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At least 973 records · Page 54

Time-Frequency Analysis of Experimental and Analytical Hub Loads of a Rotor Undergoing a Rotor Speed Change

A two-part analytical study was conducted examining a small-scale, two-bladed rotor undergoing a change in rotor speed in a wind tunnel setting. First, a parametric study was conducted to understand how rotor transient response, determined using a time-marching solution, is affected by the choice of rotor wake model, blade elasticity, and inclusion of an elastic support structure model. The second part of the study compared results from an analytical model of the NASA Multirotor Test Bed (MTB) undergoing a rotor speed change to experimental data. Since the analytical and experimental time histories were non-stationary signals, a Stockwell transform was employed to analyze the data in lieu of traditional Fourier transform-based methods. The analysis included extraction of time-varying frequency content of the rotor thrust and hub motion, damping ratios, instantaneous rotor speed, and instantaneous phase difference between thrust and hub motion. Use of a free wake model was found to be necessary to predict higher-harmonic thrust, however, it underpredicted the amplitude of the unsteady loads. Modeling the elasticity of the stiff rotor blades installed on the MTB resulted in minimal impact on the vibratory loads compared to a rigid blade model. The current analytical model of the MTB, including an elastic support structure, properly predicted the measured trends in the frequency content of the thrust.

Rotor dynamics↗

Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover Studies of the Martian Atmosphere Over Jezero From Pressure Measurements

The pressure sensors on Mars rover Perseverance measure the pressure field in the Jezero crater on regular hourly basis starting in sol 15 after landing. The present study extends up to sol 460 encompassing the range of solar longitudes from Ls ∼ 13°–241° (Martian Year (MY) 36). The data show the changing daily pressure cycle, the sol-to-sol seasonal evolution of the mean pressure field driven by the CO2 sublimation and deposition cycle at the poles, the characterization of up to six components of the atmospheric tides and their relationship to dust content in the atmosphere. They also show the presence of wave disturbances with periods 2–5 sols, exploring their baroclinic nature, short period oscillations (mainly at night-time) in the range 8–24 min that we interpret as internal gravity waves, transient pressure drops with duration ∼1–150 s produced by vortices, and rapid turbulent fluctuations. We also analyze the effects on pressure measurements produced by a regional dust storm over Jezero at Ls ∼ 155°.

A. Sánchez-Lavega↗

Advancements in the Camera Setup for Unsteady Pressure Sensitive Paint at NASA Ames Research Center

A test in the Unitary Plan Wind Tunnel at NASA Ames Research Center is scheduled for early 2024 with the intent of showcasing improvements made to unsteady Pressure Sensitive Paint technology. Analysis was performed to investigate how to maximize the system resolving power by optimizing the camera parameters, specifically focal length and focusing distance, while still subject to other system requirements such as field of view and relatively low illumination from the paint. Additionally, the system is upgrading to an 8-camera system from a 4-camera system, so analysis was performed to determine the best way to extend that system to maximize camera coverage and how to most effective reduce the system uncertainty by averaging multiple measurement using camera overlap. These analyses have uncovered new opportunities to improve the unsteady Pressure Sensitive Paint technology without the need for new or expensive hardware and will allow the system to collect better data with simple changes to the design process.

Camera Calibration↗

Camera Setup for Unsteady Pressure Sensitive Paint at NASA Ames Research Center

The unsteady Pressure-Sensitive Paint Development Team at NASA Ames Research Center is conducting a Launch Vehicle Demo Test in the Unitary Plan Wind Tunnel’s 11-ft Transonic Wind Tunnel in the first half of 2024 to showcase improvements made to unsteady Pressure-Sensitive Paint technology. The unsteady Pressure-Sensitive Paint setup has upgraded from a four-camera system to an eight-camera system, prompting analysis to maximize the system performance and overall data quality. Additional analysis was performed to maximize the system resolving power when subject to test constraints such as model size and model tunnel positions. These analyses have uncovered new opportunities to improve the unsteady Pressure-Sensitive Paint technology and will allow the system to collect higher quality data with simple changes to the setup procedure.

