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At least 1,099 records · Page 61

Microstructure, Thermal, and Mechanical Properties Relationships in U and UZr Alloys (Final Report)

Uranium-zirconium (U-Zr) alloys are candidate fuel systems for transmutation based reactors that can be used to burn long-lived minor actinides and fission products in fast spectrum reactors. Metallic fuels have also been gaining more recent attention for applications as accident tolerant fuels, as well as for use in small modular reactors. This research focused on a “science-based” approach to capture the connections between U and U-Zr alloys’ three-dimensional (3-D) microstructure, thermal properties, and mechanical properties through closely coordinated experiments and modeling efforts from the unirradiated to the irradiated fuels. Advanced characterization and modeling techniques were used to understand irradiation-induced microstructural evolution and its direct impact on the thermal and mechanical properties of U and U-Zr fuel. Closely coordinated experiments and modeling were performed to provide crucial data that does not currently exist. Overall, this research spanned multiple length and time scales within the models and experiments. The scope of the research encompassed the understanding of the irradiation effects in U and various U-Zr alloys with particular attention paid to three task areas: (1) microstructural evolution, (2) in-situ/ex-situ thermal and mechanical properties, and (3) multiscale modeling connections to microstructure, thermal, and mechanical properties. This research resulted in (1) the 3-D characterization of neutron irradiated U-Zr fuel in multiple phase regions to better understand fission gas swelling and constituent redistribution, (2) development of a microstructural model linking thermal and mechanical properties via in situ Raman and nanoindentation, (3) and mesoscale phase field modeling was coupled with the AEH method in the MOOSE framework was used to calculate the effective thermal conductivities of U-Zr fuels consisting of α-U and δ-UZr 2 heterogeneous microstructures.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

Development of a Framework for Data Integration, Assimilation, and Learning for Geological Carbon Sequestration (DIAL-GCS) (Final Report)

This project aimed to develop and demonstrate a Data Integration, Assimilation, and Learning framework for geologic carbon sequestration projects (DIAL-GCS). DIAL-GCS is an intelligence monitoring system (IMS) for automating GCS closed-loop management by leveraging recent developments in machine learning technologies, complex event processing (CEP), and reduced-order modeling. The safe and efficient operation of GCS repositories requires integrated monitoring to track the injected CO¬2 as it moves within a storage reservoir. GCS projects are data intensive, as a result of proliferation of digital instrumentation and smart-sensing technologies. GCS projects are also resource intensive, often requiring multidisciplinary teams performing different monitoring, verification, accounting (MVA) tasks throughout the lifecycle of a project to ensure secure containment of injected CO2. The success of GCS thus depends in a large part on our ability to access, assimilate, and analyze heterogeneous data and information sources in a timely manner. This project included a number of meaningful and necessary tasks to transform the human domain knowledge into machine-interpretable rules for automating knowledge extraction and discovery in GCS. The specific technical objectives of the proposed DIAL-GCS project were to develop an ontology-driven GCS data management module for storing, querying, and exchanging GCS data (both historic and live sensor data) from multiple sources and in heterogeneous formats. Incorporate a CEP engine for detecting abnormal situations by seamlessly combining expert knowledge, rule-based reasoning, and machine learning. Enable uncertainty quantification and predictive analytics using a combination of coupled-process modeling, AI/ML methods, and reduced-order modeling, and integrate and demonstrate the system’s capabilities with both real and simulated data. As far as we know, this is one of the first projects aimed to develop intelligent monitoring systems (IMS) targeting the GCS. Under this project, the team had developed a large number of web applications and scientific algorithms that contribute the main theme of intelligent monitoring. The team has published more than a dozen peer reviewed papers and disseminated the research results at multiple technical meetings.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗

Multi-fidelity modeling to predict the rheological properties of fiber suspensions

Unveiling the rheological properties of fiber suspensions is of paramount interest to many industrial applications like biofuel production. The 3D numerical simulations of the suspension of fibers are often computationally expensive and time-consuming. Machine learning methods such as neural networks can simplify the prediction of rheological behavior; however, they require a relatively large training data set. Multi -fidelity models, which combine high-fidelity data from numerical simulations and less expensive lower fidelity data from resources such as simplified physical equations, can lead to optimized predictions. Here, we focus on a neural network with two levels of fidelity, i.e., high and low fidelity networks. To produce high-fidelity data, we perform direct numerical simulations to model the fibers as one-dimensional inextensible slender bodies that obey the Euler- Bernoulli beam equation. The Navier-Stokes equations govern the suspended fluid, and an immersed boundary method is used to couple the fluid and solid motion. The low-fidelity data is produced by using constitutive equations. Noticeable improvements have been observed in the accuracy of predicting the rheological behavior when a multi-fidelity network is used compared to the single-fidelity network.

