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At least 1,495 records · Page 83

Quantification of ln-Flight Physical Changes: Anthropometry and Neutral Body Posture

Currently, NASA does not have sufficient in-flight anthropometric data to assess the impact of changes in body shape and size. For developing future planetary and reduced-gravity suits, NASA needs to quantify the impacts of microgravity on anthropometry and body posture to ensure optimal crew performance, fit, and comfort. To obtain data on these changes, circumference, length, height, breadth, and depth for body segments (chest, waist, bicep, thigh, calf) from astronauts for preflight, in-flight, and post-flight conditions needs to be collected. Once these data have been collected, pre-flight, in-flight, and post-flight anthropometric values will be compared, yielding microgravity factors. The neutral body posture (NBP) will also be measured, to determine body posture (joint angle) changes between subjects throughout the duration of a mission. Data collection, starting with Increments 37/38, is still in progress but has been completed for 6 out of 9 subjects. NASA suit engineers and NASA's Extravehicular Activity (EVA) Project Office have identified that suit fit in microgravity could become an issue. It has been noted that crewmembers often need to adjust their suit sizing once they are in orbit. This adjustment could be due to microgravity effects on anthropometry and postural changes, and is necessary to ensure optimal crew performance, fit, and comfort in space. To date, the only data collected to determine the effects of microgravity on physical human changes were collected during Skylab 4, the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project (ASTP), Space Shuttle mission STS-57, and a recent HRP study on seated height changes due to spinal elongation (Spinal Elongation, Master Task List [MTL] #221). The Skylab 4, ASTP, and the STS-57 studies found that, according to photographs, a distinct NBP exists. The still photographs showed a distinguishable posture with the arms raised and the shoulders abducted; in addition, the knees are flexed, with noticeable hip flexion, and the foot is plantar flexed [1,2]. This combination is considered to be the standard set of body joint angles for an NBP in microgravity. A recent simulated microgravity NBP study [3] showed individual variability and inconsistencies in defining NBP. This variation may be influenced by spinal growth, and other potential anthropometry factors such as spinal curvature, age, and gender. Data on the variation of this posture data is required for all kinds of space device designs (such as suits, habitat, and mobility aids). The method proposed in this study considers the dynamic nature of body movement and will use a measurement technique to continually monitor posture and develop a probability likelihood of the neutral posture and how the NBP postures are affected by anthropometry. Additionally, Skylab studies found that crewmembers experienced a stature growth of up to 3 percent. The data included 3 crewmembers and showed that a biphasic stature growth occurs once the crewmember enters into weightlessness. However, the HRP Spinal Elongation study showed that crewmembers could experience about a 6 percent growth in seated height and a 3 percent stature growth, when exposed to microgravity. The results of that study prove that not all anthropometric measurements have the same microgravity percent growth factor. For EVA and suit engineers to properly update the sizing protocol for microgravity, they need additional anthropometric data from space missions. Hence, this study is aimed at gathering additional in-flight anthropometric measurements, such as length, depth, breadth, and circumference, to determine the changes to body shape and size caused by microgravity effects. It is anticipated that by recording the potential changes to body shape and size, NASA will develop a better suit sizing protocol for the International Space Station and other space missions. In essence, this study will help NASA quantify the impacts of microgravity on anthropometry to ensure optimal crew performance, fit, and comfort. This study will use standard anthropometry data collection techniques, 3D laser scanning, digital still photography, and video data, and perform photogrammetric analyses to determine the changes that occur to the body shape and size, and to NBP, when the human body is exposed to a microgravity environment.

