Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “Computerized simulation”

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.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 1,387 records · Page 77

Predicting the stability of surface phases of molybdenum selenides

The selenization of molybdenum might become an important step in the production of nanostructures based on the layered compound MoSe{sub 2}. It is already technologically relevant for the production of thin film chalcopyrite solar cells. However, the control of the process is still very poor, due to the lack of basic knowledge of the surface thermodynamics of the system. Here, we present a theoretical study on the stability of surface adlayers of Se on the Mo(110) surface, predicting surface patterns and their stability range in terms of temperature and selenium partial pressure. Our results, based on density functional theory, show that the attainable Se coverages range from 1/4 to 3/4 of a monolayer for systems in equilibrium with a gas formed of Se molecules. We provide simulated scanning tunneling microscopy images to help the experimental characterization of adsorbed surface patterns.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Quantum-dot based nanothermometry in optical plasmonic recording media

We report on the direct experimental determination of the temperature increment caused by laser irradiation in a optical recording media constituted by a polymeric film in which gold nanorods have been incorporated. The incorporation of CdSe quantum dots in the recording media allowed for single beam thermal reading of the on-focus temperature from a simple analysis of the two-photon excited fluorescence of quantum dots. Experimental results have been compared with numerical simulations revealing an excellent agreement and opening a promising avenue for further understanding and optimization of optical writing processes and media.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

An EBIS system for rare isotope science project in Korea

An EBIS system has been designed to be used as a charge breeder for the post accelerator of an ISOL system. An electron gun, which is designed to produce a maximum current of 3 A at the beam energy of 20 kV, will be acquired from the Budker Institute, Novosibirsk. Electron beam optics calculations of the EBIS system as well as of the gun assembly have been performed using PBGUNS and TRAK. A superconducting solenoid with a maximum field of 6 T is to be used to compress the electron beam. A test stand, which includes the gun assembly and a high-power electron beam collector, is being designed and will be ready for the gun test in the end of this year. Charge breeding simulation using EBIS0D and CBSIM has been performed for a few key isotopes.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

Hybrid molecular-continuum simulations using smoothed dissipative particle dynamics

We present a new multiscale simulation methodology for coupling a region with atomistic detail simulated via molecular dynamics (MD) to a numerical solution of the fluctuating Navier-Stokes equations obtained from smoothed dissipative particle dynamics (SDPD). In this approach, chemical potential gradients emerge due to differences in resolution within the total system and are reduced by introducing a pairwise thermodynamic force inside the buffer region between the two domains where particles change from MD to SDPD types. When combined with a multi-resolution SDPD approach, such as the one proposed by Kulkarni et al. [J. Chem. Phys. 138, 234105 (2013)], this method makes it possible to systematically couple atomistic models to arbitrarily coarse continuum domains modeled as SDPD fluids with varying resolution. We test this technique by showing that it correctly reproduces thermodynamic properties across the entire simulation domain for a simple Lennard-Jones fluid. Furthermore, we demonstrate that this approach is also suitable for non-equilibrium problems by applying it to simulations of the start up of shear flow. The robustness of the method is illustrated with two different flow scenarios in which shear forces act in directions parallel and perpendicular to the interface separating the continuum and atomistic domains. In both cases, we obtain the correct transient velocity profile. We also perform a triple-scale shear flow simulation where we include two SDPD regions with different resolutions in addition to a MD domain, illustrating the feasibility of a three-scale coupling.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Application of fuzzy system theory in addressing the presence of uncertainties

In this paper, the combinations of fuzzy system theory with the finite element methods are present and discuss to deal with the uncertainties. The present of uncertainties is needed to avoid for prevent the failure of the material in engineering. There are three types of uncertainties, which are stochastic, epistemic and error uncertainties. In this paper, the epistemic uncertainties have been considered. For the epistemic uncertainty, it exists as a result of incomplete information and lack of knowledge or data. Fuzzy system theory is a non-probabilistic method, and this method is most appropriate to interpret the uncertainty compared to statistical approach when the deal with the lack of data. Fuzzy system theory contains a number of processes started from converting the crisp input to fuzzy input through fuzzification process and followed by the main process known as mapping process. The term mapping here means that the logical relationship between two or more entities. In this study, the fuzzy inputs are numerically integrated based on extension principle method. In the final stage, the defuzzification process is implemented. Defuzzification is an important process to allow the conversion of the fuzzy output to crisp outputs. Several illustrative examples are given and from the simulation, the result showed that propose the method produces more conservative results comparing with the conventional finite element method.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Reconstruction of apparent orthotropic conductivity tensor image using magnetic resonance electrical impedance tomography

