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At least 865 records · Page 48

An approximately factored incremental strategy for calculating consistent discrete aerodynamic sensitivity derivatives

An incremental strategy is presented for iteratively solving very large systems of linear equations, which are associated with aerodynamic sensitivity derivatives for advanced CFD codes. It is shown that the left-hand side matrix operator and the well-known factorization algorithm used to solve the nonlinear flow equations can also be used to efficiently solve the linear sensitivity equations. Two airfoil problems are considered as an example: subsonic low Reynolds number laminar flow and transonic high Reynolds number turbulent flow.

Korivi, V. M.↗

TOPEX/POSEIDON operational orbit determination results using global positioning satellites

Results of operational orbit determination, performed as part of the TOPEX/POSEIDON (T/P) Global Positioning System (GPS) demonstration experiment, are presented in this article. Elements of this experiment include the GPS satellite constellation, the GPS demonstration receiver on board T/P, six ground GPS receivers, the GPS Data Handling Facility, and the GPS Data Processing Facility (GDPF). Carrier phase and P-code pseudorange measurements from up to 24 GPS satellites to the seven GPS receivers are processed simultaneously with the GDPF software MIRAGE to produce orbit solutions of T/P and the GPS satellites. Daily solutions yield subdecimeter radial accuracies compared to other GPS, LASER, and DORIS precision orbit solutions.

Guinn, J.↗

Scaling in nature: from DNA through heartbeats to weather

The purpose of this report is to describe some recent progress in applying scaling concepts to various systems in nature. We review several systems characterized by scaling laws such as DNA sequences, heartbeat rates and weather variations. We discuss the finding that the exponent alpha quantifying the scaling in DNA in smaller for coding than for noncoding sequences. We also discuss the application of fractal scaling analysis to the dynamics of heartbeat regulation, and report the recent finding that the scaling exponent alpha is smaller during sleep periods compared to wake periods. We also discuss the recent findings that suggest a universal scaling exponent characterizing the weather fluctuations.

Review↗

Fully generalized, turbulent trace impurity transport with Gkeyll and Flan in the DIII-D far-SOL

The Monte Carlo trace impurity turbulent transport code Flan is introduced for the first time. Flan follows impurities in a turbulent background plasma from Gkeyll using the Lorentz force to resolve the full particle gyro orbit. Collisions are handled using the Nanbu collision algorithm (Nanbu 1997 Phys. Rev. E 55 4642–52), and ionization/recombination is handled via ADAS coupling. The far-SOL of a generic DIII-D L-mode is simulated with and without the collision model to show how collisions affect radial tungsten transport. Anomalous diffusion coefficient (D r ) and pinch velocity (v p ) profiles are extracted from fits to the results. With collisions, D r and v p are between 0–1.0 m 2 s −1 and −100–100 m s −1 , respectively. Without collisions, D r and v p are between 0–0.3 m 2 s −1 and −50–50 m s −1 , respectively. Exponential fits to the radial W density profiles and experimental data from W deposition along a collector probe are in good agreement, demonstrating Flan as a useful interpretive modeling tool. Additional simulations show that impurity transport away from the wall increases with atomic number, though it is not clear why. Flan has the potential to better interpret existing data and improve reactor scale predictions of core contamination because the underlying physics model is very general and does not rely on arbitrary user-defined transport coefficients.

DIII-D↗

A GPU ‐Accelerated 3D Unstructured Mesh Based Particle Tracking Code for Multi‐Species Impurity Transport Simulation in Fusion Tokamaks

ABSTRACT This paper presents the multi‐species global impurity transport capability developed in a GPU‐accelerated fully 3D unstructured mesh‐based code, GITRm, to simultaneously track multiple impurity species and handle interactions of these impurities with mixed‐material surfaces. Different computational approaches to model particle‐surface interaction or surface response have been developed and compared. Sheath electric field is taken into account by employing a fast distance‐to‐boundary calculation, which is carried out in parallel on distributed or partitioned meshes on multiple GPUs without the need for any inter‐process communication during the simulation. Several example cases, including two for the DIII‐D tokamak, that is, one with the SAS‐V divertor and the other with the collector probes, are used to demonstrate the utility of the current multi‐species capability. For the DIII‐D probe case, the capability of GITRm to resolve the spatial distribution of particles in localized regions, such as diagnostic probes, within non‐axisymmetric tokamak geometries is demonstrated. These simulations involve up to 320 million particles and utilize up to 48 GPUs.

