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At least 1,423 records · Page 79

Active region flows

A wide range of observations has shown that active region phenomena in the photospheric, chromospheric and coronal temperature regimes are dynamical in nature. At the photosphere, recent observations of full line profiles place an upper limit of about + or - 20/msec on any downflows at supergranule cell edges. Observations of the full Stokes 5 profiles in the network show no evidence for downflows in magnetic flux tubes. In the area of chromospheric dynamics, several models were put forward recently to reproduce the observed behavior of spicules. However, it is pointed out that these adiabatic models do not include the powerful radiative dissipation which tend to damp out the large amplitude disturbances that produce the spicular acceleration in the models. In the corona, loop flows along field lines clearly transport mass and energy at rates important for the dynamics of these structures. However, advances in understanding the heating and mass balance of the loop structures seem to require new kinds of observations. Some results are presented using a remote sensing diagnostic of the intensity and orientation of macroscopic plasma electric fields predicted by models of reconnective heating and also wave heating.

Foukal, Peter↗

Method and system for training dynamic nonlinear adaptive filters which have embedded memory

Described herein is a method and system for training nonlinear adaptive filters (or neural networks) which have embedded memory. Such memory can arise in a multi-layer finite impulse response (FIR) architecture, or an infinite impulse response (IIR) architecture. We focus on filter architectures with separate linear dynamic components and static nonlinear components. Such filters can be structured so as to restrict their degrees of computational freedom based on a priori knowledge about the dynamic operation to be emulated. The method is detailed for an FIR architecture which consists of linear FIR filters together with nonlinear generalized single layer subnets. For the IIR case, we extend the methodology to a general nonlinear architecture which uses feedback. For these dynamic architectures, we describe how one can apply optimization techniques which make updates closer to the Newton direction than those of a steepest descent method, such as backpropagation. We detail a novel adaptive modified Gauss-Newton optimization technique, which uses an adaptive learning rate to determine both the magnitude and direction of update steps. For a wide range of adaptive filtering applications, the new training algorithm converges faster and to a smaller value of cost than both steepest-descent methods such as backpropagation-through-time, and standard quasi-Newton methods. We apply the algorithm to modeling the inverse of a nonlinear dynamic tracking system 5, as well as a nonlinear amplifier 6.

Rabinowitz, Matthew↗

Open Data Integration (ODIN): A Concurrent, Distributed Message-Based Architecture and Framework for Disaster Response

The Runtime for Airspace Concept Evaluation (RACE) is an open-source software architecture and framework to build configurable, highly concurrent and distributed message-based systems that offer scalable, low-latency performance on commodity hardware. RACE was used in commercial aviation applications to rapidly build systems that span several machines (including synchronized displays), interface existing hardware simulators and other live data feeds, and incorporate sophisticated visualization components such as NASA WorldWind. These RACE applications validated elements of the FAA’s System Wide Information Management (SWIM) Program, handling up to 1000 messages/sec from diverse sources (SFDPS, TFM-DATA, TAIS, ASDE-X, ITWS and local ADS) for 4,500 simultaneous flights tracked in the next-generation air transportation system’s digital backbone. We have since generalized RACE to support Open Data Integration (ODIN) applications outside aviation. Systems built with RACE/ODIN can be deployed in the field, on commodity hardware, and operate with limited or intermittent connectivity to the outside world. Our primary use case is a web-server with local/persistent data storage that runs within and only serves the stakeholder network (e.g. an incident command post). We are tailoring the RACE/ODIN system to support wildland fire management for the upcoming NASA Wildland Fire Safety Demonstration Series. RACE-ODIN is under consideration for application in the Scalable Traffic Management for Emergency Response Operations project, or STEReO, which aims to create a system that can be deployed during emergencies, to coordinate multiple elements of disaster response. Such data sources predominantly come from existing services on the internet (e.g. weather and satellite data, imported from so called "edge servers") but can also include dynamic (real-time) data from computer simulations and within the stakeholder network (such as aircraft and personnel tracking information). We will present the architecture and ODIN system demonstration incorporating local data from instrumented power-line towers, interpolated weather data and geospatial data from space-based platforms.

