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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 1,027 records · Page 57
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2022

Computational Methods to Characterize Panel Loading Conditions for Accelerated Testing

Panel cracking and degradation due to wind loading are known to have a detrimental effect on power output. Recreating these damaging conditions in a controlled experimental setting requires an understanding of the loads being generated at the panel surface as a function of both wind speed, wind direction, and panel orientation. To better understand these relationships, a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation package was constructed using an open-source Python library for solving partial differential equations with the finite element method. This CFD package allows the simulated wind speed and panel orientation of a multi-panel array to be easily changed and provides the capability to measure the traction forces at discrete points along the sun-facing and ground-facing surface of an interior panel residing in the wake of one or more upstream panels. A parameter exploration was performed in which the panel angle was varied in even increments from -70 deg to 70 deg and the wind speed was varied from 2 to 30 m/s. During post processing, the measured traction along the panel surface was averaged spatially and interpreted as a time-varying signal, where further processing of this signal yielded the root mean square amplitude and a characteristic frequency associated with the loading. This study found that higher wind speeds are generally associated with increased amplitude of loading and that the panel orientation angle can significantly exacerbate or mitigate this loading. These outcomes are presented along with current work on higher-fidelity verification simulations and recommendations for performing accelerated experimental testing.

loading↗
NASA NTRS1980

Application of finite-element-techniques to the interaction of conduction and radiation in an absorbing, scattering and emitting medium

In this paper, the authors demonstrate that a Galerkin finite element method of analysis, utilizing isoparametric elements, offers a viable means of solving continuum thermal radiation problems with conduction in a participating medium. The participating medium was considered to be a gray radiation medium exhibiting isotropic absorption, emission, and scattering characteristics and optical properties that are independent of temperature. The medium was considered to be bounded by infinite parallel opaque, gray surfaces with diffuse emission and reflection characteristics. In solving this problem, a finite element formulation was developed to describe a system in radiative equilibrium. Then the results of this first analysis were linked with a second finite element model which incorporated conduction into the analysis. The results of this study were found to be in good agreement with existing published data. The model offers the following advantageous features: geometric generality, a computational algorithm which is 'convenient' and 'computable', and a functional basis for extension of the radiation model to higher order approximation.

Wu, S. T.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Contributions to the finite element solution of the fan noise radiation problem

The radiation of fan generated noise to the far field from a nacelle of realistic geometry is investigated using the finite element method. Several innovations have been introduced to minimize the computational requirements and create a highly efficient numerical scheme. The innovations include: (1) formulation of the problem in terms of velocity potential and density in such a way that no inlet mean flow velocity derivatives are required in the field equations, (2) the use of 'wave envelope' elements in an outer region permitting a grid much coarser than would be used for conventional finite elements, (3) the use of a mesh which deforms with an increase of forward flight speed so that mesh lines are always lines of constant phase and rays for a point source, permitting the use of wave envelope elements and simple boundary conditions for any case of forward velocity, (4) an efficient scheme for introducing the noise source via modal amplitude coefficients, and (5) the use of a frontal solution technique which for physically realistic problems drastically reduces the active storage requirements. The finite element scheme is outlined, as are the specific details of the innovations. Results are given for cases where comparable experimental data are available.

Eversman, W.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Laser microspeckle technique in displacement measurement near a crack tip

The laser speckle method has been found quite useful in obtaining in-plane displacement measurements. It is especially useful if the displacement field in a small region can be effectively determined. By obtaining directly the speckle patterns at higher magnifications, a better distinction of the displacements in the vicinity of a crack tip is possible. In this short report some results are obtained and compared with those calculated from linear fracture mechanics and the finite element method for an aluminum crack.

Tang, Z. Q.↗
NASA NTRS1995

Analysis of three-dimensional-cavity-backed aperture antennas using a Combined Finite Element Method/Method of Moments/Geometrical Theory of Diffraction technique

A combined finite element method (FEM) and method of moments (MoM) technique is presented to analyze the radiation characteristics of a cavity-fed aperture in three dimensions. Generalized feed modeling has been done using the modal expansion of fields in the feed structure. Numerical results for some feeding structures such as a rectangular waveguide, circular waveguide, and coaxial line are presented. The method also uses the geometrical theory of diffraction (GTD) to predict the effect of a finite ground plane on radiation characteristics. Input admittance calculations for open radiating structures such as a rectangular waveguide, a circular waveguide, and a coaxial line are shown. Numerical data for a coaxial-fed cavity with finite ground plane are verified with experimental data.

