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At least 991 records · Page 55
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1984

Penalty function finite element analysis of steady viscous incompressible flow in rotating coordinates

Finite element methods for incompressible viscous flow in turbomachines have not been presented in the literature previously. This paper develops a penalty function primitive variable method including Coriolis and centrifugal force terms for steady flow in a rotating coordinate system. Simplex elements are used with the result of solution times comparable to equivalent finite different solutions. Example cases considered are Couette flow, Poiseuile flow, flow over a step and flow in a rotating channel. Both laminar and turbulent flows are discussed. The accuracy of computed solutions compares well with theoretical solutions and experimenal measurements.

Rosen, M. C.↗
NASA NTRS1998

Numerical Differentiation for Adaptively Refined Finite Element Meshes

Postprocessing of point-wise data is a fundamental process in many fields of research. Numerical differentiation is a key operation in computational electromagnetics. In the case of data obtained from a finite element method with automatic mesh refinement much work needs still to be done. This paper addresses some issues in differentiating data obtained from a finite element electromagnetic code with adaptive mesh refinement, and it proposes a methodology for deriving the electric field given the magnetic field on a mesh of linear triangular elements. The procedure itself is nevertheless more general and might be extended for numerically differentiating any point-wise solution based on triangular meshes.

Borgioli, Andrea↗
NASA NTRS1995

A finite element propagation model for extracting normal incidence impedance in nonprogressive acoustic wave fields

A propagation model method for extracting the normal incidence impedance of an acoustic material installed as a finite length segment in a wall of a duct carrying a nonprogressive wave field is presented. The method recasts the determination of the unknown impedance as the minimization of the normalized wall pressure error function. A finite element propagation model is combined with a coarse/fine grid impedance plane search technique to extract the impedance of the material. Results are presented for three different materials for which the impedance is known. For each material, the input data required for the prediction scheme was computed from modal theory and then contaminated by random error. The finite element method reproduces the known impedance of each material almost exactly for random errors typical of those found in many measurement environments. Thus, the method developed here provides a means for determining the impedance of materials in a nonprogressirve wave environment such as that usually encountered in a commercial aircraft engine and most laboratory settings.

Watson, Willie R.↗
DOE OSTI2026

Finite-element boundary-integral simulation of thin wires and inhomogeneous penetrable bodies in subsurface multilayered anisotropic media

With the prevailing presence of drilling wells near the subsurface in mature oil and gas fields, the application of electromagnetic methods can be particularly challenging where the electromagnetic field is affected by the steel casing. In the past decades, borehole-to-surface and crosswell electromagnetic methods have been utilized for monitoring of reservoir and underground CO 2 storage. This paper presents a unified finite-element boundary-integral (FEBI) method capable of simultaneously modeling the complex electromagnetic interactions between thin metallic wires (representing steel casings) with 3D trajectory and arbitrary 3D inhomogeneous penetrable bodies (such as CO 2 plumes or hydrocarbon reservoirs) within anisotropic multilayered subsurface environments. Unlike existing approaches that treat these components separately or require dense discretization, or are limited to vertical wells, our unified formulation preserves flexible electromagnetic coupling while delivering improved computational efficiency. Assuming the background formation is multilayered anisotropic media, the surface integral equation method is applied to model the thin wires and boundaries of the inhomogeneous bodies. Meanwhile, the finite element method is applied to model the volume of inhomogeneous bodies. Here, the performance of the proposed FEBI method is assessed through comparison with reference numerical results and its practical significance is demonstrated through CO 2 plume monitoring scenarios.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗
NASA NTRS1990

Finite-element models of continental extension

Numerical models of the initial deformation of extending continental lithosphere, computed to investigate the control of preexisting thermal and mechanical heterogeneities on the style of deformation, are presented. The finite element method is used to calculate deformation with a viscoelastic-plastic model for the lithosphere. Comparisons of the results of analytic models and finite-element models using this method show that good results may be obtained by the numerical technique, even with elements containing both brittle and viscoelastic sampling points. It is shown that the gross style of initial extensional deformation is controlled by the depth and width of the initial heterogeneity which localizes deformation.

Lynch, H. David↗
DOE OSTI2016

Demonstration of finite element simulations in MOOSE using crystallographic models of irradiation hardening and plastic deformation

This report describes the implementation of a crystal plasticity framework (VPSC) for irradiation hardening and plastic deformation in the finite element code, MOOSE. Constitutive models for irradiation hardening and the crystal plasticity framework are described in a previous report [1]. Here we describe these models briefly and then describe an algorithm for interfacing VPSC with finite elements. Example applications of tensile deformation of a dog bone specimen and a 3D pre-irradiated bar specimen performed using MOOSE are demonstrated.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗
DOE OSTI2011

Photoionization cross sections of hydrogen impurities in spherical quantum dots using the finite-element discrete-variable representation

The method of complex-coordinate rotation in a finite-element discrete variable representation is implemented to study the photoionization of hydrogen impurity in spherical quantum dots which are modelled by finite oscillator and Gaussian potentials. The level splitting and crossing of hydrogen impurities due to the variation of dot radii and confining potentials are presented, as well as the shifting down of the energy of hydrogenic impurity toward the combined energy of the free hydrogen and the amplitude of the confining potential. We illustrate the staircaselike behavior in ground and excited energy curves varying with dot radii. The variation of photoionization cross sections with photoelectron energies are given for several dot radii. The cross sections as functions of quantum-dot radii and confining potentials for specific photon energies showing resonancelike profiles are observed and discussed.

