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At least 883 records · Page 49

An inverse dynamic method yielding flexible manipulator state trajectories

An inverse dynamic equation for a flexible manipulator is derived in a state form. By dividing the inverse system into the causal part and the anticausal part, torque is calculated in the time domain for a certain end point trajectory, as well as trajectories of all state variables. The open loop control of the inverse dynamic method shows an excellent result in simulation. For practical applications, a control strategy adapting feedback tracking control to the inverse dynamic feedforward control is illustrated, and its good experimental result is presented.

Kwon, Dong-Soo↗

Numerical Strip-Yield Calculation of CTOD

Many existing methods to calculate CTOD can be costly and complicated, or apply only to particular configurations. A new numerical method for calculating CTOD was investigated. NASGRO's Boundary Element module NASBEM was adapted to calculate displacements at any point on the crack. Demonstrated for a number of crack configurations: a) finite and infinite domains; b) center and edge cracks; and c) complex cases with several cracks and holes. Great accuracy at minimal computational cost.

Beek, Joachim↗

STRUCTURAL MODELING TO SUPPORT POST-YIELD ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA FOR SPENT NUCLEAR FUEL CLADDING

Spent nuclear fuel (SNF) is evaluated for structural failure during storage and transportation scenarios. The U.S. Department of Energy’s Spent Fuel and Waste Science and Technology (SFWST) program has sponsored significant research in quantifying mechanical loads on SNF during storage and transportation scenarios using experimental and modeling methods. The SFWST program has also performed significant research on measuring the mechanical behavior of irradiated SNF as defueled cladding segments and cladding with fuel pellets to measure composite behavior. This paper considers some of the key material data from the Sibling Pin testing and uses structural modeling and analysis methods that have been informed by testing to consider post-yield acceptance criteria for SNF cladding structural analysis. Test data published by Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) are the foundation for informing the material behavior of the models developed in this study. In particular, four-point bend (4PB) tests of fueled and defueled cladding segments provide significant information about the bending failure mode of SNF. ORNL’s 4PB test data is on fueled cladding segments, so the composite behavior of SNF is demonstrated. This paper describes PNNL’s coincident beam model that was developed to approximate the composite behavior of SNF. This paper also presents PNNL’s structural dynamic finite element models of a cask tip-over scenario, which is predicted to cause the strongest mechanical loads on SNF of all postulated storage and transportation scenarios. SNF bending loads predicted in the cask tip-over scenario and cladding acceptance criteria beyond yield are considered, with justification based on the Sibling Pin test data. ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel code stress intensity limits are also considered. The ultimate goal of this work is to aid in the justification of structural acceptance criteria for SNF cladding beyond the cladding’s irradiated yield strength for use in structural analysis of all storage and transportation scenarios.

Klymyshyn, Nicholas A.↗

Dark Energy Survey Year 3 results: Cosmological constraints from galaxy clustering and galaxy-galaxy lensing using the MagLim lens sample

The cosmological information extracted from photometric surveys is most robust when multiple probes of the large scale structure of the Universe are used. Two of the most sensitive probes are the clustering of galaxies and the tangential shear of background galaxy shapes produced by those foreground galaxies, so-called galaxy-galaxy lensing. Combining the measurements of these two two-point functions leads to cosmological constraints that are independent of the way galaxies trace matter (the galaxy bias factor). The optimal choice of foreground, or lens, galaxies is governed by the joint, but conflicting requirements to obtain accurate redshift information and large statistics. We present cosmological results from the full 5000 deg 2 of the Dark Energy Survey’s first three years of observations (Y3) combining those two-point functions, using for the first time a magnitude-limited lens sample (MagLim) of 11 million galaxies, especially selected to optimize such combination, and 100 million background shapes. We consider two flat cosmological models, the Standard Model with dark energy and cold dark matter ( Λ CDM ) a variation with a free parameter for the dark energy equation of state ( w CDM ). Both models are marginalized over 25 astrophysical and systematic nuisance parameters. In Λ CDM we obtain for the matter density Ω m = 0.320 - 0.034 + 0.041 and for the clustering amplitude S 8 ≡ σ 8 ( Ω m / 0.3 ) 0.5 = 0.778 - 0.031 + 0.037 , at 68% C.L. The latter is only 1 σ smaller than the prediction in this model informed by measurements of the cosmic microwave background by the Planck satellite. In w CDM we find Ω m = 0.32 - 0.046 + 0.044 , S 8 = 0.777 - 0.051 + 0.049 and dark energy equation of state w = - 1.031 - 0.379 + 0.218 . We find that including smaller scales, while marginalizing over nonlinear galaxy bias, improves the constraining power in the Ω m - S 8 plane by 31% and in the Ω m - w plane by 41% while yielding consistent cosmological parameters from those in the linear bias case. These results are combined with those from cosmic shear in a companion paper to present full DES-Y3 constraints from the three two-point functions ( 3 × 2 pt ).

