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At least 1,171 records · Page 65
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2021

Dynamic Probabilistic Risk Assessment Based Response Surface Approach for FLEX and Accident Tolerant Fuels for Medium Break LOCA Spectrum

After the Fukushima Daiichi Accident, the safety features such as accident tolerant fuel (ATF) and diverse and flexible coping strategies (FLEX) for existing nuclear fleets are being investigated by the US Department of Energy under the Light Water Reactor Sustainability Program. This research is being conducted to quantify the risk-benefit of these safety features. Dynamic probabilistic risk assessment (DPRA)-based response-surface approach has been presented to quantify the FLEX and ATF benefits by estimating the risk associated with each option. ATFs with multilayered silicon carbide (SiC), iron-chromium-aluminum, and chromium-coated zirconium cladding were considered in this study. While these ATF candidates perform better than the current zirconium cladding (Zr), they may introduce additional failure modes in some operating conditions. The fuel failure analysis modules (FAMs) were developed to investigate ATF performance. The dynamic risk assessments were performed using RAVEN, a DPRA tool, coupled with RELAP5 and FAMs. A cumulative distribution function-based index provided a mean of comparing the benefits of safety enhancements. For medium break loss of coolant accidents, FLEX operational timing window for each fuel type was estimated. Among these ATF candidates, SiC-type ATF was the most beneficial candidate for an increased safety margin than Zr-based fuel and was found to complement FLEX strategies in terms of risk and coping time.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗
NASA NTRS1973

Finite aperture waveguide laser resonators

A general theory of finite aperture waveguide laser resonators is developed which represents the external reflectors by matrices which couple linearly polarized waveguide modes having the same azimuthal symmetry. The theory allows the determination of resonator efficiency, resonator frequencies, and laser near and far field patterns. Computations of the coupling loss for the fundamental waveguide mode as a function of mirror curvature, separation, and aperture are in agreement with recent infinite aperture calculations in the limit of large apertures and indicate three low-loss configurations: large radius of curvature mirrors close to the guide; large radius of curvature mirrors centered at the guide entrance; and generally smaller curvature mirrors separated by half their curvature from the guide entrance. Design guidelines for construction of high efficiency CO2, CO and He-Ne waveguide laser resonators are summarized in tabular form.

Degnan, J. J.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Finite-aperture waveguide-laser resonators.

A general theory of finite-aperture waveguide-laser resonators is developed which represents the external reflectors by matrices that couple linearly polarized waveguide modes having the same azimuthal symmetry. The theory allows the determination of resonator efficiency, resonator frequencies, and laser near- and far-field patterns. Computations of the coupling loss for the fundamental waveguide mode as a function of mirror curvature, separation, and aperture are in good agreement with recent infinite-aperture calculations in the limit of large apertures and indicate three low-loss configurations: (1) large radius of curvature mirrors close to the guide; (2) large radius of curvature mirrors centered at the guide entrance; and (3) generally smaller curvature mirrors separated by half their curvature from the guide entrance.

Degnan, J. J.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Rotational-vibrational coupling in the theory of electron-molecule scattering

The adiabatic-nuclei approximation of vibrational-rotational excitation of homonuclear diatomic molecules can be simply augmented to describe the vibrational-rotational coupling by including the dependence of the vibrational wave function on j. Appropriate formulas are given, and the theory, is applied to e-H2 excitation, whereby it is shown that deviations from the simple Born-Oppenheimer approximation measured by Wong and Schultz can be explained. More important, it can be seen that the inclusion of the j-dependent centrifugal term is essential for transitions involving high-rotational quantum numbers.

Temkin, A.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Solar electric propulsion thruster interactions with solar arrays

The effect of interactions of spacecraft-generated and naturally occurring plasmas with high voltage solar array components on an advanced solar electric propulsion system proposed for the Halley's Comet rendezvous mission was investigated. The spacecraft-generated plasma consists of mercury ions and neutralizing electrons resulting from the operation of ion thrusters (the charge-exchange plasma) and associated hollow cathode neutralizers. Quantitative results are given for the parasitic currents and power coupled into solar arrays with voltage fixed as a function of position on the array.

Parks, D. E.↗
NASA NTRS1979

An empirical relationship for homogenization in single-phase binary alloy systems

A semiempirical formula is developed for describing the extent of interaction between constituents in single-phase binary alloy systems with planar, cylindrical, or spherical interfaces. The formula contains two parameters that are functions of mean concentration and interface geometry of the couple. The empirical solution is simple, easy to use, and does not involve sequential calculations, thereby allowing quick estimation of the extent of interactions without lengthy calculations. Results obtained with this formula are in good agreement with those from a finite-difference analysis.

