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At least 667 records · Page 37

Computer modeling of pulsed CO2 lasers for lidar applications

The experimental results will enable a comparison of the numerical code output with experimental data. This will ensure verification of the validity of the code. The measurements were made on a modified commercial CO2 laser. Results are listed as following. (1) The pulse shape and energy dependence on gas pressure were measured. (2) The intrapulse frequency chirp due to plasma and laser induced medium perturbation effects were determined. A simple numerical model showed quantitative agreement with these measurements. The pulse to pulse frequency stability was also determined. (3) The dependence was measured of the laser transverse mode stability on cavity length. A simple analysis of this dependence in terms of changes to the equivalent fresnel number and the cavity magnification was performed. (4) An analysis was made of the discharge pulse shape which enabled the low efficiency of the laser to be explained in terms of poor coupling of the electrical energy into the vibrational levels. And (5) the existing laser resonator code was changed to allow it to run on the Cray XMP under the new operating system.

Spiers, Gary D.↗

SCALE 6.2.4 Validation: Nuclear Criticality Safety

The computational bias of criticality safety computer codes must be established through the validation of the codes to critical experiments. A large collection of suitable experiments has been vetted by the International Criticality Safety Benchmark Evaluation Project (ICSBEP) and made available in the International Handbook of Evaluated Criticality Safety Benchmark Experiments (ICSBEP Handbook). More than 600 cases from this handbook have been prepared and reviewed within the Verified, Archived Library of Inputs and Data (VALID), which is maintained by the Reactor and Nuclear Systems Division at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The performance of the KENO V.a and KENO-VI Monte Carlo codes within the SCALE 6.2.4 code system is assessed using the VALID models of benchmark experiments. A range of nuclear cross section libraries based on Evaluated Nuclear Data File (ENDF)/B-VII.1 in both multigroup (MG) and continuous energy (CE) formats is considered. The critical experiments available to validate the KENO V.a code cover 15 broad categories of systems. These systems use a range of fissile materials, including a range of uranium enrichments, various plutonium isotopic vectors, and some mixed uranium/plutonium oxides. The physical forms of the fissile material also vary and are represented as metal, solutions, or arrays of rods or plates in a water moderator. The neutron energy spectra of the systems also vary and cover fast, intermediate, mixed, and thermal spectra. Over 550 of the total cases use the KENO V.a code for the four nuclear data libraries considered in this report.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

OVERFLOW Turbulence Modeling Resource Validation Results

Abstract:We exercise the computational fluid dynamics code OVERFLOW on sixteen turbulence model validation cases from the NASALangley Turbulence Model Resource web site. We give some information about the OVERFLOW options used to run these cases, and compare OVERFLOW results with results from other codes and with experiment. The goal is turbulence model validation for OVERFLOW.

computational fluid dynamics↗

Investigation of HZETRN 2010 as a Tool for Single Event Effect Qualification of Avionics Systems

NASA's future missions are focused on deep space for human exploration that do not provide a simple emergency return to Earth. In addition, the deep space environment contains a constant background Galactic Cosmic Ray (GCR) radiation exposure, as well as periodic Solar Particle Events (SPEs) that can produce intense amounts of radiation in a short amount of time. Given these conditions, it is important that the avionics systems for deep space human missions are not susceptible to Single Event Effects (SEE) that can occur from radiation interactions with electronic components. The typical process to minimizing SEE effects is through using heritage hardware and extensive testing programs that are very costly. Previous work by Koontz, et al. [1] utilized an analysis-based method for investigating electronic component susceptibility. In their paper, FLUKA, a Monte Carlo transport code, was used to calculate SEE and single event upset (SEU) rates. This code was then validated against in-flight data. In addition, CREME-96, a deterministic code, was also compared with FLUKA and in-flight data. However, FLUKA has a long run-time (on the order of days), and CREME-96 has not been updated in several years. This paper will investigate the use of HZETRN 2010, a deterministic transport code developed at NASA Langley Research Center, as another tool that can be used to analyze SEE and SEU rates. The benefits to using HZETRN over FLUKA and CREME-96 are that it has a very fast run time (on the order of minutes) and has been shown to be of similar accuracy as other deterministic and Monte Carlo codes when considering dose [2, 3, 4]. The 2010 version of HZETRN has updated its treatment of secondary neutrons and thus has improved its accuracy over previous versions. In this paper, the Linear Energy Transfer (LET) spectra are of interest rather than the total ionizing dose. Therefore, the LET spectra output from HZETRN 2010 will be compared with the FLUKA and in-flight data to validate HZETRN 2010 as a computational tool for SEE qualification by analysis. Furthermore, extrapolation of these data to interplanetary environments at 1 AU will be investigated to determine whether HZETRN 2010 can be used successfully and confidently for deep space mission analyses.