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS↗
NASA NTRS1983

CLFE2D: A generalized plane strain finite element program laminated composites subject to mechanical and hygrothermal loading

CLFE2D is a two dimensional generalized plane strain finite element code, using a linear, four node, general quadrilateral, isoparametric element. The program is developed to calculate the displacements, strains, stresses, and strain energy densities in a finite width composite laminate. CLFE2D offers any combination of the following load types: nodal displacements, nodal forces, uniform normal strain, or hygrothermal. The program allows the user to input one set of three dimensional orthotropic material properties. The user can then specify the angle of material principal orientation for each element in the mesh. Output includes displacements, stresses, strains and strain densities at points selected by the user. An option is also available to plot the underformed and deformed finite element meshes.

Buczek, M. B.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Application of finite element techniques in predicting the acoustic properties of turbofan inlets

An analytical technique was developed for predicting the acoustic performance of turbofan inlets carrying a subsonic axisymmetric steady flow. The finite element method combined with the method of weighted residuals is used in predicting the acoustic properties of variable area, annular ducts with or without acoustic treatments along their walls. An approximate solution for the steady inviscid flow field is obtained using an integral method for calculating the incompressible potential flow field in the inlet with a correction to account for compressibility effects. The accuracy of the finite element technique was assessed by comparison with available analytical solutions for the problems of plane and spinning wave propagation through a hard walled annular cylinder with a constant mean flow.

Majjigi, R. K.↗
DOE OSTI2014

Electromagnetic Extended Finite Elements for High-Fidelity Multimaterial Problems LDRD Final Report

Surface effects are critical to the accurate simulation of electromagnetics (EM) as current tends to concentrate near material surfaces. Sandia EM applications, which include exploding bridge wires for detonator design, electromagnetic launch of flyer plates for material testing and gun design, lightning blast-through for weapon safety, electromagnetic armor, and magnetic flux compression generators, all require accurate resolution of surface effects. These applications operate in a large deformation regime, where body-fitted meshes are impractical and multimaterial elements are the only feasible option. State-of-the-art methods use various mixture models to approximate the multi-physics of these elements. The empirical nature of these models can significantly compromise the accuracy of the simulation in this very important surface region. We propose to substantially improve the predictive capability of electromagnetic simulations by removing the need for empirical mixture models at material surfaces. We do this by developing an eXtended Finite Element Method (XFEM) and an associated Conformal Decomposition Finite Element Method (CDFEM) which satisfy the physically required compatibility conditions at material interfaces. We demonstrate the effectiveness of these methods for diffusion and diffusion-like problems on node, edge and face elements in 2D and 3D. We also present preliminary work on h -hierarchical elements and remap algorithms.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2021

Automatically adaptive stabilized finite elements and continuation analysis for compaction banding in geomaterials

Under compressive creep, viscoplastic solids experiencing internal mass transfer processes can accommodate singular cnoidal wave solutions as material instabilities at the stationary wave limit. These instabilities appear when the loading rate is significantly faster than the material's capacity to diffusive internal perturbations, leading to localized failure features (e.g., cracks and compaction bands). These cnoidal waves, generally found in fluids, have strong nonlinearities that produce periodic patterns. Due to the singular nature of the solutions, the applicability of the theory is currently limited. Additionally, practical simulation tools require proper regularization to overcome the challenges that singularity induces. We focus on the numerical treatment of the governing equation using a nonlinear approach building on a recent adaptive stabilized finite element method. This automatic refinement method provides an error estimate that drives mesh adaptivity, a crucial feature for the problem at hand. We compare the performance of this adaptive strategy against analytical and standard finite element solutions. We then investigate the sensitivity of the diffusivity ratio, the parameter controlling the process, and identify multiple possible solutions with several stress peaks. We also show the evolution of the spacing between peaks for all solutions as a function of that parameter.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2016

A blended continuous–discontinuous finite element method for solving the multi-fluid plasma model

The multi-fluid plasma model represents electrons, multiple ion species, and multiple neutral species as separate fluids that interact through short-range collisions and long-range electromagnetic fields. The model spans a large range of temporal and spatial scales, which renders the model stiff and presents numerical challenges. To address the large range of timescales, a blended continuous and discontinuous Galerkin method is proposed, where the massive ion and neutral species are modeled using an explicit discontinuous Galerkin method while the electrons and electromagnetic fields are modeled using an implicit continuous Galerkin method. This approach is able to capture large-gradient ion and neutral physics like shock formation, while resolving high-frequency electron dynamics in a computationally efficient manner. The details of the Blended Finite Element Method (BFEM) are presented. The numerical method is benchmarked for accuracy and tested using two-fluid one-dimensional soliton problem and electromagnetic shock problem. The results are compared to conventional finite volume and finite element methods, and demonstrate that the BFEM is particularly effective in resolving physics in stiff problems involving realistic physical parameters, including realistic electron mass and speed of light. The benefit is illustrated by computing a three-fluid plasma application that demonstrates species separation in multi-component plasmas.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2016