Camera Calibration↗

Idea to Deliverable: The Engineering Design Process

The engineering design process is utilized to evolve an idea into a deliverable. This progression can take years, so to experience as much of the full design process as possible, this internship period was dedicated to working on several projects in different phases of the process. The result is a completed engineering project which provides a foundation that can be used to conduct research on a system by performing experiments, collecting data, and making changes as necessary to improve the system and answer new questions.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Analysis and Thermal Property Investigations into Ternary Actinide Chloride Salt Systems Containing UCl3 and PuCl3

While regulators, the scientific community, and MSR developers still lack access to literature data on the thermal properties of clean fuel salts, even less information is available on the properties of fuel salts containing impurities. It is essential to understand, benchmark, and predict crucial data on the changes in thermal properties of fuel salt systems due to impurities arising from moisture, corrosion, and reactor operation (i.e., fission products). This research focuses on two actinide fuel salts (1) to investigate a worst-case scenario buildup of actinide fission product in a NaCl-UCl3 eutectic fuel salt and (2) to investigate NaCl-PuCl3 eutectic salt after 1000 hours of operation in a natural circulation flow loop flow to determine if corrosion or atmospheric (moisture/oxygen) products are present. For the first salt, a conservative assumption or worst-case scenario, for fission product buildup in a fuel salt was investigated by adding PuCl3 to eutectic 67 mol% NaCl – 33 mol% UCl3 salt resulting in a ternary salt having a composition of 61 mol% NaCl – 30 mol% UCl3 – 9mol% PuCl3. Addition of PuCl3 to eutectic NaCl-UCl3 resulted in a ternary salt that had a higher melting temperature than either the NaCl-PuCl3 or NaCl-UCl3 binary eutectic mixture. Addition of PuCl3 also resulted in an increase in density which was expected. The second salt was extracted from a micro loop. The composition of the fuel (primary) salt prior to flow loop operations was determined to be 64 mol% NaCl – 36 mol% PuCl3, however, the post-flow loop salt showed increased levels of MgCl2 and NaCl changing the salt composition to 10 mol% MgCl2 – 63mol% NaCl – 26mol% PuCl3) indicating the primary salt interacted with the rinse salt. Analysis of the post flow loop salt detected low concentrations of Al, Ni, Co, Nb, and Zr, most likely corrosion products from the flow loop material of construction. Contamination of the fuel salt (with the rinse salt NaCl-MgCl2) decreased the density by approximately 10% and reduced the onset of melting temperature by 50 °C, from 451 °C to approximately 400 °C. Results from the fission product simulated salt (61 mol% NaCl – 30 mol% UCl3 – 9mol% PuCl3) and the corrosion product salt (10 mol% MgCl2 – 63mol% NaCl – 26mol% PuCl3) will be included in two separate manuscripts for submission to peer-reviewed journals.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

State Machine Operation of Complex Systems

Operation of complex systems which depend on one, or more, sub-systems with many process variables often operate in more than one state. For each state there may be a variety of parameters of interest, and for each of these, one may require different alarm limits, different archiving needs, and have different critical parameters. Relying on operators to reliably change 102-105 parameters for each system for each state is unreasonable. Not changing these parameters results in alarms being ignored or disabled, critical changes missed, and/or data archiving inefficiencies. To reliably manage the operation of complex systems, such as cryomodules (CMs), Fermilab is implementing state machines for each CM and an over-arching state machine for the PIP-II superconducting LINAC (SCL). The state machine transitions and operating parameters are stored/restored to/from a configuration database. Proper implementation of the state machines will not only ensure safe and reliable operation of the CMs, but will help ensure reliable data quality. A description of PIP-II SCL, details of the state machines, and plans for imminent use the state machines for CM testing will be discussed.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

