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At least 865 records · Page 48

Comparison of Computational Predictions of the Mach 0.80 Transonic Truss-Braced Wing Configuration with Experimental Data

The NASA Langley and Ames Research Centers have teamed together for comparisons of computational predictions of the Boeing Mach 0.80Transonic Truss-Braced Wing (TTBW) configuration with a high-speed experimental dataset. The Mach 0.80 TTBW vehicle is a high wing, high aspect ratio configuration, designed for a high lift-to-drag ratio. System studies have predicted significant fuel burn and emissions benefits with the TTBW technology moving toward meeting NASA Subsonic Transport Systems-Level-Metrics. A 4.5% scale Mach 0.80 design TTBW model was recently tested at the NASA Ames Research Center 11-by 11-Foot Transonic Wind Tunnel(11-Ft TWT),providing a valuable dataset to validate computational tools and investigate best practices as risk reduction efforts continue for the development of the advanced TTBW vehicle. The NASA Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) team has computed free-air flow solutions on the Mach 0.80 design flight configuration and two wind tunnel configuration variants using the USM3D and LAVA flow solvers. Accurate modeling of the configuration tested in the wind tunnel environment is critical to validating the CFD tools, thus the team has included the internal cavity region and sting in their modeling of the configuration, similar to that tested in the 11-Ft TWT. Overall, the CFD simulations compared well and show similar trends as the corrected experimental data for lift and drag polars. The CFD predicted lift curve is shifted in angle of attack from what was observed in the experiment. The shift in lift also was seen in the pitching moment comparison plots. CFD solutions were computed at constant CL test point values and showed overall very good agreement when comparing constant spanwise cuts of pressure coefficient data on the wing and strut with experimental data. CFD cavity corrections were also investigated using the 11-Ft TWT cavity correction method, similar to that used to correct the wind tunnel data. Results showed some improvement in pitching moment coefficient predictions, and an increase in drag, shifting the data to the right in drag polars, further from the experimental data at lower lift conditions, good agreement near the design CL, and slight improvement at the higher lift conditions.

Transonic Truss-Braced Wing↗

Computations on the massively parallel processor at the Goddard Space Flight Center

Described are four significant algorithms implemented on the massively parallel processor (MPP) at the Goddard Space Flight Center. Two are in the area of image analysis. Of the other two, one is a mathematical simulation experiment and the other deals with the efficient transfer of data between distantly separated processors in the MPP array. The first algorithm presented is the automatic determination of elevations from stereo pairs. The second algorithm solves mathematical logistic equations capable of producing both ordered and chaotic (or random) solutions. This work can potentially lead to the simulation of artificial life processes. The third algorithm is the automatic segmentation of images into reasonable regions based on some similarity criterion, while the fourth is an implementation of a bitonic sort of data which significantly overcomes the nearest neighbor interconnection constraints on the MPP for transferring data between distant processors.

Strong, James P.↗

Center of Excellence in Space Data and Information Science, Year 9

This report summarizes the range of computer science related activities undertaken by CESDIS(Center of Excellence in Space Data and Information Sciences) for NASA in the twelve months from July 1, 1996 through June 30, 1997. These activities address issues related to accessing, processing, and analyzing data from space observing systems through collaborative efforts with university, industry, and NASA space and Earth scientists.

DATA MANAGEMENT↗

Model-Trained Neural Networks and Electronic Holography Demonstrated to Detect Damage in Blades

Detect Damage in Blades Electronic holography can show damaged regions in fan blades at 30 frames/sec. The electronic holograms are transformed by finite-element-model-trained artificial neural networks to visualize the damage. The trained neural networks are linked with video and graphics to visualize the bending-induced strain distribution, which is very sensitive to damage. By contrast, it is very difficult to detect damage by viewing the raw, speckled, characteristic fringe patterns. For neural-network visualization of damage, 2 frames or 2 fields are used, rather than the 12 frames normally used to compute the displacement distribution from electronic holograms. At the NASA Lewis Research Center, finite element models are used to compute displacement and strain distributions for the vibration modes of undamaged and cracked blades. A model of electronic time-averaged holography is used to transform the displacement distributions into finite-element-resolution characteristic fringe patterns. Then, a feedforward neural network is trained with the fringe-pattern/strain-pattern pairs, and the neural network, electronic holography, and video are implemented on a workstation. Now that the neural networks have been tested successfully at 30 frames/sec on undamaged and cracked cantilevers, the electronic holography and neural-network processing are being adapted for onsite damage inspection of twisted fan blades and rotormounted blades. Our conclusion is that model-trained neural nets are effective when they are trained with good models whose application is well understood. This work supports the aeromechanical testing portion of the Advanced Subsonic Technology Project.

