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At least 1,009 records · Page 56

Development of an unstructured solution adaptive method for the quasi-three-dimensional Euler and Navier-Stokes equations

A general solution adaptive scheme based on a remeshing technique is developed for solving the two-dimensional and quasi-three-dimensional Euler and Favre-averaged Navier-Stokes equations. The numerical scheme is formulated on an unstructured triangular mesh utilizing an edge-based pointer system which defines the edge connectivity of the mesh structure. Jameson's four-stage hybrid Runge-Kutta scheme is used to march the solution in time. The convergence rate is enhanced through the use of local time stepping and implicit residual averaging. As the solution evolves, the mesh is regenerated adaptively using flow field information. Mesh adaptation parameters are evaluated such that an estimated local numerical error is equally distributed over the whole domain. For inviscid flows, the present approach generates a complete unstructured triangular mesh using the advancing front method. For turbulent flows, the approach combines a local highly stretched structured triangular mesh in the boundary layer region with an unstructured mesh in the remaining regions to efficiently resolve the important flow features. One-equation and two-equation turbulence models are incorporated into the present unstructured approach. Results are presented for a wide range of flow problems including two-dimensional multi-element airfoils, two-dimensional cascades, and quasi-three-dimensional cascades. This approach is shown to gain flow resolution in the refined regions while achieving a great reduction in the computational effort and storage requirements since solution points are not wasted in regions where they are not required.

Jiang, Yi-Tsann↗

Development of an unstructured solution adaptive method for the quasi-three-dimensional Euler and Navier-Stokes equations

A general solution adaptive scheme-based on a remeshing technique is developed for solving the two-dimensional and quasi-three-dimensional Euler and Favre-averaged Navier-Stokes equations. The numerical scheme is formulated on an unstructured triangular mesh utilizing an edge-based pointer system which defines the edge connectivity of the mesh structure. Jameson's four-stage hybrid Runge-Kutta scheme is used to march the solution in time. The convergence rate is enhanced through the use of local time stepping and implicit residual averaging. As the solution evolves, the mesh is regenerated adaptively using flow field information. Mesh adaptation parameters are evaluated such that an estimated local numerical error is equally distributed over the whole domain. For inviscid flows, the present approach generates a complete unstructured triangular mesh using the advancing front method. For turbulent flows, the approach combines a local highly stretched structured triangular mesh in the boundary layer region with an unstructured mesh in the remaining regions to efficiently resolve the important flow features. One-equation and two-equation turbulence models are incorporated into the present unstructured approach. Results are presented for a wide range of flow problems including two-dimensional multi-element airfoils, two-dimensional cascades, and quasi-three-dimensional cascades. This approach is shown to gain flow resolution in the refined regions while achieving a great reduction in the computational effort and storage requirements since solution points are not wasted in regions where they are not required.

Jiang, Yi-Tsann↗

Extracting galactic structure parameters from multivariated density estimation

Multivariate statistical analysis, including includes cluster analysis (unsupervised classification), discriminant analysis (supervised classification) and principle component analysis (dimensionlity reduction method), and nonparameter density estimation have been successfully used to search for meaningful associations in the 5-dimensional space of observables between observed points and the sets of simulated points generated from a synthetic approach of galaxy modelling. These methodologies can be applied as the new tools to obtain information about hidden structure otherwise unrecognizable, and place important constraints on the space distribution of various stellar populations in the Milky Way. In this paper, we concentrate on illustrating how to use nonparameter density estimation to substitute for the true densities in both of the simulating sample and real sample in the five-dimensional space. In order to fit model predicted densities to reality, we derive a set of equations which include n lines (where n is the total number of observed points) and m (where m: the numbers of predefined groups) unknown parameters. A least-square estimation will allow us to determine the density law of different groups and components in the Galaxy. The output from our software, which can be used in many research fields, will also give out the systematic error between the model and the observation by a Bayes rule.

