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At least 1,027 records · Page 57

Scaling analysis applied to the NORVEX code development and thermal energy flight experiment

A scaling analysis is used to study the dominant flow processes that occur in molten phase change material (PCM) under 1 g and microgravity conditions. Results of the scaling analysis are applied to the development of the NORVEX (NASA Oak Ridge Void Experiment) computer program and the preparation of the Thermal Energy Storage (TES) flight experiment. The NORVEX computer program which is being developed to predict melting and freezing with void formation in a 1 g or microgravity environment of the PCM is described. NORVEX predictions are compared with the scaling and similarity results. The approach to be used to validate NORVEX with TES flight data is also discussed. Similarity and scaling show that the inertial terms must be included as part of the momentum equation in either the 1 g or microgravity environment (a creeping flow assumption is invalid). A 10(exp -4) environment was found to be a suitable microgravity environment for the proposed PCM.

Skarda, J. R. L.↗

PAYCOS: A new multidisciplinary analysis program for hypersonic vehicle design

The Payload Conceptual Sizing Code (PAYCOS), a new multidisciplinary computer program for use in the conceptual development phase of hypersonic lifting vehicles (HV's), is described. The program allows engineers to rapidly determine the feasibility of an HV concept and then improve upon the concept by means of optimization theory. The code contains analysis modules for aerodynamics, thermodynamics, mass properties, flight stability, controls, loads, structures, and packaging. Motivation for the code lies with the increased complexity of HV's over their body-of-revolution ballistic predecessors. With these new shapes, the need to rapidly screen out poor concepts and actively develop new and better concepts is an even more crucial part of the early design process. Preliminary results are given which demonstrate the optimization capabilities of the code.

Stubbe, J. R.↗

Cross-Code verification and sensitivity analysis to effectively model the electrothermal instability

This manuscript presents verification cases that are developed to study the electrothermal instability (ETI). Specific verification cases are included to ensure that the unit physics components necessary to model the ETI are accurate, providing a path for fluid-based codes to effectively simulate ETI in the linear and nonlinear growth regimes. Two software frameworks with different algorithmic approaches are compared for accuracy in their ability to simulate diffusion of a magnetic field, linear growth of the ETI, and a fully nonlinear ETI evolution. The nonlinear ETI simulations show early time agreement, with some differences emerging, as noted in the wavenumber spectrum, late into the nonlinear development of ETI. Here, a sensitivity study explores the role of equation-of-state (EOS), vacuum density, and vacuum resistivity. EOS and vacuum resistivity are found to be the most critical factors in the modeling of nonlinear ETI development.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Postbuckling analysis using a general purpose code

A new capability for solving postbuckling problems in shell structures is described. The matrix theory to adapt Newton's method to nonlinear finite element shell analysis is outlined first. The matrix theory is directed at writing consistent linear algebratic equations for problems where the tangent stiffness matrix is singular or nearly singular. The matrix theory suggests a change of variables as part of the usual iterative procedure in Newton's method. The change of variables is shown to be feasible for introduction into the algorithm programmed in general purpose codes for finite element analysis of structures. Numerical results from a new option that has been programmed in an existing general purpose code are presented. The analysis of shell structures for collapse and for branching at bifurcation loads is illustrated by the numerical examples.

Thurston, G. A.↗

Phobos lander coding system: Software and analysis

The software developed for the decoding system used in the telemetry link of the Phobos Lander mission is described. Encoders and decoders are provided to cover the three possible telemetry configurations. The software can be used to decode actual data or to simulate the performance of the telemetry system. The theoretical properties of the codes chosen for this mission are analyzed and discussed.