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Low energy neutron light output characterization of EJ301D and deuterated stilbene with a comparison of light output characterization methods

The neutron-induced light yield of a 2.54 cm diameter by 2.54 cm long right circular cylinder of EJ301D and a (5.08 cm)3 custom made cube of deuterated trans-stilbene-d12 (d-stilbene) were measured over incident neutron energies from 300 keV to 2.2 MeV and 200 keV to 2.4 MeV, respectively. The measurements were performed using a time-of-flight experiment with a Cf-252 source and an approximately 1.5 m flight path. We compare three light output spectrum full energy deposition edge estimation methods: (1) simulating the neutron energy spectrum edge and fitting it to the light output spectrum, (2) using the inflection point of the light output spectrum edge (derivative method, a.k.a. Kornilov’s method), and (3) using an empirical model fit to the edge of the light output spectrum. Both the derivative and equation fit methods do not account for physical processes such as multiple neutron scattering in the detectors. They instead rely on assumptions about the linear shape continuum shape of the light output spectrum and the direct correlation between the location of the spectrum’s inflection point and maximum energy deposition. These assumptions were found to introduce bias into those methods when tested against simulated spectra with known edge locations. When tested against measured spectra the derivative method was found to differ from the simulation fit by greater than 30% at low energies with large discontinuities for adjacent data points above 800 keV incident neutron energy. The empirical equation fitting method was found to also exhibit bias of a similar magnitude, but with significantly more continuous behavior, especially with the lower count data of the smaller volumed EJ301D scintillator. Experimental light output yield for this neutron energy range is reported using the simulated spectrum fitting method because it includes physics neglected by the other methods, and did not exhibit the bias observed in the other methods

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Characterization of Performance Degradation Mechanisms in Low-Cost High Throughput DI-O3 Layer for Passivated Contact Silicon Solar Cells

Characterization and mitigating performance limiting defects in Silicon (Si) PV is one of key areas to be addressed to improve PV hardware costs and energy yield in order to lower the levelized cost of energy (LCOE) of installed PV cost to $0.02/kWh. As Si PV cells efficiencies have surpassed 22% and approaching 23%, the recombination at the metal contacts have become the focus point to be addressed. Passivated contact technologies—having a heterojunction with a band-gap larger than silicon between the metal and silicon—have emerged as a great potential for future highand ultrahigh-efficiency solar cells, as it concurrently reduces recombination and increases carrier selectivity, by incorporating thin films within the contact structure. Passivated contact Si solar cell technologies use a wide variety of tunnel layers—playing a crucial role to passivate metal contacts and tunnel charge carriers—including stoichiometric silicon oxide (SiO 2 ) grown by thermal oxidation and Low-Pressure Chemical Vapor Deposition (LPCVD) technique and silicon oxide (SiO x ) by hot nitric acid. However, thorough investigations on understanding the failure and performance degradation mechanisms associated with tunnel layers are still limited to date. Unlocking those degradation characteristics in crucial tunnel layers could improve the reliability and energy yield of passivated contact Si solar cells. Besides, the technique of growing aforementioned tunneling layers are low throughput, and requires high temperature processes and/or a vacuum environment. In this project, we investigated the performance degradation mechanisms of a low-cost high-throughput ozonated oxide (DI-O 3 ) tunnel layer for the passivated contact Si solar cells.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

Causal diamonds, cluster polytopes and scattering amplitudes

The “amplituhedron” for tree-level scattering amplitudes in the bi-adjoint φ 3 theory is given by the ABHY associahedron in kinematic space, which has been generalized to give a realization for all finite-type cluster algebra polytopes, labelled by Dynkin diagrams. In this letter we identify a simple physical origin for these polytopes, associated with an interesting (1 + 1)-dimensional causal structure in kinematic space, along with solutions to the wave equation in this kinematic “spacetime” with a natural positivity property. The notion of time evolution in this kinematic spacetime can be abstracted away to a certain “walk”, associated with any acyclic quiver, remarkably yielding a finite cluster polytope for the case of Dynkin quivers. The A n–3 , B n–1 /C n–1 and D n polytopes are the amplituhedra for n-point tree amplitudes, one-loop tadpole diagrams, and full integrand of one-loop amplitudes. We also introduce a polytope D¯ n , which chops the D n polytope in half along a symmetry plane, capturing one-loop amplitudes in a more efficient way.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Evaluation of fatigue-crack growth rates by polynomial curve fitting