Reddy, C. J.↗
DOE OSTI2021

Utilizing computer vision and artificial intelligence algorithms to predict and design the mechanical compression response of direct ink write 3D printed foam replacement structures

Additive Manufacturing (AM) of porous polymeric materials, such as foams, recently became a topic of intensive research due their unique combination of low density, impressive mechanical properties, and stress dissipation capabilities. Conventional methods for fabricating foams rely on complex and stochastic processes, making it challenging to achieve precise architectural control of structured porosity. In contrast, AM provides access to a wide range of printable materials, where precise spatial control over structured porosity can be modulated during the fabrication process enabling the production of foam replacement structures (FRS). Current approaches for designing FRS are based on intuitive understanding of their properties or an extensive number of finite element method (FEM) simulations. These approaches, however, are computationally expensive and time consuming. As such, in this work, we present a novel methodology for determining the mechanical compression response of direct ink write (DIW) 3D printed FRS using a simple cross-sectional image. By obtaining measurement data for a relatively small number of samples, an artificial neural network (ANN) was trained, and a computer vision algorithm was used to make inferences about foam compression characteristics from a single cross-sectional image. Finally, a genetic algorithm (GA) was used to solve the inverse design problem, generating the AM printing parameters that an engineer should use to achieve a desired compression response from a DIW printed FRS. The methods developed herein present an avenue for entirely autonomous design and analysis of additively manufactured structures using artificial intelligence.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
NASA NTRS1994

An assessment of the adaptive unstructured tetrahedral grid, Euler Flow Solver Code FELISA

A three-dimensional solution-adaptive Euler flow solver for unstructured tetrahedral meshes is assessed, and the accuracy and efficiency of the method for predicting sonic boom pressure signatures about simple generic models are demonstrated. Comparison of computational and wind tunnel data and enhancement of numerical solutions by means of grid adaptivity are discussed. The mesh generation is based on the advancing front technique. The FELISA code consists of two solvers, the Taylor-Galerkin and the Runge-Kutta-Galerkin schemes, both of which are spacially discretized by the usual Galerkin weighted residual finite-element methods but with different explicit time-marching schemes to steady state. The solution-adaptive grid procedure is based on either remeshing or mesh refinement techniques. An alternative geometry adaptive procedure is also incorporated.

Djomehri, M. Jahed↗
NASA NTRS1995

Application of the space-time conservation element and solution element method to two-dimensional advection-diffusion problems

The existing 2-D alpha-mu scheme and alpha-epsilon scheme based on the method of space-time conservation element and solution element, which were constructed for solving the linear 2-D unsteady advection-diffusion equation and unsteady advection equation, respectively, are tested. Also, the alpha-epsilon scheme is modified to become the V-E scheme for solving the nonlinear 2-D inviscid Burgers equation. Numerical solutions of six test problems are presented in comparison with their exact solutions or numerical solutions obtained by traditional finite-difference or finite-element methods. It is demonstrated that the 2-D alpha-mu, alpha-epsilon, and nu-epsilon schemes can be used to obtain numerical results which are more accurate than those based on some of the traditional methods but without using any artificial tuning in the computation. Similar to the previous 1-D test problems, the high accuracy and simplicity features of the space-time conservation element and solution element method have been revealed again in the present 2-D test results.

Wang, Xiao-Yen↗
NASA NTRS1986

Computation of turbulent boundary layer flows with an algebraic stress turbulence model

An algebraic stress turbulence model is presented, characterized by the following: (1) the eddy viscosity expression is derived from the Reynolds stress turbulence model; (2) the turbulent kinetic energy dissipation rate equation is improved by including a production range time scale; and (3) the diffusion coefficients for turbulence equations are adjusted so that the kinetic energy profile extends further into the free stream region found in most experimental data. The turbulent flow equations were solved using a finite element method. Examples include: fully developed channel flow, fully developed pipe flow, flat plate boundary layer flow, plane jet exhausting into a moving stream, circular jet exhausting into a moving stream, and wall jet flow. Computational results compare favorably with experimental data for most of the examples considered. Significantly improved results were obtained for the plane jet flow, the circular jet flow, and the wall jet flow; whereas the remainder are comparable to those obtained by finite difference methods using the standard kappa-epsilon turbulence model. The latter seems to be promising with further improvement of the expression for the eddy viscosity coefficient.