Nath, Dhyanjyoti D. [Scientific Computation Resear↗

Opacity Table Generation

Radiation opacity is a key property of material systems which describes the absorption and scattering of photons. Such processes are an important part of energy transport, diagnostics, and astrophysical phenomena. Recent experiments in iron opacity and continuum lowering have sparked renewed interest in and careful vetting of opacity models. Even within the local thermodynamic equilibrium approximation, opacity varies over a large parameter space: material, temperature, density, and energy. Opacity tables that span wide regimes of this parameter space are of prime importance to radiation-hydrodynamics codes. Accurate opacity calculations cannot be achieved inline during a radiation hydrodynamics simulation since they involve accounting for all possible electron transitions of all important atomic states of a thermal ensemble. Livermore’s current framework utilizes precalculated tables at many densities, temperatures, and energies. Last year, the opacity theory team completed an L2 milestone concerning the development of a new code, Opus, which served the dual purpose of creating a modern code infrastructure and version control as well as the basis for training new members of that team, a critical need as key members near or are passed retirement. For the current L2 milestone, we exercised and validated Opus on three elements: boron, carbon, and nitrogen, which have few enough electrons to allow a careful convergence study over many input parameters. Here, we report on the production of new tables, show their convergence with respect to important parameters, state some of their limitations, and document a mostly automated production process. In this section, we address the milestone completion criteria, found on the title page and the subsection headings. In section 2, we validate Opus against Tycho and compare with TabOp and Atomic. Section 3 details some of the physics implemented in Opus and relevant to this report. We then cover details of the density-temperature grid in section 4 and do a spectral comparison between different parameter settings and different codes in section 5. After summarizing these results in section 6, we give instructions how to run the opacity table scripts in appendix A and document the scripts and input/output files in appendix B.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

PATOKA: Simulating Electromagnetic Observables of Black Hole Accretion

Abstract The Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) has released analyses of reconstructed images of horizon-scale millimeter emission near the supermassive black hole at the center of the M87 galaxy. Parts of the analyses made use of a large library of synthetic black hole images and spectra, which were produced using numerical general relativistic magnetohydrodynamics fluid simulations and polarized ray tracing. In this article, we describe the PATOKA pipeline, which was used to generate the Illinois contribution to the EHT simulation library. We begin by describing the relevant accretion systems and radiative processes. We then describe the details of the three numerical codes we use, iharm , ipole , and igrmonty , paying particular attention to differences between the current generation of the codes and the originally published versions. Finally, we provide a brief overview of simulated data as produced by PATOKA and conclude with a discussion of limitations and future directions.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

An aerothermodynamic study of slender conical vehicles

A numerical study was performed to assess the applicability of some current techniques which can be used for aerothermal predictions over slender spherically blunted cones. Predictions using a viscous-shock-layer method and several engineering approaches were compared with experimental results from flight and ground-based tests, with each other, and with other detailed results. Good agreement was obtained in comparisons with laminar and turbulent heating data from the Reentry F flight vehicle and with the wind-tunnel data. In particular, the viscous-shock-layer method was shown to yield excellent comparisons and should be useful in providing detailed flowfield and surface values for slender blunted cones. Additional predictions were obtained with these methods for two 5-deg half-angle cones with different nose radii to illustrate the effects of nose bluntness and angle of attack on drag and heat transfer. These results demonstrate the benefit of nose blunting with respect to heating and drag for laminar and transitional flow at zero-lift conditions and the benefit of heating reduction at angle of attack. Detailed comparison of the engineering code predictions with the viscous-shock-layer results for these additional cases generally showed good agreement except for the laminar prodictions at angle of attack on the forward cone surface. Nonequilibrium calculations at 0-deg angle of attack showed that substantial benefits of low surface catalysis existed only in the nose-dominated region.