Fundamental characterization of the constant-amplitude fatigue crack propagation is achieved by an analysis of the rate of change of crack length with change in number of applied loading cycles, defining the rate values such that they are consistent with the basic assumption of smoothness and continuity in the fatigue crack growth process. The technique used to satisfy the analytical conditions and minimize the effects of local material anomalies and experimental errors is that of fitting a smooth curve to the entire set of basic data by least square regression. This yields a well-behaved function relating the number of cycles to the crack length. By taking the first derivative of the function, the crack growth rate is obtained for each point. The class of curve fitting functions used in the analysis is the polynomial of degree n.

Davies, K. B.↗

A finite-element analysis for steady and oscillatory supersonic flows around complex configurations

The problem of small perturbation potential supersonic flow around complex configurations is considered. This problem requires the solution of an integral equation relating the values of the potential on the surface of the body to the values of the normal derivative, which is known from the small perturbation boundary conditions. The surface of the body is divided into small (hyperboloidal quadrilateral) surface elements, sigma sub i, which are described in terms of the Cartesian components of the four corner points. The values of the potential (and its normal derivative) within each element is assumed to be constant and equal to its value at the centroid of the element, and this yields a set of linear algebraic equations. The coefficients of the equation are given by source and doublet integrals over the surface elements, sigma sub i. The results obtained using the above formulation are compared with existing analytical and experimental results.

Morino, L.↗

The non-existence of the Oort cometary shell

The procedures adopted as theory for a shell of comets are shown to be invalid. Any plot of numbers of long-period comets against 1/a will automatically exhibit a peak at small values of this parameter, and cannot be inverted to demonstrate a high volume-density of aphelia in space. The positions of actual aphelion-points show no sign of any concentration at any range. Further, the aphelion-distance undergoes large almost random changes owing to planetary perturbations at each return, and present values can yield no indication of original positions. A recent attempt to save the shell-theory by making use solely of comets with large perihelion-distance is shown to rest on exactly the same errors as have done all the earlier presentations. The plain conclusions emerge that the shell-theory is devoid of any support by facts, and that the alleged shell of comets is non-existent.

Lyttleton, R. A.↗

Evaluation Program for Secondary Spacecraft Cells: Synchronous Orbit Testing of Sealed Nickel Cadmium Cells

Performance data concerning sealed nickel-cadmium cells operating under a synchronous orbit regime are presented. A space satellite maintaining a position over a fixed point on earth as the earth rotates on its axis and revolves about the sun was simulated. Results include: (1) exposure to synchronous orbit testing at a temperature of 40 C yields less than 6 years of life; (2) performance at -20 C presents a low capacity problem; (3) the capacity check, performed at the middle of each show period, provides a temporary red reconditioning effect on the cells in that the end-of-discharge voltages are higher, for approximately 7 to 10 days, following the capacity check than they were 7 to 10 days prior to the capacity check; (4) all the test packs at -20 C and 40 C have either failed or were discontinued because of low capacity; and (5) test packs at temperatures of 0 C and 10 C have delivered the best capacity during life and packs tested at 20 C showed better life capability than packs tested at -20 C and 40 C.

Harkness, J. D.↗

A one-megapixel image acquisition and processing system for solar oscillation studies

The 1-Mpixel image acquisition and processing system that has been installed at the Mt. Wilson observatory as part of the development effort for the NASA/ESA Solar Oscillations Imager Experiment of the projected Heliospheric Observatory mission is discussed. The system encompasses a high speed CCD camera with a 1024 x 1024-pixel virtual phase chip array, yielding a readout rate of about 800,000 pixels/sec; this allows the entire Mpixel array to be read out in just over 1 sec. The camera is interfaced with a floating point array processor that integrates several successive exposures from the CCD camera and differences selected pairs of integrated images. The system is currently being used to record and difference narrowband images of the sun.

