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Results for “DRAG EFFECT”

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 109 records · Page 6
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2020

Laminar drag reduction in microchannels with liquid infused textured surfaces

Liquid infused surfaces (LIS) achieve non-wetting properties through asperity structures containing pockets of a lubricating liquid rather than air. Although studies have demonstrated several potential applications of LIS, the effect of liquid infused texture on the flow of liquid in microchannels has not been systematically addressed. The present work focuses on the effect of liquid-infused texture geometry and the infused liquid properties on the flow characteristics of a bulk fluid in rectangular and round microchannel geometries. Considering four different textured geometries of transverse ridges, longitudinal ridges, in-lined square posts and staggered squares, a detailed parametric study is presented to assess the resulting drag reduction and friction factor, expressed in terms of the Poiseuille number, on the flow in microchannels. The effect of geometrical parameters is investigated for different asperity solid fraction (Φ s ), asperity height (h s ) and channel thickness (H) or tube diameter (D), while the effect of the infused fluid is studied in terms of a ratio of its viscosity relative to the viscosity of the flowing bulk fluid. Based on the results of the parametric study an extension of the conventional Moody diagram for non-wetting surfaces is developed. Finally, a design of experiments study is conducted to relate the drag reduction and Poiseuille number to the various governing parameters, using which conditions that maximize drag reduction are identified.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2020

The Completed SDSS-IV extended Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey: measurement of the BAO and growth rate of structure of the emission line galaxy sample from the anisotropic power spectrum between redshift 0.6 and 1.1

We analyse the large-scale clustering in Fourier space of emission line galaxies (ELG) from the Data Release 16 of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey IV extended Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey. The ELG sample contains 173,736 galaxies covering 1,170 square degrees in the redshift range 0.6 < z < 1.1. We perform a BAO measurement from the post-reconstruction power spectrum monopole, and study redshift space distortions (RSD) in the first three even multipoles. Furthermore, photometric variations yield fluctuations of both the angular and radial survey selection functions. Those are directly inferred from data, imposing integral constraints which we model consistently. The full data set has only a weak preference for a BAO feature (1.4σ). At the effective redshift zeff = 0.845 we measure $D_{\rm V}(z_{\rm eff})/r_{\rm drag} = 18.33_{-0.62}^{+0.57}$, with DV the volume-averaged distance and rdrag the comoving sound horizon at the drag epoch. In combination with the RSD measurement, at zeff = 0.85 we find $f\sigma _8(z_{\rm eff}) = 0.289_{-0.096}^{+0.085}$, with f the growth rate of structure and σ8 the normalisation of the linear power spectrum, $D_{\rm H}(z_{\rm eff})/r_{\rm drag} = 20.0_{-2.2}^{+2.4}$ and DM(zeff)/rdrag = 19.17 ± 0.99 with DH and DM the Hubble and comoving angular distances, respectively. These results are in agreement with those obtained in configuration space, thus allowing a consensus measurement of fσ8(zeff) = 0.315 ± 0.095, $D_{\rm H}(z_{\rm eff})/r_{\rm drag} = 19.6_{-2.1}^{+2.2}$ and DM(zeff)/rdrag = 19.5 ± 1.0. This measurement is consistent with a flat ΛCDM model with Planck parameters.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2020