Unnam, J.↗
NASA NTRS1979

The adiabatic semiclassical perturbation theory for vibrationally inelastic scattering. I - Collinear calculations. II - Three-dimensional treatment

A semiclassical approximation to treat vibrationally inelastic scattering is developed. The vibrational basis set used is adiabatic with respect to a reference potential which is chosen to be as close as possible to the true potential and also gives easily obtainable solutions to the vibrational wave equation. The radial wave functions are obtained using the WKB approximation, and the coupled Schroedinger equations are solved by a first-order perturbation method to yield a phase shift matrix which is exponentiated to give the full scattering matrix. Results were obtained for all the cases computed by Secrest and Johnson and by Clark and Dickinson, and the agreement is better than 10% for half of the cross-sections and rarely off by more than a factor of 2.

Cross, R. J., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Gating effects in Halobacterium halobium membrane transport

The transport of Na(+) via an H(+)/Na(+) antiporter and of aspartate and serine via Na(+)/amino acid symport systems was studied in Halobacterium halobium cell envelope vesicles. Gradients for H(+) were produced by illuminating the bacteriorhodopsin-containing vesicles at different light intensities, and the rate and extent of Na(+) transport were followed as functions of the electrochemical potential difference for protons. The coupling of Na(+) and H(+) gradients suggested a translocation stoichiometry of 2H(+)/Na(+) for the antiporter. The rate of Na(+) transport increases steeply above a critical transmembrane electrochemical proton gradient, and since the electrical and the chemical potentials of H(+) at this threshold point vary with the experimental conditions, while the sum of these potentials is constant, it was concluded that the gating of the Na(+) transport is caused by the total electrochemical gradient.

Lanyi, J. K.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Multigrid simulation of asymptotic curved-duct flows using a semi-implicit numerical technique

Asymptotic flows inside curved ducts of rectangular as well as polar cross section are analyzed using the Navier-Stokes equations in terms of the axial velocity and vorticity and the cross-flow stream function. Numerical solutions of the three second-order coupled elliptic partial differential equations governing this flow are obtained efficiently using the coupled alternating-direction implicit (ADI) method as well as the multigrid strongly-implicit (SI) scheme. For the flow configuration studied, the ADI method is found to be more sensitive to the time steps used than is the SI scheme. Use of the multigrid-coupled-strongly-implicit (MG-SI) scheme makes it possible to efficiently obtain fine-grid solutions for configurations having strong secondary flow. It is shown that, for this asymptotic curved-duct flow, the similarity parameter of significance is the Dean's number K rather than the Reynolds number Re. Results are obtained for curved ducts with square cross sections for K up to 900, which here corresponds to Re = 9,000 for this internal flow configuration.

Ghia, K. N.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Study of asymptotic incompressible flow in curved ducts using a multi-grid technique

Asymptotic flows inside curved ducts of rectangular as well as polar cross sections have been analyzed using the Navier-Stokes equations in terms of the axial velocity and vorticity and the cross-flow stream function. Numerical solutions of the three second-order coupled elliptic partial differential equations governing this flow have been obtained using the multi-grid-SI scheme, to determine fine-grid results for configurations with strong secondary flow.

Ghia, K. N.↗
NASA NTRS1988

A computer-aided approach to nonlinear control systhesis

The major objective of this project is to develop a computer-aided approach to nonlinear stability analysis and nonlinear control system design. This goal is to be obtained by refining the describing function method as a synthesis tool for nonlinear control design. The interim report outlines the approach by this study to meet these goals including an introduction to the INteractive Controls Analysis (INCA) program which was instrumental in meeting these study objectives. A single-input describing function (SIDF) design methodology was developed in this study; coupled with the software constructed in this study, the results of this project provide a comprehensive tool for design and integration of nonlinear control systems.

Wie, Bong↗
NASA NTRS1988

A new approach to resonance line scattering in planetary atmospheres

The invariant imbedding technique is applied to the problem of resonance line scattering with frequency redistribution. By applying the principles of invariance to the resonance line scattering problem a set of non-linear, integrodifferential equations for the scattering and transmission functions are derived. Thus, an alternate approach to the resonance line scattering problem is presented. Rather than solving for the specific intensity directly the invariant imbedding equations may be solved for the scattering and transmission functions from which the specific intensity may be calculated. The technique is very general and in principle, can accommodate scattering in inhomogeneous atmospheres with arbitrary frequency redistribution and scattering phase functions. Solutions to the invariant imbedding equations in some simple cases are presented. If the scattering is isotropic and completely noncoherent and the atmosphere may be modeled as homogeneous, the scattering and transmission functions may be expressed in terms of generalized H, X and Y functions. This technique is extended to the problems of coupled spectral lines and scattering of radiation from internal sources.

