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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 757 records · Page 42
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1989

Earth radiation budget and cloudiness simulations with a general circulation model

A GCM with new parameterizations of solar and terrestrial radiation, parameterized cloud optical properties, and a simple representation of the cloud liquid water feedback is used with several observational data sets to analyze the effects of cloudiness on the earth's radiation budget. The January and July results from the model are in reasonable agreement with data from Nimbus-7. It is found that the simulated cloudiness overpredicts subtropical and midlatitude cloudiness. The simulated atmospheric cloud radiative forcing is examined. The clear-sky radiation fields obtained by two methods of Cess and Potter (1987) are compared. Also, a numerical experiment was performed to determine the effects of the water vapor continuum on the model results.

HARSHVARDHAN↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Developing Procedures to Implement Geometric Imperfections Beyond Right Circular Cylindrical Shells in Finite Element Method Models

Analysis of aerospace structures is frequently conducted using nominal dimensions and frequently assumes ideal conditions in loading, contact, constraints, et cetera. Off-nominal dimensions and nonideal conditions, however, are present in all structures. These are the result of widely ranging causes from coefficient of thermal expansion mismatches, manufacturing tooling anomalies, to assembly procedures that inadvertently alter the structure. Specifically, geometric imperfections can have potentially significant influence on the response of a structural test article observed in an experiment versus the response given by a numerical simulation. The Python Tool for Implementing Geometric Imperfections in Reduced Structures (Py_TIGIRS) was previously presented as a set of Python scripts to calculate and implement as-manufactured geometric midsurface and thickness imperfections into finite element method (FEM) shell models of nominally right circular cylinders. By taking advantage of the simple shape of a right circular cylinder, interpolations of the measured data points were able to be performed along directions that aligned to the cylindrical coordinate system axes of the entire structure. By taking advantage of the shell representation of the real structure as opposed to modeling using a continuum representation, the thickness variation was able to be implemented by shell section definitions instead of having to modify the position of multiple nodes in the thickness direction. Py_TIGIRS is a useful tool that established a procedural example on how to implement geometric imperfections in right circular cylindrical shell structures. Three new procedures, each expanded from concepts established in Py_TIGIRS, are proposed for various test-article designs and are intended to broaden the range of structures that can be modeled with measured geometric imperfections in the structural analysis community. Each test-article design introduces new challenges to successfully implement geometric imperfections into a FEM model. The first test-article design consists of a carbon fiber reinforced polymer square plate with a hat-shaped stiffener co-cured on one side. This test-article design was for a novel seven-point bend test that was also previously presented. Manufacturing and cure-cycle imperfections are observed using digital image correlation (DIC) techniques. As thermal expansion coefficient mismatches between the plate and stiffener materials were anticipated, a thermal analysis study with continuum shell and solid elements was conducted to capture the global shape observed prior to testing. The second test-article design is of a similar hat-stiffened plate configuration, but with a side length ratio near 3:1 with elongation in the stiffener direction. The test article was used to characterize the response to uniaxial compressive loading in the direction of the stiffener. Due to differing manufacturing steps, a thermal analysis like the one developed for the seven-point bend configuration was unable to mimic the observed geometric imperfections. Instead, a strategy based on applying deformations directly to the structure during analysis was developed for continuum shell and solid element representation of a stiffened panel.

Geometric imperfections↗
DOE OSTI2022

Damage Accumulations Predictions for Boiler Components Via Microstructurally Informed Material Models

The goal of the project was to model material behavior and degradation during cyclic plasticity— with and without hold time—for nickel-based superalloys used in USC (ultra-super-critical) and A-USC (advanced-ultra-super-critical) boiler components. The study provided physically informed models, capturing the microstructural changes taking place in the industrial components under cyclic loading and long duration stress (up to 300,000 hours) and high temperature exposure (1100°F/593°C to 1400°F/760°C). The major developments were: 1) Qualitative and quantitative understanding of microstructure evolution (gamma prime precipitates), deformation (dislocation density), and damage mechanisms of Haynes ® 282 alloy. 2) Qualitative understanding of microstructural features generating local strain variations. 3) A continuum damage mechanics model (CDM) for Haynes ® 282 alloy at 1100°F to 1400°F capturing cyclic behavior with and without hold time. 4) Structural analysis for creep and LCF life predictions of an USC thick-wall Grade 91 superheater steel header and understanding life sensitivity to wall thickness of an AUSC Haynes ® 282 header.