Tabulated Fluid Properties Research Report

The Multiphysics Object-Oriented Simulation Environment (MOOSE) enables a wide range of advanced nuclear reactor simulations.[6] Under the guidance of MOOSE’s Thermal Hydraulics Team,I worked to expand the capabilities of Tabulated Fluid Properties (TFP) in the fluid properties module. The fluid properties module allows the user to determine a variety of fluid properties by interpolating points between tabulated data. I implemented the ability to use bilinear interpolation instead of bicubic interpolation for interpolating tabulated data. I also changed the method of variable set inversions to use a 2-dimensional Newton’s Method utility that I created. Variable set inversions are often done from (v,e) to (p,T), where v is specific volume, e is specific internal energy, p is pressure and T is temperature. New routines have also been added into TFP such that it can be used with more applications, such as the Navier Stokes and Thermal Hydraulics modules in MOOSE for Pronghorn[5] and RELAP-7[1] respectively. This work was spurred by interest from NASA in testing a Nuclear Thermal Propulsion (NTP) engine system. NTP engines have drastically different fluid properties throughout the engine and Tabulated Fluid Properties provides the flexibility needed to properly simulate and test these engines.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗

AIRS Data Service at NASA Goddard Earth Sciences Data and Information Services (GES DISC) and Its Application to Climate Change Study

The Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) instrument suite is designed to observe and characterize the entire atmospheric column from the surface to the top of the atmosphere in terms of surface emissivity and temperature, atmospheric temperature and humidity profiles, cloud amount and height, and the spectral outgoing infrared radiation on a global scale. The AIRS Data Support Team at the GES DISC provides data support to assist others in understanding, retrieving and extracting information from the AIRS/AMSU/HSB data products. Because a number of years has passed since its operation started, the amount of data has reached a certain level of maturity where we can address the climate change study utilizing AIRS data, In this presentation we will list various service we provide and to demonstrate how to utilize/apply the existing service to long-term and short-term variability study.

Won, Young-In↗

Superposed epoch analysis of pressure and magnetic field configuration changes in the plasma sheet

Using data from 41 substorm events in the near-Earth magnetotail, we have combined plasma, energetic ion, and magnetic field data from the AMPTE/IRM spacecraft to perform a superposed epoch analysis of changes in the total pressure and in the magnetic field configuration as a function of time relative to substorm onset. Unloading is evident in the total pressure profile; the pressure decreases by about 20 percent. Pressure changes during the growth phase are not as uniform for the different substorms as the pressure changes during the expansion phase. To study changes in the magnetic field configuration, we have determined the development of the plasma pressure profiles in z for an average of data from 15 to 19 R(E). At substorm onset, the field line dipolarization begins on the innermost field lines and then progresses to the outer field lines. The field lines map the closest to the Earth about 45 min after substorm onset, and then begin to stretch out again during the recovery phase of the substorm.

Kistler, L. M.↗

Mapping project on land use changes in the carboniferous region of Santa Catarina

The utilization of remote sensing data for monitoring land use changes by means of digital image analysis is described. The following data were utilized: LANDSAT data from September 4, 1975, April 24, 1978, and September 8, 1981; LANDSAT paper photography data; area IV color photographs; IBGE topography maps, and auxiliary data about the Brazilian state of Santa Catarina. Three kinds of analyses of digital images were carried out. The project identified and mapped major classes of land use areas including urban areas, coal deposits, agricultural areas, forests, lakes, and flood plains. Five areas directly affected by coal exploration southeast of Santa Catarina are identified and described. In addition, the classification system used for organizing data about land cover in a hierarchical arrangement is presented. The project made use of two remote sensing data sources: data of MSS spectral (Mulitspectral Scanner System)/LANDSAT on a scale of 1:100,000 with approximately 80 m resolution, and infrared color aerial photographs on a scale of 1:45,000 with approximately 5 m resolution. Therefore, the classification system included three levels, two selected to be compatible with aerial photography data and the third to conform to the resolution of MSS/LANDSAT.

Valeriano, D. D.↗

Data Mining of Polymer Phase Transitions upon Temperature Changes by Small and Wide-Angle X-ray Scattering Combined with Raman Spectroscopy

The complex physical transformations of polymers upon external thermodynamic changes are related to the molecular length of the polymer and its associated multifaceted energetic balance. The understanding of subtle transitions or multistep phase transformation requires real-time phenomenological studies using a multi-technique approach that covers several length-scales and chemical states. A combination of X-ray scattering techniques with Raman spectroscopy and Differential Scanning Calorimetry was conducted to correlate the structural changes from the conformational chain to the polymer crystal and mesoscale organization. Current research applications and the experimental combination of Raman spectroscopy with simultaneous SAXS/WAXS measurements coupled to a DSC is discussed. In particular, we show that in order to obtain the maximum benefit from simultaneously obtained high-quality data sets from different techniques, one should look beyond traditional analysis techniques and instead apply multivariate analysis. Data mining strategies can be applied to develop methods to control polymer processing in an industrial context. Crystallization studies of a PVDF blend with a fluoroelastomer, known to feature complex phase transitions, were used to validate the combined approach and further analyzed by MVA.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Adult weight change and premenopausal breast cancer risk: A prospective pooled analysis of data from 628,463 women