Joseph C Coughlan↗

Open Data Integration (ODIN): A Concurrent, Distributed Message-Based Architecture and Framework for Disaster Response

The Runtime for Airspace Concept Evaluation (RACE) is an open-source software architecture and framework to build configurable, highly concurrent and distributed message-based systems that offer scalable, low-latency performance on commodity hardware. RACE was used in commercial aviation applications to rapidly build systems that span several machines (including synchronized displays), interface existing hardware simulators and other live data feeds, and incorporate sophisticated visualization components such as NASA WorldWind. These RACE applications validated elements of the FAA’s System Wide Information Management (SWIM) Program, handling up to 1000 messages/sec from diverse sources (SFDPS, TFM-DATA, TAIS, ASDE-X, ITWS and local ADS) for 4,500 simultaneous flights tracked in the next-generation air transportation system’s digital backbone. We have since generalized RACE to support Open Data Integration (ODIN) applications outside aviation. Systems built with RACE/ODIN can be deployed in the field, on commodity hardware, and operate with limited or intermittent connectivity to the outside world. Our primary use case is a web-server with local/persistent data storage that runs within and only serves the stakeholder network (e.g. an incident command post). We are tailoring the RACE/ODIN system to support wildland fire management for the upcoming NASA Wildland Fire Safety Demonstration Series. RACE-ODIN is under consideration for application in the Scalable Traffic Management for Emergency Response Operations project, or STEReO, which aims to create a system that can be deployed during emergencies, to coordinate multiple elements of disaster response. Such data sources predominantly come from existing services on the internet (e.g. weather and satellite data, imported from so called "edge servers") but can also include dynamic (real-time) data from computer simulations and within the stakeholder network (such as aircraft and personnel tracking information). We will present the architecture and ODIN system demonstration incorporating local data from instrumented power-line towers, interpolated weather data and geospatial data from space-based platforms.

Guillaume P Brat↗

User-Centered Indexing for Adaptive Information Access

We are focusing on information access tasks characterized by large volume of hypermedia connected technical documents, a need for rapid and effective access to familiar information, and long-term interaction with evolving information. The problem for technical users is to build and maintain a personalized task-oriented model of the information to quickly access relevant information. We propose a solution which provides user-centered adaptive information retrieval and navigation. This solution supports users in customizing information access over time. It is complementary to information discovery methods which provide access to new information, since it lets users customize future access to previously found information. It relies on a technique, called Adaptive Relevance Network, which creates and maintains a complex indexing structure to represent personal user's information access maps organized by concepts. This technique is integrated within the Adaptive HyperMan system, which helps NASA Space Shuttle flight controllers organize and access large amount of information. It allows users to select and mark any part of a document as interesting, and to index that part with user-defined concepts. Users can then do subsequent retrieval of marked portions of documents. This functionality allows users to define and access personal collections of information, which are dynamically computed. The system also supports collaborative review by letting users share group access maps. The adaptive relevance network provides long-term adaptation based both on usage and on explicit user input. The indexing structure is dynamic and evolves over time. Leading and generalization support flexible retrieval of information under similar concepts. The network is geared towards more recent information access, and automatically manages its size in order to maintain rapid access when scaling up to large hypermedia space. We present results of simulated learning experiments.

Chen, James R.↗

Ecosystems and Networks Integrated with Genes and Molecular Assemblies (ENIGMA) (Final Scientific/Technical Report, Subcontract Award No. 6953691)