Decker, Arthur J.↗

HamLib: A library of Hamiltonians for benchmarking quantum algorithms and hardware

In order to characterize and benchmark computational hardware, software, and algorithms, it is essential to have many problem instances on-hand. This is no less true for quantum computation, where a large collection of real-world problem instances would allow for benchmarking studies that in turn help to improve both algorithms and hardware designs. To this end, here we present a large dataset of qubit-based quantum Hamiltonians. The dataset, called HamLib (for Hamiltonian Library), is freely available online and contains problem sizes ranging from 2 to 1000 qubits. HamLib includes problem instances of the Heisenberg model, Fermi-Hubbard model, Bose-Hubbard model, molecular electronic structure, molecular vibrational structure, MaxCut, Max- k -SAT, Max- k -Cut, QMaxCut, and the traveling salesperson problem. The goals of this effort are (a) to save researchers time by eliminating the need to prepare problem instances and map them to qubit representations, (b) to allow for more thorough tests of new algorithms and hardware, and (c) to allow for reproducibility and standardization across research studies.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

A Quantum Volume Metric for Qudit Quantum Computers

Qudit-based quantum computers, such as the high-Q superconducting radio frequency resonator cavities being pursued by the SQMS Center hosted at Fermilab, may provide computational advantages relative to qubit-based machines for some problems. However, the novel system’s hardware and software will present different errors that must be understood and mitigated, along with other unforeseen inefficiencies across the entire stack. It is essential to benchmark these qudit platforms against existing systems. We propose such a benchmark by generalizing the qubit-based quantum volume metric to qudit devices. In particular, we show that the performance depends on the available gateset used to compile unitary operations, as well as realistic noise sources.

Quantum Computing↗

Computation of Auger Electron Spectra in Organic Molecules with Multiconfiguration Pair-Density Functional Theory

Efficient and accurate computation of molecular Auger electron spectra for larger systems is limited by the rapid increase in the number of doubly ionized final states as the system size grows. Here, in this work, we benchmark the application of multiconfiguration pair-density functional theory with a restricted active space (RAS) reference wave function for computing the carbon K-edge decay spectra of 20 organic molecules. Decay rates are computed within the one-center approximation. We evaluate the performance of different basis sets and on-top functionals and find that multiconfiguration pair-density functional theory achieves accuracy comparable to RAS followed by second-order perturbation theory, but at significantly lower computational cost.

Fouda, Adam E. A. [Argonne National Laboratory (AN↗

Solution to the hidden-line problem

It is pointed out that realistic three-dimensional renderings of solid objects or surfaces by computers have long been needed. The NASA Dryden Flight Research Center will soon publish a report and the computer program on an algorithm that solves for hidden lines. The computer program is written in FORTRAN IV and its size is approximately 35N + 9500 words, where N is the number of elements. A number of pictures are presented which were drawn by a computer using the algorithm.

Hedgley, D. R.↗

Visual Computing Environment

The Visual Computing Environment (VCE) is a NASA Lewis Research Center project to develop a framework for intercomponent and multidisciplinary computational simulations. Many current engineering analysis codes simulate various aspects of aircraft engine operation. For example, existing computational fluid dynamics (CFD) codes can model the airflow through individual engine components such as the inlet, compressor, combustor, turbine, or nozzle. Currently, these codes are run in isolation, making intercomponent and complete system simulations very difficult to perform. In addition, management and utilization of these engineering codes for coupled component simulations is a complex, laborious task, requiring substantial experience and effort. To facilitate multicomponent aircraft engine analysis, the CFD Research Corporation (CFDRC) is developing the VCE system. This system, which is part of NASA's Numerical Propulsion Simulation System (NPSS) program, can couple various engineering disciplines, such as CFD, structural analysis, and thermal analysis. The objectives of VCE are to (1) develop a visual computing environment for controlling the execution of individual simulation codes that are running in parallel and are distributed on heterogeneous host machines in a networked environment, (2) develop numerical coupling algorithms for interchanging boundary conditions between codes with arbitrary grid matching and different levels of dimensionality, (3) provide a graphical interface for simulation setup and control, and (4) provide tools for online visualization and plotting. VCE was designed to provide a distributed, object-oriented environment. Mechanisms are provided for creating and manipulating objects, such as grids, boundary conditions, and solution data. This environment includes parallel virtual machine (PVM) for distributed processing. Users can interactively select and couple any set of codes that have been modified to run in a parallel distributed fashion on a cluster of heterogeneous workstations. A scripting facility allows users to dictate the sequence of events that make up the particular simulation.