Discontinuous finite element space-angle treatment of the first order linear Boltzmann transport equation with magnetic fields: Application to MRI-guided radiotherapy

Purpose: The advent of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) guided radiotherapy systems demands the incorporation of the magnetic field into dose calculation algorithms of treatment planning systems. This is due to the fact that the Lorentz force of the magnetic field perturbs the path of the relativistic electrons, hence altering the dose deposited by them. Building on the previous work, the authors have developed a discontinuous finite element space-angle treatment of the linear Boltzmann transport equation to accurately account for the effects of magnetic fields on radiotherapy doses. Methods: The authors present a detailed description of their new formalism and compare its accuracy to GEANT4 Monte Carlo calculations for magnetic fields parallel and perpendicular to the radiation beam at field strengths of 0.5 and 3 T for an inhomogeneous 3D slab geometry phantom comprising water, bone, and air or lung. The accuracy of the authors’ new formalism was determined using a gamma analysis with a 2%/2 mm criterion. Results: Greater than 98.9% of all points analyzed passed the 2%/2 mm gamma criterion for the field strengths and orientations tested. The authors have benchmarked their new formalism against Monte Carlo in a challenging radiation transport problem with a high density material (bone) directly adjacent to a very low density material (dry air at STP) where the effects of the magnetic field dominate collisions. Conclusions: A discontinuous finite element space-angle approach has been proven to be an accurate method for solving the linear Boltzmann transport equation with magnetic fields for cases relevant to MRI guided radiotherapy. The authors have validated the accuracy of this novel technique against GEANT4, even in cases of strong magnetic field strengths and low density air.

61 RADIATION PROTECTION AND DOSIMETRY↗
NASA NTRS1995

Simulation of thin slot spirals and dual circular patch antennas using the finite element method with mixed elements

This semi-annual report describes progress up to mid-January 1995. The report contains five sections all dealing with the modeling of spiral and patch antennas recessed in metallic platforms. Of significance is the development of decomposition schemes which separate the different regions of the antenna volume. Substantial effort was devoted to improving the feed model in the context of the finite element method (FEM). Finally, an innovative scheme for truncating finite element meshes is presented.

Gong, Jian↗
NASA NTRS1972

NASTRAN thermal analyzer: A general purpose finite element heat transfer computer program

The program not only can render temperature distributions in solids subjected to various thermal boundary conditions, including effects of diffuse-gray thermal radiation, but is fully compatible in capacity and in the finite-element model representation with that of its structural counterpart in the NASTRAN system. The development history of the finite-element approach for determining temperatures is summarized. The scope of analysis capability, program structure, features, and limitations are given with the objective of providing NASTRAN users with an overall veiw of the NASTRAN thermal analyzer.

Lee, H.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Application of a finite element method for computing grazing incidence wave structure in an impedance tube - Comparison with experiment

The acoustic performance of a liner specimen, in a grazing incidence impedance tube, is analyzed using a finite element method. The liner specimen was designed to be a locally reacting, two-degree-of-freedom type with the resistance and reactance provided by perforated facesheets and compartmented cavities. Measured and calculated wave structures are compared for both normal and grazing incidence from 0.3 to 1.2 kHz. A finite element algorithm was incorporated into an optimization loop in order to predict liner grazing incidence impedance from measured SWR and null position data. Results suggest that extended reaction effects may have been responsible for differences between normal and grazing incidence impedance estimates.

Lester, H. C.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Transient conduction-radiation analysis of an absolute active cavity radiometer using finite elements

A NASA-developed finite element-based model of a generic active cavity radiometer (ACR) has been developed in order to study the dependence on operating temperature of the closed-loop and open-loop transient response of the instrument. Transient conduction within the sensing element is explored, and the transient temperature distribution resulting from the application of a time-varying radiative boundary condition is calculated. The results verify the prediction that operation of an ACR at cryogenic temperatures results in large gains in frequency response.

Mahan, J. R.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Finite-element analysis and multibody dynamics issues in rotorcraft dynamic analysis

There is general agreement that the development of effective rotorcraft analysis software will require the use of modern computational mechanics methodologies, especially finite element analysis and multibody dynamics. This paper examines the analysis of rotorcraft dynamics from the perspective of these methodologies. First, a general discussion of rotorcraft analysis and modeling is presented. Then, a hierarchy of rotorcraft analyses is presented, ranging from simple to complex kinematics, where it is shown that in comprehensive rotorcraft software, finite element analysis must be augmented by multibody dynamics in order to properly analyze large motions of rotorcraft components. Finally, a review of multibody dynamics is presented to further familiarize the rotorcraft community with this technology.

Ruzicka, Gene C.↗