Chen, B.↗

Interpretation of satellite airglow observations during the March 22, 1979, magnetic storm, using the coupled ionosphere-thermosphere model developed at University College, London

The University of California, Berkeley, extreme ultraviolet spectrometer aboard the U.S. Air Force STP 78-1 satellite measured emission features in the Earth's dayglow due to neutral and ionized species in the atmosphere, in the 35 to 140-nm range. The spectrometer was operating between March 1979 and March 1980, including the period of the magnetic storm on March 22, 1979. Some of these measurements are interpreted using the predictions of the three-dimensional time-dependent coupled ionosphere-thermosphere model developed at University College, London. The observations show a reduction in the atomic oxygen 130.4-nm airglow emission at high northern latitudes following the storm. Model simulations show that this reduction in 130.4-nm emission is associated with an increase in the O2/O ratio. Analysis of model results using electron transport and radiative transport codes show that the brightness of 130.4-nm emission at high latitudes due to resonantly scattered sunlight is approximately twice that due to photoelectron impact excitation. However, the observed decrease in the brightness at high northern latitudes is mainly due to a change in the photoelectron impact source, which contributes approximately 75% of the total, as well as its multiple scattering component; for the photoelectron impact source at 70 deg latitude and 200 km altitude, the reduction in multiple scattering is 1.5 times greater than the reduction in the initial excitation. The reduction in the airglow emission is visible only in the norther n hemisphere because the south pole was not sunlit over the storm period. The comparison of model results with observations suggests that 130.4-nm emission may be useful as a tracer for global changes in the concentration of atomic energy.

Parish, H. F.↗

Decimated Input Ensembles for Improved Generalization

Recently, many researchers have demonstrated that using classifier ensembles (e.g., averaging the outputs of multiple classifiers before reaching a classification decision) leads to improved performance for many difficult generalization problems. However, in many domains there are serious impediments to such "turnkey" classification accuracy improvements. Most notable among these is the deleterious effect of highly correlated classifiers on the ensemble performance. One particular solution to this problem is generating "new" training sets by sampling the original one. However, with finite number of patterns, this causes a reduction in the training patterns each classifier sees, often resulting in considerably worsened generalization performance (particularly for high dimensional data domains) for each individual classifier. Generally, this drop in the accuracy of the individual classifier performance more than offsets any potential gains due to combining, unless diversity among classifiers is actively promoted. In this work, we introduce a method that: (1) reduces the correlation among the classifiers; (2) reduces the dimensionality of the data, thus lessening the impact of the 'curse of dimensionality'; and (3) improves the classification performance of the ensemble.

Tumer, Kagan↗

M2 Internal Tides and Their Observed Wavenumber Spectra from Satellite Altimetry*

A near-global chart of surface elevations associated with the stationary M2 internal tide is empirically constructed from multi-mission satellite altimeter data. An advantage of a strictly empirical mapping approach is that results are independent of assumptions about ocean wave dynamics and, in fact, can be used to test such assumptions. A disadvantage is that present-day altimeter coverage is only marginally adequate to support mapping such short-wavelength features. Moreover, predominantly north-south ground-track orientations and contamination from nontidal oceanographic variability can lead to deficiencies in mapped tides. Independent data from Cryosphere Satellite-2 (CryoSat-2) and other altimeters are used to test the solutions and show positive reduction in variance except in regions of large mesoscale variability. The tidal fields are subjected to two-dimensional wavenumber spectral analysis, which allows for the construction of an empirical map of modal wavelengths. Mode-1 wavelengths show good agreement with theoretical wavelengths calculated from the ocean's mean stratification, with a few localized exceptions (e.g., Tasman Sea). Mode-2 waves are detectable in much of the ocean, with wavelengths in reasonable agreement with theoretical expectations, but their spectral signatures grow too weak to map in some regions.

Ray, R. D.↗

Why are cloud and surface albedo feedbacks anti-correlated in climate models?

A strong anti-correlation exists between global-mean cloud and surface albedo feedbacks in current general circulation models (GCMs), without which spread in climate sensitivity would be greater. This anti-correlation raises questions about the nature of the physical connection between the two feedbacks. Here, we examine the idea that the relationship between the two feedbacks arises from the fact that each is responding primarily to regional warming, but is defined by globally-averaged warming. Take the example of a model with larger-than-average tropical warming due to a strongly positive local cloud feedback: It may have a smaller conventionally-defined surface albedo feedback simply because the planetary heating due to surface albedo reductions is normalized by a larger globally-averaged warming. We test this idea in a one-dimensional energy balance model (EBM) under an external forcing. This EBM includes three feedbacks similar to those in GCMs: a positive cloud feedback confined to low latitudes, a positive surface albedo feedback confined to high latitudes, and a uniform Planck feedback. We perform a suite of EBM runs by varying the strengths of the cloud and surface albedo feedbacks, which operate on local warming. Their strengths are regionally-defined and have little correlation across the runs. However, the conventionally-defined cloud and surface albedo feedbacks diagnosed from the runs end up being strongly anti-correlated, as in GCMs. Thus the anticorrelation reflects the regional nature of the feedbacks rather than a globalscale teleconnection between them. In this sense, the choice to define the feedbacks according to global temperature change may be misleading.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Skeletal model reduction with forced optimally time dependent modes