Thompson, R. A.↗

Radiation experiments on Cosmos 2044: K-7-41, parts A, B, C, D, E

The Cosmos 2044 biosatellite mission offered the opportunity for radiation measurements under conditions which are seldom available (an inclination of 82.3 deg and attitude of 294 x 216 km). Measurements were made on the outside of the spacecraft under near-zero shielding conditions. Also, this mission was the first in which active temperature recorders (the ATR-4) were flown to record the temperature profiles of detector stacks. Measurements made on this mission provide a comparison and test for modeling of depth doses and LET spectra for orbital parameters previously unavailable. Tissue absorbed doses from 3480 rad (252 rad/d) down to 0.115 rad (8.33 mrad/d) were measured at different depths (0.0146 and 3.20 g/sq cm, respectively) with averaged TLD readings. The LET spectra yielded maximum and minimum values of integral flux of 27.3 x 10(exp -4) and 3.05 x 10(exp -4)/sq cm/s/sr, of dose rate of 7.01 and 1.20 mrad/d, and of dose equivalent rate of 53.8 and 11.6 mrem/d, for LET(sub infinity)-H2O is greater than or equal to 4 keV/micron. Neutron measurements yielded 0.018 mrem/d in the thermal region, 0.25 mrem/d in the resonance region and 3.3 mrem/d in the high energy region. The TLD depth dose and LET spectra were compared with calculations from the modeling codes. The agreement is good but some further refinements are in order. In comparing measurements on Cosmos 2044 with those from previous Cosmos missions (orbital inclinations of 62.8 deg) there is a greater spread (maximum to minimum) in depth doses and an increased contribution from GCRs, and higher LET particles, in the heavy particle fluxes.

Frank, A. L.↗

Reducing V&V Cost of Flight Critical Systems: Myth or Reality?

This paper presents an overview of NASA research program on the V&V of flight critical systems. Five years ago, NASA started an effort to reduce the cost and possibly increase the effectiveness of V&V for flight critical systems. It is the right time to take a look back and realize what progress has been made. This paper describes our overall approach and the tools introduced to address different phases of the software lifecycle. For example, we have improved testing by developing a statistical learning approach tor defining test cases. The tool automatically identifies possible unsafe conditions by analyzing outliers in output data; using an iterative learning process, it can then generate more test cases that represent potentially unsafe regions of operation. At the code level, we have developed and made available as open source a static analyzer for C and C++ programs called IKOS. We have shown that IKOS is very precise in the analysis of embedded C programs (very few false positives) and a bit less for regular C and C++ code. At the design level, in collaboration with our NRA partners, we have developed a suite of analysis tools for Simulink models. The analysis is done in a compositional framework for scalability.

Brat, Guillaume P.↗

Dynamic Stability Analysis Using Free-Flight CFD

Blunt body probes are the primary design for atmospheric entry. The blunted capsule shape, while desirable for the decreased forebody heating, typically experiences dynamic instability at low supersonic and transonic flight. At moderate to low supersonic conditions, the unsteady wake begins to adversely interact with the vehicle in free-flight resulting in attitude oscillations which can grow in time and result in tumbling. Understanding vehicle dynamics is thus important when considering vehicle entry design and guidance navigation and control (GN&C) considerations. Historically, dynamic stability has been carried out exclusively using experimental techniques. The wide range of experimental approaches provide reasonable coverage in Mach and dynamic pressure space for a given trajectory, however achieving flight similitude is often difficult or impossible. Advancements in Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) techniques allow for dynamic motion of the vehicle surface during the simulation with either forced/prescribed motion or free motion in response to fluid forces. Several examples of CFD software with the ability to simulate fluid dynamics and vehicle motion are available in literature. The Free-Flight CFD (FF-CFD) capability developed by NASA Ames within the US3D flow solver has shown extensive validation and verification (V&V) efforts from moderate to low supersonic flow across a range of vehicle architectures. The solver is able to simulate full rotational and translation motion resulting in full 6 degrees-of-freedom (DoF) motion. The validation and verification efforts the solver's ability to predict the motion of a ballistic range model as compared to experimental results. Similar to other computational capabilities in literature, FF-CFD relied on heritage data reduction methodologies and processes for reducing dynamic data into aerodynamic coefficients intended for use in design and trajectory codes. These heritage approaches, initially developed with the assumptions (and restrictions) of ground test facilities, resulted in the significant culling of the full 6-DoF dynamic data set to discrete values which are then fit using an aerodynamic model. Recent development of simulation and data reduction methodologies has resulted in an improved approach to FF-CFD simulations of vehicle dynamics which leverage the control of dynamic constraints within a simulation set-up. The presentation of this work will cover the constrained dynamic simulation approach for deriving dynamic coefficients for a Genesis capsule. The methodology will be outlined and a discussion of implications in motion restriction will be discussed. Finally, reconstructed vehicle trajectories using FF-CFD derived aerodynamic coefficients will be presented.