The overarching objective the Baliga lab is to develop a mechanistic understanding of the field relevant metabolic processes underlying community partitioning of respiration pathways and physiological state shifts. In order to dissect how environmental perturbations influence microbial regulatory networks, we have constructed data-driven models that capture the dynamic interplay between abiotic and biotic factors during laboratory simulations. Specifically, we have developed multiple computational models (i.e., cMonkey2, EGRIN 2.0, and multiple genome-scale metabolic models) connecting environmental influence to genome-encoded regulatory programs. In addition, we have generated new tools such as Live Anaerobic Cell Sorting (LAnCS) and Fluidized Bed Reactors (FBRs) to investigate the dynamics of community partitioning of metabolic processes supporting sulfate or nitrate respiration, which are two critical activities observed from the field site at Oak Ridge National Labs (ORNL). This framework of connecting field phenomena with laboratory simulations and computational modeling has created the Environmental Simulations and Modelling (EnvSim) campaign within ENIGMA. The campaign, which spans multiple laboratories across ENIGMA and is led by the Baliga group, has established synthetic communities (SynComs) to discover, characterize, and dissect key microbial processes relevant to field observations, such as emissions of the greenhouse gas nitrous oxide (N 2 O). For example, the EnvSim campaign so far has deduced four potential mechanisms that may account for the N 2 O emissions at the FRC and are currently being investigated by labs across ENIGMA. Denitrification may be driven by complete denitrifiers, however, their NosZ enzymes, which catalyze the final step in denitrification by converting N 2 O to N 2 , may be sensitive at a lower pH. Additionally, the denitrification process could be partitioned among organisms and some may have pH-sensitive NosZ genes. Another factor contributing to variable N 2 O emissions relates to the metal co-factors involved in the denitrification pathway. For instance, excess Cu, Al, Mn, U, Ni, Co, Cu, and/or Cd may have inhibitory effects on multiple enzymatic steps during denitrification, while the enzymatic production of nitrite, the precursor of N 2 O, can be limited by the essential metal Mo. Lastly, abiotic production of N 2 O may occur as a result of chemodenitrification, in which metals like Fe, Mn, and some organic compounds can drive redox reactions that convert nitrogen cycle intermediates to N 2 O under the right conditions. Current investigations and analyses have generated multiple transcriptomic profiles aiding the refinement of new metabolic and gene regulatory network model for our denitrifying SynCom. In sum, the previous funding cycle has generated 33 peer-reviewed publications spanning predictive network biology to co-operativity of mutualistic interspecies interactions of evolved communities. Our integration of multiple omics datasets and the development of new network modelling tools has revealed important insights that can explain field observed phenomenon and generated new hypotheses to be investigated in the field.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Defective internal allosteric network imparts dysfunctional ATP/substrate-binding cooperativity in oncogenic chimera of protein kinase A

An aberrant fusion of the DNAJB1 and PRKACA genes generates a chimeric protein kinase (PKA-C DNAJB1 ) in which the J-domain of the heat shock protein 40 is fused to the catalytic α subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase A (PKA-C). Deceivingly, this chimeric construct appears to be fully functional, as it phosphorylates canonical substrates, forms holoenzymes, responds to cAMP activation, and recognizes the endogenous inhibitor PKI. Nonetheless, PKA-C DNAJB1 has been recognized as the primary driver of fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma and is implicated in other neoplasms for which the molecular mechanisms remain elusive. Here we determined the chimera’s allosteric response to nucleotide and pseudo-substrate binding. We found that the fusion of the dynamic J-domain to PKA-C disrupts the internal allosteric network, causing dramatic attenuation of the nucleotide/PKI binding cooperativity. Our findings suggest that the reduced allosteric cooperativity exhibited by PKA-C DNAJB1 alters specific recognitions and interactions between substrates and regulatory partners contributing to dysregulation.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Rapid Quantum Ground State Preparation via Dissipative Dynamics

Inspired by natural cooling processes, dissipation has become a promising approach for preparing low-energy states of quantum systems. However, the potential of dissipative protocols remains unclear beyond certain commuting Hamiltonians. This work provides significant analytical and numerical insights into the power of dissipation for preparing the ground state of noncommuting Hamiltonians. For quasi-free dissipative dynamics, including certain 1D spin systems with boundary dissipation, our results reveal a new connection between the mixing time in trace distance and the spectral properties of a non-Hermitian Hamiltonian, leading to an explicit and sharp bound on the mixing time that scales polynomially with system size. For more general spin systems, we develop a tensor network-based algorithm for constructing the Lindblad jump operator and for simulating the dynamics. Using this algorithm, we demonstrate numerically that dissipative ground state preparation protocols can achieve rapid mixing for certain 1D local Hamiltonians under bulk dissipation, with a mixing time that scales logarithmically with the system size. We then prove the rapid mixing result for certain weakly interacting spin and fermionic systems in arbitrary dimensions, extending recent results for high-temperature quantum Gibbs samplers to the zero-temperature regime. Together, these results show that dissipation can be a powerful tool for ground state preparation, with potential applications across condensed matter physics, quantum materials science, and beyond.

decoherence↗

ACTS T1-VSAT - The intelligent earth station

The functional design of the software for NASA's Advanced Communication Technology Satellite (ACTS) T1-VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal) is described. The design provides a flexible interface to allow customized control of a satellite network and to provide external processes with access to network capabilities without requiring modification to the network hardware or software. Some of the envisioned features are: automatic number location; dynamic reconfiguration of the number plan tables; security features of call priority, call preemption, and remote verification; automatic reconfiguration of least cost routing tables; circuit availability verification prior to call setup; audio and video conferencing; on demand broadband dial-up service; on demand dial-up broadband broadcast service; and ISDN. A brief review is also given of the ACTS satellite and network, the network management, and the ACTS T1-VSAT earth station.