20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS↗
NASA NTRS1991

Bow shock models of ultracompact H II regions

This paper presents models of ultracompact H II regions as the bow shocks formed by massive stars, with strong stellar winds, moving supersonically through molecular clouds. The morphologies, sizes and brightnesses of observed objects match the models well. Plausible models are provided for the ultracompact H II regions G12.21 - 0.1, G29.96 - 0.02, G34.26 + 0.15, and G43.89 - 0.78. To do this, the equilibrium shape of the wind-blown shell is calculated, assuming momentum conservation. Then the shell is illuminated with ionizing radiation from the central star, radiative transfer for free-free emission through the shell is performed, and the resulting object is visualized at various angles for comparison with radio continuum maps. The model unifies most of the observed morphologies of ultracompact H II regions, excluding only those objects with spherical shells. Ram pressure confinement greatly lengthens the life of ultracompact H II regions, explaining the large number that exist in the Galaxy despite their low apparent kinematic ages.

Mac Low, Mordecai-Mark↗
DOE OSTI2023

Heat transfer model for moving packed-bed particle-to-sCO 2 heat exchangers integrated with metal foams

Particle-to-supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO 2 ) heat exchangers (HXs) play a vital role in coupling heat transfer fluid (HTF) from high-temperature thermal receivers to power cycle working fluids (WF). Heat transfer enhancement is essential for adopting particle-based moving packed-bed heat exchangers (MPBHXs) in next-generation thermal energy storage (TES) systems, as MPBHXs usually exhibit low particle bed-to-wall heat transfer coefficients. High-porosity metal foams have shown their effectiveness in heat transfer enhancement. Here, this work presents a continuum heat transfer model to demonstrate the heat transfer enhancement in MPBHXs when the particle bed channel is filled with high porosity metal foams compared to open channel MPBHXs. The presence of metal foams increases the effective thermal conductivity in the particle channel and enhances the interstitial heat transfer coefficient between the moving particle bed and the stationary metal foams. The present model considers coupled two-dimensional (2D) heat transfer in the particle channel with metal foams and 1D heat transfer in the sCO 2 channel and the dividing wall. The temperature profiles for the particle bed, metal foam, dividing wall, and sCO 2 stream, as well as the local heat flux profiles between those, are studied in detail for various foam porosities, from which the particle bed-to-wall heat transfer coefficient, overall heat transfer coefficient, and total heat transfer rate for the MPBHX are determined. The effects of major MPBHX design and operating parameters on the particle bed-to-wall heat transfer coefficient and overall heat exchange capacity are thoroughly examined; thus, the MPBHX performance improvement with metal foams is quantified for each case. The present heat transfer model can provide valuable insights into the metal-foam MPBHX design and optimization, scale-up, and operating parameters selection.

42 ENGINEERING↗
NASA NTRS2013

Micromechanics Fatigue Damage Analysis Modeling for Fabric Reinforced Ceramic Matrix Composites

A micromechanics analysis modeling method was developed to analyze the damage progression and fatigue failure of fabric reinforced composite structures, especially for the brittle ceramic matrix material composites. A repeating unit cell concept of fabric reinforced composites was used to represent the global composite structure. The thermal and mechanical properties of the repeating unit cell were considered as the same as those of the global composite structure. The three-phase micromechanics, the shear-lag, and the continuum fracture mechanics models were integrated with a statistical model in the repeating unit cell to predict the progressive damages and fatigue life of the composite structures. The global structure failure was defined as the loss of loading capability of the repeating unit cell, which depends on the stiffness reduction due to material slice failures and nonlinear material properties in the repeating unit cell. The present methodology is demonstrated with the analysis results evaluated through the experimental test performed with carbon fiber reinforced silicon carbide matrix plain weave composite specimens.