Identifying Characteristics of Wildfire Towers and Troughs

Wildfire behavior is dictated by the complex interaction of numerous physical phenomena including dynamic ambient and fire-induced winds, heat transfer, aerodynamic drag on the wind by the fuel and combustion. These phenomena create complex feedback effects between the fire and its surroundings. In this study, we aim to study the mechanisms by which buoyant flame dynamics along with vortical motions and instabilities control wildfire propagation. Specifically, this study employs a suite of simulations conducted with the physics-based coupled fire-atmosphere behavior model (FIRETEC). The simulations are initialized with a fire line and the fires are allowed to propagate on a grass bed, where the fuel heights and wind conditions are varied systematically. Flow variables are extracted to identify the characteristics of the alternating counter-rotational vortices, called towers and troughs, that drive convective heat transfer and fire spread. These vortices have previously been observed in wildfires and laboratory fires, and have also been observed to arise spontaneously in FIRETEC due to the fundamental physics incorporated in the model. However, these past observations have been qualitative in nature and no quantitative studies can be found in the literature which connected these coherent structures fundamental to fire behavior with the constitutive flow variables. To that end, a variety of state variables are examined in the context of these coherent structures under various wind profile and grass height conditions. Identification of various correlated signatures and fire-atmosphere feedbacks in simulations provides a hypothesis that can be tested in future observational or experimental efforts, potentially assisting experimental design, and can aid in the interpretation of data from in situ detectors.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2023

Unsupervised Learning Based Interaction Force Model for Nonspherical Particles in Incompressible Flows

This project provides a neural network-based interaction force model for gas-solid flows from low to intermediate Reynolds numbers and concentration, which can be linked to MFiX-DEM. We have constructed a database of the interaction force between the irregular-shaped particles using a spherical harmonic method and the fluid phase based on the particle-resolved direct numerical simulation (PR-DNS) with immersed boundary-based gas kinetic scheme. Unsupervised learning method, i.e., variational auto-encoder (VAE) has been applied to extract the primitive shape factors determining the drag force, lifting forces, and torque. The interaction force model has been trained and validated with a simple but effective multi-layer feed-forward neural network: multi-layer perceptron (MLP), which will be concatenated after the encoder of the previously trained VAE for geometry feature extraction for single, irregular particles. We have trained transpose convolutional neural networks with the PR-DNS data to predict the velocity and pressure gradient of the single particle systems and utilized them to calculate drag force of multi-particle systems. This model can provide high computational efficiency because it does not require collecting multiparticle system data from PR-DNS.

99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Skyrmion-skyrmionium phase separation and laning transitions via spin-orbit torque currents

Many driven binary systems can exhibit laning transitions when the two species have different mobilities, such as colloidal particles with opposite charges in electric fields. Another example is pedestrian or active-matter systems, where particles moving in opposite directions form a phase-separated state that enhances the overall mobility. In this work, we use atomistic simulations to demonstrate that mixtures of skyrmions and skyrmioniums also exhibit pattern formation and laning transitions. Skyrmions move more slowly and at a finite skyrmion Hall angle compared to skyrmioniums, which move faster and without a skyrmion Hall effect. At low drives, the system forms a partially jammed phase where the skyrmioniums are dragged by the surrounding skyrmions, resulting in a finite angle of motion for the skyrmioniums. At higher drives, the system transitions into a laned state, but unlike colloidal systems, the lanes in the skyrmion-skyrmionium mixture are tilted relative to the driving direction due to the intrinsic skyrmion Hall angle. In the laned state, the skyrmionium angle of motion is reversed when it aligns with the tilted lane structure. At even higher drives, the skyrmioniums collapse into skyrmions. Below a critical skyrmion density, both textures can move independently with few collisions, but above this density, the laning state disappears entirely, and the system transitions to a skyrmion-only state. We map out the velocity and Hall responses of the different textures and identify three distinct phases: partially jammed, laned, and skyrmion-only moving crystal states. In conclusion, we compare our results to recent observations of tilted laning phases in pedestrian flows, where chiral symmetry breaking in the particle interactions leads to similar behavior.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2020