Kim, Sang-Wook↗
NASA NTRS1991

Application of the boundary element method to transient heat conduction

An advanced boundary element method (BEM) is presented for the transient heat conduction analysis of engineering components. The numerical implementation necessarily includes higher-order conforming elements, self-adaptive integration and a multiregion capability. Planar, three-dimensional and axisymmetric analyses are all addressed with a consistent time-domain convolution approach, which completely eliminates the need for volume discretization for most practical analyses. The resulting general purpose algorithm establishes BEM as an attractive alternative to the more familiar finite difference and finite element methods for this class of problems. Several detailed numerical examples are included to emphasize the accuracy, stability and generality of the present BEM. Furthermore, a new efficient treatment is introduced for bodies with embedded holes. This development provides a powerful analytical tool for transient solutions of components, such as casting moulds and turbine blades, which are cumbersome to model when employing the conventional domain-based methods.

Dargush, G. F.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Optimal guidance law development for an advanced launch system

The proposed investigation on a Matched Asymptotic Expansion (MAE) method was carried out. It was concluded that the method of MAE is not applicable to launch vehicle ascent trajectory optimization due to a lack of a suitable stretched variable. More work was done on the earlier regular perturbation approach using a piecewise analytic zeroth order solution to generate a more accurate approximation. In the meantime, a singular perturbation approach using manifold theory is also under current investigation. Work on a general computational environment based on the use of MACSYMA and the weak Hamiltonian finite element method continued during this period. This methodology is capable of the solution of a large class of optimal control problems.

Calise, Anthony J.↗
DOE OSTI2021

BISON: A Flexible Code for Advanced Simulation of the Performance of Multiple Nuclear Fuel Forms

BISON is a nuclear fuel performance application built using the Multiphysics Object-Oriented Simulation Environment (MOOSE) finite element library. One of its major goals is to have a great amount of flexibility in how it is used, including in the types of fuel it can analyze, the geometry of the fuel being modeled, the modeling approach employed, and the dimensionality and size of the models. Fuel forms that can be modeled include standard light water reactor fuel, emerging light water reactor fuels, tri-structural isotropic fuel particles, and metallic fuels. BISON is a platform for research in nuclear fuel performance modeling while simultaneously serving as a tool for the analysis of nuclear fuel designs. Recent research in BISON includes techniques such as the extended finite element method for fuel cracking, exploration of high-burnup light water reactor fuel behavior, swelling behavior of metallic fuels, and central void formation in mixed-oxide fuel. BISON includes integrated documentation for each of its capabilities, follows rigorous software quality assurance procedures, and has a growing set of rigorous verification and validation tests.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
NASA NTRS1988

Aeroelastic optimization of a helicopter rotor

Structural optimization of a hingeless rotor is investigated to reduce oscillatory hub loads while maintaining aeroelastic stability in forward flight. Design variables include spanwise distribution of nonstructural mass, chordwise location of blade center of gravity and blade bending stiffnesses (flap, lag and torsion). A comprehensive aeroelastic analysis of rotors, based on a finite element method in space and time, is linked with optimization algorithms to perform optimization of rotor blades. Sensitivity derivatives of blade response, hub loads, and eigenvalues with respect to the design variables are derived using a direct analytical approach, and constitute an integral part of the basic blade response and stability analyses. This approach reduces the computation time substantially; an 80 percent reduction of CPU time to achieve an optimum solution, as compared to the widely adopted finite difference approach. Through stiffness and nonstructural mass distributions, a 60-90 percent reduction in all six 4/rev hub loads is achieved for a four-bladed soft-inplane rotor.

Lim, Joon W.↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Anisotropic Goal-Based Mesh Adaptation Metric Clarification and Development

Adaptive unstructured mesh techniques have a limited, but growing impact on production analysis workflows to control discretization error for reliable simulation results. Multiple independent implementations of flow solvers, anisotropic metric construction methods, and anisotropic mesh adaptation mechanics have matured. Goal-based metrics target estimated error in output functions, such as lift and drag, through the guidance of an adjoint solution. A unification of goal-based anisotropic metrics is presented for steady viscous flows, which is an active area of research. These goal-based metrics drive robust and efficient anisotropic mesh adaptation for the calculation of output functions. The super-convergent functional output error behavior of stabilized finite-element methods is exploited without a formal proof, and evidence of super-convergence is shown in numerical experiments. Mesh adapted drag and lift outputs for two simple bodies in compressible viscous flow show convergence of error to less than a single drag count. Asymptotic behavior established for relatively coarse meshes shows the efficiency of this goal-based metric when compared to solution interpolation error control and expert-guided meshing. Anisotropic mesh adaptation techniques are applied to a transport aircraft in a high-lift configuration where variation between approaches decreases with mesh refinement, but asymptotic behavior is not observed with available resources.