Min, J. B.↗
DOE OSTI2023

Solvent Dynamics Are Critical to Understanding Carbon Dioxide Dissolution and Hydration in Water

Simulations of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) in water may aid in understanding the impact of its accumulation in aquatic environments and help advance technologies for carbon capture and utilization (via, e.g., mineralization). Quantum mechanical (QM) simulations based on static molecular models with polarizable continuum solvation poorly reproduce the energetics of CO 2 hydration to form carbonic acid in water, independent of the level of QM theory employed. Only with density-functional-theory-based molecular dynamics and rare-event sampling, followed by energy corrections based on embedded correlated wavefunction theory (in conjunction with density functional embedding theory), can a close agreement between theory and experiment be achieved. Such multilevel simulations can serve as benchmarks for simpler, less costly models, giving insight into potential errors of the latter. The strong influence of sampling/averaging over dynamical solvent configurations on the energetics stems from the difference in polarity of both the transition state and product (both polar) versus the reactant (nonpolar). When a solute undergoes a change in polarity during reaction, affecting its interaction with the solvent, careful assessment of the energetic contribution of the solvent response to this change is critical. Here, we show that static models (without structural sampling) that incorporate three explicit water molecules can yield far superior results than models with more explicit water molecules because fewer water molecules yield less configurational artifacts. Static models intelligently incorporating both explicit (molecules directly participating in the reaction) and implicit solvation, along with a proper QM theory, e.g., CCSD(T) for closed-shell systems, can close the accuracy gap between static and dynamic models.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2020

Mesoscale informed parameter estimation through machine learning: A case-study in fracture modeling

Scale bridging is a critical need in computational sciences, where the modeling community has developed accurate physics models from first principles, of processes at lower length and time scales that influence the behavior at the higher scales of interest. However, it is not computationally feasible to incorporate all of the lower length scale physics directly into upscaled models. This is an area where machine learning has shown promise in building emulators of the lower length scale models, which incur a mere fraction of the computational cost of the original higher fidelity models. We demonstrate the use of machine learning using an example in materials science estimating continuum scale parameters by emulating, with uncertainties, complicated mesoscale physics. Additionally, we describe a new framework to emulate the fine scale physics, especially in the presence of microstructures, using machine learning, and showcase its usefulness by providing an example from modeling fracture propagation. Our approach can be thought of as a data-driven dimension reduction technique that yields probabilistic emulators. Our results show well-calibrated predictions for the quantities of interests in a low-strain simulation of fracture propagation at the mesoscale level. Furthermore, on average, we achieve ~10% relative errors on time-varying quantities like total damage and maximum stresses. Successfully replicating mesoscale scale physics within the continuum models is a crucial step towards predictive capability in multi-scale problems.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
NASA NTRS1994

A coupled/uncoupled deformation and fatigue damage algorithm utilizing the finite element method

A fatigue damage computational algorithm utilizing a multiaxial, isothermal, continuum based fatigue damage model for unidirectional metal matrix composites has been implemented into the commercial finite element code MARC using MARC user subroutines. Damage is introduced into the finite element solution through the concept of effective stress which fully couples the fatigue damage calculations with the finite element deformation solution. An axisymmetric stress analysis was performed on a circumferentially reinforced ring, wherein both the matrix cladding and the composite core were assumed to behave elastic-perfectly plastic. The composite core behavior was represented using Hill's anisotropic continuum based plasticity model, and similarly, the matrix cladding was represented by an isotropic plasticity model. Results are presented in the form of S-N curves and damage distribution plots.

Wilt, Thomas E.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Spectral variations in the low-mass X-ray binary 4U 0614+09

We report the X-ray spectra of a binary 4U 0614+09 observed with EXOSAT on five different occasions in 1984 and 1986. In four observations in 1984, the source intensity was 'low' compared to its intensity in the 1986 observation. The source was steady on timescales of 10 to 1000 s in each of the 1984 observations but highly variable during the 1986 variations. The best-fit spectral models for the continuum are a blackbody spectrum plus an emission from a Comptonized region. In addition, a component due to reflection from a cold disk around the source was needed as an absorbiton edge due to cold or ionized iron was seen near 7 keV with good significance in most of the spectra, particularly in the 'low' state. The relation of the hardness ratios with intensity follow the behavior seen in the 'Atoll' sources. We have studied the behavior of the hardness ratios with the variations in the parameters of the best-fit spectral models. Most of the variability is associated with the blackbody component thought to arise from the boundary layer on the surface of the neutron star. During the 'high' state in 1986, the blackbody temperature is higher, its size smaller, and its contribution significantly greater than in the 'low' state. The other notable difference between the two states is the lower opacity in the Comptonized region, and a significantly higher absorption in the 'high' state. A weak line emission (equivalent width = 10 to 40 eV) is detected during the 'high' state. The line energy lies between 6 and 7 keV wh ich implies its origin from ionized iron.