Boodaghidizaji, Miad↗

Synthesis of Zeolites LiX and LiAgX

In this work, we produced approximately 50 grams of zeolite LiX and 50 grams of zeolite LiAgX from commercially available zeolite X. The production of the two specialized zeolite phases was accomplished via a series of ion exchange steps followed by washing, drying, and calcining to produce the final materials. The ion exchange was confirmed by several methods including inductively-coupled plasma emission spectroscopy of exchange solution aliquots, gravimetric analysis, energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction. We synthesized approximately 115 grams of zeolite LiX in a large-scale production step after completing a proof-of-concept experiment demonstrating the methodology. The production of zeolite LiX from zeolite X yielded an ion exchange (Li + →Na + ) of approximately 82%. The production of zeolite LiAgX from the previously synthesized zeolite LiX was targeted to exchange approximately 20% of the Li + ions with Ag + ions. We first performed a proof-of-concept experiment demonstrating the reaction pathway and selectivity of the Ag + ion, and then performed a large-scale synthesis of zeolite LiAgX using approximately 50 grams of the zeolite LiX. Our final exchange percentage of silver into the zeolite LiX matrix was approximately 20.8%.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Enabling control co-design of the next generation of wind power plants

Abstract. Layout design and wake steering through wind plant control are important and complex components in the design and operation of modern wind power plants. They are currently optimized separately, but with more and more computational and experimental studies demonstrating the gains possible through wake steering, there is a growing need from industry and regulating bodies to combine the layout and control optimization in a co-design process. However, combining these two optimization problems is currently infeasible due to the excessive number of design variables and large solution space. In this article, we present a method that enables the coupled optimization of wind power plant layout and wake steering with no additional computational expense than a traditional layout optimization. We developed a geometric relationship between wind turbines to find an approximate optimal yaw angle, bypassing the need for either a nested or coupled wind plant control optimization. It also provides a significant and immediate improvement to wind power plant design by enabling the co-design of turbine layout and yaw control for wake steering. A small co-designed plant shown in this article produces 0.8 % more energy than its sequentially designed counterpart. This additional energy production comes with no additional infrastructure, turbine hardware, or control software; it is simply the outcome of optimizing the turbine layout and yaw control together, resulting in millions of dollars of additional revenue for the wind power plants of the future.

17 WIND ENERGY↗

Gravitational collapse and weak interactions.

Massive star behavior during final catastrophic evolution stages, stressing effect of electron type neutrino interactions, using numerical hydrodynamics coupled with energy transfer methods

HYDRODYNAMICS↗

Dynamic analysis for shuttle design verification

Two approaches that are used for determining the modes and frequencies of space shuttle structures are discussed. The first method, direct numerical analysis, involves finite element mathematical modeling of the space shuttle structure in order to use computer programs for dynamic structural analysis. The second method utilizes modal-coupling techniques of experimental verification made by vibrating only spacecraft components and by deducing modes and frequencies of the complete vehicle from results obtained in the component tests.

Fralich, R. W.↗

LED pumped Nd:YAG laser development program

The results of a development program for light emitting diode (LED) pumped Nd:YAG lasers are described. An index matching method to increase the coupling efficiency of the laser is described. A solid glass half-cylinder of 5.0 by 5.6 centimeters was used for index matching and also as a pumping cavity reflector. The laser rods were 1.5 by 56 millimeters with dielectric coatings on both end surfaces. The interfaces between the diode array, glass cylinder, and laser rod were filled with viscous fluid of refractive index n = 1.55. Experiments performed with both the glass cylinder and a gold coated stainless steel reflector of the same dimensions under the same operating conditions indicate that the index matching cylinder gave 159 to 200 percent improvement of coupling efficiency over the metal reflector at various operating temperatures.