Rojdev, Kristina↗

Aerodynamic Database Development for Mars Smart Lander Vehicle Configurations

An aerodynamic database has been generated for the Mars Smart Lander Shelf-All configuration using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations. Three different CFD codes, USM3D and FELISA, based on unstructured grid technology and LAURA, an established and validated structured CFD code, were used. As part of this database development, the results for the Mars continuum were validated with experimental data and comparisons made where applicable. The validation of USM3D and LAURA with the Unitary experimental data, the use of intermediate LAURA check analyses, as well as the validation of FELISA with the Mach 6 CF(sub 4) experimental data provided a higher confidence in the ability for CFD to provide aerodynamic data in order to determine the static trim characteristics for longitudinal stability. The analyses of the noncontinuum regime showed the existence of multiple trim angles of attack that can be unstable or stable trim points. This information is needed to design guidance controller throughout the trajectory.

Bobskill, Glenn J.↗

Ground-based measurements of galactic cosmic ray fragmentation in shielding

The mean free path for nuclear interactions of galactic cosmic-rays is comparable to shielding and tissue thicknesses present in human interplanetary exploration, resulting in a significant fraction of nuclear reaction products at depth. In order to characterize the radiation field, the energy spectrum, the angular distribution, and the multiplicity of each type of secondary particles must also be known as a function of depth. Reactions can take place anywhere in a thick absorber; therefore, it is necessary to know these quantities as a function of particle energy for all particles produced. HZE transport methods are used to predict the radiation field; they are dependent on models of the interaction of man-made systems with the space environment to an even greater extent than methods used for other types of radiation. Hence, there is a major need to validate these transport codes by comparison with experimental data. The most cost-effective method of validation is a comparison with ground-based experimental measurements. A research program to provide such validation measurements using neon, iron and other accelerated heavy ion beams will be discussed and illustrated using results from ongoing experiments and their comparison with current transport codes. The extent to which physical measurements yield radiobiological predictions will be discussed.

NASA Discipline Radiation Health↗

Development and Validation of Passive Yaw in the Open-Source WEC-Sim Code

A passive yaw implementation is developed, validated, and explored for the WEC-Sim, an open-source wave energy converter modeling tool that works within MATLAB/Simulink. The Reference Model 5 (RM5) is selected for this investigation, and a WEC-Sim model of the device is modified to allow yaw motion. A boundary element method (BEM) code was used to calculate the excitation force coefficients for a range of wave headings. An algorithm was implemented in WEC-Sim to determine the equivalent wave heading from a body’s instantaneous yaw angle and interpolate the appropriate excitation coefficients to ensure the correct time-domain excitation force. This approach is able to determine excitation force for a body undergoing large yaw displacement. For the mathematically simple case of regular wave excitation, the dynamic equation was integrated numerically and found to closely approximate the results from this implementation in WEC-Sim. A case study is presented for the same device in irregular waves. In this case, computation time is increased by 32x when this interpolation is performed at every time step. To reduce this expense, a threshold yaw displacement can be set to reduce the number of interpolations performed. A threshold of 0.01° was found to increase computation time by only 22x without significantly affecting time domain results. Similar amplitude spectra for yaw force and displacements are observed for all threshold values less than 1°, for which computation time is only increased by 2.2x.

