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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 OSTI2014

Physical model construction for electrical anisotropy of single crystal zinc oxide micro/nanobelt using finite element method

Based on conductivity characterization of single crystal zinc oxide (ZnO) micro/nanobelt (MB/NB), we further investigate the physical mechanism of nonlinear intrinsic resistance-length characteristic using finite element method. By taking the same parameters used in experiment, a model of nonlinear anisotropic resistance change with single crystal MB/NB has been deduced, which matched the experiment characterization well. The nonlinear resistance-length comes from the different electron moving speed in various crystal planes. As the direct outcome, crystallography of the anisotropic semiconducting MB/NB has been identified, which could serve as a simple but effective method to identify crystal growth direction of single crystal semiconducting or conductive nanomaterial.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2015

A nonlinear multi-mode wideband piezoelectric vibration-based energy harvester using compliant orthoplanar spring

In this paper, a nonlinear wideband multi-mode piezoelectric vibration-based energy harvester (PVEH) is proposed based on a compliant orthoplanar spring (COPS), which has an advantage of providing multiple vibration modes at relatively low frequencies. The PVEH is made of a tri-leg COPS flexible structure, where three fixed-guided beams are capable of generating strong nonlinear oscillations under certain base excitation. A prototype harvester was fabricated and investigated through both finite-element analysis and experiments. The frequency response shows multiple resonance which corresponds to a hardening type of nonlinear resonance. By adding masses at different locations on the COPS structure, the first three vibration modes are brought close to each other, where the three hardening nonlinear resonances provide a wide bandwidth for the PVEH. The proposed PVEH has enhanced performance of the energy harvester in terms of a wide frequency bandwidth and a high-voltage output under base excitations.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2025

Real-Time Bayesian Inference at Extreme Scale: A Digital Twin for Tsunami Early Warning Applied to the Cascadia Subduction Zone

We present a Bayesian inversion-based digital twin that employs acoustic pressure data from seafloor sensors, along with 3D coupled acoustic–gravity wave equations, to infer earthquake-induced spatiotemporal seafloor motion in real time and forecast tsunami propagation toward coastlines for early warning with quantified uncertainties. Our target is the Cascadia subduction zone, with one billion parameters. Computing the posterior mean alone would require 50 years on a 512 GPU machine. Instead, exploiting the shift invariance of the parameter-to-observable map and devising novel parallel algorithms, we induce a fast offline–online decomposition. The offline component requires just one adjoint wave propagation per sensor; using MFEM, we scale this part of the computation to the full El Capitan system (43,520 GPUs) with 92% weak parallel efficiency. Moreover, given real-time data, the online component exactly solves the Bayesian inverse and forecasting problems in 0.2 seconds on a modest GPU system, a ten-billion-fold speedup.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗
NASA NTRS1972

Analysis of the transient response of shell structures by numerical methods.

This paper examines some basic considerations underlying dynamic shell response analysis and the impact of these considerations upon the practical aspects of solution by numerical methods. Emphasis is placed on the solution of linear problems. The present states of development of the finite difference and finite element methods are reviewed, and techniques for the treatment of temporal variation are discussed. An examination is made of the frequency parameters characteristic of thin shell theory, applied excitations, and spatial mesh geometries, and the significance of these parameters with respect to computational convergence is illustrated.

Geers, T. L.↗
NASA NTRS1973

A finite element tensor approach to plate buckling and postbuckling.

A practical finite element method is presented for geometrically nonlinear (von Karman) plate problems. Symmetric strain energy tensors provide an efficient formulation and solution, and allow the effects of initial imperfections to be considered. An unbalanced force iteration is employed, with the advantage that the time consuming Gauss decomposition needs to be performed only once. The convergence is controlled by an automatically computed relaxation factor, and this makes the method applicable in advanced stages of non-linearity. Several different triangular elements are used in explicitly deriving the required tensors.

Vos, R. G.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Cracked finite elements proposed for NASTRAN

The recent introduction of special crack-tip singularity elements, usually referred to as cracked elements, has brought the power and flexibility of the finite-element method to bear much more effectively on fracture mechanics problems. This paper recalls the development of two cracked elements and presents the results of some applications proving their accuracy and economy. Judging from the available literature on numerical methods in fracture mechanics, it seems clear that the elements described have been used more extensively than any others in practical fracture mechanics applications.

Aberson, J. A.↗
NASA NTRS1975

A general algorithm using finite element method for aerodynamic configurations at low speeds

A finite element algorithm for numerical simulation of two-dimensional, incompressible, viscous flows was developed. The Navier-Stokes equations are suitably modelled to facilitate direct solution for the essential flow parameters. A leap-frog time differencing and Galerkin minimization of these model equations yields the finite element algorithm. The finite elements are triangular with bicubic shape functions approximating the solution space. The finite element matrices are unsymmetrically banded to facilitate savings in storage. An unsymmetric L-U decomposition is performed on the finite element matrices to obtain the solution for the boundary value problem.

Balasubramanian, R.↗
NASA NTRS1977

COMOC 2: Two-dimensional aerodynamics sequence, computer program user's guide

The COMOC finite element fluid mechanics computer program system is applicable to diverse problem classes. The two dimensional aerodynamics sequence was established for solution of the potential and/or viscous and turbulent flowfields associated with subsonic flight of elementary two dimensional isolated airfoils. The sequence is constituted of three specific flowfield options in COMOC for two dimensional flows. These include the potential flow option, the boundary layer option, and the parabolic Navier-Stokes option. By sequencing through these options, it is possible to computationally construct a weak-interaction model of the aerodynamic flowfield. This report is the user's guide to operation of COMOC for the aerodynamics sequence.