Cheung, K.-M.↗

Development of SAM Code Capabilities for Safety Analysis of GCR Air-ingress Events

Air-ingress following a depressurized loss-of-forced-cooling (DLOFC) event is a challenging, multiphysics safety scenario for High-Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactors (HTGRs), involving coupled gas composition transport, buoyancy-driven flow redistribution, graphite oxidation, and structural heat-up. Despite its importance — air ingress is a key scenario identified in the PIRT process for the HTGRs — existing system-level safety codes have lacked the integrated capability to simulate the complete event sequence with high confidence. This report documents the development, validation, and demonstration of three new capabilities in the SAM code to address this gap: (1) a multi-component gas mixture flow model with binary diffusion to track the helium-air composition and its effect on system density and flow; (2) a 0-D graphite oxidation model based on the Roes correlation, including oxygen consumption and exothermic heat release; and (3) an isentropic critical flow model for accurate representation of primary system depressurization through a break. These capabilities are validated against two benchmark experiments. The NSTF heavy-gas ingress experiment validates the multi-component flow model: SAM correctly reproduces the rapid buoyancydriven flow stagnation and subsequent natural circulation recovery driven by composition-dependent density changes. The NACOK graphite oxidation experiment validates the oxidation model: SAM predicts a bottom-level graphite weight loss of 25%, in close agreement with the measured 24%, and reproduces the strong axial nonuniformity and block-geometry dependence of oxidation, at a level comparable to the SPECTRA and TINTE codes. The validated capabilities are then exercised together in an integrated, reactor-scale simulation of a DLOFC air-ingress transient in a simplified HTR-PM pebble-bed reactor. In a single calculation spanning approximately 8 days, SAM reproduces the complete accident sequence: rapid depressurization, densityand diffusion-driven air ingress over ˜15 hours, onset of buoyancy-driven natural circulation, exothermic graphite oxidation with a peak fuel temperature at ˜62 hours, and eventual passive cooldown. These results demonstrate that SAM now provides the nuclear community with a preliminarily validated, modern systemlevel tool for HTGR air-ingress safety analysis, filling a recognized capability gap. Future extensions to broaden species tracking, improve oxidation chemistry, and refine the reactor model are discussed.

Yang, Gang↗

Testing the Jump Finding Code for NEXUS Qubit Analysis

At Fermilab, the NEXUS dilution refrigerator is repeating the same experiment from Wilen et al. 1 underground to further investigate the effect of ionizing radiation and cosmic ray muons on qubit decoherence. This refrigerator is 100m underground in the MINOS cavern to significantly lower the incident rate of cosmic ray muons, meaning the majority of incidents is due to ionizing radiation. To gain a better understanding of how the rate of ionizing radiation affects the qubits, we use 4 radiation configurations to collect data from the chip. In this work, we examine the efficiency of our jump detection code to find jumps of various sizes. We do so using simulated data with a known number of injected jumps of known sizes. These jumps are charge offsets of the qubit, thought to be due to quasiparticle poisoning. To test this, we run the jump finding code on an array of simulated data in which two main parameters, the smoothing factor and the threshold at which a charge offset is considered a jump, are changed to test an array of these parameters. We then perform a χ2 analysis to find the best combination of these two parameters.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

TRANDESNF: A computer program for transonic airfoil design and analysis in nonuniform flow

The use of a transonic airfoil code for analysis, inverse design, and direct optimization of an airfoil immersed in propfan slipstream is described. A summary of the theoretical method, program capabilities, input format, output variables, and program execution are described. Input data of sample test cases and the corresponding output are given.

Chang, J. F.↗

Multidisciplinary tailoring of hot composite structures

A computational simulation procedure is described for multidisciplinary analysis and tailoring of multilayered multimaterial hot composite engine structural components subjected to simultaneous multiple discipline-specific thermal, structural, vibration, and acoustic loadings including the effect of aggressive environments. The simulation is based on a 3D finite element analysis technique in conjunction with structural mechanics codes, thermal/acoustic analysis methods, and tailoring procedures. The integrated multidisciplinary simulation procedure is general-purpose including the coupled effects of nonlinearities in structure geometry, material, loading, and environmental complexities. The composite material behavior is assessed at all composite scales, i.e., the laminate/ply/constituents (fiber/matrix), via a nonlinear material characterization hygro-thermomechanical model. Sample tailoring cases exhibiting nonlinear material/loading/environmental behavior of aircraft engine fan blades, are presented. The various multidisciplinary loadings lead to different tailored designs, even those opposite of each other, as in the case of minimum material cost versus minimum structure weight and in the case of minimum vibration frequency versus minimum acoustic noise.

