and are expected to combine available experimental data and state-of-art model information. Four working groups were created within the collaboration: 1) Availability of experimental fission product yield data for evaluations; 2) New fission product yield experimental data; 3) Fission product yield evaluation; and 4) Fission product yield validation. Technical discussions and the resulting work plan of the Coordinated Research Programme are summarized in this report.
Sodium-cooled Fast Reactors (SFR) are one of the promising Generation IV fast reactors. The China Experimental Fast Reactor (CEFR) is a 65 MWth pool-type SFR with a high neutron leakage core using high enriched uranium oxide fuel. The CEFR start-up tests in 2010 consist of series of neutronics experiments. Essential experimental data are available from the 2018 IAEA-CEFR-CRP benchmark document and useful for the validation of neutron transport codes and nuclear data libraries. The TRIPOLI-4 Monte Carlo transport code is a general-purpose neutronics code using continuous-energy nuclear data libraries. It has a rich validation database covering different computational and experimental benchmark data sets to assure the accuracy and credibility of numerical studies. Previous TRIPOLI-4 SFR core physics calculations used mainly MOX fuels. SFR control rod worth studies with TRIPOLI-4 were mainly on big-size cores. To test the modeling capability of TRIPOLI-4 on fuel loading patterns and on variable control rods positions for SFRs and to check recent nuclear data libraries, it is interesting to investigate the CEFR start-up tests in this work, including core states from subcritical to supercritical, control rods and rod group worth, point kinetics parameters, and radial foil activation measurements. TRIPOLI-4 calculation results using new data libraries JEFF-3.3, ENDF/B-VIII, and those of ENDF/B-VII.1 for different CEFR core states are reported here. By means of different options of TRIPOLI-4, control-rod SAs reactivity worth, point kinetics parameters, and radial {sup 237}Np(n,f) fission rate distribution were successfully evaluated. Both ENDF/B-VIII and JEFF-3.3 nuclear data libraries provided reliable results with a difference of 170 +/- 11 pcm in k{sub eff}.