Joseph M Brock↗

An experimental investigation of supersonic flow past a wedge-cylinder configuration

An experimental investigation of supersonic flow past double-wedge configurations was conducted. Over the range of geometries tested, it was found that, while theoretical solutions both for a Type V pattern and for a Type VI pattern could be generated for a particular flow condition (as defined by the geometry and the free-stream conditions), the weaker, Type VI pattern was observed experimentally. More rigorous flow-field solutions were developed for the flow along the wing leading-edge. Solutions were developed for the three-dimensional flow in the plane of symmetry of a swept cylinder (which represented the wing leading-edge) which was mounted on a wedge (which generated the "bow" shock wave). A numerical code was developed using integral techniques to calculate the flow in the shock layer upstream of the interaction region (i.e., near the wing root). Heat transfer rates were calculated for various free stream conditions. The present investigation was undertaken to examine the effects of crossflow on the resultant flow-field and to verify the flow model used in theoretical calculations.

Barnette, D. W.↗

QR-code optical encryption in the scheme with spatially incoherent illumination based on two micromirror light modulators

An optical encryption scheme with spatially incoherent illumination based on two micromirror light modulators has been experimentally implemented for the first time. Currently, such modulators are the fastest tools for spatio-temporal light modulation; their high frame rates provide possibilities for developing optical encryption systems with a bandwidth of several gigabites per second. (optical encryption)

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Benchmark Specification for FFTF LOFWOS Test #13

The Fast Flux Test Facility (FFTF) at the Hanford site in Washington was designed by the Westinghouse Electric Corporation for the U.S. Department of Energy. FFTF was a 400 MW thermal, oxide-fueled, liquid sodium cooled test reactor, built to assist development and testing of advanced fuels and materials for fast breeder reactors. After reaching criticality in 1980, FFTF operated until 1992, providing the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) with the means to test fuels, materials, and other components in a fast neutron flux environment. In July 1986, a series of unprotected transients (with the plant protection system intentionally disabled) were performed in FFTF as part of the passive safety demonstration program. Among these were thirteen loss of flow without scram (LOFWOS) tests. The goals of this program included confirming the liquid metal reactor safety margins, providing data for computer code validation, and demonstrating the inherent and passive safety benefits of specific design features. The test defined in this benchmark is LOFWOS Test #13, which was initiated at 50% power and 100% flow with the pump pony motors turned off. This benchmark specification is intended to support collaborative efforts within international partnerships on the validation of simulation tools and models in the area of Sodium-cooled Fast Reactor (SFR) safety. Validated tools and models are needed to evaluate SFR inherent safety characteristics and assess the impact of passive design features in response to accident initiators. Comparisons with experimental data and the results of safety analyses from other groups create unique opportunities to improve predictive capabilities of computational codes and methods for SFR modeling and simulation. The conditions of the LOFWOS test along with the feedback from FFTF’s limited free bow core restraint system and the novel passive reactivity control Gas-Expansion Modules (GEMs) pose a very challenging and uniquely valuable benchmark exercise.