Improvements to CTF Closure Models for Modelling of Two-Phase Flow

This report documents the efforts to improve the CTF prediction of void fraction and two-phase pressure drop by improving two-phase closure models. Previous validation activities have revealed that CTF tends to overpredict void fraction and two-phase pressure drop. In response to this, two approaches were taken to improve CTF’s predictive capabilities. Based on findings that the interfacial drag and subcooled boiling models significantly impact void prediction, alternative closure models for these physical effects were found and implemented into the code. An extensive assessment was performed by using the existing and newly added two-phase experimental data, which showed that void prediction, wall temperature, and two-phase pressure-drop results are improved by using the newly implemented models. A second approach for improving CTF modeling accuracy involved the use of a Bayesian calibration process that uses CTF validation data to optimize selected modeling coefficients and closure model multipliers to achieve a more accurate prediction of experimental results. A similar assessment was performed with calibrated models that improved the void and pressure-drop prediction for test cases that were both included and not included in the calibration dataset. Results of this study will be used to change the models used in CTF to achieve more accurate BWR analyses moving forward. This study also identified opportunities for improving additional closure models and other opportunities to use calibration techniques to improve CTF.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗
DOE OSTI2026

Orbital-Dependent Coulomb Drag in Electron-Hole Bilayer Graphene Heterostructures

Here, we report Coulomb drag studies in an electron-hole bilayer graphene heterostructure in a magnetic field, where the orbital, spin, and valley degrees of freedom are lifted by the combined effects of exchange interaction, Zeeman energy, and a vertical displacement field. Our device enables the application of a large vertical displacement field across both layers. In addition to the well-established strong Coulomb drag between the Landau levels with an orbital quantum number 𝑁 = 0, we observe a Coulomb drag signal between the 𝑁 = 1 Landau levels under a suitable vertical displacement field. As the vertical displacement field increases further, the Coulomb drag signal between 𝑁 = 1 Landau levels weakens, and a Coulomb drag signal emerges between the 𝑁 = 0 and 𝑁 = 1 Landau levels. These findings suggest the important roles of the orbital index and the vertical displacement field in interlayer Coulomb interaction within the quantum Hall regime of coupled bilayer systems.

Landau levels↗
DOE OSTI2025

Energy spectrum of lost alpha particles in magnetic mirror confinement

In a magnetic mirror fusion reactor, capturing the energy of fusion-produced alpha particles is essential to sustaining the reaction. However, since alpha particles are born at energies much higher than the confining potential, a substantial fraction are lost due to pitch-angle scattering before they can transfer their energy to the plasma via drag. The energy of lost alpha particles can still be captured through direct conversion, but designing an effective mechanism requires a description of the energies and times at which they become deconfined. Here we present analytical solutions for the loss velocity, energy, and time distributions of alpha particles in a magnetic mirror. After obtaining the Fokker-Planck collision operator, we asymptotically solve for the eigenfunctions of the Legendre operator to reveal a closed-form solution. In conclusion, our framework applies to any high-energy species, for any applied potential and mirror ratio R > 1, making this work broadly applicable to mirror devices.

Confinement↗
DOE OSTI2024

Mapping Structure and Rheology of pH-Responsive Resins for Low-VOC Coatings

In recent years, the paint and coatings industry has shifted away from traditional resin formulations that require high concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) to achieve the desired rheological performance and sustainability targets. One approach to eliminate or reduce VOCs in paint and coating formulations while maintaining the final performance is to disperse stimuli-responsive polymer latex particles in water. The chemistry and architecture of these particles have been engineered such that the suspension rheology changes in response to the pH changes. The particles can also be swollen with organic solvents to illicit similar rheological changes. To understand how the particle microstructure influences the observed macroscopic properties, we use small-angle neutron scattering and dynamic light scattering to determine that these particles consist of a cross-linked core with long polymer tails that extend into the dispersing medium. Carboxylic acid groups present on the tails deprotonate with increasing pH, and the extension of the polymer chain due to charge repulsion increases the hydrodynamic drag on the particle. Here we find that adjusting the pH alone has a much more significant effect on the shear dependence of the viscosity of the studied resin than adding organic solvent alone. We also find that this resin architecture is more responsive per mole of pH-responsive group than other architectures of pH-responsive latex particles in the literature.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2024

A gyrokinetic simulation model for 2D equilibrium potential in the scrape-off layer of a field-reversed configuration

