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At least 1,477 records · Page 82
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1999

Comparison of AGE and Spectral Methods for the Simulation of Far-Wakes

Turbulent flow simulation methods based on finite differences are attractive for their simplicity, flexibility and efficiency, but not always for accuracy or stability. This report demonstrates that a good compromise is possible with the Advected Grid Explicit (AGE) method. AGE has proven to be both efficient and accurate for simulating turbulent free-shear flows, including planar mixing layers and planar jets. Its efficiency results from its localized fully explicit finite difference formulation (Bisset 1998a,b) that is very straightforward to compute, outweighing the need for a fairly small timestep. Also, most of the successful simulations were slightly under-resolved, and therefore they were, in effect, large-eddy simulations (LES) without a sub-grid-scale (SGS) model, rather than direct numerical simulations (DNS). The principle is that the role of the smallest scales of turbulent motion (when the Reynolds number is not too low) is to dissipate turbulent energy, and therefore they do not have to be simulated when the numerical method is inherently dissipative at its resolution limits. Such simulations are termed 'auto-LES' (LES with automatic SGS modeling) in this report.

Bisset, D. K.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Detailed near-wake flowfield surveys with comparison to an Euler method of an aspect ratio 4 rectangular wing

An experimental investigation of the flowfield in the near-wake of an aspect ratio 4 rectangular wing was conducted, providing a complete detailed set of data for use in the validation of computational methods. An angle of attack of 8 degrees and two Reynolds numbers 530,000 and 391,000 were investigated using pitot and six-hole probes. In addition, two types of flow visualization were employed. The data presented includes contours of total pressure, mean velocity, flow angularity, and vorticity distribution data at five chordwise stations of the near-wake ranging from 0.167 to 5.00 chord lengths aft of the trailing edge. The experimental results were compared to the predicted results of a 2-D Euler numerical method. The results predicted by an Euler method failed to accurately define the flowfield. Tangential velocities remained relatively constant over the range of X/C considered though increased in angle of attack and Reynolds number did bring about corresponding increases. Axial velocities also increased with angle of attack and Reynolds number but showed greater sensitivity to increases in X/C. Graphic displays and contours of the total pressure data indicate that roll-up of the wing tip vortex is essentially complete one and one half chords downstream of the trailing edge.

Klinge, M. D.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Large-eddy simulation of a boundary layer with concave streamwise curvature

Turbulence modeling continues to be one of the most difficult problems in fluid mechanics. Existing prediction methods are well developed for certain classes of simple equilibrium flows, but are still not entirely satisfactory for a large category of complex non-equilibrium flows found in engineering practice. Direct and large-eddy simulation (LES) approaches have long been believed to have great potential for the accurate prediction of difficult turbulent flows, but the associated computational cost has been prohibitive for practical problems. This remains true for direct simulation but is no longer clear for large-eddy simulation. Advances in computer hardware, numerical methods, and subgrid-scale modeling have made it possible to conduct LES for flows or practical interest at Reynolds numbers in the range of laboratory experiments. The objective of this work is to apply ES and the dynamic subgrid-scale model to the flow of a boundary layer over a concave surface.

Lund, Thomas S.↗
DOE OSTI2015

First-principles studies of p-type nitrogen-doped α-Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3-x}S{sub x} alloys

Based on spin-polarized density functional theory, the characteristics of p-type doping are investigated in the N-doped α-Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3−x}S{sub x} alloys by means of first-principles methods. Numerical results show that when N substitutes O atom in pure α-Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3}, N impurity level is a deeper acceptor state. However, the unoccupied level is much shallower when N doped in the α-Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3−x}S{sub x} alloys, which indicates N impurity can provide good and effective p-type carriers. These predicted numerical results are interesting and useful to understand the α-Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3−x}S{sub x} alloys as a new low-cost solar cell material.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2013