Manning, John R.↗

Power grid frequency prediction using spatiotemporal modeling

Understanding power system dynamics is essential for interarea oscillation analysis and the detection of grid instabilities. The FNET/GridEye is a GPS-synchronized wide-area frequency measurement network that provides an accurate picture of the normal real-time operational condition of the power system-dynamics, giving rise to new and intricate spatiotemporal patterns of power loads. We propose to model FNET/GridEye grid frequency data from the U.S. Eastern Interconnection with a spatiotemporal statistical model. We predict the frequency data at locations without observations, a critical need during disruption events where measurement data are inaccessible. Spatial information is accounted for either as neighboring measurements in the form of covariates or with a spatiotemporal correlation model captured by a latent Gaussian field. Finally, the proposed method is useful in estimating power system dynamic response from limited phasor measurements and holds promise for predicting instability that may lead to undesirable effects such as cascading outages.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

Simulations of Glass Transition and Mechanical Behavior of Off-Stoichiometric Crosslinked Polymers

Here, this work explores the influence of blend composition, network architecture, and hydrogen bonding on the material properties of crosslinked epoxy networks, focusing on the glass transition temperature (T g ) and Young’s modulus (Y). We used coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations to simulate varying compositions of stiff and flexible components in epoxy monomer blends with varying excess of curative. We find that, without hydrogen bonding, networks of any composition show a monotonically increasing T g with decreasing excess curative, consistent with theory. In contrast, we find that when hydrogen bonding is introduced, the binary blend networks show significant enhancement in T g for lightly crosslinked systems. This result contributes to an explanation of the anomalous T g behavior observed experimentally in these systems. We further find that Y is generally enhanced by hydrogen bonds, especially below T g , demonstrating that hydrogen bonding has a significant influence on mechanical properties and can allow access to other desirable dynamic behavior, especially self-healing.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

GANISP: A GAN-Assisted Importance Splitting Probability Estimator: Preprint

To reduce the variance of rare event probability estimator, genealogical importance splitting marches towards a rare event by iteratively selecting and replicating realizations that are headed towards a rare event. The replication step is made difficult when applied to deterministic systems as the initial conditions of the offspring realizations need to be modified. Typically, a random perturbation is applied to the offspring to differentiate their trajectory from the parent realization. It is shown that a random perturbation strategy may be effective for some systems but may also fail for others, thereby preventing variance reduction in the probability estimate. To address this limitation, it is proposed to use a generative model such as a Generative Adversarial Network (GAN) to generate perturbations that are consistent with the attractor of the dynamical system. The GAN-assisted Importance SPlitting method (GANISP) improves the variance reduction for the system targeted. An implementation of the method is available in a companion repository (https://github.com/NREL/GANISP).

generative adversarial network↗

Data Augmentation for Intelligent Contingency Management Using Generative Adversarial Neural Networks

Artificial intelligence (AI)-based techniques for intelligent contingency management (ICM) require that intelligent agents learn various aspects of system dynamics to create and execute contingencies. For high assurance contingency management, agents achieve the most compelling results through supervised or semi-supervised machine learning, for which agents require large datasets to learn the dynamics of the system. Unfortunately, data collection in aerospace applications can be costly, due to both time and resources. Presented work describes a framework for data augmentation of ICM databases containing training data for machine learning models. This framework populates the database with the outputs of generative adversarial network (GAN) models that were trained on flight data. Methods for evaluating the suitability of these models based on the equations of motion, as well as other physical constraints, are discussed. The paper demonstrates the utility of this database for training intelligent agents on the NASA T2 generic transport aircraft model and experimental vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) simulation model.