The equilibrium potential structure in the scrape-off layer (SOL) of the field-reversed configuration (FRC) can be affected by the penetration of edge biasing applied at the divertor ends. The primary focus of the paper is to establish a formulation that accurately captures both parallel and radial variations of the two-dimensional (2D) potential in SOL. The formulation mainly describes a quasi-neutral plasma with a logical sheath boundary. A full-f gyrokinetic ion model and a massless electron model are implemented in the GTC-X code to solve for the self-consistent equilibrium potential, given fixed radial potential profiles at the boundaries. The first essential point of this 2D model lies in its ability to couple radial and parallel dynamics stemming from resistive currents and drag force on ions. The model successfully recovers the fluid force balance and continuity equations. These collisional effects on 2D potential mainly appear through the density profile changes, modifying the potential through electron pressure gradient. This means an accurate prescription of electron density and temperature profiles is important in predicting the potential structure in the FRC SOL. The Debye sheath potential and the potential profiles applied at the boundaries can be additional factors contributing to the 2D variations in SOL. This comprehensive full-f scheme holds promise for future investigations into turbulent transport in the presence of the self-consistent 2D potential together with the non-Maxwellian distributions and open boundary conditions in the FRC SOL.

Physics↗
DOE OSTI2022

Revealing the Drag Instability in One-fluid Nonideal Magnetohydrodynamic Simulations of a 1D Isothermal C-shock

C-type shocks are believed to be ubiquitous in turbulent molecular clouds thanks to ambipolar diffusion. We investigate whether the drag instability in 1D isothermal C-shocks, inferred from the local linear theory of Gu & Chen, can appear in nonideal magnetohydrodynamic simulations. Two C-shock models (with narrow and broad steady-state shock widths) are considered to represent the typical environment of star-forming clouds. The ionization-recombination equilibrium is adopted for the one-fluid approach. In the 1D simulation, the inflow gas is continuously perturbed by a sinusoidal density fluctuation with a constant frequency. The perturbations clearly grow after entering the C-shock region until they start being damped at the transition to the post-shock region. We show that the profiles of a predominant Fourier mode extracted locally from the simulated growing perturbation match those of the growing mode derived from the linear analysis. Moreover, the local growth rate and wave frequency derived from the predominant mode generally agree with those from the linear theory. Therefore, we confirm the presence of the drag instability in simulated 1D isothermal C-shocks. We also explore the nonlinear behavior of the instability by imposing larger-amplitude perturbations to the simulation. We find that the drag instability is subject to wave steepening, leading to saturated perturbation growth. Issues concerning local analysis, nonlinear effects, one-fluid approach, and astrophysical applications are discussed.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Effect of artificial viscosity on shocked particle-laden flows for staggered grid Lagrangian methods

Abstract Shocked particle-laden flows are important to many natural and industrial processes. When simulating these systems, artificial viscosity is often required to prevent numerical artifacts, such as ringing, from arising in the pressure and density fields. The linear and quadratic coefficients of the artificial viscosity determine the amount of smoothing that occurs in these fields. For particle-laden flows, however, many of the fluid–particle interaction forces, for example, the pressure gradient force and unsteady forces, depend on gradients in the fluid fields. Furthermore, while the shock passes over a particle, these forces can be more dominant than drag. This means that the artificial viscosity coefficients affect how a particle and fluid interact when simulating shocked particle systems. Here this effect is investigated for isolated particles and for a particle curtain using a staggered grid Lagrangian approach. The artificial viscosity coefficients have a significant impact on the maximum force that a fluid imparts to a particle, which is important for determining whether a particle will break up in response to the shock. Furthermore, it is found that the density ratio between the particle and the fluid is important in determining whether the artificial viscosity coefficients have a significant impact on the particle’s motion.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2023

The Effects of Plasma Pre-Cracking on Drilling of Hard Rocks: A Single Insert Cutting Experiment

