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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.

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At least 145 records · Page 8

Increased Reliability for Near-Term Quantum Computers via Low-Level Control (CRADA Final Report)

This project helped narrow the gap between near-term hardware and practical applications of quantum computing through the development and implementation of optimized compilation and error mitigation techniques. These advances were enabled by low-level control available on the Advanced Quantum Testbed, and led to methods that characterized and improved the platform’s performance on quantum algorithms. Results of this work were published in the scientific literature and used to inform internal software development of partner Super.tech.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

YF-12 cooperative airframe/propulsion control system program, volume 1

Several YF-12C airplane analog control systems were converted to a digital system. Included were the air data computer, autopilot, inlet control system, and autothrottle systems. This conversion was performed to allow assessment of digital technology applications to supersonic cruise aircraft. The digital system was composed of a digital computer and specialized interface unit. A large scale mathematical simulation of the airplane was used for integration testing and software checkout.

Anderson, D. L.↗

Experimental Verification of Electric Drive Technologies Based on Artificial Intelligence Tools

A laboratory implementation of a fuzzy logic-tracking controller using a low cost Motorola MC68HC11E9 microprocessor is described in this report. The objective is to design the most optimal yet practical controller that can be implemented and marketed, and which gives respectable performance, even when the system loads, inertia and parameters are varying. A distinguishing feature of this work is the by-product goal of developing a marketable, simple, functional and low cost controller. Additionally, real-time nonlinearities are not ignored, and a mathematical model is not required. A number of components have been designed, built and tested individually, and in various combinations of hardware and software segments. These components have been integrated with a brushless motor to constitute the drive system. A microprocessor-based FLC is incorporated to provide robust speed and position control. Design objectives that are difficult to express mathematically can be easily incorporated in a fuzzy logic-based controller by linguistic information (in the form of fuzzy IF-THEN rules). The theory and design are tested in the laboratory using a hardware setup. Several test cases have been conducted to confirm the effectiveness of the proposed controller. The results indicate excellent tracking performance for both speed and position trajectories. For the purpose of comparison, a bang-bang controller has been tested. The fuzzy logic controller performs significantly better than the traditional bang-bang controller. The bang-bang controller has been shown to be relatively inaccurate and lacking in robustness. Description of the implementation hardware system is also given.

Rubaai, Ahmed↗

Optimal Feedback Control of Thermal Networks

An improved approach to the mathematical modeling of feedback control of thermal networks has been devised. Heretofore software for feedback control of thermal networks has been developed by time-consuming trial-and-error methods that depend on engineers expertise. In contrast, the present approach is a systematic means of developing algorithms for feedback control that is optimal in the sense that it combines performance with low cost of implementation. An additional advantage of the present approach is that a thermal engineer need not be expert in control theory. Thermal networks are lumped-parameter approximations used to represent complex thermal systems. Thermal networks are closely related to electrical networks commonly represented by lumped-parameter circuit diagrams. Like such electrical circuits, thermal networks are mathematically modeled by systems of differential-algebraic equations (DAEs) that is, ordinary differential equations subject to a set of algebraic constraints. In the present approach, emphasis is placed on applications in which thermal networks are subject to constant disturbances and, therefore, integral control action is necessary to obtain steady-state responses. The mathematical development of the present approach begins with the derivation of optimal integral-control laws via minimization of an appropriate cost functional that involves augmented state vectors. Subsequently, classical variational arguments provide optimality conditions in the form of the Hamiltonian equations for the standard linear-quadratic-regulator (LQR) problem. These equations are reduced to an algebraic Riccati equation (ARE) with respect to the augmented state vector. The solution of the ARE leads to the direct computation of the optimal proportional- and integral-feedback control gains. In cases of very complex networks, large numbers of state variables make it difficult to implement optimal controllers in the manner described in the preceding paragraph.

Papalexandris, Miltiadis↗

Formal specification and verification of Ada software

The use of formal methods in software development achieves levels of quality assurance unobtainable by other means. The Larch approach to specification is described, and the specification of avionics software designed to implement the logic of a flight control system is given as an example. Penelope is described which is an Ada-verification environment. The Penelope user inputs mathematical definitions, Larch-style specifications and Ada code and performs machine-assisted proofs that the code obeys its specifications. As an example, the verification of a binary search function is considered. Emphasis is given to techniques assisting the reuse of a verification effort on modified code.