Young, K. S.↗

Bidirectional low temperature district energy systems with agent-based control: Performance comparison and operation optimization

Bidirectional low temperature networks are a novel concept that promises more efficient heating and cooling of buildings. Early research shows theoretical benefits in terms of exergy efficiency over other technologies. Pilot projects indicate that the concept delivers good performance if heating and cooling demands are diverse. However, the operation of these networks is not yet optimized and there is no quantification of the benefits over other technologies in various scenarios. Moreover, there is a lack of understanding of how to integrate and control multiple distributed heat and cold sources in such networks. Thus, this paper develops a control concept based on a temperature set point optimization and agent-based control which allows the modular integration of an arbitrary number of sources and consumers. Afterwards, the concept is applied to two scenarios representing neighborhoods in San Francisco and Cologne with different heating and cooling demands and boundary conditions. The performance of the system is then compared to other state-of-the-art heating and cooling solutions using dynamic simulations with Modelica. The results show that bidirectional low temperature networks without optimization produce 26% less emissions in the San Francisco scenario and 63% in the Cologne scenario in comparison to the other heating and cooling solutions. Savings of energy costs are 46% and 27%, and reductions of primary energy consumption 52% and 72%, respectively. The presented operation optimization leads to electricity use reductions of 13% and 41% when compared to networks with free-floating temperature control and the results indicate further potential for improvement. The study demonstrates the advantage of low temperature networks in different situations and introduces a control concept that is extendable for real implementation.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗

A Computational Tool Compatible with NEAMS Code Packages for Optimizing the Shape of Nuclear Reactor Components and of Whole Core Performance

We designed and implemented a shape optimization tool that functions with NEAMS codes, and that nuclear scientists and engineers can employ to optimize the shape of individual components and the whole core under the applicable single- or multi-physics model comprising the employed code(s). The shape-optimization tool enables varying the geometric shape itself as well as its dimensions to yield, potentially, new component designs that are not limited by the designer’s intuition and previous experience. In cases where the optimal-shape object is an individual component, we provide the capability for additional verification that the whole-core performance using the optimized component performs better, under the prescribed optimization criteria, than the initial design. Our shape-optimization tool couples to NEAMS codes via a flexible input- composer interface and enables the user to constrain the shape’s evolution to ensure the component’s manufacturability. Finally, we demonstrate our shape-optimization tool with single- and multi-physics NEAMS codes. This objective is motivated by the recent advances in manufacturing technology that, combined with rising interest in novel reactor concepts, are creating new opportunities for innovation in the design of individual components that affect the performance of the full reactor system. In particular, Additive Manufacturing (AM) enables mass production of highly precise, intricate and complex component shapes that are not feasible with traditional manufacturing techniques. To accomplish this goal we developed and implemented in MOOSE: (1) discrete shape optimization capability based on a state-space search that uses Artificial Intelligence strategies to find the optimal state/shape; (2) smooth shape optimization tool that employs PETSc’s toolkit for advanced optimization (TAO) to optimize node-displacement of the components’ model sidesets; (3) hierarchical core optimization workflow that recognizes the repeating patterns typical in a nuclear reactor and performs the optimization one level at a time with increasing length scale. Each of these tools is equipped with user-specified constraints to avoid optimal shapes that are not manufacturable. The developed shape optimization tool is verified and demonstrated on various nuclear reactor core components and models. The optimization process accounts for tightly coupled physics that govern the behavior of these target reactors, and exercises several NEAMS codes in a coupled multiphysics fashion. The impact of the delivered shape optimization tool will materialize in the optimal design, from the outset, of advanced reactors currently contemplated to regain the US’s leadership in nuclear energy R&D. Novel reactor concepts, e.g. Molten Salt Reactors, and sizes/capacities, e.g. micro- reactors, provide a unique opportunity to optimize performance from the early stages of development, before the investment in components’ production lines, validation experiments, and licensing regimes make future improvements in performance prohibitively expensive and force sub-optimal performance on the affected reactor concept in perpetuity. This benefit will be realized by the delivered shape optimization tool regardless of the applicable manufacturing process whether traditional or AM, thereby broadening the impact of this project on current and future reactor concepts and technologies

11 - NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

LCOE Design Optimization Using Genetic Algorithm with Improved Component Models for Medium-Voltage Transformerless PV Inverters

For real-world installations of photovoltaic and other renewable energy resources, the critical design metric is the levelized cost of energy (LCOE); however, many power electronics design optimizations are performed with efficiency and power density as the primary design goals. Recent work has shown that a new LCOE-focused optimization approach can yield improved system designs balancing cost and energy generation. This paper expands the LCOE optimization approach by considering comprehensive optimization parameters, adding new modeling of inductor cost, extending the semiconductor model to include effects of losses on housing cost, and implementing a genetic algorithm to improve computation efficiency.