Statistical Mechanics Modeling of Mesoscale Deformation in Metals

The research under this project focused on a theoretical and computational modeling of dislocation dynamics of mesoscale deformation of metal single crystals. Specifically, the work aimed to implement a continuum statistical theory of dislocations to understand strain hardening and cell structure formation under monotonic loading. These aspects of crystal deformation are manifestations of the evolution of the underlying dislocation system under mechanical loading. The project had three research tasks: 1) Investigating the statistical characteristics of dislocation systems in deformed crystals. 2) Formulating kinetic equations of dislocations and coupling these kinetics equations and crystal mechanics. 3) Computational solution of coupled crystal mechanics and dislocation kinetics. Comparison of dislocation dynamics predictions with experimental results in the area of statistical properties of dislocations and their field was also a part of the proposed effort. In the first research task, the dislocation dynamics simulation method was used to investigate the spatial, orientation, velocity, and temporal statistics of dynamical dislocation systems, and on the use of the results from this investigation to complete the kinetic description of dislocations. The second task focused on completing the formulation of a kinetic theory of dislocations that respects the discrete nature of crystallographic slip and the physics of dislocation motion and dislocation interaction in the crystal. Part of this effort also targeted the theoretical basis for establishing the connection between discrete and continuum representation of dislocations and the analysis of discrete dislocation simulation results within the continuum framework. This part of the research enables the enrichment of the kinetic description with information representing the discrete dislocation systems behavior. The third task focused on the development of physics-inspired numerical methods of solution of the coupled dislocation kinetics and crystal mechanics framework. To a large extent, this task has also been successfully started. We have developed a custom finite-element approach with mesh points being a subset of the underlying crystal structure. When used to predict the evolution of the dislocation system, the planar motion of dislocations is naturally captured for all slip systems, thus minimizing numerical errors and providing simple ways to investigate cross slip and dislocation reactions. Preliminary results in this direction show that we are closer than ever in building a predictive framework for dislocation dynamics and mesoscale plasticity based on the first principles of dislocation dynamics. The rest of the report gives and overview of the research performed under this project and highlights the key results and open questions left for future investigations.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2016

DEVELOPMENT OF A VERIFICATION BENCHMARK SUITE FOR THE ATR REACTOR PHYSICS UPGRADE

The result of a numerical algorithm is only as good as the effort made toward its verification. Comprehensive computer codes, especially for application to nuclear reactors, require in-depth assessment of the numerical methods used and their computational implementation. This presentation describes a suite of semi-analytical benchmarks for the ATR Reactor Physics Upgrade as part of the ATR Life Extension Project (LEP). Several neutron transport codes including deterministic codes HELIOS, NEWT and probabilistic codes MCNP6, SERPANT and MC21 are upgrade candidates. To properly evaluate code performance capabilities, code verification is an essential element. A credible verification program requires education to guide proper application, training in proper input preparation and output expectation and verification to instill confidence in the coded numerical procedures. The subset of the benchmark suite to be described here is primarily of the 1D transport variety (however, a 2D case does indeed exist) with the intent to provide unquestionably high order accurate semi-analytical numerical solutions to the transport equation. We base the analytical solutions on analytical Fourier series and discrete ordinates representations. Here we present two 1D benchmarks based on Fourier series.

99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS↗
DOE OSTI2018

Hardness of H13 Tool Steel After Non-isothermal Tempering

A direct method to calculate the tempering response of a tool steel (H13) that exhibits secondary hardening is presented. Based on the traditional method of presenting tempering response in terms of isothermal tempering, we show that the tempering response for a steel undergoing a non-isothermal tempering schedule can be predicted. Experiments comprised (1) isothermal tempering, (2) non-isothermal tempering pertaining to a relatively slow heating to process-temperature and (3) fast-heating cycles that are relevant to tempering by induction heating. After establishing the tempering response of the steel under simple isothermal conditions, the tempering response can be applied to non-isothermal tempering by using a numerical method to calculate the tempering parameter. Calculated results are verified by the experiments.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2015