Skeletal model reduction based on local sensitivity analysis of time dependent systems is presented in which sensitivities are modeled by forced optimally time dependent (f-OTD) modes. The f-OTD factorizes the sensitivity coefficient matrix into a compressed format as the product of two skinny matrices, i.e. f-OTD modes and f-OTD coefficients. The modes create a low-dimensional, time dependent, orthonormal basis which capture the directions of the phase space associated with most dominant sensitivities. These directions highlight the instantaneous active species, and reaction paths. Evolution equations for the f-OTD modes and coefficients are derived, and the implementation of f-OTD for skeletal reduction is described. For demonstration, skeletal reduction is conducted of the constant pressure ethylene-air burning in a zero-dimensional reactor, and new reduced models are generated. The laminar flame speed, the ignition delay, and the extinction curve as predicted by the models are compared against some existing skeletal models in literature for the same detailed model. Finally, the results demonstrate the capability of f-OTD to eliminate unimportant reactions and species in a systematic, efficient and accurate manner.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Directed Assembly of Nanoparticle Catalysts on Nanowire Photoelectrodes for Photoelectrochemical CO 2 Reduction

Reducing carbon dioxide with a multicomponent artificial photosynthetic system, closely mimicking nature, represents a promising approach for energy storage. Previous works have focused on exploiting light-harvesting semiconductor nanowires (NW) for photoelectrochemical water splitting. With the newly developed CO 2 reduction nanoparticle (NP) catalysts, direct interfacing of these nanocatalysts with NW light absorbers for photoelectrochemical reduction of CO 2 becomes feasible. Here, we demonstrate a directed assembly of NP catalysts on vertical NW substrates for CO 2 -to-CO conversion under illumination. Guided by the one-dimensional geometry, well-dispersed assembly of Au 3 Cu NPs on the surface of Si NW arrays was achieved with facile coverage tunability. Such Au 3 Cu NP decorated Si NW arrays can readily serve as effective CO 2 reduction photoelectrodes, exhibiting high CO 2 -to-CO selectivity close to 80% at -0.20 V vs RHE with suppressed hydrogen evolution. A reduction of 120 mV overpotential compared to the planar (PL) counterpart was observed resulting from the optimized spatial arrangement of NP catalysts on the high surface area NW arrays. In addition, this system showed consistent photoelectrochemical CO 2 reduction capability up to 18 h. Furthermore, this simple photoelectrode assembly process will lead to further progress in artificial photosynthesis, by allowing the combination of developments in each subfield to create an efficient light-driven system generating carbon-based fuels.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗

D-dimensional Smorodinsky-Winternitz potential: Coherent state approach

In this study, we construct the coherent states for a particle in the D-dimensional maximally superintegrable Smorodinsky-Winternitz potential. We, first, map the system into 2D harmonic oscillators, second, construct the coherent states of them by evaluating the transition amplitudes. Third, in the Cartesian and the hyperspherical coordinates, we find the coherent states and the stationary states of the original sytem by reduction.

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS↗

Accurate drag prediction: A prerequisite for drag reduction research

An improved technique for drag prediction based on the analysis of wake flows is presented and demonstrated. The technique is demonstrated using three-dimensional flow field solutions obtained with several Euler codes. The flow field solutions are obtained for several wing configurations at both lifting and nonlifting conditions for a range of speeds. At subsonic speeds, the induced-drag prediction is shown to be more accurate (and virtually independent of numerical viscosity levels in the Euler flow field solutions) than the prediction obtained by surface integration. At transonic speeds, a separate wave-drag prediction procedure allows the decomposition of the total inviscid drag into wave drag and induced drag. Preliminary results indicate that the drag-prediction technique in a slightly revised form may be applicable to predict induced drag and wave drag at supersonic speeds.