Yelle, Roger V.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Measuring Electrical Resistivity Of Compacted Powder

Slightly modified micrometer used in conjunction with special cup to measure electrical resistance of specimen of powder as function of packing fraction. Powder pressed between anvils of micrometer, which make electrical contact with specimen. Device used in manufacturing batteries to determine effective electrical conductivities of powders loaded into plastic sheets to make battery substrates. Coupled with good mathematical description of expected conductivity of particulate composite as function of packing density. Also serves as tool for evaluating conductivity of dispersed phase, as well as evaluating electrical resistances of interparticle contacts.

Shlichta, Paul J.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Analysis of laminated composite shells under internal pressure

A closed form solution is presented that predicts the response of filament wound composite shells subjected to internal pressure. The material of the shell is assumed to be general cylindrically anisotropic. Based on the theory of cylindrical anisotropic elasticity coupled differential equations are developed using Lekhnitskii's stress function approach. Two composite systems, graphite/epoxy and glass/epoxy, are selected to demonstrate the influence of degree of material anisotropy and fiber orientations on the axial and induced twisting deformation. Detailed stress distributions of (45) off-axis unidirectional and (45/-45)s symmetric angle-ply fiber-reinforced laminated shells are shown to illustrate the effect of radius-to-thickness ratio and stacking sequence.

Yuan, F. G.↗
NASA NTRS1995

Electromagnetic Scattering From a Rectangular Cavity Recessed in a 3-D Conducting Surface

The problem of electromagnetic (EM) scattering from an aperture backed by a rectangular cavity recessed in a three-dimensional conducting body is analyzed using the coupled field integral equation approach. Using the free-space Green's function, EM fields scattered outside the cavity are determined in terms of (1) an equivalent electric surface current density flowing on the three-dimensional conducting surface of the object including the cavity aperture and (2) an equivalent magnetic surface current density flowing over the aperture only. The EM fields inside the cavity are determined using the waveguide modal expansion functions. Making the total tangential electric and magnetic fields across the aperture continuous and subjecting the total tangential electric field on the outer conducting three-dimensional surface of the object to zero, a set of coupled integral equations is obtained. The equivalent electric and magnetic surface currents are then obtained by solving the coupled integral equation using the Method of Moments. The numerical results on scattering from rectangular cavities embedded in various three-dimensional objects are compared with the results obtained by other numerical techniques.

Deshpande, M. D.↗
NASA NTRS1997

Studies of Intercellular Communication and Intracellular Metabolic Responses by Bone Cells to Simulated Weightlessness

Spaceflight affects the weight bearing skeletal tissues by reducing the rate of new bone formation. This effect on the long bones of flown rats has been quantitated but the effect at the cellular level and the mechanism(s) involved are not understood. We are applying electron microscopy, coupled with histochemistry and immunocytochemistry to determine the cellular functions most affected by spaceflight. The emphasis for study of these samples from SLS-1, a 9-day mission, is on the histochemical and structural changes of the endosteal and perivascular osteoblasts found in diaphyseal bone of femur and tibia. Work is still in progress but some findings are described: (1) An expected decrease in alkaline phosphatase activity in osteoblasts from flight animals, but an increase in enzyme activity in the stromal stem cells adjacent to the osteoblast. (2) An increase in osteoclastic TRAP activity in the trabecular bone region in response to spaceflight. (3) A large increase in procollagen containing secretory granules in osteoblasts in the recovery group, and a significant decrease in granule numbers in the flight group.

Doty, Stephen B.↗
NASA NTRS1999

Accurate In Bond Energies

InXn atomization energies are computed for n = 1-3 and X = H, Cl, and CH3. The geometries and frequencies are determined using density functional theory. The atomization energies are computed at the coupled cluster level of theory. The complete basis set limit is obtained by extrapolation. The scalar relativistic effect is computed using the Douglas-Kroll approach. While the heats of formation for InH, InCl and InCl3 are in good agreement with experiment, the current results show that the experimental value for In(CH3)3 must be wrong.

Bauschlicher, Charles W., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS2004

Multiobjective Aerodynamic Shape Optimization Using Pareto Differential Evolution and Generalized Response Surface Metamodels

Differential Evolution (DE) is a simple, fast, and robust evolutionary algorithm that has proven effective in determining the global optimum for several difficult single-objective optimization problems. The DE algorithm has been recently extended to multiobjective optimization problem by using a Pareto-based approach. In this paper, a Pareto DE algorithm is applied to multiobjective aerodynamic shape optimization problems that are characterized by computationally expensive objective function evaluations. To improve computational expensive the algorithm is coupled with generalized response surface meta-models based on artificial neural networks. Results are presented for some test optimization problems from the literature to demonstrate the capabilities of the method.

Madavan, Nateri K.↗