50 EE - Wind and Water Power Program - Water (EE-4↗

Initial validation of ALFRED: A Monte Carlo code built on Geant4 for TREAT energy deposition

Predicting the energy deposited in the specimen during an experiment in the Transient Reactor Test (TREAT) Facility is a complex problem due to the nature of the transients occurring in the reactor. In addition, the many particles contributing to energy deposition have different behavior in time and space. ALFRED, a new Geant4 based code, is developed to transport and simulate each particle generated in the core. This code is verified against OpenMC (Open Monte Carlo) on the Godiva benchmark and a simple TREAT model. Next, the energy deposition in TREAT is calculated: 181.05 ± 0.01 MeV for the “instantaneous” energy deposition (which accounts for the energy deposited within 1 s after neutron emission) in fuel and 189.90 ± 0.01 MeV for the total energy deposition in fuel. We discuss these results in this paper with previous calculations and experimental evaluations. This work demonstrates ALFRED’s potential as a high-fidelity tool for computing the spatial and temporal energy deposition in TREAT paving the way for a better understanding of the energy coupling factors in TREAT.

73 - NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Validation of a pair of computer codes for estimation and optimization of subsonic aerodynamic performance of simple hinged-flap systems for thin swept wings

Extensive correlations of computer code results with experimental data are employed to illustrate the use of linearized theory attached flow methods for the estimation and optimization of the aerodynamic performance of simple hinged flap systems. Use of attached flow methods is based on the premise that high levels of aerodynamic efficiency require a flow that is as nearly attached as circumstances permit. A variety of swept wing configurations are considered ranging from fighters to supersonic transports, all with leading- and trailing-edge flaps for enhancement of subsonic aerodynamic efficiency. The results indicate that linearized theory attached flow computer code methods provide a rational basis for the estimation and optimization of flap system aerodynamic performance at subsonic speeds. The analysis also indicates that vortex flap design is not an opposing approach but is closely related to attached flow design concepts. The successful vortex flap design actually suppresses the formation of detached vortices to produce a small vortex which is restricted almost entirely to the leading edge flap itself.

Carlson, Harry W.↗

Validation and applications of the POLAR code

The Potentials of Large Objects in the Auroral Region (POLAR) code was written to model the charging of large spacecraft by auroral electrons in low polar orbit. It has also proven to be a powerful tool for analysis of active and voltage-plasma interactions. POLAR combines 3-D object definition, direct solution to Poisson's equation, space charge transport, and surface charge computation. Physical effects treated by POLAR include the plasma wake and ram, the geomagnetic field, ionization, sheath and barrier formation, and photo and secondary electron generation and transport. Polar development is complete and it is now available to the aerospace community. The methodology of POLAR is reviewed but concentration is on the applications of POLAR to physical problems and observations with the intent of demonstrating both the code's capabilities, and its limitations. These applications include the Space Shuttle, the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) satellites, sounding rockets, plasma chamber experiments, and things not yet flown.

Cooke, David L.↗

Workshop report - A validation study of Navier-Stokes codes for transverse injection into a Mach 2 flow

A CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) competition was held at the Third Scramjet Combustor Modeling Workshop to assess the current state-of-the-art in CFD codes for the analysis of scramjet combustors. Solutions from six three-dimensional Navier-Stokes codes were compared for the case of staged injection of air behind a step into a Mach 2 flow. This case was investigated experimentally at the University of Virginia and extensive in-stream data was obtained. Code-to-code comparisons have been made with regard to both accuracy and efficiency. The turbulence models employed in the solutions are believed to be a major source of discrepancy between the six solutions.

Eklund, Dean R.↗

Validation of a High-Order Compact Code for Nonlinear Flows About Complex Geometric

The slides review computational requirements for nozzle exhaust flow and noise calculations and the current numerical method, validation of prefactored compact scheme on CAA benchmark problems, a curvilinear grid performance test of gust response of a Joukowski airfoil, airfoil surface RMS pressure distribution and far field noise radiation results for Joukowski airfoil in a vortical gust, boundary distance study for Joukowski airfoil problem, and performance of ICOMP parallel Macintosh cluster.

