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At least 1,081 records · Page 60

A new method for solving problems of sound radiation from a duct for the case of low Mach number

A method for rapidly solving duct end-plane impedance problems is presented which is based on deriving a form of the Helmholtz integral formula expressing the normal derivative of the acoustic pressure at a boundary point. A set of integral expressions is obtained by satisfying the existing boundary conditions and then solved using a general collocation method. The results obtained for the Levine-Schwinger (1948) problem agree well with the exact values. In the case of a duct flow having a temperature mismatch with the surroundings, the results show an increase in the magnitude of the reflection coefficient for the case of a cold core, and a decrease in its value for the case of a hot core, as compared with the case of exhaust into a uniform medium. A phase change of between pi/2 and pi is nearly always achieved, which indicates the tendency towards maintaining a constant pressure at the exit plane. The method can easily be extended to arbitrary duct shapes as long as they are axisymmetric.

Wahbah, M. M.↗

Solution of the Burnett equations for hypersonic flows near the continuum limit

The INCA code, a three-dimensional Navier-Stokes code for analysis of hypersonic flowfields, was modified to analyze the lower reaches of the continuum transition regime, where the Navier-Stokes equations become inaccurate and Monte Carlo methods become too computationally expensive. The two-dimensional Burnett equations and the three-dimensional rotational energy transport equation were added to the code and one- and two-dimensional calculations were performed. For the structure of normal shock waves, the Burnett equations give consistently better results than Navier-Stokes equations and compare reasonably well with Monte Carlo methods. For two-dimensional flow of Nitrogen past a circular cylinder the Burnett equations predict the total drag reasonably well. Care must be taken, however, not to exceed the range of validity of the Burnett equations.

Imlay, Scott T.↗

Development and comparison of advanced reduced-basis methods for the transient structural analysis of unconstrained structures

The development of two advanced reduced-basis methods, the force derivative method and the Lanczos method, and two widely used modal methods, the mode displacement method and the mode acceleration method, for transient structural analysis of unconstrained structures is presented. Two example structural problems are studied: an undamped, unconstrained beam subject to a uniformly distributed load which varies as a sinusoidal function of time and an undamped high-speed civil transport aircraft subject to a normal wing tip load which varies as a sinusoidal function of time. These example problems are used to verify the methods and to compare the relative effectiveness of each of the four reduced-basis methods for performing transient structural analyses on unconstrained structures. The methods are verified with a solution obtained by integrating directly the full system of equations of motion, and they are compared using the number of basis vectors required to obtain a desired level of accuracy and the associated computational times as comparison criteria.

Mcgowan, David M.↗

Predicting the velocity and azimuth of fragments generated by the range destruction or random failure of rocket casings and tankage

A calculational method is described which provides a powerful tool for predicting solid rocket motor (SRM) casing and liquid rocket tankage fragmentation response. The approach properly partitions the available impulse to each major system-mass component. It uses the Pisces code developed by Physics International to couple the forces generated by an Eulerian-modeled gas flow field to a Lagrangian-modeled fuel and casing system. The details of the predictive analytical modeling process and the development of normalized relations for momentum partition as a function of SRM burn time and initial geometry are discussed. Methods for applying similar modeling techniques to liquid-tankage-overpressure failures are also discussed. Good agreement between predictions and observations are obtained for five specific events.

Eck, Marshall↗

Solution of an integral equation encountered in studies on radiative transfer in completely absorbing leaf canopies

The leaf normal distribution function is related to the extinction coefficient of direct solar radiation by a Fredholm integral equation of the first kind. The integral equation is solved by the method of constrained least squares. The solutions are stable and correct only in extreme cases and, in general, it is not possible to recover an arbitrary leaf normal distribution function.