41 EE - Solar Energy Technologies Office (EE-4S)↗

High Sensitivity of Non–Fullerene Organic Solar Cells Morphology and Performance to a Processing Additive

Although solvent additives are used to optimize device performance in many novel non-fullerene acceptor (NFA) organic solar cells (OSCs), the effect of processing additives on OSC structures and functionalities can be difficult to predict. Here, two polymer-NFA OSCs with highly sensitive device performance and morphology to the most prevalent solvent additive chloronaphthalene (CN) are presented. Devices with 1% CN additive are found to nearly double device efficiencies to 10%. However, additive concentrations even slightly above optimum significantly hinder device performance due to formation of undesirable morphologies. A comprehensive analysis of device nanostructure shows that CN is critical to increasing crystallinity and optimizing phase separation up to the optimal concentration for suppressing charge recombination and maximizing performance. Here, domain purity and crystallinity are highly correlated with photocurrent and fill factors. However, this effect is in competition with uncontrolled crystallization of NFAs that occur at CN concentrations slightly above optimal. This study highlights how slight variations of solvent additives can impart detrimental effects to morphology and device performance of NFA OSCs. Furthermore, successful scale-up processing of NFA-based OSCs will require extreme formulation control, a tuned NFA structure that resists runaway crystallization, or alternative methods such as additive-free fabrication.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

An Optimization Platform Based on Coupled Indoor Environment and HVAC Simulation and its Application in Optimal Thermostat Placement

Model-based optimization can help improve the indoor thermal comfort and energy efficiency of Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems. The models used in previous optimization studies either omit the dynamic interaction between indoor airflow and HVAC or are too slow for model-based optimization. To address this limitation, we propose an optimization methodology using coupled simulation of the airflow and HVAC that captures the dynamics of both systems. We implement an optimization platform using the coupled models of a coarse grid Fast Fluid Dynamics model for indoor airflow and Modelica models for HVAC which is linked to the GenOpt optimization engine. Then, we demonstrate the new optimization platform by studying the optimal thermostat placement in a typical office room with a VAV terminal box in the design phase. After validating the model, we perform an optimization study, in which the VAV terminal box is dynamically controlled, and find that our optimization platform can determine the optimal location of thermostat to achieve either best thermal comfort or least energy consumption, or the combined. Finally, the time cost for performing such optimization study is about 6.2 h, which is acceptable in the design phase.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗

Implementation and Performance Issues in Collaborative Optimization

Collaborative optimization is a multidisciplinary design architecture that is well-suited to large-scale multidisciplinary optimization problems. This paper compares this approach with other architectures, examines the details of the formulation, and some aspects of its performance. A particular version of the architecture is proposed to better accommodate the occurrence of multiple feasible regions. The use of system level inequality constraints is shown to increase the convergence rate. A series of simple test problems, demonstrated to challenge related optimization architectures, is successfully solved with collaborative optimization.

Braun, Robert↗

Computerized systems analysis and optimization of aircraft engine performance, weight, and life cycle costs

The computational techniques utilized to determine the optimum propulsion systems for future aircraft applications and to identify system tradeoffs and technology requirements are described. The characteristics and use of the following computer codes are discussed: (1) NNEP - a very general cycle analysis code that can assemble an arbitrary matrix fans, turbines, ducts, shafts, etc., into a complete gas turbine engine and compute on- and off-design thermodynamic performance; (2) WATE - a preliminary design procedure for calculating engine weight using the component characteristics determined by NNEP; (3) POD DRG - a table look-up program to calculate wave and friction drag of nacelles; (4) LIFCYC - a computer code developed to calculate life cycle costs of engines based on the output from WATE; and (5) INSTAL - a computer code developed to calculate installation effects, inlet performance and inlet weight. Examples are given to illustrate how these computer techniques can be applied to analyze and optimize propulsion system fuel consumption, weight, and cost for representative types of aircraft and missions.