Generative Machine Learning↗

Data Augmentation for Intelligent Contingency Management Using Generative Adversarial Neural Networks

Artificial intelligence (AI)-based techniques for intelligent contingency management (ICM) require that intelligent agents learn various aspects of system dynamics to create and execute contingencies. For high assurance contingency management, agents achieve the most compelling results through supervised or semi-supervised machine learning, for which agents require large datasets to learn the dynamics of the system. Unfortunately, data collection in aerospace applications can be costly, due to both time and resources. Presented work describes a framework for data augmentation of ICM databases containing training data for machine learning models. This framework populates the database with the outputs of generative adversarial network (GAN) models that were trained on flight data. Methods for evaluating the suitability of these models based on the equations of motion, as well as other physical constraints, are discussed. The paper demonstrates the utility of this database for training intelligent agents on the NASA T2 generic transport aircraft model and experimental vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) simulation model.

Generative Machine Learning↗

B56$δ$ long-disordered arms form a dynamic PP2A regulation interface coupled with global allostery and Jordan’s syndrome mutations

Intrinsically disordered regions (IDR) and short linear motifs (SLiMs) play pivotal roles in the intricate signaling networks governed by phosphatases and kinases. B56δ (encoded by PPP2R5D) is a regulatory subunit of protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) with long IDRs that harbor a substrate-mimicking SLiM and multiple phosphorylation sites. De novo missense mutations in PPP2R5D cause intellectual disabilities (ID), macrocephaly, Parkinsonism, and a broad range of neurological symptoms. Our single-particle cryo-EM structures of the PP2A-B56δ holoenzyme reveal that the long, disordered arms at the B56δ termini fold against each other and the holoenzyme core. This architecture suppresses both the phosphatase active site and the substrate-binding protein groove, thereby stabilizing the enzyme in a closed latent form with dual autoinhibition. The resulting interface spans over 190 Å and harbors unfavorable contacts, activation phosphorylation sites, and nearly all residues with ID-associated mutations. Our studies suggest that this dynamic interface is coupled to an allosteric network responsive to phosphorylation and altered globally by mutations. Furthermore, we found that ID mutations increase the holoenzyme activity and perturb the phosphorylation rates, and the severe variants significantly increase the mitotic duration and error rates compared to the normal variant.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

GANISP: A GAN-Assisted Importance Splitting Probability Estimator

Designing manufacturing processes with high yield and strong reliability relies on effective methods for rare event estimation. Genealogical importance splitting reduces the variance of rare event probability estimators by iteratively selecting and replicating realizations that are headed towards a rare event. The replication step is difficult when applied to deterministic systems where the initial conditions of the offspring realizations need to be modified. Typically, a random perturbation is applied to the offspring to differentiate their trajectory from the parent realization. However, this random perturbation strategy may be effective for some systems while failing for others, preventing variance reduction in the probability estimate. This work seeks to address this limitation using a generative model such as a Generative Adversarial Network (GAN) to generate perturbations that are consistent with the attractor of the dynamical system. The proposed GAN-assisted Importance SPlitting method (GANISP) improves the variance reduction for the system targeted. An implementation of the method is available in a companion repository (https://github.com/NREL/GANISP).

generative adversarial network↗

Use of Generalized Fluid System Simulation Program (GFSSP) for Teaching and Performing Senior Design Projects at the Educational Institutions