Myneni, Ranga B.↗

Improve the Search of Very Metal-poor Stars Using the Deep Learning Method

Very metal-poor (VMP) stars have [Fe/H] < -2.0 dex. They are among the oldest stars in the universe, and their unique metallicity can help explore the enrichment mechanism and evolutionary history of the chemical elements of stars in the early universe. However, most current stellar parameter estimation methods do not perform well in determining the stellar parameters of VMP stars, which limits our ability to discover and exploit the properties of VMP stars. In this study, we propose a new model based on a convolutional neural network to determine the stellar atmospheric parameters of VMP stars. We tested our model on the LAMOST spectra; our model can determine the effective temperature (T {sub eff}), surface gravity (log g), metallicity ([Fe/H]), and carbon abundance ([C/Fe]) of the LAMOST spectra with precisions σ(T {sub eff}) = 134.82 K, σ(log g) = 0.33 dex, σ ([Fe/H]) = 0.20 dex, and σ([C/Fe]) = 0.35 dex. Furthermore, our model can distinguish VMP stars from normal stars with an accuracy of 88.65%. We also compared this model with other widely used methods, and found that this method performs better than other methods. It can be applied to the stellar parameter pipelines of upcoming large surveys such as 4MOST, WEAVES, and MOONS to search for VMP stars and identify carbon-enhanced metal-poor stars.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Characterization of Oscillation Modes in Levitated Droplets Using Image and Non-Image Based Techniques

The dynamics of levitated liquid droplets can be used to measure their thermophysical properties by correlating the frequencies at which normal modes of oscillation most strongly resonate when subject to an external oscillatory force. In two preliminary works, it was shown via electrostatic levitation and processing of various metals and alloys that 1) the resonance of the first principal mode of oscillation (mode n = 2) can be used to accurately measure surface tension and 2) that so-called ‘higher-order resonance’ of n = 3 is observable at a predictable frequency. It was also shown, in the context of future space-based experimentation on the Electrostatic Levitation Furnace (ELF), a setup on the International Space Station (ISS) operated by Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), that while the shadow array method in which droplet behavior is visualized would be challenging to identify the n = 3 resonance, the normal mode n = 4 was predicted to be more easily identifiable. In this short communication, experimental evidence of the first three principal modes of oscillation is provided using molten samples of Tin and Indium and it is subsequently shown that, as predicted, an “image-less” approach can be used to identify both n = 2 and n = 4 resonances in levitated liquid droplets. This suggests that the shadow array method may be satisfactorily used to obtain a self-consistent benchmark of thermophysical properties by comparing results from two successive even-mode natural frequencies.

Nevin Brosius↗

Field validation of dynamic mechanical torque measurements using fiber-optic strain sensors for geared wind turbines

Abstract Accurate knowledge of the mechanical loads of wind turbine gearboxes has become essential in modern, highly loaded gearbox designs, as maintaining or even improving gearbox reliability with increasing torque density demands is proving to be challenging. Unfortunately, the traditional method of measuring dynamic mechanical torque using strain gauges placed on the outer surface of a rotating shaft and transmitting the resulting signal is unsuitable for serial deployment due to technical and economic constraints. An alternative method based on fiber-optic strain sensors placed on the stationary outer surface of the gearbox ring gear has been proposed. Like shaft torsion, the radial deformation of the ring gear is proportionate to the rotor torque. Placing the sensors on a stationary component is a cost-effective alternative for serial implementation because the need for complex and expensive data transfer via wireless transmission or a slip ring is eliminated. In this paper, we present the results of an extensive field experiment conducted to evaluate the torque measurement accuracy of this novel sensing solution installed on the gearbox of a Gamesa G97 2-MW wind turbine at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s Flatirons Campus. Torque measurements derived from fiber-optic strain sensors placed on the ring gear of the planetary stage are compared to conventional torque measurements from strain gauges placed on the main shaft. Two different torque estimation data processing methods were evaluated, with the method based on operational deflection shapes providing the most accurate results with an average normalized root mean square error below 0.7% for a load revolution distribution analysis. The effect of operating conditions on the torque estimate was also investigated, and the third planet-passing operational deflection shape was found to be the least sensitive to nontorque load-related effects. The fiber-optic strain sensors’ successful operation during the complete test campaign has demonstrated a robust and accurate solution for fleet-wide enhanced gearbox remaining useful life estimation.

