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At least 145 records · Page 8
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2021

Adjoint DSMC for nonlinear Boltzmann equation constrained optimization

Applications for kinetic equations such as optimal design and inverse problems often involve finding unknown parameters through gradient-based optimization algorithms. Based on the adjoint-state method, we derive two different frameworks for approximating the gradient of an objective functional constrained by the nonlinear Boltzmann equation. While the forward problem can be solved by the DSMC method, it is difficult to efficiently solve the high-dimensional continuous adjoint equation obtained by the “optimize-then-discretize” approach. This challenge motivates us to propose an adjoint DSMC method following the “discretize-then-optimize” approach for Boltzmann-constrained optimization. We also analyze the properties of the two frameworks and their connections. Here, several numerical examples are presented to demonstrate their accuracy and efficiency.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗
NASA NTRS1957

On the Use of the Harmonic Linearizaiton Method in the Automatic Control Theory

The method of harmonic linearization (harmonic balance), first proposed by N. M. Krylov and N. N. Bogolyubov for the approximate investigation of nonlinear vibrations, has been developed and received wide practical application to problems in the theory of automatic control. Recently, some doubt has been expressed on the legitimacy of application of the method to these problems, and assertions were made on the absence in them of a small parameter of any kind. Nevertheless, the method gives practical, acceptable results and is a simple and powerful means in engineering computations. Hence, the importance of questions arises as to its justification. The underlying principle of the method is the replacement of the given nonlinear equation by a linear equation. In establishing the method, a small parameter is considered whose presence makes it possible to speak, with some degree of approximation, of the solution of this new equation to the solution of the given nonlinear equation. In an article by the author, certain considerations were given on the presence of the small parameter, but this question has not as yet received a final answer. In the present report, a somewhat different approach to the problem is applied that permits: (a) establishing, in the clearest manner, the form of the presence of the small parameter in nonlinear problems of control theory, solvable by the method of harmonic linearization; (b) connecting it with previous intuitive physical concepts (with the "filter property") and extending the class of problems possessing this property; and (c) discussing various generalizations of the method.

Popov, E. P.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Fast neural solution of a nonlinear wave equation

A neural algorithm for rapidly simulating a certain class of nonlinear wave phenomena using analog VLSI neural hardware is presented and applied to the Korteweg-de Vries partial differential equation. The corresponding neural architecture is obtained from a pseudospectral representation of the spatial dependence, along with a leap-frog scheme for the temporal evolution. Numerical simulations demonstrated the robustness of the proposed approach.

Toomarian, Nikzad↗
DOE OSTI2023

Multidisciplinary benchmarks of a conservative spectral solver for the nonlinear Boltzmann equation

The Boltzmann equation describes the evolution of the phase-space probability distribution of classical particles under binary collisions. Approximations to it underlie the basis for several scholarly fields, including aerodynamics and plasma physics. While these approximations are appropriate in their respective domains, they can be violated in niche but diverse applications which require direct numerical solution of the original nonlinear Boltzmann equation. An expanded implementation of the Galerkin–Petrov conservative spectral algorithm is employed to study a wide variety of physical problems. Enabled by distributed precomputation, solutions of the spatially homogeneous Boltzmann equation can be achieved in seconds on modern personal hardware, while spatially-inhomogeneous problems are solvable in minutes. Here, several benchmarks are presented focusing on accuracy compared to both analytic theoretical predictions and other Boltzmann solvers. These benchmarks span several physical domains including weakly ionized plasma, gaseous fluids, and atomic-plasma interaction.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗
NASA NTRS1982

Second order non-linear equations of motion for spinning highly flexible line elements

The second order nonlinear equations of motion are formulated for spinning line elements having little or no intrinsic structural stiffness. The derivation is based on the extended Hamilton's principle and includes the effect of initial geometric imperfections (axial, curvature, and twist) on the line element dynamics. For comparison with previous work, the nonlinear equations are reduced to a linearized form frequently found in the literature. The comparison revealed several new spin-stiffening terms that have not been previously identified and/or retained. They combine geometric imperfections, rotary inertia, Coriolis, and gyroscopic terms.

Salama, M.↗
NASA NTRS1972

On implicit equations in nonlinear network analysis.

Derivation of conditions for existence of unique solutions to implicit equations of the form y = f(x, u) or x = h(x, u) which are frequently encountered in the analysis of nonlinear networks. The existence of such solutions is demonstrated by applying the principle of contraction mapping and by ascertaining the possibility of a functional inversion according to the Palais (1959) theorem.