Singh, K. P.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Absorption heat pump for space applications

In the first part, the performance of the Absorption Heat Pump (AHP) with water-sulfuric acid and water-magnesium chloride as two new refrigerant-absorbent fluid pairs was investigated. A model was proposed for the analysis of the new working pairs in a heat pump system, subject to different temperature lifts. Computer codes were developed to calculate the Coefficient of Performance (COP) of the system with the thermodynamic properties of the working fluids obtained from the literature. The study shows the potential of water-sulfuric acid as a satisfactory replacement for water-lithium bromide in the targeted temperature range. The performance of the AHP using water-magnesium chloride as refrigerant-absorbent pair does not compare well with those obtained using water-lithium bromide. The second part concentrated on the design and testing of a simple ElectroHydrodynamic (EHD) Pump. A theoretical design model based on continuum electromechanics was analyzed to predict the performance characteristics of the EHD pump to circulate the fluid in the absorption heat pump. A numerical method of solving the governing equations was established to predict the velocity profile, pressure - flow rate relationship and efficiency of the pump. The predicted operational characteristics of the EHD pump is comparable to that of turbomachinery hardware; however, the overall efficiency of the electromagnetic pump is much lower. An experimental investigation to verify the numerical results was conducted. The pressure - flow rate performance characteristics and overall efficiency of the pump obtained experimentally agree well with the theoretical model.

Nguyen, Tuan↗
DOE OSTI2021

A Pore‐Scale Investigation of Mineral Precipitation Driven Diffusivity Change at the Column‐Scale

Abstract Mineral precipitation affects the pore structure and thus transport properties of porous media. In this study, we investigated the pore‐scale dynamics of precipitation in diffusion controlled systems and the resulting impacts on the effective diffusivity, using a micro‐continuum reactive transport model. Forty two‐dimensional pore structures representing both idealized and realistic geometries were simulated with consideration of different precipitation scenarios and rates. A homogeneous nucleation scenario reproduced patterns observed in previous experimental study showing mixing‐induced precipitation, and a surface growth scenario captured the pattern for mineral precipitation on a substrate with the same or similar mineral structures. In all cases, local precipitation resulted in the reduction in the average porosity of the domain ( Φ ) until the cessation of diffusive transport and the termination of precipitation. The minimum porosity reached was referred to as the critical porosity ( Φ c ). The effective diffusivity ( D eff ) decreased with Φ and dropped sharply to effectively zero, that is, the critical effective diffusivity ( D eff c ), as Φ c was reached. These pore‐scale dynamics can be captured by a revised relationship that explicitly considers the critical porosity and the corresponding effective diffusivity, and the pre‐exponential coefficient and the exponent of the relationship varied with initial pore structure and the precipitation kinetics. Overall, the homogeneous nucleation scenario results in systematically larger Φ c and coefficients that give rise to a sharper decrease in diffusivity as Φ c is approached, compared to the surface growth scenario. The revised relationship was also implemented at continuum scale and used to examine column scale diffusivity change and reactions.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2023

Fierro Version 2.x

FIERRO is a parallel C++ code designed to simulate fluid mechanics, heat transfer, and solid mechanics in two- and three-dimensional space. FIERRO is written to run on homogeneous (CPU) and heterogeneous (CPU+GPU) high performance computing machines. Fierro can aid a) modeling and design efforts that have historically relied on commercial implicit and explicit finite element codes, b) numerical methods research, c) manufacturing research, and d) computer science research. The code contains diverse numerical methods to solve the governing physics equations for both quasi-static and dynamic problems. Mathematical optimization solvers are coupled to the numerical methods to research topology and shape optimization that has application to additive manufacturing, and to create novel numerical approaches. Phase-field methods with micromechanical solvers are provided to simulate microstructure formation and evolution in manufacturing processes. The micromechanical solvers can also help research efforts create continuum-scale constitutive models for solids, as a function of the microstructure, in situ in a calculation or in a stand-alone manner. No physical data exists within the code.