Magnetic resonance electrical impedance tomography visualizes current density and/or conductivity distributions inside an electrically conductive object. Injecting currents into the imaging object along at least two different directions, induced magnetic flux density data can be measured using a magnetic resonance imaging scanner. Without rotating the object inside the scanner, we can measure only one component of the magnetic flux density denoted as B{sub z}. Since the biological tissues such as skeletal muscle and brain white matter show strong anisotropic properties, the reconstruction of anisotropic conductivity tensor is indispensable for the accurate observations in the biological systems. In this paper, we propose a direct method to reconstruct an axial apparent orthotropic conductivity tensor by using multiple B{sub z} data subject to multiple injection currents. To investigate the anisotropic conductivity properties, we first recover the internal current density from the measured B{sub z} data. From the recovered internal current density and the curl-free condition of the electric field, we derive an over-determined matrix system for determining the internal absolute orthotropic conductivity tensor. The over-determined matrix system is designed to use a combination of two loops around each pixel. Numerical simulations and phantom experimental results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm stably determines the orthotropic conductivity tensor.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Fusion power production in International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor baseline H-mode scenarios

Self-consistent simulations of 15 MA ITER H-mode DT scenarios, from ramp-up through flat-top, are carried out. Electron and ion temperatures, toroidal angular frequency, and currents are evolved, in simulations carried out using the predictive TRANSPort and integrated modeling code starting with initial profiles and equilibria obtained from tokamak simulation code studies. Studies are carried out examining the dependence and sensitivity of fusion power production on electron density, argon impurity concentration, choice of radio frequency heating, pedestal temperature without and with E × B flow shear effects included, and the degree of plasma rotation. The goal of these whole-device ITER simulations is to identify dependencies that might impact ITER fusion performance.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Preliminary design and optimization of a G-band extended interaction oscillator based on a pseudospark-sourced electron beam

The design and simulation of a G-band extended interaction oscillator (EIO) driven by a pseudospark-sourced electron beam is presented. The characteristic of the EIO and the pseudospark-based electron beam were studied to enhance the performance of the newly proposed device. The beam-wave interaction of the EIO can be optimized by choosing a suitable pseudospark discharging voltage and by widening the operating voltage region of the EIO circuit. Simulation results show that a peak power of over 240 W can be achieved at G-band using a pseudospark discharge voltage of 41 kV.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

FLUKA: Predictive power for cosmogenic backgrounds

The next generation of experiments searching for rare physics events with increased sensitivity will require precise predictions of cosmogenic backgrounds. Recent high quality deep underground measurements for cosmogenic neutrons in large liquid scintillator targets were used to study the FLUKA simulation package for this purpose. The results and conclusions drawn from a detailed benchmark comparison with data from the Borexino experiment were reported recently. In general, good agreement between data and simulation results were found with some identified discrepancies. Improved physics models already implemented in the current version of the FLUKA code, which will be publicly available with the upcoming code release, address the more important identified issues. A careful evaluation of the improved predictions is ongoing. However, the agreement between preliminary FLUKA simulation results and the Borexino experimental data are excellent. The preliminary findings will be discussed.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Propagation of acoustic shock waves between parallel rigid boundaries and into shadow zones

The study of acoustic shock propagation in complex environments is of great interest for urban acoustics, but also for source localization, an underlying problematic in military applications. To give a better understanding of the phenomenon taking place during the propagation of acoustic shocks, laboratory-scale experiments and numerical simulations were performed to study the propagation of weak shock waves between parallel rigid boundaries, and into shadow zones created by corners. In particular, this work focuses on the study of the local interactions taking place between incident, reflected, and diffracted waves according to the geometry in both regular or irregular – also called Von Neumann – regimes of reflection. In this latter case, an irregular reflection can lead to the formation of a Mach stem that can modify the spatial distribution of the acoustic pressure. Short duration acoustic shock waves were produced by a 20 kilovolts electric spark source and a schlieren optical method was used to visualize the incident shockfront and the reflection/diffraction patterns. Experimental results are compared to numerical simulations based on the high-order finite difference solution of the two dimensional Navier-Stokes equations.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Magnetic vortex in epitaxially-grown Co{sub 2}(Fe,Mn)Si alloy

We report magnetic vortex formation in epitaxially grown Co{sub 2}Fe{sub 0.4}Mn{sub 0.6}Si (CFMS) Heusler alloy discs that was confirmed using photoemission electron microscopy and the magneto-optical Kerr effect. The phase diagram of magnetic domain structures as functions of the disc thickness (t) and diameter (D) indicates that the magnetic vortex is stable in wide ranges of t and D even for the epitaxial CFMS. The annihilation field of vortex core depended not only on the disc aspect ratio but also on t. Numerical simulation suggests that this t dependence results from extrinsic pinning of a vortex core due to the epitaxial growth.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Nonlinear coherent structures of Alfvén wave in a collisional plasma

The Alfvén wave dynamics is investigated in the framework of two-fluid approach in a compressible collisional magnetized plasma. In the finite amplitude limit, the dynamics of the nonlinear Alfvén wave is found to be governed by a modified Korteweg-de Vries Burgers equation (mKdVB). In this mKdVB equation, the electron inertia is found to act as a source of dispersion, and the electron-ion collision serves as a dissipation. The collisional dissipation is eventually responsible for the Burgers term in mKdVB equation. In the long wavelength limit, this weakly nonlinear Alfvén wave is shown to be governed by a damped nonlinear Schrödinger equation. Furthermore, these nonlinear equations are analyzed by means of analytical calculation and numerical simulation to elucidate the various aspects of the phase-space dynamics of the nonlinear wave. Results reveal that nonlinear Alfvén wave exhibits the dissipation mediated shock, envelope, and breather like structures. Numerical simulations also predict the formation of dissipative Alfvénic rogue wave, giant breathers, and rogue wave holes. These results are discussed in the context of the space plasma.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Cross modulation instability in normal-dispersion fibre lasers and amplifiers