Fishbach, L. H.↗

Analysis of Control Behavior in Eco-Driving Speed Optimization Using Pontryagin’s Minimum Principle

The energy efficiency of autonomous vehicles can be improved by selecting an optimized speed profile. Energy savings can be maximized by performing control optimization with knowledge of the powertrain characteristics and future driving conditions. Previous studies have shown that Pontryagin’s minimum principle (PMP) performs well in vehicle speed optimization problems. Building on the methods proposed in previous studies, the contribution of this study is to derive meaningful observations from the concepts and results of PMP to enhance the understanding of the control problem. In particular, the switching behavior of the control mode is analyzed with supportive variables, such as ξ and mv, which dictates the changes in the control modes. Additionally, the existence of the singular control is analyzed, which helps in understanding the cruise driving in the control problem. Finally, we obtain several solutions that satisfy various boundary conditions along with a map of the reachable states, and discuss the impact of cruise driving. This is helpful for designing practical control concepts for real-world applications based on this map. Previous studies have contributed significantly to this control problem; however, this study provides a better understanding of the issue and offers guidance and inspiration for future real-world applications based on these meaningful observations.

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗

Design, optimization, and analysis of a self-deploying PV tent array

A tent shaped PV array was designed and the design was optimized for maximum specific power. In order to minimize output power variation a tent angle of 60 deg was chosen. Based on the chosen tent angle an array structure was designed. The design considerations were minimal deployment time, high reliability, and small stowage volume. To meet these considerations the array was chosen to be self-deployable, form a compact storage configuration, using a passive pressurized gas deployment mechanism. Each structural component of the design was analyzed to determine the size necessary to withstand the various forces to which it would be subjected. Through this analysis the component weights were determined. An optimization was performed to determine the array dimensions and blanket geometry which produce the maximum specific power for a given PV blanket. This optimization was performed for both lunar and Martian environmental conditions. Other factors such as PV blanket types, structural material, and wind velocity (for Mars array), were varied to determine what influence they had on the design point. The performance specifications for the array at both locations and with each type of PV blanket were determined. These specifications were calculated using the Arimid fiber composite as the structural material. The four PV blanket types considered were silicon, GaAs/Ge, GaAsCLEFT, and amorphous silicon. The specifications used for each blanket represented either present day or near term technology. For both the Moon and Mars the amorphous silicon arrays produced the highest specific power.

Collozza, Anthony J.↗

Empirical performance bounds for quantum approximate optimization

The quantum approximate optimization algorithm (QAOA) has been put forth as a method for near-term quantum computers to solve optimization problems. However, assessments of QAOA performance have mostly focused on small structured problem instances while performance on more general instances is less clear. Here, we numerically simulate QAOA pure state dynamics for every instance of MaxCut on non-isomorphic unweighted graphs with nine or fewer vertices with depth parameters p ≤ 3. We find the approximation ratios and optimized circuit parameters concentrate across graphs of a given size and empirically show increases in concentration as graph size increases. The parameter concentration leads to two median-angle heuristics that overcome difficulties in QAOA parameter optimization and obtain mean approximation ratios within 3% and 0.2% of the optimal. We also analyze the probability to measure an optimal solution and find increasing variations between graphs as depth increases, in stark contrast to the approximation ratios which concentrate as depth increases. Furthermore, the resulting benchmark data set gives empirical bounds for on-going experimental realizations and lays groundwork for theoretical extensions to greater problem sizes and depths where QAOA may prove important for practically relevant problems.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Pavement condition and climatic data in southeast Texas: A dataset for evaluating flood impacts on pavement performance