Lawrence, Charles↗

A Unified Lunar Control Network

A unified network program can tie independent regional networks into a single consistent planetwide control network. The Apollo 15, 16, and 17 ALSEP stations were identified on Apollo panorama photography and their locations transferred to Apollo mapping frames. Two primary control networks were computed based on the Apollo mapping pictures. Although these systems were computed relative to the center-of-mass, it was necessary to translate their origins to best-fit the ALSEP locations. The DMAAC/A15 system was translated 299 + or - 165 m and the NOS/USGS system was translated 2033 + or - 575 m. Many control networks have been computed based on pictures of the Moon taken through telescopes; these cover the Earth-facing region. Points common to the Apollo networks and to a telescopic network (Meyer, 1980) were selected. Using these points in the overlapping region of the two networks, best-fit translation, rotation, and scale parameters are computed to adjust the telescopic net to the Apollo net. As a start, ten well distributed points have been selected and parameters determined to adjust the telescopic network to the translated DMAAC/A15 system and the NOS/USGS system. The goodness of fit has not yet been examined.

Davies, M. E.↗

Vacancy Relaxation in Cubic Crystals

The configuration of the atoms surrounding a vacancy in four face-centered cubic and three body-centered cubic metals has been computed, using a pairwise, central-force model in which the energy of interaction between two atoms was taken to have the form of a Morse function. Only radial relaxations were considered. The first and second nearest-neighbor relaxations for the face-centered systems were found to be: Pb (1.42,−0.43), Ni (2.14,−0.39), Cu(2.24,−0.40) and Ca (2.73,−0.41, expressed in percentages of normal distances. For the body-centered systems the relaxations out to the fourth nearest neighbors to the vacancy were: Fe (6.07,−2.12, −0.25, −), Ba (7.85, −2.70, 0.70, −0.33) and Na (10.80, −3.14, 3.43, −0.20). The positive signs indicate relaxation toward the vacancy and the negative signs indicate relaxation away from the vacancy. The energies of relaxation (eV) are: Pb (0.162), Ni (0.626), Cu (0.560), Ca (0.400), Fe (1.410), Ba (0.950) and Na (0.172).

Girifalco, L. A.↗

Real-time scattering in Ising field theory using matrix product states

We study scattering in Ising field theory (IFT) using matrix product states and the time-dependent variational principle. IFT is a one-parameter family of strongly coupled nonintegrable quantum field theories in 1+1 dimensions, interpolating between massive free fermion theory and Zamolodchikov's integrable massive 𝐸 8 theory. Particles in IFT may scatter either elastically or inelastically. In the postcollision wave function, particle tracks from all final-state channels occur in superposition; processes of interest can be isolated by projecting the wave function onto definite particle sectors, or by evaluating energy density correlation functions. Using numerical simulations we determine the time delay of elastic scattering and the probability of inelastic particle production as a function of collision energy. We also study the mass and width of the lightest resonance near the 𝐸 8 point in detail. Close to both the free fermion and 𝐸 8 theories, our results for both elastic and inelastic scattering are in good agreement with expectations from form-factor perturbation theory. Using numerical computations to go beyond the regime accessible by perturbation theory, we find that the high-energy behavior of the two-to-two particle scattering probability in IFT is consistent with a conjecture of Zamolodchikov. Our results demonstrate the efficacy of tensor-network methods for simulating the real-time dynamics of strongly coupled quantum field theories in 1+1 dimensions.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

ARENA: Asynchronous Reconfigurable Accelerator Ring to Enable Data-Centric Parallel Computing

The next generation HPC and data centers are likely to be reconfigurable and data-centric due to the trend of hardware specialization and the emergence of data-driven applications. In this work, we propose ARENA – an asynchronous reconfigurable accelerator ring architecture as a potential scenario on how the future HPC and data centers will be like. Despite using the coarse-grained reconfigurable arrays (CGRAs) as the substrate platform, our key contribution is not only the CGRA-cluster design itself, but also the ensemble of a new architecture and programming model that enables asynchronous tasking across a cluster of reconfigurable nodes, so as to bring specialized computation to the data rather than the reverse. We presume distributed data storage without asserting any prior knowledge on the data distribution. Hardware specialization occurs at runtime when a task finds the majority of data it requires are available at the present node. In other words, we dynamically generate specialized CGRA accelerators where the data reside. The asynchronous tasking for bringing computation to data is achieved by circulating the task token, which describes the dataflow graphs to be executed for a task, among the CGRA cluster connected by a fast ring network. Evaluations on a set of HPC and data-driven applications across different domains show that ARENA can provide better parallel scalability with reduced data movement (53.9 percent). Compared with contemporary compute-centric parallel models, ARENA can bring on average 4.37× speedup. The synthesized CGRAs and their task-dispatchers only occupy 2.93mm 2 chip area under 45nm process technology and can run at 800MHz with on average 759.8mW power consumption. ARENA also supports the concurrent execution of multi-applications, offering ideal architectural support for future high-performance parallel computing and data analytics systems.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