Singhal, Surendra N.↗

Multidisciplinary tailoring of hot composite structures

A computational simulation procedure is described for multidisciplinary analysis and tailoring of layered multi-material hot composite engine structural components subjected to simultaneous multiple discipline-specific thermal, structural, vibration, and acoustic loads. The effect of aggressive environments is also simulated. The simulation is based on a three-dimensional finite element analysis technique in conjunction with structural mechanics codes, thermal/acoustic analysis methods, and tailoring procedures. The integrated multidisciplinary simulation procedure is general-purpose including the coupled effects of nonlinearities in structure geometry, material, loading, and environmental complexities. The composite material behavior is assessed at all composite scales, i.e., laminate/ply/constituents (fiber/matrix), via a nonlinear material characterization hygro-thermo-mechanical model. Sample tailoring cases exhibiting nonlinear material/loading/environmental behavior of aircraft engine fan blades, are presented. The various multidisciplinary loads lead to different tailored designs, even those competing with each other, as in the case of minimum material cost versus minimum structure weight and in the case of minimum vibration frequency versus minimum acoustic noise.

Singhal, Surendra N.↗

Magnetically suspended flywheel system study

A program to study the application of a graphite/epoxy, magnetically suspended, pierced disk flywheel for the combined function of spacecraft attitude control and energy storage (ACES) is described. Past achievements of the program include design and analysis computer codes for the flywheel rotor, a magnetically suspended flywheel model, and graphite/epoxy rotor rings that were successfully prestressed via interference assembly. All hardware successfully demonstrated operation of the necessary subsystems which form a complete ACES design. Areas of future work include additional rotor design research, system definition and control strategies, prototype development, and design/construction of a UM/GSFC spin test facility. The results of applying design and analysis computer codes to a magnetically suspended interference assembled rotor show specific energy densities of 42 Wh/lb (92.4 Wh/kg) are obtained for a 1.6 kWh system.

Kirk, J. A.↗

Design of a blade-stiffened composite panel with a hole

A procedure is developed analytically to design and produce an optimized stiffened panel with a centrally located hole. The PASCO panel-buckling analysis and sizing code is employed with the Engineering Analysis Language (EAL) code for finite-element analysis to optimize the design variables. Important design considerations are stiffener height and ply thicknesses in the skin and the stiffener laminates. The EAL code calculates the maximum strains around the hole boundary, and the resulting constraints are combined with the buckling constraint developed by the PASCO code. Cooptimization of the two codes is effected until convergence on the optimal solution is achieved. Results of the analytical procedure are experimentally verified by applying a compressive end-load to graphite-fiber laminated plates with center holes. The experimental results support the analytical procedure, and it is found that for the same weight, the soft-skin designs tested are found to have the best tolerance characteristics and resistance to failure.

Nagendra, S.↗

Inlet-Compressor Analysis using Coupled CFD Codes

Propulsion performance and operability are key factors in the development of a successful aircraft. For high-speed supersonic aircraft, mixed-compression inlets offer high performance but are susceptible to an instability referred to as unstart. An unstart occurs when a disturbance originating in the atmosphere or the engine causes the shock system to be expelled from the inlet. This event can have adverse effects on control of the aircraft, which is unacceptable for a passenger plane such as the high speed civil transport (HSCT). The ability to predict the transient response of such inlets to flow perturbations is, therefore, important to the proper design of the inlet and the control measures used to prevent unstart. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is having an increasing role in the analysis of individual propulsion components. Isolated inlet studies are relatively easy to perform, but a major uncertainty is the boundary condition used at the inlet exit to represent the engine - the so-called compressor face boundary condition. A one-dimensional (1-D) Euler inlet simulation showed that the predicted inlet unstart tolerance to free-stream pressure perturbations can vary by as much as a factor of about six, depending on the boundary condition used. Obviously a thorough understanding of dynamic interactions between inlets and compressors/fans is required to provide the proper boundary condition. To aid in this understanding and to help evaluate possible boundary conditions, an inlet-engine experiment was conducted at the University of Cincinnati. The interaction of acoustic pulses, generated in the inlet, with the engine were investigated. Because of the availability of experimental data for validation, it was decided to simulate the experiment using CFD. The philosophy here is that the inlet-engine system is best simulated by coupling (existing) specialized CFD component-codes. The objectives of this work were to aid in a better understanding of inlet-compressor interaction physics and the formulation of a more realistic compressor-face boundary condition for time-accurate CFD simulations of inlets. Previous simulations have used 1-D Euler engine simulations in conjunction with 1-D Euler and axisymmetric Euler inlet simulations. This effort is a first step toward CFD simulation of an entire engine by coupling multidimensional component codes.