Early-adulthood body size is strongly inversely associated with risk of premenopausal breast cancer. It is unclear whether subsequent changes in weight affect risk. We pooled individual-level data from 17 prospective studies to investigate the association of weight change with premenopausal breast cancer risk, considering strata of initial weight, timing of weight change, other breast cancer risk factors and breast cancer subtype. Hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were obtained using Cox regression. Among 628,463 women, 10,886 were diagnosed with breast cancer before menopause. Models adjusted for initial weight at ages 18–24 years and other breast cancer risk factors showed that weight gain from ages 18–24 to 35–44 or to 45–54 years was inversely associated with breast cancer overall (e.g., HR per 5 kg to ages 45–54: 0.96, 95% CI: 0.95–0.98) and with oestrogen-receptor(ER)-positive breast cancer (HR per 5 kg to ages 45–54: 0.96, 95% CI: 0.94–0.98). Weight gain from ages 25–34 was inversely associated with ER-positive breast cancer only and weight gain from ages 35–44 was not associated with risk. None of these weight gains were associated with ER-negative breast cancer. Weight loss was not consistently associated with overall or ER-specific risk after adjusting for initial weight. Weight increase from early-adulthood to ages 45–54 years is associated with a reduced premenopausal breast cancer risk independently of early-adulthood weight. Biological explanations are needed to account for these two separate factors.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

SBUV/2 Long-Term Measurements of Solar Spectral Variability

The NOAA-11 SBUV/2 spectral solar data have been corrected for long-term instrument changes to produce a 5.5 year data record during solar cycle 22 (December 1988 - October 1994). Residual drifts in the data at long wavelengths are +/- 1% or less. At 200-205 nm, where solar variations drive stratospheric photochemistry, these data indicate long-term solar changes of 5-7% from the maximum of Cycle 22 in April 1991 through the end of the NOAA-11 data record. Comparisons of NOAA-11 data with UARS SUSIM and SOLSTICE for the period October 1991 - October 1994, when all 3 instruments were operating simultaneously, show that the observed long-term variations in 200-205 nm irradiance agree to within 2%. This result is consistent with predictions from the Mg-2 proxy index. The SBUV/2 instruments represent a valuable resource for long-term solar UV activity studies because of their overlapping data records. In addition to the NOAA-11 data presented here, the NOAA-9 SBUV/2 instrument began taking data in March 1985 and is still operating, providing a complete record of Cycle 22 behavior from a single instrument. Three additional SBUV/2 instruments are scheduled to be launched between 1997 and 2003, which should permit full coverage of solar cycle 23.

DeLand, Matthew T.↗

Extending the LWS Data Environment: Distributed Data Processing and Analysis

The final stages of this work saw changes to the original framework, as well as the completion and integration of several data processing services. Initially, it was thought that a peer-to-peer architecture was necessary to make this work possible. The peer-to-peer architecture provided many benefits including the dynamic discovery of new services that would be continually added. A prototype example was built and while it showed promise, a major disadvantage was seen in that it was not easily integrated into the existing data environment. While the peer-to-peer system worked well for finding and accessing distributed data processing services, it was found that its use was limited by the difficulty in calling it from existing tools and services. After collaborations with members of the data community, it was determined that our data processing system was of high value and that a new interface should be pursued in order for the community to take full advantage of it. As such; the framework was modified from a peer-to-peer architecture to a more traditional web service approach. Following this change multiple data processing services were added. These services include such things as coordinate transformations and sub setting of data. Observatory (VHO), assisted with integrating the new architecture into the VHO. This allows anyone using the VHO to search for data, to then pass that data through our processing services prior to downloading it. As a second attempt at demonstrating the new system, a collaboration was established with the Collaborative Sun Earth Connector (CoSEC) group at Lockheed Martin. This group is working on a graphical user interface to the Virtual Observatories and data processing software. The intent is to provide a high-level easy-to-use graphical interface that will allow access to the existing Virtual Observatories and data processing services from one convenient application. Working with the CoSEC group we provided access to our data processing tools from within their software. This now allows the CoSEC community to take advantage of our services and also demonstrates another means of accessing our system.