This paper describes the experience of the authors in using the Generalized Fluid System Simulation Program (GFSSP) in teaching Design of Thermal Systems class at University of Alabama in Huntsville. GFSSP is a finite volume based thermo-fluid system network analysis code, developed at NASA/Marshall Space Flight Center, and is extensively used in NASA, Department of Defense, and aerospace industries for propulsion system design, analysis, and performance evaluation. The educational version of GFSSP is freely available to all US higher education institutions. The main purpose of the paper is to illustrate the utilization of this user-friendly code for the thermal systems design and fluid engineering courses and to encourage the instructors to utilize the code for the class assignments as well as senior design projects. The need for a generalized computer program for thermofluid analysis in a flow network has been felt for a long time in aerospace industries. Designers of thermofluid systems often need to know pressures, temperatures, flow rates, concentrations, and heat transfer rates at different parts of a flow circuit for steady state or transient conditions. Such applications occur in propulsion systems for tank pressurization, internal flow analysis of rocket engine turbopumps, chilldown of cryogenic tanks and transfer lines, and many other applications of gas-liquid systems involving fluid transients and conjugate heat and mass transfer. Computer resource requirements to perform time-dependent, three-dimensional Navier-Stokes computational fluid dynamic (CFD) analysis of such systems are prohibitive and therefore are not practical. Available commercial codes are generally suitable for steady state, single-phase incompressible flow. Because of the proprietary nature of such codes, it is not possible to extend their capability to satisfy the above-mentioned needs. Therefore, the Generalized Fluid System Simulation Program (GFSSP1) has been developed at NASA Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) as a general fluid flow system solver capable of handling phase changes, compressibility, mixture thermodynamics and transient operations. It also includes the capability to model external body forces such as gravity and centrifugal effects in a complex flow network. The objectives of GFSSP development are: a) to develop a robust and efficient numerical algorithm to solve a system of equations describing a flow network containing phase changes, mixing, and rotation; and b) to implement the algorithm in a structured, easy-to-use computer program. The analysis of thermofluid dynamics in a complex network requires resolution of the system into fluid nodes and branches, and solid nodes and conductors as shown in Figure 1. Figure 1 shows a schematic and GFSSP flow circuit of a counter-flow heat exchanger. Hot nitrogen gas is flowing through a pipe, colder nitrogen is flowing counter to the hot stream in the annulus pipe and heat transfer occurs through metal tubes. The problem considered is to calculate flowrates and temperature distributions in both streams. GFSSP has a unique data structure, as shown in Figure 2, that allows constructing all possible arrangements of a flow network with no limit on the number of elements. The elements of a flow network are boundary nodes where pressure and temperature are specified, internal nodes where pressure and temperature are calculated, and branches where flowrates are calculated. For conjugate heat transfer problems, there are three additional elements: solid node, ambient node, and conductor. The solid and fluid nodes are connected with solid-fluid conductors. GFSSP solves the conservation equations of mass and energy, and equation of state in internal nodes to calculate pressure, temperature and resident mass. The momentum conservation equation is solved in branches to calculate flowrate. It also solves for energy conservation equations to calculate temperatures of solid nodes. The equations are coupled and nonlinear; therefore, they are solved by an iterative numerical scheme. GFSSP employs a unique numerical scheme known as simultaneous adjustment with successive substitution (SASS), which is a combination of Newton-Raphson and successive substitution methods. The mass and momentum conservation equations and the equation of state are solved by the Newton-Raphson method while the conservation of energy and species are solved by the successive substitution method. GFSSP is linked with two thermodynamic property programs, GASP2 and WASP3 and GASPAK4, that provide thermodynamic and thermophysical properties of selected fluids. Both programs cover a range of pressure and temperature that allows fluid properties to be evaluated for liquid, liquid-vapor (saturation), and vapor region. GASP and WASP provide properties of 12 fluids. GASPAK includes a library of 36 fluids. GFSSP has three major parts. The first part is the graphical user interface (GUI), visual thermofluid analyzer of systems and components (VTASC). VTASC allows users to create a flow circuit by a 'point and click' paradigm. It creates the GFSSP input file after the completion of the model building process. GFSSP's GUI provides the users a platform to build and run their models. It also allows post-processing of results. The network flow circuit is first built using three basic elements: boundary node, internal node, and branch.

Majumdar, A. K.↗

Evolution and use of combined mechanical and thermal codes for cryogenic turbopump bearings

Shaft bearing system analysis codes were developed, improved, and used to investigate Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME) Liquid Oxygen (LOX) turbopump bearing problems, and to support the Marshall Space Flight Center Bearing and Seal Materials Test (BSMT) program. Thermal network modeling uses the SINDA thermal code, and the modeling of bearing quasi-dynamic characteristics uses the SHABERTH bearing/shaft code. These codes are solved concurrently for a bearing/shaft system using software developed for this purpose. Simulation of the SSME LOX turbopump turbine and pump end bearings and the MSFC BSMT operating in liquid nitrogen (LN sub 2) and LOX was done. The thermal network models include the bearing components, bearing carriers, shaft, housing, frictional heat, and viscous fluid energy. A cage model was included to account for heat generation between the cage and rolling elements. Since most bearing surfaces operate at temperatures well above the coolant saturation temperature, and move at high speed relative to the coolant, forced convection boiling is the dominant mechanism for heat removal. Improved modeling of forced convection film boiling was incorporated to take into account the local vapor generation at the high temperature surfaces. Rearing preloads in the pump and tester are provided by preload springs. As bearing operating clearances and contact angles change due to thermal effects and loading, the bearing preload changes with these varying conditions. These characteristics were modeled and are included in the overall system models. Results from these models indicate an operational limit which, if exceeded, predicts a thermal excursion.

Cody, Joe C.↗