Rhodes, Edward J., Jr.↗

Fourier removal of stripe artifacts in IRAS images

By working in the Fourier plane, approximate removal of stripe artifacts in IRAS images can be effected. The image of interest is smoothed and subtracted from the original, giving the high-spatial-frequency part. This 'filtered' image is then clipped to remove point sources and then Fourier transformed. Subtracting the Fourier components contributing to the stripes in this image from the Fourier transform of the original and transforming back to the image plane yields substantial removal of the stripes.

Van Buren, Dave↗

Correlations of velocity and temperature fluctuations in the stagnation-point flow of circular cylinder in turbulent flow

The present analyses of boundary layer flow and turbulence transport attempt to characterize the influence of freestream turbulence on the surface heat-transfer rate and stagnation point region skin friction of a circular cross-section cylinder in turbulent flow. The Reynolds stress-transport equations and k-epsilon two-equation turbulence modeling are used, yielding time-averaged turbulence double-correlations, mean-flow properties, surface heat-transfer rate, and skin-friction with freestream isotropic turbulence. A comparison of analytical results with experimental data indicates that large Reynolds normal stresses are induced at the boundary layer edge by the kinetic energy of the turbulence.

Wang, C. R.↗

Surface grid generation for flowfield applications using B-spline surfaces

The adequate discretization of the flowfield domain in structured grid techniques depends on the body surface, the zones, and the interior grid. Attention is presently given to the problem of obtaining a versatile surface-definition and grid-generation technique; a general surface grid-generation technique is presented which develops three-dimensional patches from point data. The grid is generated on a two-dimensional field on the basis of either a direct or inverse interpolation procedure. It is then mapped onto physical space to yield the surface grid.

Atwood, Christopher A.↗

UBV stellar photometry of the 30 Doradus region of the large Magellanic Cloud with the Hubble Space Telescope

We report on Planetary Camera observations of the central region of 30 Doradus in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC). These images of 30 Doradus are the first `deep' Hubble Space Telescope (HST) exposures that have appropriate photometric calibration. The B band (F439W) image, which shows R136a at the center of the PC6 charge coupled device (CCD) chip, reveals over 200 stars within 3 sec of the center of R13a, and over 800 stars in a 35 sec x 35 sec area. We used Malumuth et al.'s (1991) Point Spread Function (PSF)-fitting method to measure the magnitudes of all stars on the PC6 chip. These new B magnitudes, along with U and V magnitudes from archival PC images, yield a luminosity function, mass density profile, and initial mass function of the 30 Doradus ionizing cluster. The mass distribution is well fit by a King model with a core radius, R(sub c) = 0.96 sec (0.24 pc), a tidal radius, R(sub t) = 110 sec (28 pc), and a total mass, Mass = 16,800 solar mass. Both the luminosity function and initial mass function show evidence for mass segregation, in the sense that the central region has a higher fraction of massive stars than the outer regions. This is the first observational evidence for mass segregation in a very young cluster (age approximately 3 million years). The observations admit the hypothesis that the mass segregation occurred in the process of star formation and/or that the mass segregation is the result of dynamical evolution.

Malumuth, Eliot M.↗

Techniques For Topographical Mapping Via Interferometric SAR

Two techniques for processing data acquired by airborne interferometric synthetic-aperture-radar (SAR) system yield terrain-height maps. Predicated on availability of accurate navigational system that yields data on motion and orientation of airplane that carries SAR system and, also effectively gives orientation of baseline between two radar antennas of system. Three-dimensional coordinates of target point on terrain determined from (1) position and orientation of airplane as given by navigational system and (2) slant range gamma and phase shift phase as measured by SAR system.

Madsen, Soren N.↗

The Zero-Point Field and the NASA Challenge to Create the Space Drive

This NASA Breakthrough Propulsion Physics Workshop seeks to explore concepts that could someday enable interstellar travel. The effective superluminal motion proposed by Alcubierre (1994) to be a possibility owing to theoretically allowed space-time metric distortions within general relativity has since been shown by Pfenning and Ford (1997) to be physically unattainable. A number of other hypothetical possibilities have been summarized by Millis (1997). We present herein an overview of a concept that has implications for radically new propulsion possibilities and has a basis in theoretical physics: the hypothesis that the inertia and gravitation of matter originate in electromagnetic interactions between the zero-point field (ZPF) and the quarks and electrons constituting atoms. A new derivation of the connection between the ZPF and inertia has been carried through that is properly co-variant, yielding the relativistic equation of motion from Maxwell's equations. This opens new possibilities, but also rules out the basis of one hypothetical propulsion mechanism: Bondi's "negative inertial mass," appears to be an impossibility.

Haisch, Bernhard↗