Hixon, Ray↗

tonalli : an asexual genetic code to characterize APOGEE-2 stellar spectra. I. Validation with synthetic and solar spectra

ABSTRACT We present tonalli, a spectroscopic analysis python code that efficiently predicts effective temperature, stellar surface gravity, metallicity, $\alpha$-element abundance, and rotational and radial velocities for stars with effective temperatures between 3200 and 6250 K, observed with the Apache Point Observatory Galactic Evolution Experiment 2 (APOGEE-2). tonalli implements an asexual genetic algorithm to optimize the finding of the best comparison between a target spectrum and the continuum-normalized synthetic spectra library from the Model Atmospheres with a Radiative and Convective Scheme (MARCS), which is interpolated in each generation. Using simulated observed spectra and the APOGEE-2 solar spectrum of Vesta, we study the performance, limitations, accuracy, and precision of our tool. Finally, a Monte Carlo realization was implemented to estimate the uncertainties of each derived stellar parameter.

Adame, Lucía (ORCID:0000000263286099)↗

Selection and Ranking of Experiments from the Halden Database in support of Multiscale Model Validation

Validating fuel performance codes, such as BISON, requires an extensive amount of experiments covering a wide range of operating conditions and fuel types. Within the light-water reactor (LWR) space, there have been several international experimental programs that have contributed to the wealth of available experimental data available for use. One of those international programs, the Halden Reactor Project (HRP), began in 1958 and utilized the Halden Boiling Water Reactor to conduct many highly instrumented experiments until the reactor closed in 2018. Idaho National Laboratory, through the U.S. Department of Energy, has utilized several Halden experiments to perform the initial validation of the BISON code based upon their inclusion in international modeling and simulation benchmarks. Recently, the HRP has provided member organizations a complete copy of all available data, reports, and presentations since the HRP began. This report provides an initial exploration of the data available in the database for use in validating the multiscale models under development in the Nuclear Energy Advanced Modeling and Simulation (NEAMS) program for LWR applications. Ranking tables that identify potential validation cases are provided for the high priority models of interest. It was found that some of the recommended high priority experiments correspond to additional rods in existing assemblies already available in the BISON validation suite. It is expected that several of these cases will be incorporated into future NEAMS milestones in the fuels technical area for increased validation of BISON.

11 - NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

Overview of JET results for optimising ITER operation

The JET 2019–2020 scientific and technological programme exploited the results of years of concerted scientific and engineering work, including the ITER-like wall (ILW: Be wall and W divertor) installed in 2010, improved diagnostic capabilities now fully available, a major neutral beam injection upgrade providing record power in 2019–2020, and tested the technical and procedural preparation for safe operation with tritium. Research along three complementary axes yielded a wealth of new results. Firstly, the JET plasma programme delivered scenarios suitable for high fusion power and alpha particle (α) physics in the coming D–T campaign (DTE2), with record sustained neutron rates, as well as plasmas for clarifying the impact of isotope mass on plasma core, edge and plasma-wall interactions, and for ITER pre-fusion power operation. The efficacy of the newly installed shattered pellet injector for mitigating disruption forces and runaway electrons was demonstrated. Secondly, research on the consequences of long-term exposure to JET-ILW plasma was completed, with emphasis on wall damage and fuel retention, and with analyses of wall materials and dust particles that will help validate assumptions and codes for design and operation of ITER and DEMO. Thirdly, the nuclear technology programme aiming to deliver maximum technological return from operations in D, T and D–T benefited from the highest D–D neutron yield in years, securing results for validating radiation transport and activation codes, and nuclear data for ITER.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Raytracing

The raytracing (spectrally specific radiative transfer that does not couple back to the hydrodynamic evolution) code was developed because it helps improve our understanding of the physics of explosive events, validates computational physics codes, and estimates optical signals that are cheaper and safer than experiments involving high explosives. The raytracing code can also produce simulations that are useful to analyze what we can understand with sensors, such as determining what we can discriminate with sensors, like the presence of certain metals or the amount of soot. In addition, simulations can provide extra validations to computational physics to help us better understand discrepancies.

45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEF↗