This paper examines instability resulting from cross phase modulation interaction between signal and pump waves in normal-dispersion fibre lasers and amplifiers. From analysis of the dispersion relation for the wave vector of small harmonic perturbations, we derive dynamic spectral characteristics of the modulation gain coefficient. Its dependence on the group velocity difference between signal and pump waves is investigated. Analytical results are compared to numerical simulation data. We discuss how the general relationships obtained in this study can be used in practical applications. (paper)

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

A method for measuring coupling coefficients between cores and corrections to mode propagation constants in multicore fibres

A new experimental method is proposed for reconstructing supermode profiles of a multicore fibre (MCF), small corrections to the propagation constants of its cores and coupling coefficients between the cores without phase-sensitive measurements. The method is based on intensity measurements in the cores at the output of several MCF segments differing in length, using several configurations of controlled light launch into the cores at the fibre input (in the simplest case, by sequentially exciting each core), followed by numerical treatment using an iterative algorithm. The use of the method is demonstrated experimentally for a seven-core fibre. Using numerical simulation, we assess the stability of the method and the effect of the number of measurements on the accuracy of fibre parameter reconstruction. (paper)

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

TURBULENCE IN THE OUTER REGIONS OF PROTOPLANETARY DISKS. I. WEAK ACCRETION WITH NO VERTICAL MAGNETIC FLUX

We use local numerical simulations to investigate the strength and nature of magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) turbulence in the outer regions of protoplanetary disks, where ambipolar diffusion is the dominant non-ideal MHD effect. The simulations include vertical stratification and assume zero net vertical magnetic flux. We employ a super time-stepping technique to ameliorate the Courant restriction on the diffusive time step. We find that in idealized stratified simulations, with a spatially constant ambipolar Elsasser number Am, turbulence driven by the magnetorotational instability (MRI) behaves in a similar manner as in prior unstratified calculations. Turbulence dies away for Am {<=} 1, and becomes progressively more vigorous as ambipolar diffusion is decreased. Near-ideal MHD behavior is recovered for Am {>=} 10{sup 3}. In the intermediate regime (10 {<=} Am {<=} 10{sup 3}) ambipolar diffusion leads to substantial increases in both the period of the MRI dynamo cycle and the characteristic scales of magnetic field structures. To quantify the impact of ambipolar physics on disk accretion, we run simulations at 30 AU and 100 AU that include a vertical Am profile based upon far-ultraviolet (FUV) ionized disk models. These models develop a vertically layered structure analogous to the Ohmic dead zone that is present at smaller radii. We find that, although the levels of surface turbulence can be strong (and consistent with constraints on turbulent line widths at these radii), the inferred accretion rates are at least an order of magnitude smaller than those observed in T Tauri stars. This discrepancy is very likely due to the assumption of zero vertical magnetic field in our simulations and suggests that vertical magnetic fields are essential for MRI-driven accretion in the outer regions of protoplanetary disks.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

DISK ASSEMBLY AND THE M {sub BH}-{sigma} {sub e} RELATION OF SUPERMASSIVE BLACK HOLES

Recent Hubble Space Telescope observations have revealed that a majority of active galactic nuclei (AGNs) at z {approx} 1-3 are resident in isolated disk galaxies, contrary to the usual expectation that AGNs are triggered by mergers. Here we develop a new test of the cosmic evolution of supermassive black holes (SMBHs) in disk galaxies by considering the local population of SMBHs. We show that substantial SMBH growth in spiral galaxies is required as disks assemble. SMBHs exhibit a tight relation between their mass and the velocity dispersion of the spheroid within which they reside, the M {sub .}-{sigma} {sub e} relation. In disk galaxies the bulge is the spheroid of interest. We explore the evolution of the M {sub .}-{sigma} {sub e} relation when bulges form together with SMBHs on the M {sub .}-{sigma} {sub e} relation and then slowly re-form a disk around them. The formation of the disk compresses the bulge, raising its {sigma} {sub e}. We present evidence for such compression in the form of larger velocity dispersion of classical bulges compared with elliptical galaxies at the same mass. This compression leads to an offset in the M {sub .}-{sigma} {sub e} relation if it is not accompanied by an increased M {sub .}. We quantify the expected offset based on photometric data and show that, on average, SMBHs must grow by {approx}50%-65% just to remain on the M {sub .}-{sigma} {sub e} relation. We find no significant offset in the M {sub .}-{sigma} {sub e} relations of classical bulges and of ellipticals, implying that SMBHs have been growing along with disks. Our simulations demonstrate that SMBH growth is necessary for the local population of disk galaxies to have remained on the M {sub .}-{sigma} {sub e} relation.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