Abstract This paper studies the effects of plasma-induced cracks on rock cutting to support the concept of a plasma-integrated drag bit for accelerated geothermal drilling through hard rocks. For this, a single polycrystalline diamond compact (PDC) drilling technique is used in cutting granite to compare thrust and cutting forces between plasma-treated and untreated rock samples. The cracks are produced using underwater plasma at 80 J per pulse. This energy level does not produce visible damage to the rock. The cutting tests are conducted at a cutting speed of 12.7 m/min and four feed rates of 0.127, 0.201, 0.267, and 0.414 mm/s to represent actual drilling scenarios. The results show a general trend of reduction in both thrust and cutting forces for these feed rates, but the magnitude of reduction highly depends on the feed rate. The maximum force reduction of around 50% is found at the 0.267 mm/s feed rate with statistical significance. Cases with a higher force reduction are also found to have rougher surface topography, which indicates more excessive fracturing and, thus, a cracks-accelerated material removal process. This study provides initial evidence of using underwater plasma to increase the downhole drilling rate of hard rocks.

Engineering↗
DOE OSTI2023

Magnetohydrodynamics in free surface liquid metal flow relevant to plasma-facing components

Abstract While flowing Liquid Metal (LM) Plasma-Facing Components (PFCs) represent a potentially transformative technology to enable long-pulse operation with high-power exhaust for fusion reactors, Magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) drag in the conducting LM will reduce the flow speed. Experiments have been completed in the linear open-channel LMX-U device [Hvasta et al 2018 Nucl. Fusion 58 01602] for validation of MHD drag calculations with either insulating or conducting walls, with codes similar to those used to design flowing LM PFCs for a Fusion Nuclear Science Facility [Kessel et al 2019 Fusion Sci. Technol . 75 886]. We observe that the average channel flow speed decreased with the use of conducting walls and the strength of the applied transverse magnetic field. The MHD drag from the retarding Lorentz force resulted in an increase of the LM depth in the channel that ‘piled up’ near the inlet, but not the outlet. As reproduced by OpenFOAM and ANSYS CFX calculations, the magnitude and characteristics of the pileup in the flow direction increased with the applied traverse magnetic field by up to 120%, as compared to the case without an applied magnetic field, corresponding to an average velocity reduction of ∼45%. Particle tracking measurements confirmed a predicted shear in the flow speed, with the surface velocity increasing by 300%, despite the 45% drop in the average bulk speed. The MHD effect makes the bulk flow laminarized but keeps surface waves aligned along the magnetic field lines due to the anisotropy of MHD drag. The 3D fringe field and high surface velocity generate ripples around the outlet region. It was also confirmed that the MHD drag strongly depends on the conductivity of the channel walls, magnetic field, and volumetric flow rate, in agreement with the simulations and a developed analytical model. These validated models are now available to begin to determine the conditions under which the ideal LM channel design of a constant flow speed and fluid depth could be attained.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2022

Surface magnetic anisotropy-mediated spin Hall magnetoresistance and spin Seebeck effects in a YIG/Pt heterostructure

The role of magnon-phonon coupling in the low-temperature behavior of the spin Seebeck effect (SSE) in YIG/Pt has been puzzling for more than a decade. Here, to elucidate the origin of the anomalous peak around 80 K, we investigate the temperature evolution of SSE, spin Hall magnetoresistance (SMR), and magnetic anisotropy in the same YIG/Pt heterostructure. We find that these effects, along with magnetic damping, show the peaks at the same temperature (~80 K). This simultaneous occurrence, where no heat is applied in the case of SMR, rules out the phonon-magnon drag related origin of SSE in the YIG/Pt system. We further show that the intrinsic surface anisotropy behavior in YIG is responsible for controlling the SSE, SMR, and magnetic damping in the YIG/Pt structure. Our findings not only help to understand these effects fundamentally but also provide an effective way for improving them by manipulating the surface magnetic anisotropy for spin caloritronic applications.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2023