Characterization of supersonic radiation diffusion waves

Supersonic and diffusive radiation flow is an important test problem for the radiative transfer models used in radiation-hydrodynamics computer codes owing to solutions being accessible via analytic and numeric methods. We present experimental results with which we compare these solutions by studying supersonic and diffusive flow in the laboratory. Here, we present results of higher-accuracy experiments than previously possible studying radiation flow through up to 7 high-temperature mean free paths of low-density, chlorine-doped polystyrene foam and silicon dioxide aerogel contained by an Au tube. Measurements of the heat front position and absolute measurements of the x-ray emission arrival at the end of the tube are used to test numerical and analytical models. We find excellent absolute agreement with simulations provided that the opacity and the equation of state are adjusted within expected uncertainties; analytical models provide a good phenomenological match to measurements but are not in quantitative agreement due to their limited scope.

38 RADIATION CHEMISTRY, RADIOCHEMISTRY, AND NUCLEA↗
DOE OSTI2021

Estimation of constituent properties of concrete materials with an artificial neural network based method

Multi-scale models are developed for heterogeneous concrete materials to estimate their macroscopic mechanical properties in terms of micro-structural data. One crucial challenge of those models is the identification of local properties of constituent phases. In this paper, we present an efficient method based on Artificial Neural Networks (ANN). Typical concrete materials are taken as example. A macroscopic analytical strength criterion is established from three steps of nonlinear homogenization procedure. The macroscopic strength of materials is determined as a function of the frictional coefficient and cohesion of solid cement particles at nanometer scale, intra-particle pores, inter-particle pores and aggregates (inclusions). The objective is to identify the nanoscopic frictional coefficient and cohesion of cement particle from measured macroscopic values of uniaxial compression and tensile strengths. For this purpose, a numerical method based on the ANN is developed. With the analytical macroscopic strength criterion, sensitivity studies are first realized to identify the most important micro-structural parameters influencing the macroscopic strength of concrete. A simplified analytical macroscopic strength criterion is then proposed. A large dataset is further constructed through the inversion of the analytical strength criterion by using the aggregates volume fraction, porosity, macroscopic uniaxial tensile and compressive strengths as input variables and the frictional coefficient and cohesion of cement particles as output unknowns. An ANN model containing four hidden layers and 100 neurons in each layer is constructed and trained by using this dataset. Various types of validation of the ANN model are performed. It is found that the proposed ANN based model can effectively predict the frictional coefficient and cohesion of porous cement paste at the microscopic scale with a very good accuracy.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2014

Modulational instability of electrostatic acoustic waves in an electron-hole semiconductor quantum plasma

The modulational instability of quantum electrostatic acoustic waves in electron-hole quantum semiconductor plasmas is investigated using the quantum hydrodynamic model, from which a modified nonlinear Schrödinger equation with damping effects is derived using the reductive perturbation method. Here, we consider the combined effects of quantum recoil, quantum degenerate pressures, as well as the exchange-correlation effect standing for the electrons (holes) spin. The modulational instability for different semiconductors (GaAs, GaSb, and InP) is discussed. The collision between electron (hole) and phonon is also investigated. The permitted maximum time for modulational instability and the damping features of quantum envelope solitary wave are all determined by the collision. The approximate solitary solution with damping effects is presented in weak collision limit. The damping properties were discussed by numerical method.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
NASA NTRS1988

Three-dimensional atmospheric entry problem using method of matched asymptotic expansions

The analysis of a three-dimensional atmospheric entry problem using the method of matched asymptotic expansions is considered. A composite solution is formed in terms of an outer solution, an inner solution and a common solution. The outer solution is obtained from the gravitationally dominant region, whereas the aerodynamically dominant region contributes to the inner solution. The common solution accounts for the overlap between the outer and inner regions. In comparison to previous work, this simplified methodology yields explicit analytical expressions for various components of the composite solution without resorting to any type of transcendental equations to be solved only by numerical methods.