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗

Turbulence spectrum of strongly conductive temperature field in a rapidly stirred fluid

A simulation is performed of a passive scalar field convected by a rapidly fluctuating velocity field whose correlation time approaches zero. By using a code proposed in a previous study (Chasnov et al., 1988), the turbulence spectrum of the passive temperature field in the conductive subrange is determined. A theoretical model is proposed which explains the result obtained by representing the transfer of scalar variance by an eddy conductivity, whose correlation time is limited by the correlation time of the velocity field.

Chasnov, J.↗

IMP: A performance code

IMP (Integrated Mission Program) is a simulation language and code used to model present and future Earth, Moon, or Mars missions. The profile is user controlled through selection from a large menu of events and maneuvers. A Fehlberg 7/13 Runge-Kutta integrator with error and step size control is used to numerically integrate the differential equations of motion (DEQ) of three spacecraft, a main, a target, and an observer. Through selection, the DEQ's include guided thrust, oblate gravity, atmosphere drag, solar pressure, and Moon gravity effects. Guide parameters for thrust events and performance parameters of velocity changes (Delta-V) and propellant usage (maximum of five systems) are developed as needed. Print, plot, summary, and debug files are output.

Dauro, Vincent A., Sr.↗

K-Shell Photoabsorption and Photoionisation of Trace Elements I. Isoelectronic Sequences With Electron Number 3< or = N < or = 11

Context. With the recent launching of the Hitomi X-ray space observatory, K lines and edges of chemical elements with low cosmic abundances, namely F, Na, P, Cl, K, Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Co, Cu and Zn, can be resolved and used to determine important properties of supernova remnants, galaxy clusters and accreting black holes and neutron stars.Aims. The second stage of the present ongoing project involves the computation of the accurate photoabsorption and photoionisation cross sections required to interpret the X-ray spectra of such trace elements.Methods. Depending on target complexity and computer tractability, ground-state cross sections are computed either with the close-coupling Breit-Pauli R-matrix method or with the autostructure atomic structure code in the isolated-resonance approximation. The intermediate-coupling scheme is used whenever possible. In order to determine a realistic K-edge behaviour for each species, both radiative and Auger dampings are taken into account, the latter being included in the R-matrix formalism by means of an optical potential.Results. Photoabsorption and total and partial photoionisation cross sections are reported for isoelectronic sequences with electron numbers 3< or = N< or = 11. The Na sequence (N=11) is used to estimate the contributions from configurations with a 2s hole (i.e. [2s]) and those containing 3d orbitals, which will be crucial when considering sequences with N 11.Conclusions. It is found that the [2s/u] configurations must be included in the target representations of species with N> 11 as they contribute significantly to the monotonic background of the cross section between the L and K edges. Configurations with 3d orbitals are important in rendering an accurate L edge, but they can be practically neglected in the K-edge region.

atomic data / X-rays: general↗

Simulations of nozzle gas flow and gas-puff Z-pinch implosions on the Weizmann Z-pinch

We present simulations of an oxygen gas puff Z-pinch on a University scale generator at the Weizmann Institute of Science. The work accounts for the detailed geometry of the nozzle, the initial neutral gas density distribution, and the subsequent implosion. The modeling results show significant improvement with data for the current at the time of stagnation in comparison with a previous effort [Rosenzweig et al., Phys. Plasmas 27, 022705 (2020)]. As a first step, we performed simulations of the flow of neutral diatomic oxygen from a plenum through a nozzle within a recessed cathode, across a gap, and into the anode with a recessed grounded honeycomb. These simulations show an agreement with the measured initial gas density profiles within the region not blocked by the recesses and accessible to visible measurements. The computed neutral gas flow profile serves as the initial condition for a radiation magnetohydrodynamic simulation of the implosion using the MACH2-TCRE code. By considering the specific details of the nozzle and chamber geometry, we find agreement with the measured current profile, including the inductive notch. The simulations predict that the plasma undergoes a strong pinch within the hidden anode recess. The simulations also predict the strongest radiation pulse occurs within the anode recess and at the time of the observed inductive notch.

Physics↗