Aerodynamic Rotor Design for a 25 MW Offshore Downwind Turbine

Continuously increasing offshore wind turbine scales require rotor designs that maximize power and performance. Downwind rotors offer advantages in lower mass due to reduced potential for tower strike, and is especially true at large scales, e.g., for a 25 MW turbine. In this study, three 25 MW downwind rotors, each with different prescribed lift coefficient distributions were designed (chord, geometry, and twist) and compared to maximize power production at unprecedented scales and Reynolds numbers, including a new approach to optimize rotor tilt and coning based on aeroelastic effects. To achieve this objective the design process was focused on achieving high power coefficients, while maximizing swept area and minimizing blade mass. Maximizing swept area was achieved by prescribing pre-cone and shaft tilt angles to ensure the aeroelastic orientation when the blades point upwards was nearly vertical at nearly rated conditions. Maximizing the power coefficient was achieved by prescribing axial induction factor and lift coefficient distributions which were then used as inputs for an inverse rotor design tool. The resulting rotors were then simulated to compare performance and subsequently optimized for minimum rotor mass. To achieve these goals, a high Reynolds number design space was developed using computational predictions as well as new empirical correlations for flatback airfoil drag and maximum lift. Within this design space, three rotors of small, medium and large chords were considered for clean airfoil conditions (effects of premature transition were also considered but did not significantly modify the design space). The results indicated that the medium chord design provided the best performance, producing the highest power in Region 2 from simulations while resulting in the lowest rotor mass, both of which support minimum LCOE. The methodology developed herein can be used for the design of other extreme-scale (upwind and downwind) turbines.

downwind rotors↗
DOE OSTI2024

Effects of Urbanization in China on the East Asian Summer Monsoon as Revealed by Two Global Climate Models

Abstract The East Asian summer monsoon (EASM), vulnerable to anthropogenic activities, exerts profound impacts on precipitation in East Asia. In recent decades, China has been experiencing rapid urbanization. It has not yet reached a consensus on its influences on EASM. Here, we introduce satellite‐derived urban impervious areas of China during 1985–2017 into two global climate models with contrasting biases of climatological EASM simulation. Both models consistently show that urbanization weakens EASM by increasing surface friction drag. The increased surface roughness reduces climatological southerly winds in the concentrated urbanization area. As a result, moisture convergence occurs south of the concentrated urbanization area with ascending motion, while moisture divergence with descending motion appears to the north, resulting in the precipitation anomalies of “southern flood and northern drought.” The dominant role of urban dynamic forcing in regulating EASM is confirmed by reducing urban roughness to the level of croplands in sensitivity experiments. As urban dynamic forcing is largely mitigated, the urbanization impact mainly driven by urban thermal forcing conversely strengthens EASM due to enhanced land‐sea thermal contrast via urbanization‐induced warming. Spatial patterns and magnitudes of the urbanization‐induced EASM weakening vary between the two models due to disparities in their simulations of urban thermodynamic forcing and atmospheric adjustments. These results underscore the robust weakening effect of urbanization on EASM by urban friction drag and document uncertainties in the related spatial pattern and magnitude resulting from model discrepancies.

Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences↗
DOE OSTI2025

Josephson currents in neutron stars

We demonstrate that the interface between S-wave and P-wave paired superfluids in neutron stars induces a neutron supercurrent, a charge-neutral analog of the Josephson junction effect in electronic superconductors. The proton supercurrent entrainment by the neutron superfluid generates, in addition to the neutral supercurrent, a charged current across the interface. Beyond this stationary effect, the motion of the neutron vortex lines responding to secular changes in the neutron star’s rotation rate induces a time-dependent oscillating Josephson current across this interface when proton flux tubes are dragged along with them. We show that such motion produces radiation from the interface once clusters of proton flux tubes intersect the interface. The power of radiation exceeds by orders of magnitude the Ohmic dissipation of currents in neutron stars. As a result, this effect appears to be phenomenologically significant enough to heat the star and alter its cooling rate during the photon cooling era.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