Morgan, Nathaniel↗
DOE OSTI2023

Fierro

FIERRO is a parallel C++ code designed to simulate fluid mechanics, heat transfer, and solid mechanics in two- and three dimensional space. FIERRO is written to run on homogeneous (CPU) and heterogeneous (CPU+GPU) high performance computing machines. Fierro can aid a) modeling and design efforts that have historically relied on commercial implicit and explicit finite element codes, b) numerical methods research, c) manufacturing research, and d) computer science research. The code contains diverse numerical methods to solve the governing physics equations for both quasi-static and dynamic problems. Mathematical optimization solvers are coupled to the numerical methods to research topology and shape optimization that has application to additive manufacturing, and to create novel numerical approaches. Phase-field methods with micromechanical solvers are provided to simulate microstructure formation and evolution in manufacturing processes. The micromechanical solvers can also help research efforts create continuum-scale constitutive models for solids, as a function of the microstructure, in situ in a calculation or in a stand-alone manner. No physical data exists within the code.

Morgan, Nathaniel↗
NASA NTRS1986

Photometry of Comet Halley

Observations of Comet Giacobini-Zinner were obtained on one night and of Comet Halley of three nights. When the comet becomes high enough it is hoped to obtain further observations of Comet Halley. Considerable progress was made in developing a probabalistic model for the emission of neutral dust by the nucleus of the comet. A preliminary comparison between the model and the observed intensity profiles in continuum filters is made. The model can also be used to compute the expected impact rates of dust on spacecraft flying past the comet.

Neff, J. S.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Airborne 20-65 micron spectrophotometry of Comet Halley

Observations of Comet Halley with a grating spectrometer on board the Kuiper Airborne Observatory on four nights in Dec. 1985 to Apr. 1986 are reported. Low resolution 20 to 65 micrometer spectra of the nucleus with a 40 arcsec FWHM beam was obtained on 17 Dec. 1985, and on 15 and 17 Apr. 1986. On 20 Dec. 1985, only a 20 to 35 micrometer spectrum was obtained. Most of the data have been discussed in a paper where the continuum was dealt with. In that paper, models were fit to the continuum that showed that more micron sized particles of grain similar to amorphous carbon were needed to fit the spectrum than were allowed by the Vega SP-2 mass distribution, or that a fraction of the grains had to be made out of a material whose absorption efficiency fell steeper than lambda sup -1 for lambda greater than 20 micrometers. Spectra was also presented taken at several points on the coma on 15 Apr. which showed that the overall shape to the spectrum is the same in the coma. Tabulated values of the data and calibration curves are available. The spectral features are discussed.

Glaccum, William↗
NASA NTRS1992

Spherically symmetric, expanding, non-LTE model atmospheres for novae during their early stages

In the continuum and line-blanketed models presented here, nova atmospheres are characterized by a very slow decrease of density with increasing radius. This feature leads to very large geometrical extensions so that there are large temperature differences between the inner and outer parts of the line-forming regions. The theoretical spectra show a large IR excess and a small Balmer jump which may be either in absorption or in emission. For the parameters considered (effective temperature of about 10 exp 4 K, L = 2 x 10 exp 4 solar luminosities, outer boundary density of about 3 x 10 exp -15 g cm exp -3, mass-loss rate of 10 exp -5 solar masses/yr), most lines are in absorption. The effects of changes in the abundances of the heavy elements on the emergent spectra are discussed. The strong unidentified features observed in ultraviolet spectra of novae are found in actuality to be regions of transparency within the Fe 'forest'. Ultraviolet spectra obtained from the IUE archives are displayed, and spectral synthesis of these spectra is done using the theoretical atmospheres.

Hauschildt, P. H.↗
NASA NTRS1993

X-ray spectra and time variability of active galactic nuclei

The history and the present status of X-ray observations of AGN are outlined with reference to Seyfert Is, Seyfert IIs, and quasars. Fe K emission lines, other distortions at E greater tha 6 keV, excess emission below 2 keV, absorption, and ionized material are discussed. The continuum flux variability and line variability in Seyfert Is and the continuum variability in Seyfert IIs are examined. Models and theories of the continuum are reviewed, and the total energy budget of AGN and their similarity to Galactic black holes are also discussed.

Mushotzky, Richard F.↗