Narock, Thomas↗

Time–series Analysis of Volume Change at Brady Hot Springs, Nevada, USA using Geodetic Data from 2003 – 2018

Brady Hot Springs geothermal field has exhibited subsidence, as measured by interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR). Previous studies have examined both the temporal evolution of the deformation from 2004 through 2016 and the spatial extent of the deformation, directly relating the observed subsidence to volumetric changes below the surface. We extend the modeling at Brady to analyze a data set of interferometric pairs spanning from the end of 2003 through 2018. We examine spatial and temporal trends in the observed deformation by time–series analysis of each of the 1656 cubic voxels in a parameterized elastic dislocation model to identify areas where the subsurface volume changes as a function of time. Joint time–series analysis of Global Positioning System and InSAR pairs confirm significant changes in rates of volume change during time intervals when well operations were varied. Here, the rate of subsidence increases with increased injection, consistent with the identification of thermal contraction of the rock matrix as the dominant driving mechanism. Conversely, the modeled volume increases when pumping ceases, suggesting thermal expansion of the rock matrix.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗

DATAMAP upgrade version 4.0

The changes made on the data analysis and management program DATAMAP (Data from Aeromechanics Test and Analytics - Management and Analysis Package) are detailed. These changes are made to Version 3.07 (released February, 1981) and are called Version 4.0. Version 4.0 improvements were performed by Sterling Software under contract to NASA Ames Research Center. The increased capabilities instituted in this version include the breakout of the source code into modules for ease of modification, addition of a more accurate curve fit routine, ability to handle higher frequency data, additional data analysis features, and improvements in the functionality of existing features. These modification will allow DATAMAP to be used on more data sets and will make future modifications and additions easier to implement.

Watts, Michael E.↗

The Global Precipitation Climatology Project (GPCP): Results, Status and Future

The Global Precipitation Climatology Project (GPCP) is one of a number of long-term, satellite-based, global analyses routinely produced under the auspices of the World Climate Research Program (WCRP) and its Global Energy and Watercycle EXperiment (GEWEX) program. The research quality analyses are produced a few months after real-time through the efforts of scientists at various national agencies and universities in the U.S., Europe and Japan. The primary product is a monthly analysis of surface precipitation that is globally complete and spans the period 1979-present. There are also pentad analyses for the same period and a daily analysis for the 1997-present period. Although generated with somewhat different data sets and analysis schemes, the pentad and daily data sets are forced to agree with the primary monthly analysis on a grid box by grid box basis. The primary input data sets are from low-orbit passive microwave observations, geostationary infrared observations and surface raingauge information. Examples of research with the data sets are discussed, focusing on tropical (25N-25s) rainfall variations and possible long-term changes in the 28-year (1979-2006) monthly dataset. Techniques are used to discriminate among the variations due to ENSO, volcanic events and possible long-term changes for rainfall over both land and ocean. The impact of the two major volcanic eruptions over the past 25 years is estimated to be about a 5% maximum reduction in tropical rainfall during each event. Although the global change of precipitation in the data set is near zero, a small upward linear change over tropical ocean (0.06 mm/day/l0yr) and a slight downward linear change over tropical land (-0.03 mm/day/l0yr) are examined to understand the impact of the inhomogeneity in the data record and the length of the data set. These positive changes correspond to about a 5% increase (ocean) and 3% increase (ocean plus land) during this time period. Relations between variations in surface temperature and precipitation are analyzed on seasonal to inter-decadal time scales. A new, version 3 of GPCP is being planned to incorporate new satellite information (e.g., TRMM) and provide higher spatial and temporal resolution for at least part of the data record. The goals and plans for that GPCP re-processing will be outlined.

Adler, Robert F.↗