Cole, Gary↗

Inlet-Compressor Analysis Using Coupled CFD Codes

Propulsion performance and operability are key factors in the development of a successful aircraft. For high-speed supersonic aircraft, mixed-compression inlets offer high performance but are susceptible to an instability referred to as unstart. An unstart occurs when a disturbance originating in the atmosphere or the engine causes the shock system to be expelled from the inlet. This event can have adverse effects on control of the aircraft, which is unacceptable for a passenger plane such as the high speed civil transport (HSCT). The ability to predict the transient response of such inlets to flow perturbations is, therefore, important to the proper design of the inlet and the control measures used to prevent unstart. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is having an increasing role in the analysis of individual propulsion components. isolated inlet studies are relatively easy to perform, but a major uncertainty is the boundary condition used at the inlet exit to represent the engine - the so-called compressor face boundary condition. A one-dimensional (I-D) Euler inlet simulation (ref. 1) showed that the predicted inlet unstart tolerance to free-stream pressure perturbations can vary by as much as a factor of about six, depending on the boundary condition used. Obviously, a thorough understanding of dynamic interactions between inlets and compressors/fans is required to provide the proper boundary condition.

Cole, Gary↗

Flow field analysis for a class of waverider configurations

A package of computer codes for analysis of flow fields for waverider configurations is described. The package consists of a surface/volume grid generator and a finite-volume flow solver. The grid generator defines body geometries and computational grids by an algebraic homotopy procedure. The algebraic procedure is versatile in its application and can readily generate configurations in the class of blended wing-body geometries. This code has the ability to produce a wide variety of geometries in the given class with varying geometrical attributes. The flow solver employs a finite-volume formation and solves the explicit, Runge-Kutta integration technique. The method or flow simulation incorporates several techniques for acceleration of the convergence of the interaction process and an entropy corrected enthalpy damping procedure for efficient computation of high Mach number flows.

Moitra, Anutosh↗

Analysis of supersonic flows using k-epsilon model and the RPLUS code: Progress towards high speed combustor analysis

The problem of interest here is the analysis of chemically reacting flow inside of supersonic ramjet combustors. Two key parameters need to be determined: mixing/combustion efficiency and kinetic energy efficiency. In order to determine these parameters, several potential loss mechanisms must be modeled correctly, including mixing, shear, turbulence, vorticity, shock waves, heat transfer, fuel injector drag, poor wall pressure integral, and chemical dissociation. This document discusses k-epsilon turbulence models for use in the RPLUS code for numerical modeling of combustor flow fields.

Lee, J.↗

Binary Analysis with Architecture and Code Section Detection using Supervised Machine Learning

When presented with an unknown binary, which may or may not be complete, having the ability to determine information about it is critical to future reverse engineering, particularly in discovering the binary’s intended use and potentially malicious nature. This paper details techniques to both identify the machine architecture of the binary, as well as to locate the important code segments within the file. This identification of unknown binaries makes use of a technique called byte histogram in addition to various machine learning (ML) techniques, which we call “What is it Binary” or WiiBin. Benefits of byte histograms reflect the simplicity of calculation and do not rely on file headers or metadata, allowing for acceptable results when only a small portion of the original file is available. Utilizing WiiBin, we were able to accurately (>80%) determine the architecture of test binaries with as little as a 20% contagious portion of the file present. We were also able to determine the location of code sections within a binary by utilizing the WiiBin framework. Ultimately, the more information that can be gleaned from a binary file, the easier it is to successfully reverse engineer.

99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS↗