Hird, Geoffrey R.↗

Space Software for Automotive Design

John Thousand of Wolverine Western Corp. put his aerospace group to work on an unfamiliar job, designing a brake drum using computer design techniques. Computer design involves creation of a mathematical model of a product and analyzing its effectiveness in simulated operation. Technique enables study of performance and structural behavior of a number of different designs before settling on a final configuration. Wolverine employees attacked a traditional brake drum problem, the sudden buildup of heat during fast and repeated braking. Part of brake drum not confined tends to change its shape under combination of heat, physical pressure and rotational forces, a condition known as bellmouthing. Since bellmouthing is a major factor in braking effectiveness, a solution of problem would be a major advance in automotive engineering. A former NASA employee, now a Wolverine employee, knew of a series of NASA computer programs ideally suited to confronting bellmouthing. Originally developed as aids to rocket engine nozzle design, it's capable of analyzing problems generated in a rocket engine or automotive brake drum by heat, expansion, pressure and rotational forces. Use of these computer programs led to new brake drum concept featuring a more durable axle, and heat transfer ribs, or fins, on hub of drum.

Source record↗

Towards Seamless Interoperability of MPI-OpenMP Applications

A chasm exists between mathematical software libraries written for MPI-based applications and those written for OpenMP applications. Recently, however, PETSc enables the simple use of its MPI-based linear solvers from OpenMP applications. Separately, the MPICH MPI development team has started a new project to allow almost seamless MPI use in OpenMP applications. Both proposed approaches would result in a similar user experience. Here, we discuss the reasons for these projects and their potential for providing more numerical library choices for OpenMP applications, including the unlimited assortment of linear solvers available in PETSc. In addition, we present the performance of an application using the first approach, demonstrating its efficacy.

MPI↗

Magnetohydrodynamics with physics informed neural operators

Abstract The modeling of multi-scale and multi-physics complex systems typically involves the use of scientific software that can optimally leverage extreme scale computing. Despite major developments in recent years, these simulations continue to be computationally intensive and time consuming. Here we explore the use of AI to accelerate the modeling of complex systems at a fraction of the computational cost of classical methods, and present the first application of physics informed neural operators (NOs) (PINOs) to model 2D incompressible magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) simulations. Our AI models incorporate tensor Fourier NOs as their backbone, which we implemented with the TensorLY package. Our results indicate that PINOs can accurately capture the physics of MHD simulations that describe laminar flows with Reynolds numbers Re ⩽ 250 . We also explore the applicability of our AI surrogates for turbulent flows, and discuss a variety of methodologies that may be incorporated in future work to create AI models that provide a computationally efficient and high fidelity description of MHD simulations for a broad range of Reynolds numbers. The scientific software developed in this project is released with this manuscript.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

VERAIO Software Management Plan

VERAIO is a set of utility codes used to provide a common set of input and outputs to the Virtual Environment for Reactor Applications (VERA). VERA is a collection of several different computer codes that all have a common input and output. This prevents the need to manage input and output from each individual code, allowing for ease of use and reducing errors associated with code operability. The VERAIO utilities include VERAIn, VERAView, and VERARun. Each of these utilities is described below. VERAIn is an input processor that reads an ASCII input file generated by users, parses the file, performs some error checking, and writes an XML file to be read by other VERA codes. The main purpose of VERAIn is to provide a common input to all of the VERA codes so users only need to learn one input. VERAIn is written in Perl and uses YAML configuration files to provide flexibility. VERAView is a graphical user interface (GUI) that reads a VERA HDF output file and allows users to visualize results. VERAView is written in Python. VERARun is a script that drives the VERA execution in a high performance computing (HPC) environment. Work performed at the code level supports the Quality Assurance Program Plan (QAPP) (VERA-QA-001), and VERA Software Quality Assurance Plan (VERA-QA-002).

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Burst statistics of Viterbi decoding

A mathematical model of Viterbi decoder burst error performance is presented. This model allows for computer generation of Viterbi-like error sequences quickly and inexpensively for applications where large amounts of data are required. The model is corroborated through comparisons with actual software decoder simulations.