Sathe, S. T.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Program for the solution of multipoint boundary value problems of quasilinear differential equations

Linear equations are solved by a method of superposition of solutions of a sequence of initial value problems. For nonlinear equations and/or boundary conditions, the solution is iterative and in each iteration a problem like the linear case is solved. A simple Taylor series expansion is used for the linearization of both nonlinear equations and nonlinear boundary conditions. The perturbation method of solution is used in preference to quasilinearization because of programming ease, and smaller storage requirements; and experiments indicate that the desired convergence properties exist although no proof or convergence is given.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1989

Local error estimates for discontinuous solutions of nonlinear hyperbolic equations

Let u(x,t) be the possibly discontinuous entropy solution of a nonlinear scalar conservation law with smooth initial data. Suppose u sub epsilon(x,t) is the solution of an approximate viscosity regularization, where epsilon greater than 0 is the small viscosity amplitude. It is shown that by post-processing the small viscosity approximation u sub epsilon, pointwise values of u and its derivatives can be recovered with an error as close to epsilon as desired. The analysis relies on the adjoint problem of the forward error equation, which in this case amounts to a backward linear transport with discontinuous coefficients. The novelty of this approach is to use a (generalized) E-condition of the forward problem in order to deduce a W(exp 1,infinity) energy estimate for the discontinuous backward transport equation; this, in turn, leads one to an epsilon-uniform estimate on moments of the error u(sub epsilon) - u. This approach does not follow the characteristics and, therefore, applies mutatis mutandis to other approximate solutions such as E-difference schemes.

Tadmor, Eitan↗
NASA NTRS1988

User's manual for interactive LINEAR: A FORTRAN program to derive linear aircraft models

An interactive FORTRAN program that provides the user with a powerful and flexible tool for the linearization of aircraft aerodynamic models is documented in this report. The program LINEAR numerically determines a linear system model using nonlinear equations of motion and a user-supplied linear or nonlinear aerodynamic model. The nonlinear equations of motion used are six-degree-of-freedom equations with stationary atmosphere and flat, nonrotating earth assumptions. The system model determined by LINEAR consists of matrices for both the state and observation equations. The program has been designed to allow easy selection and definition of the state, control, and observation variables to be used in a particular model.

Antoniewicz, Robert F.↗
NASA NTRS1999

Nonlinear Response of Composite Panels Under Combined Acoustic Excitation and Aerodynamic Pressure

A finite element formulation is presented for the analysis of large deflection response of composite panels subjected to aerodynamic pressure- at supersonic flow and high acoustic excitation. The first-order shear deformation theory is considered for laminated composite plates, and the von Karman nonlinear strain-displacement relations are employed for the analysis of large deflection panel response. The first-order piston theory aerodynamics and the simulated Gaussian white noise are employed for the aerodynamic and acoustic loads, respectively. The nonlinear equations of motion for an arbitrarily laminated composite panel subjected to a combined aerodynamic and acoustic pressures are formulated first in structure node degrees-of-freedom. The system equations are then transformed and reduced to a set of coupled nonlinear equations in modal coordinates. Modal participation is defined and the in-vacuo modes to be retained in the analysis are based on the modal participation values. Numerical results include root mean square values of maximum deflections, deflection and strain response time histories, probability distributions, and power spectrum densities. Results showed that combined acoustic and aerodynamic loads have to be considered for panel analysis and design at high dynamic pressure values.

Abdel-Motagaly, K.↗
NASA NTRS1993

On the Prediction of the Number of Solitons Excited by an Arbitrary Potential: An Observation from Inverse Scattering

A heuristic estimate for the soliton production rate by a pulse is verified for the Korteweg - de Vries equation using inverse scattering. An observation from this result, which is shown to hold for some other nonlinear equations and for the case of the 'forced' nonlinear Schroedinger equation, is that production is determined by quantities that are invariant under rescaling of the original nonlinear equations. We speculate that this result may be useful to the development of an inverse scattering theory for 'forced' nonlinear systems.