Wong, Kent J.↗

Holocinematographic velocimeter for measuring time-dependent, three-dimensional flows

Two simulatneous, orthogonal-axis holographic movies are made of tracer particles in a low-speed water tunnel to determine the time-dependent, three-dimensional velocity field. This instrument is called a Holocinematographic Velocimeter (HCV). The holographic movies are reduced to the velocity field with an automatic data reduction system. This permits the reduction of large numbers of holograms (time steps) in a reasonable amount of time. The current version of the HCV, built for proof-of-concept tests, uses low-frame rate holographic cameras and a prototype of a new type of water tunnel. This water tunnel is a unique low-disturbance facility which has minimal wall effects on the flow. This paper presents the first flow field examined by the HCV, the two-dimensional von Karman vortex street downstream of an unswept circular cylinder. Key factors in the HCV are flow speed, spatial and temporal resolution required, measurement volume, film transport speed, and laser pulse length. The interactions between these factors are discussed.

Beeler, George B.↗

A vector scanning processing technique for pulsed laser velocimetry

Pulsed-laser-sheet velocimetry yields two-dimensional velocity vectors across an extended planar region of a flow. Current processing techniques offer high-precision (1-percent) velocity estimates, but can require hours of processing time on specialized array processors. Sometimes, however, a less accurate (about 5 percent) data-reduction technique which also gives unambiguous velocity vector information is acceptable. Here, a direct space-domain processing technique is described and shown to be far superior to previous methods in achieving these objectives. It uses a novel data coding and reduction technique and has no 180-deg directional ambiguity. A complex convection vortex flow was recorded and completely processed in under 2 min on an 80386-based PC, producing a two-dimensional velocity-vector map of the flowfield. Pulsed-laser velocimetry data can thus be reduced quickly and reasonably accurately, without specialized array processing hardware.

Wernet, Mark P.↗

Microbial Sulfate Reduction and Perchlorate Inhibition in a Novel Mesoscale Tank Experiment

Typically, microbial sulfate reduction occurs ubiquitously in natural environments. In oil and gas reservoirs, the generation of sulfide (also known as souring) can result in the corrosion of steel infrastructure and downgrading of oil quality, among other environmental and health-related concerns. The complex interplay between hydrological, geochemical, and biological processes during souring is poorly understood, preventing effective treatment and mitigation especially in naturally heterogeneous subsurfaces. In this work, three-dimensional flow tank experiments are utilized as a mesoscale experiment that links well-constrained batch and column experiments to field measurements. The mesoscale tank experiment investigating perchlorate treatment of souring is coupled with reactive transport modeling to understand the effects of heterogeneity on souring and effectiveness of perchlorate treatment. Tracer experiments were performed at the start and end of the experiment to constrain flow pathways and heterogeneities. Isotopic, geochemical, and microbial data revealed that perchlorate effectively inhibited sulfidogenesis and the growth of dominant sulfate reducing Desulfobacteraceae . Perchlorate treatment enriched Desulfobulbaceae , a sulfur-oxidizing group of bacteria, and Sulfurimonas , a potential perchlorate reducer. More organisms, including sulfate reducing bacteria, were observed closer to the influent. Results from the three-dimensional reactive transport model indicate horizontal preferential flows, as a result of the permeability contrast, led to faster bacteria growth (sulfate reducing bacteria) and sulfate reduction in fast flow regions. Our work highlights the control that spatial distributions of hydrologic characteristics exert over reservoir souring and treatment.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗

Three-dimensional aerodynamic shape optimization using discrete sensitivity analysis