Deutsch, L. J.↗

NASA Tech Briefs, November 2007

Topics include: Wireless Measurement of Contact and Motion Between Contact Surfaces; Wireless Measurement of Rotation and Displacement Rate; Portable Microleak-Detection System; Free-to-Roll Testing of Airplane Models in Wind Tunnels; Cryogenic Shrouds for Testing Thermal-Insulation Panels; Optoelectronic System Measures Distances to Multiple Targets; Tachometers Derived From a Brushless DC Motor; Algorithm-Based Fault Tolerance for Numerical Subroutines; Computational Support for Technology- Investment Decisions; DSN Resource Scheduling; Distributed Operations Planning; Phase-Oriented Gear Systems; Freeze Tape Casting of Functionally Graded Porous Ceramics; Electrophoretic Deposition on Porous Non- Conductors; Two Devices for Removing Sludge From Bioreactor Wastewater; Portable Unit for Metabolic Analysis; Flash Diffusivity Technique Applied to Individual Fibers; System for Thermal Imaging of Hot Moving Objects; Large Solar-Rejection Filter; Improved Readout Scheme for SQUID-Based Thermometry; Error Rates and Channel Capacities in Multipulse PPM; Two Mathematical Models of Nonlinear Vibrations; Simpler Adaptive Selection of Golomb Power-of- Two Codes; VCO PLL Frequency Synthesizers for Spacecraft Transponders; Wide Tuning Capability for Spacecraft Transponders; Adaptive Deadband Synchronization for a Spacecraft Formation; Analysis of Performance of Stereoscopic-Vision Software; Estimating the Inertia Matrix of a Spacecraft; Spatial Coverage Planning for Exploration Robots; and Increasing the Life of a Xenon-Ion Spacecraft Thruster.

Source record↗

VERAIO Software Management Plan

VERAIO is a set of utility codes used to provide a common set of inputs and outputs to the Virtual Environment for Reactor Applications (VERA). VERA is a collection of several different computer codes that all have a common input and output. This prevents the need to manage input and output from each individual code, allowing for ease of use and reducing errors associated with code operability. The VERAIO utilities include VERAIn, VERAView, and VERARun. Each of these utilities is described below. VERAIn is an input processor that reads an ASCII input file generated by users, parses the file, performs some error checking, and writes an XML file to be read by other VERA codes. The main purpose of VERAIn is to provide a common input to all of the VERA codes, so users only need to learn one input. VERAIn is written in Perl and uses YAML configuration files to provide flexibility. VERAView is a graphical user interface (GUI) that reads a VERA hierarchical data format (HDF) output file and allows users to visualize results. VERAView is written in Python. VERARun is a script that drives the VERA execution in a high performance computing (HPC) environment. Work performed at the code level supports the quality assurance program plan (QAPP) (VERA-QA-001) and the VERA Software Quality Assurance Plan (VERA-QA-002).

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Proxy Applications for Converged Workloads: DMC LDRD Initiative

Modern scientific applications are complicated and require coordination of several components. Proxy application driven software-hardware co-design plays a vital role in driving innovation among the developments of applications, software infrastructure and hardware architecture. Proxy applications are self-contained and simplified codes that are intended to model the performance-critical computations within applications. Applications executing on modern High Performance Computing (HPC) systems are susceptible to network congestion, insufficient memory bandwidth within and across compute nodes, and inadvertent loss of performance due to bugs and unoptimized programming models. Modern numerical simulations and machine learning models play a critical role in studying physical phenomenon under myriad uncertainties. Such applications often exhibit irregular computation and memory accesses at specific regions of the application code, which can contribute to various performance bottlenecks at scale. To mitigate such issues and prepare the next generation hardware for a variety of computation and data movement contingencies, a well-known practice is to consider "proxy" applications as representative motifs for various classes of scientific applications. While there is disagreement in the HPC community on the mechanisms of construction of the proxy applications, there is a strong consensus on their positive impact in co-design. Proxy Applications for Converged Workloads (PACER) is about facilitating software-hardware co-design through proxy applications with the goal of improving the performance of converged science workflows on heterogeneous systems.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Light Water Reactor Sustainability Program: Upgrade of EMRALD to a Modern JavaScript-based Framework