Naidu, D. S.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Simulations of curved turbulent boundary layers

The objective of this work is to develop a space-time accurate numerical method for the solution of incompressible Navier-Stokes equations in generalized coordinates. The resulting code is to be used for direct and large-eddy simulation of turbulence in complex geometries. In a previous paper, the system of Navier-Stokes equations in general curvilinear coordinates was solved by a second-order accurate finite-difference scheme. Satisfactory results were obtained for several flows in two and three dimensions. The system of Navier-Stokes for the fluxes are given in Orlandi (1989). The main deficiency of the numerical scheme was the large CPU time required for the solution of the Poisson equation for the 'pressure' field. The point SOR relaxation, in conjunction with a multigrid scheme, was used for the Poisson equation. In some cases, particularly with very fine grids, it was impossible to obtain a divergent-free flow. A preliminary attempt is made to compute the spatially evolving flow of Swearingen & Blackwelder. To reduce the streamwise distance, the inflow was at a distance x = 60 cm from the leading edge.

Orlandi, Paolo↗
DOE OSTI2015

Ion sound instability driven by the ion flows

Ion sound instabilities driven by the ion flow in a system of a finite length are considered by analytical and numerical methods. The ion sound waves are modified by the presence of stationary ion flow resulting in negative and positive energy modes. The instability develops due to coupling of negative and positive energy modes mediated by reflections from the boundary. It is shown that the wave dispersion due to deviation from quasineutrality is crucial for the stability. In finite length system, the dispersion is characterized by the length of the system measured in units of the Debye length. The instability is studied analytically and the results are compared with direct, initial value numerical simulations.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Evolution of Astrodynamics for Multibody Environments, Numerical Precision and Dynamical Understanding

The innovative nature of dynamical systems theory and its applications in trajectory design enabled many recent missions by opening up new transfer and capture opportunities to meet mission requirements, reduce fuel costs, and address various launch constraints and contingencies. With a combination of proven numerical methods and an advanced understanding of the dynamics, an ‘experienced’ user can rapidly design multibody and cislunar missions such as Lunar IceCube and Artemis/Themis and relatively quickly conceive trajectory concepts for Sun-Earth mission orbits, such as the Space Weather Follow On-L1 Lissajous orbit—one that can be achieved and maintained.

Dynamical Systems↗
DOE OSTI2015

WE-AB-204-07: Spatiotemporal Distribution of the FDG PET Tracer in Solid Tumors: Contributions of Diffusion and Convection Mechanisms

Purpose: In this study, a mathematical model is utilized to simulate FDG distribution in tumor tissue. In contrast to conventional compartmental modeling, tracer distributions across space and time are directly linked together (i.e. moving beyond ordinary differential equations (ODEs) to utilizing partial differential equations (PDEs) coupling space and time). The diffusion and convection transport mechanisms are both incorporated to model tracer distribution. We aimed to investigate the contributions of these two mechanisms on FDG distribution for various tumor geometries obtained from PET/CT images. Methods: FDG transport was simulated via a spatiotemporal distribution model (SDM). The model is based on a 5K compartmental model. We model the fact that tracer concentration in the second compartment (extracellular space) is modulated via convection and diffusion. Data from n=45 patients with pancreatic tumors as imaged using clinical FDG PET/CT imaging were analyzed, and geometrical information from the tumors including size, shape, and aspect ratios were classified. Tumors with varying shapes and sizes were assessed in order to investigate the effects of convection and diffusion mechanisms on FDG transport. Numerical methods simulating interstitial flow and solute transport in tissue were utilized. Results: We have shown the convection mechanism to depend on the shape and size of tumors whereas diffusion mechanism is seen to exhibit low dependency on shape and size. Results show that concentration distribution of FDG is relatively similar for the considered tumors; and that the diffusion mechanism of FDG transport significantly dominates the convection mechanism. The Peclet number which shows the ratio of convection to diffusion rates was shown to be of the order of 10−{sup 3} for all considered tumors. Conclusion: We have demonstrated that even though convection leads to varying tracer distribution profiles depending on tumor shape and size, the domination of the diffusion phenomenon prevents these factors from modulating FDG distribution.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
NASA NTRS1989

Aerodynamic interaction between vortical wakes and lifting two-dimensional bodies