Hansen, P. J.↗
DOE OSTI2026

Large-scale white noise and cosmology

The generation of white noise on large scales is a generic property of the dynamics of physical systems described by local nonlinear partial differential equations. Nonlinearities prevent the small-scale dynamics from being erased by smoothing. Unresolved small-scale dynamics act as an uncorrelated (white or Poissonian) noise (seemingly stochastic but actually deterministic) contribution to large-scale dynamics. This white noise exists even when the dynamics is very nearly linear. In cases where the power spectrum is sub-Poissonian on large scales, this noise will dominate on the largest scale power no matter the amplitude of the inhomogeneities. Such is the case in the standard model of cosmology, where the primordial density power spectrum is expected to have an almost Harrison-Zel’dovich, P [ k ] ∼ k , spectrum on a much broader range of scales than can be observed. Even though linear gravitational evolution dominates nonlinear corrections by a factor of ∼ 10 5 , the nonobservation of white noise on the Hubble scale precludes the extrapolation of this power law below the comoving 1 pc scale. More generally, observation or nonobservation of large-scale white noise provides a powerful probe of the Universe on very small scales in the early Universe. Gravitational radiation, phase transitions, vorticity, and running of the spectral index are all phenomena that can be probed with large-scale white noise. Large-scale white noise is a nonoptional feature of all cosmological models but one which has not heretofore been appreciated.

Barenboim, Gabriela [Valencia U., IFIC; Valencia U↗
NASA NTRS1985

Calculation of compressible flow about three-dimensional inlets with auxiliary inlets, slats and vanes by means of a panel method

An efficient and user oriented method was constructed for calculating flow in and about complex inlet configurations. Efficiency is attained by: (1) the use of a panel method; (2) a technique of superposition for obtaining solutions at any inlet operating condition; and (3) employment of an advanced matrix iteration technique for solving large full systems of equations, including the nonlinear equations for the Kutta condition. User concerns are addressed by the provision of several novel graphical output options that yield a more complete comprehension of the flowfield than was possible previously.

Hess, J. L.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Calculation of compressible flow about three-dimensional inlets with auxiliary inlets, slats and vanes by means of a panel method

An efficient and user-oriented method has been constructed for calculating flow in and about complex inlet configurations. Efficiency is attained by: the use of a panel method, a technique of superposition for obtaining solutions at any inlet operating condition, and employment of an advanced matrix-iteration technique for solving large full systems of equations, including the nonlinear equations for the Kutta condition. User concerns are addressed by the provision of several novel graphical output options that, taken together, yield a more complete comprehension of the flowfield than had been possible previously. Examples of these features are presented for some complicated configurations, and where possible, comparisons are made between calculation and experiment.

Hess, J. L.↗
NASA NTRS1989

A numerical analysis of Stefan problems for generalized multi-dimensional phase-change structures using the enthalpy transforming model

An enthalpy transforming scheme is proposed to convert the energy equation into a nonlinear equation with the enthalpy, E, being the single dependent variable. The existing control-volume finite-difference approach is modified so it can be applied to the numerical performance of Stefan problems. The model is tested by applying it to a three-dimensional freezing problem. The numerical results are in agreement with those existing in the literature. The model and its algorithm are further applied to a three-dimensional moving heat source problem showing that the methodology is capable of handling complicated phase-change problems with fixed grids.

Cao, Yiding↗
NASA NTRS1988

Eigenvalue/Eigenvector derivatives for SAVI Gimbalflex nonlinear transient response analysis

An eigenvector expansion method is utilized to predict eigenvalue and eigenvector derivatives due to geometric reconfiguration of a Gimbalflex fine-pointing/vibration isolation system called SAVI (Space Active Vibration Isolation). The eigenvector expansion method used is a modification of the classical method and allows for rigid body roots. Using the resulting modal derivatives, free-free nonlinear equations of motion are developed with Lagrange's Method. These equations represent a nonlinear plant model to be used in conjunction with a control system transient response simulation.

Orr, M. F., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS2001

Applications of the Hilbert-Huang Transform

A new method, the Hilbert-Huang Transform, has been developed for analyzing nonlinear and nonstationary data. The key part of the method is the Empirical Mode Decomposition with which any complicated data set can be decomposed into a finite and often small number of Intrinsic Mode Functions (IMF). An M is defined as any function having the same numbers of zero-crossing and extrema, and also having symmetric envelopes defined by the local maxima and minima respectively. The IMF also admits well-behaved Hilbert transform. This decomposition method is adaptive, and, therefore, highly efficient. Since the decomposition is based on the local characteristic time scale of the data, it is applicable to nonlinear and nonstationary processes. With the Hilbert transform, the Intrinsic Mode Functions yield instantaneous frequencies'as functions of time that give sharp identifications of imbedded structures. The final presentation of the results is an energy-frequency-time distribution, designated as the Hilbert Spectrum. With this technique we can examine the detailed dynamics characteristics of a nonlinear system through the instantaneous frequency rather than harmonics. Thus it constitutes a new view of the nonlinear dynamics. Examples of classic nonlinear equations and other nonlinear and nonstationary data sets will be used as examples to illustrate the advantage of the application of this new data analysis method.

Huang, Norden E.↗