An aerodynamic shape optimization procedure based on discrete sensitivity analysis is extended to treat three-dimensional geometries. The function of sensitivity analysis is to directly couple computational fluid dynamics (CFD) with numerical optimization techniques, which facilitates the construction of efficient direct-design methods. The development of a practical three-dimensional design procedures entails many challenges, such as: (1) the demand for significant efficiency improvements over current design methods; (2) a general and flexible three-dimensional surface representation; and (3) the efficient solution of very large systems of linear algebraic equations. It is demonstrated that each of these challenges is overcome by: (1) employing fully implicit (Newton) methods for the CFD analyses; (2) adopting a Bezier-Bernstein polynomial parameterization of two- and three-dimensional surfaces; and (3) using preconditioned conjugate gradient-like linear system solvers. Whereas each of these extensions independently yields an improvement in computational efficiency, the combined effect of implementing all the extensions simultaneously results in a significant factor of 50 decrease in computational time and a factor of eight reduction in memory over the most efficient design strategies in current use. The new aerodynamic shape optimization procedure is demonstrated in the design of both two- and three-dimensional inviscid aerodynamic problems including a two-dimensional supersonic internal/external nozzle, two-dimensional transonic airfoils (resulting in supercritical shapes), three-dimensional transport wings, and three-dimensional supersonic delta wings. Each design application results in realistic and useful optimized shapes.

Burgreen, Gregory W.↗

Distinct Binding of Rhenium Catalysts on Nanostructured and Single-Crystalline TiO 2 Surfaces Revealed by Two-Dimensional Sum Frequency Generation Spectroscopy

High surface area TiO 2 electrodes are extensively used in photocatalytic solar cells. However, it remains controversial how molecular catalysts interact with the TiO 2 surfaces and how the electrodes affect the functionality of catalytic adsorbates. In this study, we examine the CO 2 reduction catalyst Re I (dcbpy)(CO) 3 Cl (dcbpy = 4,4'-dicarboxy-2,2'-bipyridine) on TiO 2 by probing spectroscopically isolated carbonyl modes that are highly sensitive to the complex electronic structure and solvation environment. Combining interferometric two-dimensional sum frequency generation spectroscopy and ab initio simulations of the spectra, we find distinct spectroscopic and dynamical properties of catalysts bound to single crystals and nanocrystalline surfaces. Lastly, different cross-peak patterns resulting from interferences between elements of the fourth-order susceptibility, along with different vibrational relaxation dynamics, reveal distinct vibrational relaxation pathways of the catalysts on different TiO 2 surfaces that could be engineered for selective catalytic performance.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Comparative study of monolithic platinum and iridium as oxygen-evolving anodes during the electrolytic reduction of uranium oxide in a molten LiCl–Li 2 O electrolyte

A series of four electrolytic reduction runs was performed in molten salt at bench scale to compare the performance characteristics of monolithic platinum and iridium as oxygen-evolving anodes, while simultaneously reducing uranium oxide to metal. In each run, 25 g of uranium oxide particulate was loaded into a permeable steel basket, which, in turn, was immersed in a pool of LiCl—1 wt% Li 2 O at 650 °C. Both anodes, each 3 mm in diameter, were suspended vertically in the salt pool, adjacent to the steel cathode basket. The anodes were connected in parallel to separate direct current power supplies with the uranium oxide-loaded basket as the common cathode. A cell voltage (3.1 V) was intermittently applied to the system with both power supplies operating concurrently, effecting the reduction of uranium oxide to uranium metal at the cathode basket and the simultaneous oxidation of oxygen anions in the salt to oxygen gas at each anode. Anode and cathode potentials and currents were recorded to compare the performance of platinum vis-à-vis iridium. After completing the series of runs, both anodes were removed and subjected to dimensional, chemical, and microscopic analyses. Furthermore the accumulated charges on each anode over the series of four runs were similar, the platinum anode exhibited up to 29% reduction in cross-sectional area compared to <3% for the iridium anode.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

Predictions of first passage times in sparse discrete fracture networks using graph-based reductions

Here, we present a graph-based methodology to reduce the computational cost of obtaining first passage times through sparse fracture networks. We also derive graph representations of generic three-dimensional discrete fracture networks (DFNs) using the DFN topology and flow boundary conditions. Subgraphs corresponding to the union of the k shortest paths between the inflow and outflow boundaries are identified and transport on their equivalent subnetworks is compared to transport through the full network. The number of paths included in the subgraphs is based on the scaling behavior of the number of edges in the graph with the number of shortest paths. First passage times through the subnetworks are in good agreement with those obtained in the full network, both for individual realizations and in distribution. We obtain accurate estimates of first passage times with an order of magnitude reduction of CPU time and mesh size using the proposed method.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