goal-based↗
NASA NTRS2002

Space Radiation Transport Methods Development

Improved spacecraft shield design requires early entry of radiation constraints into the design process to maximize performance and minimize costs. As a result, we have been investigating high-speed computational procedures to allow shield analysis from the preliminary design concepts to the final design. In particular, we will discuss the progress towards a full three-dimensional and computationally efficient deterministic code for which the current HZETRN evaluates the lowest order asymptotic term. HZETRN is the first deterministic solution to the Boltzmann equation allowing field mapping within the International Space Station (ISS) in tens of minutes using standard Finite Element Method (FEM) geometry common to engineering design practice enabling development of integrated multidisciplinary design optimization methods. A single ray trace in ISS FEM geometry requires 14 milliseconds and severely limits application of Monte Carlo methods to such engineering models. A potential means of improving the Monte Carlo efficiency in coupling to spacecraft geometry is given in terms of reconfigurable computing and could be utilized in the final design as verification of the deterministic method optimized design.

Wilson, J. W.↗
DOE OSTI2023

Delamination imaging in composites using cross-correlation method by non-contact air-coupled Lamb waves

Abstract This paper presents a cross-correlation damage detection technique using damage scattered waves of all directions cross-correlate with the incident waves for delamination imaging in carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) composite plate. The presented imaging can not only detect the delamination but also precisely quantify the damage with locations and sizes. First, a CFRP composite sample with interlaminar delamination by inserting the Teflon layer is designed and manufactured in house using the hot-press machine. And a three-dimensional model of composite sample is simulated using the finite element method. Next, the cross-correlation imaging algorithm is introduced in detail, and the cross-correlation imaging proof-of-concept study is conducted with the simulated Lamb waves in the composite sample. Finally, a fully non-contact air-coupled transducer and scanning laser Doppler vibrometer system with a single-mode Lamb wave method is established to actuate and sense the interrogating Lamb waves in the structure. The imaging method is experimentally implemented for the one delamination and two delaminations imaging and quantification.

Instruments & Instrumentation↗
NASA NTRS1997

Analysis of Discontinuities in a Rectangular Waveguide Using Dyadic Green's Function Approach in Conjunction with Method of Moments

The dyadic Green's function for an electric current source placed in a rectangular waveguide is derived using a magnetic vector potential approach. A complete solution for the electric and magnetic fields including the source location is obtained by simple differentiation of the vector potential around the source location. The simple differentiation approach which gives electric and magnetic fields identical to an earlier derivation is overlooked by the earlier workers in the derivation of the dyadic Green's function particularly around the source location. Numerical results obtained using the Green's function approach are compared with the results obtained using the Finite Element Method (FEM).

Deshpande, M. D.↗
DOE OSTI2023

Neural Network-Enhanced Reproducing Kernel Particle Method for Image-Based Multiphysics Damage Modeling of Energy Storage Materials

Energy storage materials undergo significant stresses during charge/discharge cycling, which makes understanding their reliability and durability fundamental in predicting performance and service life. Strong electrochemical-mechanical coupling and highly anisotropic material properties contribute to the formation and propagation of micro-cracking, largely along material interfaces and grain boundaries. With microstructural images supplied by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), image-based modeling techniques are used to represent the complex material microstructures that dictate the coupled physics of these systems. Traditional electrochemical-mechanical models rely on mesh-based finite element methods, which can lead to difficulties in capturing crack propagation due to mesh dependency. Additionally, commonly used damage models, such as the continuous damage model and the cohesive zone model, often have steep tradeoffs between discontinuous field accuracy and computational expense. In this work, a neural network-enhanced reproducing kernel particle method (NN-RKPM) [1] is leveraged to accurately capture damage and crack propagation throughout the material by learning the location, orientation, and sharpness of discontinuity while allowing for a coarser nodal distribution than that necessary for capturing sharp solution transitions using traditional mesh-based methods. NN-RKPM is used to inform how crack opening and closure in turn affect the coupled chemical equations and material microstructure. Reference: [1] Baek, J., Chen, J. S., Susuki, K., "Neural Network enhanced Reproducing Kernel Particle Method for Modeling Localizations," International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering, Vol. 123, pp 4422-4454, https://doi.org/10.1002/nme.7040, 2022.

damage modeling↗