Unsteady rotor wake interactions with the empennage, tail boom, and other aerodynamic surfaces of a helicopter have a significant influence on its aerodynamic performance, the ride quality, and vibration. A numerical method for computing the aerodynamic interaction between an interacting vortex wake and the viscous flow about arbitrary two-dimensional bodies was developed to address this helicopter problem. The method solves for the flow field velocities on a body-fitted computational mesh using finite-difference techniques. The interacting vortex wake is represented by an array of discrete vortices which, in turn, are represented by a finite-core model. The evolution of the interacting vortex wake is calculated by Lagrangian techniques. The viscous flow field of the two-dimensional body is calculated on an Eulerian grid. The flow around circular and elliptic cylinders in the absence of an interacting vortex wake was calculated. These results compare very well with other numerical results and with results obtained from experiment and thereby demonstrate the accuracy of the viscous solution. The interaction of a rotor wake with the flow about a 4 to 1 elliptic cylinder at 45 degree incidence was calculated for a Reynolds number of 3000. The results demonstrate the significant variations in the lift and drag on the elliptic cylinder in the presence of the interacting rotor wake.

Stremel, Paul M.↗
NASA NTRS1988

A numerical study of ENO and TVD schemes for shock capturing

The numerical performance of a second-order upwind-based total variation diminishing (TVD) scheme and that of a uniform second-order essentially non-oscillatory (ENO) scheme for shock capturing are compared. The TVD scheme used is a modified version of Liou, using the flux-difference splitting (FDS) of Roe and his superbee function as the limiter. The construction of the basic ENO scheme is based on Harten, Engquist, Osher, and Chakravarthy, and the 2-D extensions are obtained by using a Strang-type of fractional-step time-splitting method. Numerical results presented include both steady and unsteady, 1-D and 2-D calculations. All the chosen test problems have exact solutions so that numerical performance can be measured by comparing the computer results to them. For 1-D calculations, the standard shock-tube problems of Sod and Lax are chosen. A very strong shock-tube problem, with the initial density ratio of 400 to 1 and pressure ratio of 500 to 1, is also used to study the behavior of the two schemes. For 2-D calculations, the shock wave reflection problems are adopted for testing. The cases presented in this report include flows with Mach numbers of 2.9, 5.0, and 10.0.

Chang, Shih-Hung↗
NASA NTRS1991

Compressible flows with periodic vortical disturbances around lifting airfoils

A numerical method is developed for solving periodic, three-dimensional, vortical flows around lifting airfoils in subsonic flow. The first-order method that is presented fully accounts for the distortion effects of the nonuniform mean flow on the convected upstream vortical disturbances. The unsteady velocity is split into a vortical component which is a known function of the upstream flow conditions and the Lagrangian coordinates of the mean flow, and an irrotational field whose potential satisfies a nonconstant-coefficient, inhomogeneous, convective wave equation. Using an elliptic coordinate transformation, the unsteady boundary value problem is solved in the frequency domain on grids which are determined as a function of the Mach number and reduced frequency. The numerical scheme is validated through extensive comparisons with known solutions to unsteady vortical flow problems. In general, it is seen that the agreement between the numerical and analytical results is very good for reduced frequencies ranging from 0 to 4, and for Mach numbers ranging from .1 to .8. Numerical results are also presented for a wide variety of flow configurations for the purpose of determining the effects of airfoil thickness, angle of attack, camber, and Mach number on the unsteady lift and moment of airfoils subjected to periodic vortical gusts. It is seen that each of these parameters can have a significant effect on the unsteady airfoil response to the incident disturbances, and that the effect depends strongly upon the reduced frequency and the dimensionality of the gust. For a one-dimensional (transverse) or two-dimensional (transverse and longitudinal) gust, the results indicate that airfoil thickness increases the unsteady lift and moment at the low reduced frequencies but decreases it at the high reduced frequencies. The results show that an increase in airfoil Mach number leads to a significant increase in the unsteady lift and moment for the low reduced frequencies, but a significant decrease for the high reduced frequencies.

Scott, James R.↗