Farmer, G. I.↗

Analytical techniques for identification and study of organic matter in returned lunar samples

The results of geochemical research are reviewed. Emphasis is placed on the contribution of mass spectrometric data to the solution of specific structural problems. Information on the mass spectrometric behavior of compounds of geochemical interest is reviewed and currently available techniques of particular importance to geochemistry, such as gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer coupling, modern sample introduction methods, and computer application in high resolution mass spectrometry, receive particular attention.

Burlingame, A. L.↗

Application of numerical optimization to the design of low speed airfoils

A practical procedure for the optimum design of low-speed airfoils is demonstrated. The procedure uses an optimization program based on the method of feasible directions coupled with an aerodynamic analysis program that uses a relaxation solution of the inviscid, full potential equation. Results are presented for airfoils designed to have small adverse pressure gradients, high maximum lift, and low pitching moment.

Hicks, R. M.↗

Assessment of analytical techniques for predicting solid propellant exhaust plumes and plume impingement environments

An analysis of experimental nozzle, exhaust plume, and exhaust plume impingement data is presented. The data were obtained for subscale solid propellant motors with propellant Al loadings of 2, 10 and 15% exhausting to simulated altitudes of 50,000, 100,000 and 112,000 ft. Analytical predictions were made using a fully coupled two-phase method of characteristics numerical solution and a technique for defining thermal and pressure environments experienced by bodies immersed in two-phase exhaust plumes.

Tevepaugh, J. A.↗

Measurements of Sc I gf-values

Absolute gf-values were obtained for 98 transitions in neutral scandium by the hook method using an inductively coupled heat-pipe oven. Of the 98 lines, 51 are classified, 33 are unclassified lines that occur in pairs with the lower energy level identified, and 14 are unclassified but are believed to originate from one of the two lower levels of the ground state. The results are compared with semiempirical and other measurement results in the literature.

Parkinson, W. H.↗

Initial values for the integration scheme to compute the eigenvalues for propagation in ducts

A scheme for the calculation of eigenvalues in the problem of acoustic propagation in a two-dimensional duct is described. The computation method involves changing the coupled transcendental nonlinear algebraic equations into an initial value problem involving a nonlinear ordinary differential equation. The simplest approach is to use as initial values the hardwall eigenvalues and to integrate away from these values as the admittance varies from zero to its actual value with a linear variation. The approach leads to a powerful root finding routine capable of computing the transverse and axial wave numbers for two-dimensional ducts for any frequency, lining, admittance and Mach number without requiring initial guesses or starting points.

Eversman, W.↗

A scheme for computing surface layer turbulent fluxes from mean flow surface observations

A physical model and computational scheme are developed for generating turbulent surface stress, sensible heat flux and humidity flux from mean velocity, temperature and humidity at some fixed height in the atmospheric surface layer, where conditions at this reference level are presumed known from observations or the evolving state of a numerical atmospheric circulation model. The method is based on coupling the Monin-Obukov surface layer similarity profiles which include buoyant stability effects on mean velocity, temperature and humidity to a force-restore formulation for the evolution of surface soil temperature to yield the local values of shear stress, heat flux and surface temperature. A self-contained formulation is presented including parameterizations for solar and infrared radiant fluxes at the surface. Additional parameters needed to implement the scheme are the thermal heat capacity of the soil per unit surface area, surface aerodynamic roughness, latitude, solar declination, surface albedo, surface emissivity and atmospheric transmissivity to solar radiation.

Hoffert, M. I.↗

Bubble-domain detector

Bubble domain detector employs transformer coupling for data retrieval. Method makes multidetection practical by time multiplexing. Multiplexer matrices can be scaled in 4 by 4, 4 by 8, 4 by 16, or larger combinations without diode steering.

Stermer, R. L.↗

Computational optimization and wind tunnel test of transonic wing designs

A practical procedure for the optimum design of transonic wings is demonstrated. The procedure uses an optimization program based on the method of feasible directions coupled with an aerodynamic analysis program which solves the three-dimensional potential equation for subsonic through transonic flow. Two new wings for the A-7 aircraft were designed by using the optimization procedure to achieve specified surface pressure distributions. The new wings, along with the existing A-7 wing, were tested in the Ames 11-foot transonic wind tunnel. The experimental data show that all of the performance goals were met.

Haney, H. P.↗