17 WIND ENERGY↗

Quantitative agreement between dynamical rocking curves in ultrafast electron diffraction for x-ray lasers

Electron diffraction through a thin patterned silicon membrane can be used to create complex spatial modulations in electron distributions. By precisely varying parameters such as crystallographic orientation and wafer thickness, the intensity of reflections in the diffraction plane can be controlled and by placing an aperture to block all but one spot, we can form an image with different parts of the patterned membrane, as is done for bright-field imaging in microscopy. The patterned electron beams can then be used to control phase and amplitude of subsequent x-ray emission, enabling novel coherent x-ray methods. Furthermore, the electrons themselves can also be used for femtosecond time resolved diffraction and microscopy. As a first step toward patterned beams, we demonstrate experimentally and through simulation the ability to accurately predict and control diffraction spot intensities. We simulate MeV transmission electron diffraction patterns using the multislice method for various crystallographic orientations of a single crystal Si(001) membrane near beam normal. The resulting intensity maps of the Bragg reflections are compared to experimental results obtained at the Accelerator Structure Test Area Ultrafast Electron Diffraction (ASTA UED) facility at SLAC. Furthermore, the fraction of inelastic and elastic scattering of the initial charge is estimated along with the absorption of the membrane to determine the contrast that would be seen in a patterned version of the Si(001) membrane.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Improved Characterization of Soil Organic Matter by Integrating FT-ICR MS, Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry, and Molecular Networking: A Case Study of Root Litter Decay under Drought Conditions

Understanding of how soil organic matter (SOM) chemistry is altered in a changing climate has advanced considerably; however, most SOM components remain unidentified, impeding the ability to characterize a major fraction of organic matter and predict what types of molecules, and from which sources, will persist in soil. Here we present a novel approach to better characterize SOM extracts by integrating information from three types of analyses, and we deploy this method to characterize decaying root-detritus soil microcosms subjected to either drought or normal conditions. To observe broad differences in composition, we employed direct infusion Fourier-transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (DI-FT-ICR MS). We complemented this with liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) to identify components by library matching. Since libraries contain only a small fraction of SOM components, we also used fragment spectral cosine similarity scores to relate unknowns and library matches through molecular networks. This integrated approach allowed us to corroborate DI-FT-ICR MS molecular formulas using library matches, which included fungal metabolites and related polyphenolic compounds. We also inferred structures of unknowns from molecular networks and improved LC-MS/MS annotation rates from ~5 to 35% by considering DI-FT-ICR MS molecular formula assignments. Under drought conditions, we found greater relative amounts of lignin-like vs condensed aromatic polyphenol formulas and lower average nominal oxidation state of carbon, suggesting reduced decomposition of SOM and/or microbes under stress. Our integrated approach provides a framework for enhanced annotation of SOM components that is more comprehensive than performing individual data analyses in parallel.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Elsa: enhanced latent spaces for improved collider simulations

Abstract Simulations play a key role for inference in collider physics. We explore various approaches for enhancing the precision of simulations using machine learning, including interventions at the end of the simulation chain (reweighting), at the beginning of the simulation chain (pre-processing), and connections between the end and beginning (latent space refinement). To clearly illustrate our approaches, we use W + jets matrix element surrogate simulations based on normalizing flows as a prototypical example. First, weights in the data space are derived using machine learning classifiers. Then, we pull back the data-space weights to the latent space to produce unweighted examples and employ the Latent Space Refinement ( Laser ) protocol using Hamiltonian Monte Carlo. An alternative approach is an augmented normalizing flow, which allows for different dimensions in the latent and target spaces. These methods are studied for various pre-processing strategies, including a new and general method for massive particles at hadron colliders that is a tweak on the widely-used RamboOnDiet mapping. We find that modified simulations can achieve sub-percent precision across a wide range of phase space.