Manhardt, P. D.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Transmission in nonuniform ducts - A comparative evaluation of finite element and weighted residuals computational schemes

The Method of Weighted Residuals (MWR) and the Finite Element Method (FEM) are considered as computational schemes in the problem of acoustic transmission in nonuniform ducts. MWR is presented in an improved form which includes the interaction of acoustic modes (irrotational) and hydrodynamic modes (rotational). FEM is based on a weighted residuals formulation using eight noded isoparametric elements. Both are applicable to two-dimensional and axially symmetric problems. Calculations are made for several sample problems to demonstrate accuracy and relative efficiency. One test case has implications in the phenomenon of subsonic acoustic choking and it is found that a large transmission loss is not an automatic consequence of propagation against a high subsonic mean flow.

Eversman, W.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Transient thermal analysis of a titanium multiwall thermal protection system

The application of the SPAR thermal analyzer to the thermal analysis of a thermal protection system concept is discussed. The titanium multiwall thermal protection system concept consists of alternate flat and dimpled sheets which are joined together at the crests of the dimples and formed into 30 cm by 30 cm (12 in. by 12 in.) tiles. The tiles are mechanically attached to the structure. The complex tile geometry complicates thermal analysis. Three modes of heat transfer were considered: conduction through the gas inside the tile, conduction through the metal, and radiation between the various layers. The voids between the dimpled and flat sheets were designed to be small enough so that natural convection is insignificant (e.g., Grashof number 1000). A two step approach was used in the thermal analysis of the multiwall thermal protection system. First, an effective normal (through-the-thickness) thermal conductivity was obtained from a steady state analysis using a detailed SPAR finite element model of a small symmetric section of the multiwall tile. This effective conductivity was then used in simple one dimensional finite element models for preliminary analysis of several transient heat transfer problems.

Blosser, M. L.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Fluid flow in crystallization processes

Investigations of the interactions of heat, mass, and momentum transport in crystal growth from the melt are described. Studies of the mall-scale floating zone process and on a prototype of the vertical Bridgman growth system were emphasized. In both systems detailed numerical calculations are used to dissect the interplay between fluid convection and dopant segregation. These calculations are based on finite element techniques that make feasible the complete solution of solidification problems which include convection. Other numerical methods were developed for solving thermal models of crystal growth processes with melt/gas menisci and for simulating the microscale instabilities in solidification interfaces.

Brown, R. A.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Interlaminar stress singularities at a straight free edge in composite laminates

A quasi-three-dimensional finite-element analysis was used to analyze the edge-stress problem in four-ply, composite laminates. The seven laminates that were considered belong to the laminate family where the outer ply angle is between 0 and 90 deg. Systematic convergence studies were made to explore the existence of stress singularities near the free edge. The present analysis appears to confirm the existence of stress singularities at the intersection of the interface and the free edge. The power of the stress singularity was the same for all seven laminates considered.

Raju, I. S.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Mixed time integration methods for transient thermal analysis of structures, appendix 5

Mixed time integration methods for transient thermal analysis of structures are studied. An efficient solution procedure for predicting the thermal behavior of aerospace vehicle structures was developed. A 2D finite element computer program incorporating these methodologies is being implemented. The performance of these mixed time finite element algorithms can then be evaluated employing the proposed example problem.

Liu, W. K.↗
NASA NTRS1983

NASA/USAF research in structural dynamics

Research in the structural dynamics of large space structures is discussed. The problems of structural response are emphasized. Dynamic modeling, structural members, finite element techniques, axial loads, and vibration tests are among the topics discussed.

Pinson, L. D.↗
NASA NTRS1983

On the suppression of zero energy deformation modes

Based on the Hellinger-Reissner principle and the deformation energy due to assumed stresses and displacements, the problem of the kinematic deformation modes in assumed stress hybrid/mixed finite elements has been examined. Basic schemes are developed for the choice of assumed stress terms that will suppress all kinematic deformation modes. Quadrilateral membrane and axisymmetric elements, and three-dimensional hexahedral elements, are used to illustrate the suggested procedure.

Pian, T. H. H.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Plasticity, viscoplasticity, and creep of solids by mechanical subelement models

This paper discusses the modelling by mechanical subelements, the general plasticity, the viscoplasticity, and the creep behavior of solids under multiaxial loading conditions. The formulation of a time-independent elastic-plastic analysis is based on the viscoplasticity theory and the assumed stress finite element method. An example of an in-plane stress problem is included.

Pian, T. H. H.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Delamination growth in composite materials

The Double Cantilever Beam (DCB) and the End Notched Flexure (ENF) specimens are employed to characterize MODE I and MODE II interlaminar fracture resistance of graphite/epoxy (CYCOM 982) and graphite/PEEK (APC2) composites. Sizing of test specimen geometries to achieve crack growth in the linear elastic regime is presented. Data reduction schemes based upon beam theory are derived for the ENF specimen and include the effects of shear deformation and friction between crack surfaces on compliance, C, and strain energy release rate, G sub II. Finite element (FE) analyses of the ENF geometry including the contact problem with friction are presented to assess the accuracy of beam theory expressions for C and G sub II. Virtual crack closure techniques verify that the ENF specimen is a pure Mode II test. Beam theory expressions are shown to be conservative by 20 to 40 percent for typical unidirectional test specimen geometries. A FE parametric study investigating the influence of delamination length and depth, span, thickness and material properties on G sub II is presented. Mode I and II interlaminar fracture test results are presented. Important experimental parameters are isolated, such as precracking techniques, rate effects, and nonlinear load-deflection response. It is found that subcritical crack growth and inelastic materials behavior, responsible for the observed nonlinearities, are highly rate-dependent phenomena with high rates generally leading to linear elastic response.

Gillespie, J. W., Jr.↗