User manual for semi-circular compact range reflector code: Version 2

A computer code has been developed at the Ohio State University ElectroScience Laboratory to analyze a semi-circular paraboloidal reflector with or without a rolled edge at the top and a skirt at the bottom. The code can be used to compute the total near field of the reflector or its individual components at a given distance from the center of the paraboloid. The code computes the fields along a radial, horizontal, vertical or axial cut at that distance. Thus, it is very effective in computing the size of the sweet spot for a semi-circular compact range reflector. This report describes the operation of the code. Various input and output statements are explained. Some results obtained using the computer code are presented to illustrate the code's capability as well as being samples of input/output sets.

Gupta, Inder J.↗

C Language Integrated Production System, Version 5.0

CLIPS 5.0 provides cohesive software tool for handling wide variety of knowledge with support for three different programming paradigms: rule-based, object-oriented, and procedural. CLIPS 5.0 available in version for IBM Personal Computer (MSC-21916), in one for Macintosh computer (MSC-21927), and in one for DEC VAX computer (MSC-21929). Computer Software Management and Information Center (COSMIC) offers five distribution versions of CLIPS 5.0. Executable files, source code, utilities, and examples included on program medium. All distribution versions include identical source code for command-line version of CLIPS 5.0. Source code compatible with ANSI C and compilable on any computer with ANSI C compiler. Only Macintosh version of CLIPS 5.0 includes window interface.

Riley, Gary↗

CSI computer system/remote interface unit acceptance test results

The validation tests conducted on the Control/Structures Interaction (CSI) Computer System (CCS)/Remote Interface Unit (RIU) is discussed. The CCS/RIU consists of a commercially available, Langley Research Center (LaRC) programmed, space flight qualified computer and a flight data acquisition and filtering computer, developed at LaRC. The tests were performed in the Space Structures Research Laboratory (SSRL) and included open loop excitation, closed loop control, safing, RIU digital filtering, and RIU stand alone testing with the CSI Evolutionary Model (CEM) Phase-0 testbed. The test results indicated that the CCS/RIU system is comparable to ground based systems in performing real-time control-structure experiments.

Sparks, Dean W., Jr.↗

One-center close-coupling approach to two-center rearrangement collisions

Calculations of ionization and electron-capture cross sections in ion-atom collisions usually require solving the Schrödinger equation governing the collision system by expanding the total scattering wave function in a basis of target- and projectile-centered pseudostates. This approach leads to the two-center close-coupling equations which in some cases may become ill-conditioned due to the non-orthogonality of the underlying combined basis. Here we develop a technique which allows to accurately extract the necessary collision information, including that for the rearrangement channels, from the computationally more convenient one-center close-coupling equations which are built from only target-centered pseudostates. The robustness of the method is demonstrated by considering the proton-hydrogen scattering problem across a wide incident energy range. The developed method is then applied to study proton scattering on multielectron target of lithium. Here, the obtained results for the 2s → 2p excitation and the total electron-capture cross sections are in good agreement with corresponding experimental data. It is concluded that the presented technique could be a simpler alternative when integrated cross sections are required.

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS↗

Transition to Operations Support at the Community Coordinated Modeling Center

The Community Coordinated Modeling Center (CCMC) is a multi-agency partnership, which aims at the creation of next generation space weather models. The goal of the CCMC is to support the research and developmental work necessary to substantially increase the present-day modeling capability for space weather purposes, and to provide models for transition to the rapid prototyping centers at the space weather forecast centers. This goal requires close collaborations with and substantial involvement of the research community. The physical regions to be addressed by CCMC-related activities range from the solar atmosphere to the Earth's upper atmosphere. The CCMC is an integral part of the National Space Weather Program Implementation Plan, of NASA's Living With a Star (LWS) initiative, and of the Department of Defense Space Weather Transition Plan. CCMC includes a facility at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, as well as distributed computing facilities provided by the US Air Force. CCMC also provides, to the research community, access to state-of-the-art space research models. This paper will focus on a status report on CCMC activities in support of model transition to operations at US space weather forecasting centers. In particular, an update will be given on past and present transition activities, on developments that address operational needs, and on future opportunities for transition-to-operations support.

Hesse, M.↗