Nachman, Benjamin (ORCID:0000000310240932)↗

Field Validation of Dynamic Mechanical Torque Measurements for Geared Wind Turbines

Accurate knowledge of the mechanical loads of wind turbine gearboxes has become essential in modern, highly loaded gearbox designs, as maintaining or even improving gearbox reliability with increasing torque density demands is proving to be challenging. Unfortunately, the traditional method of measuring dynamic mechanical torque using strain gauges placed on the outer surface of a rotating shaft and transmitting the resulting signal is unsuitable for serial deployment due to technical and economic constraints. An alternative method based on fiber-optic strain sensors placed on the stationary outer surface of the gearbox ring gear has been proposed. Like shaft torsion, the radial deformation of the ring gear is proportionate to the rotor torque. Placing the sensors on a stationary component is a cost-effective alternative for serial implementation because the need for complex and expensive data transfer via wireless transmission or a slip ring is eliminated. In this paper, we present the results of an extensive field experiment conducted to evaluate the torque measurement accuracy of this novel sensing solution installed on the gearbox of a Gamesa G97 2-MW wind turbine at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory's Flatirons Campus. Torque measurements derived from fiber-optic strain sensors placed on the ring gear of the planetary stage are compared to conventional torque measurements from strain gauges placed on the main shaft. Two different torque estimation data processing methods were evaluated, with the method based on operational deflection shapes providing the most accurate results with an average normalized root mean square error below 0.7% for a load revolution distribution analysis. The effect of operating conditions on the torque estimate was also investigated, and the third planet-passing operational deflection shape was found to be the least sensitive to nontorque load-related effects. The fiber-optic strain sensors' successful operation during the complete test campaign has demonstrated a robust and accurate solution for fleet-wide enhanced gearbox remaining useful life estimation.

17 WIND ENERGY↗

Reduced ribonucleotide reductase RRM2 subunit expression increases DNA damage and mitochondria dysfunction in woody breast chickens

Abstract OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to investigate the roles of ribonucleotide reductase subunit M2 (RRM2; subunit of ribonucleotide reductase) in severe woody breast (WB) and normal breast muscles. ANIMALS 40 8-week-old male Ross-708 broiler chickens. METHODS Quantitative PCR was performed to determine gene expression, and commercial ELISA/assay kits were used to obtain several enzymatic activities. RESULTS Results showed that RRM2 activity (P= .0002) and RRM2 (P= .05) and hydroxymethylbilane synthase expression (impaired oxygen transport and metabolism,P= .002) were reduced in WB, while caveolin-3 (defected membrane integrity,P= .09), endoglin (increased fibrosis,P= .06), and secreted protein acidic rich in cysteine (metabolic dysregulation,P= .09) expression tended to increase in WB. WB tended to have increased levels of homocysteine (P= .06), aspartate aminotransferase mitochondria (P= .02), pyruvate kinase (P= .04), DNA damage (P= .06), creatine kinase (P= .05), and triglyceride (P= .002) but decreased ATPase activity (P= .01), all indicating mitochondria dysfunction and tissue damage. CLINICAL RELEVANCE In this study, differences in various enzyme activities and increased DNA damage suggest that RRM2-mediated mitochondrial abnormalities may play a role in WB myopathy.