Event Modeling Risk Assessment using Linked Diagrams (EMRALD) is a software tool developed at Idaho National Laboratory for researching the capabilities of dynamic probabilistic risk assessment. It provides a simple interface to represent complex interactions often seen when developing dynamic models. EMRALD can also interface with other applications by modifying inputs, running, and using their results within EMRALD for dynamic and integrated assessment. This report goes over the work performed as part of the Risk-Informed Systems Analysis Pathway under the Light Water Reactor Sustainability program to upgrade the EMRALD software.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Enabling Pulse-level Programming, Compilation, and Execution in XACC

Noisy gate-model quantum processing units (QPUs) are currently available from vendors over the cloud, and digital quantum programming approaches exist to run low-depth circuits on physical hardware. These digital representations are ultimately lowered to pulse-level instructions by vendor quantum control systems to affect unitary evolution representative of the submitted digital circuit. Vendors are beginning to open this pulse-level control system to the public via specified interfaces. Robust programming methodologies, software frameworks, and backend simulation technologies for this analog model of quantum computation will prove critical to advancing pulse-level control research and development. Prototypical use cases for this include error mitigation, optimal pulse control, and physics-inspired pulse construction. Here we present an extension to the XACC quantum-classical software framework that enables pulse-level programming for superconducting, gate-model quantum computers, and a novel, general, and extensible pulse-level simulation backend for XACC that scales on classical compute clusters via MPI. Our work enables custom backend Hamiltonian definitions and gate-level compilation to available pulses with a focus on performance and scalability. We end with a demonstration of this capability, and show how to use XACC for pertinent pulse-level programming tasks.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

NEAMS-Multiphysics MOOSE End Year Framework Activities FY20

The Multiphysics Object Oriented Simulation Environment (MOOSE) is a general finite element package meant for high performance solution of multiphysics problems in science and engineering. In this report, we present additions and enhancements to MOOSE funded by the Nuclear Engineering Advanced Modeling and Simulation (NEAMS) program. NEAMS-funded MOOSE framework library improvements include: expansion of support for multi-level multi-application restart; enhancement of coupling between native MOOSE applications and external libraries; addition of a sparse automatic differentiation (AD) container enabling non-local degree of freedom coupling; block-specific quadrature rules; further development of an eigenvalue executioner; faster setup of periodic boundary conditions; and creation of a mesh meta-data system streamlining simulation startup. Besides developing the framework library, NEAMS funds were used to overhaul a swath of important MOOSE infrastructure in order to substantially improve user experience. These critical infrastructure changes included adapting MOOSE to python 3, improving the test harness to catch race conditions, and most importantly transitioning MOOSE to use Conda, a globally known packaging system, that greatly eases software adoption.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

PUFFIn – A user friendly fast interface for calculating and visualizing the dose distribution in materials

This article describes a new graphical user interface that uses the PENELOPE Monte Carlo code to calculate dose distributions in materials. It is named PUFFIn, for the Penelope User-Friendly Fast Interface and was developed as an educational and scoping analysis tool for non-experts in radiation modeling. PUFFIn enables the user to visualize and compare the dose distributions in objects (e.g., sterilized healthcare products) irradiated with cobalt-60 gamma-rays, electron beam (E-beam) or X-rays. From such comparisons, the user can determine the most efficient product and/or packaging designs for any given radiation field – whether for conceptual or existing products and packaging. PUFFIn is distributed in a complete, self-contained package of software, including the PENELOPE radiation transport code, a standard graphics package, and a set of simple exercises. The package is available to any user at no cost and requires a minimal amount of training compared to other similar software. PUFFIn's capabilities are described, as well as validation measurements performed at Texas A&M University E-beam facility and the Aerial E-beam Facility in France.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Application of Advanced Metering Infrastructure Data to Advanced Utility System Operations: Cooperative Research and Development, CRADA Number CRD-17-00712 (Final Report)

The primary objective of the proposed project is to evaluate the capabilities of Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) based controls for grid operations. This includes monitoring and control at the secondary transformer level using existing AMI infrastructure. In addition, some of the challenges of using a model-less control will also be identified. The lessons learned will be disseminated to other utilities around the country through peer-reviewed publications with the consent of SDG&E. The scope of the work includes using data from SDG&E's existing AMI infrastructure and working with third party vendors selected by SDG&E. The grid edge monitoring systems and controls provided by the selected vendors will perform grid operations using AMI data. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) will perform a software and controller-based evaluation of the grid edge controller, intelligent devices and sensors, at the Energy System Integration Facility (ESIF) laboratory.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