Veterinary Sciences↗

Reconciling Chord Length Distributions and Area Distributions for Fields of Fractal Cumulus Clouds

While the total cover of broken cloud fields can in principle be obtained from one-dimensional measurements, the cloud size distribution normally differs between two-dimensional (area) and one-dimensional retrieval (chord length) methods. In this study, we use output from high-resolution Large Eddy Simulations to generate a transfer function between the two. We retrieve chord lengths and areas for many clouds, and plot the one as a function of the other, and vice versa. We find that the cloud area distribution conditional on the chord length behaves like a gamma distribution with well-behaved parameters, with a mean μ=1.1L and a shape parameter β=L−0.645. Using this information, we are able to generate a transfer function that can adjust the chord length distribution so that it comes much closer to the cloud area distribution. Our transfer function improves the error in predicting the mean cloud size, and is performs without strong biases for smaller sample sizes. However, we find that the method is still has difficulties in accurately predicting the frequency of occurrence of the largest cloud sizes.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Defining Detection Limits for Continuous Monitoring Systems for Methane Emissions at Oil and Gas Facilities

Networks of fixed-point continuous monitoring systems are becoming widely used in the detection and quantification of methane emissions from oil and gas facilities in the United States. Regulatory agencies and operators are developing performance metrics for these systems, such as minimum detection limits. Performance characteristics, such as minimum detection limits, would ideally be expressed in emission rate units; however, performance parameters such as detection limits for a continuous monitoring system (CMS) will depend on meteorological conditions, the characteristics of emissions at the site where the CMS is deployed, the positioning of CMS devices in relation to the emission sources, and the amount of time allowed for the CMS to detect an emission source. This means that certifying the performance of a CMS will require test protocols with well-defined emission rates and durations; initial protocols are now being used in field tests. Field testing results will vary, however, depending on meteorological conditions and the time allowed for detection. This work demonstrates methods for evaluating CMS performance characteristics using dispersion modeling and defines an approach for normalizing test results to standard meteorological conditions using dispersion modeling.

Chen, Qining (ORCID:0000000316908091)↗

Optical Classification of Lower Amazon Waters Based on In Situ Data and Sentinel-3 Ocean and Land Color Instrument Imagery

Optical water types (OWTs) were identified from an in situ dataset of concomitant biogeochemical and optical parameters acquired in the Amazon River and its tributaries, in the Lower Amazon region, at different hydrological conditions from 2014 to 2017. A seasonal bio-optical characterization was performed. The k-means classification was applied to the in situ normalized reflectance spectra (rn(λ)), allowing the identification of four OWTs. An optical index method was also applied to the rn(λ) defining the thresholds of the OWTs. Next, level-3 Sentinel-3 Ocean and Land Color Instrument images representative of the seasonal discharge conditions were classified using the identified in situ OWTs as reference. The differences between Amazon River and clearwater tributary OWTs were dependent on the hydrological dynamics of the Amazon River, also showing a strong seasonal variability. Each OWT was associated with a specific bio-optical and biogeochemical environment assessed from the corresponding absorption coefficient values of colored dissolved organic matter (aCDOM) and particulate matter (ap), chlorophyll-a and suspended particulate matter (SPM) concentrations, and aCDOM/ap ratio. The rising water season presented a unique OWT with high SPM concentration and high relative contribution of ap to total absorption compared to the other OWTs. This bio-optical characterization of Lower Amazon River waters represents a first step for developing remote sensing inversion models adjusted to the optical complexity of this region.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Response of aerospace structures to reentry aerodynamic excitation

A bibliography on aerodynamic excitation and associated structural response is presented. Very little applicable data under actual reentry conditions was found, but many wind tunnel tests and some in-flight data were. Aerodynamic excitation and proposed space shuttle configurations and reentry trajectories were studied. Attached turbulent boundary layer, separated turbulent boundary layer, and base pressure fluctuations are the region of aerodynamic excitation most applicable to exterior panels of space shuttle-type vehicles; prediction techniques are presented for these environments. Methods for predicting the response of panel structures to acoustic excitation were investigated. A normal mode approach was developed for the low frequency response and a statistical energy approach was utilized for the high frequency response. A finite element model was made of a thermal protective system test panel. Computer programs were used to determine the natural frequencies and mode shapes of the panel and to calculate the response of the panel to a reverberant acoustic field. Power spectral densities of response displacement and acceleration are presented.

Carlin, D., Jr.↗