Effective pavement maintenance is essential for economic stability, optimal network performance, and roadway safety. Achieving this requires thorough evaluation of pavement conditions, including structural integrity, surface roughness, and distress characteristics. Pavement performance indicators play a critical role in influencing vehicle safety and ride quality. Recent advances have emphasized the use of data-driven modeling to anticipate pavement behavior, with the goal of optimizing resource allocation and refining Maintenance and Rehabilitation (M&R) strategies through accurate condition assessment. A foundational requirement for these modeling efforts is the availability of standardized, high-quality datasets that can support robust and reproducible infrastructure analysis. This data article presents a comprehensive dataset assembled to facilitate pavement performance prediction, with a geographic focus on Southeast Texas, particularly the flood-vulnerable area of Beaumont. The dataset encompasses pavement and traffic attributes, meteorological records, flood simulation outputs, ground deformation measurements, and topographic indices, enabling detailed examination of both load-associated and non-load-associated degradation mechanisms. Data preprocessing was performed using ArcGIS Pro, Microsoft Excel, and Python to ensure consistency and usability in data-driven modeling applications, including machine learning workflows. Key contributions of this dataset include its utility in analyzing the climatic and environmental factors affecting pavement conditions, identifying critical predictive features, and enabling in-depth correlation analysis across diverse variables. By filling existing gaps in input variable selection resources, this dataset supports the development of predictive tools for estimating future maintenance demand and enhancing the resilience of pavement networks in flood-impacted areas. The resource highlights the importance of standardized datasets for advancing pavement management practices and provides a robust foundation for ongoing infrastructure performance modeling.

42 ENGINEERING↗

WE-EF-BRA-07: High Performance Preclinical Irradiation Through Optimized Dual Focal Spot Dose Painting and Online Virtual Isocenter Radiation Field Targeting

Purpose: Advances in radiotherapy practice facilitated by collimation systems to shape radiation fields and image guidance to target these conformal beams have motivated proposals for more complex dose patterns to improve the therapeutic ratio. Recent progress in small animal radiotherapy platforms has provided the foundation to validate the efficacy of such interventions, but robustly delivering heterogeneous dose distributions at the scale and accuracy demanded by preclinical studies remains challenging. This work proposes a dual focal spot optimization method to paint spatially heterogeneous dose regions and an online virtual isocenter targeting method to accurately target the dose distributions. Methods: Two-dimensional dose kernels were empirically measured for the 1 mm diameter circular collimator with radiochromic film in a solid water phantom for the small and large x-ray focal spots on the X-RAD 225Cx microirradiator. These kernels were used in an optimization framework which determined a set of animal stage positions, beam-on times, and focal spot settings to optimally deliver a given desired dose distribution. An online method was developed which defined a virtual treatment isocenter based on a single image projection of the collimated radiation field. The method was demonstrated by optimization of a 6 mm circular 2 Gy target adjoining a 4 mm semicircular avoidance region. Results: The dual focal spot technique improved the optimized dose distribution with the proportion of avoidance region receiving more than 0.5 Gy reduced by 40% compared to the large focal spot technique. Targeting tests performed by irradiating ball bearing targets on radiochromic film pieced revealed the online targeting method improved the three-dimensional accuracy from 0.48 mm to 0.15 mm. Conclusion: The dual focal spot optimization and online virtual isocenter targeting framework is a robust option for delivering dose at the preclinical level and provides a new experimental option for unique radiobiological investigations This work is supported, in part, by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada and a Mitacs-Accelerate fellowship. P.E. Lindsay, and D.A. Jaffray are listed as inventors of the system described herein. This system has been licensed to Precision X-Ray Inc. for commercial development.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

Information Extraction from Cancer Pathology Reports with Graph Convolution Networks for Natural Language Texts

Graph-of-words is a flexible and efficient text representation which addresses well-known challenges, such as word ordering and variation of expressions, to natural language processing. In this paper, we consider the latest graph-based convolutional neural network technique, the Text Graph Convolutional Network (Text GCN), in the context of performing classification tasks on free-form natural language texts. To do this, we designed a study of multi-task information extraction from medical text documents. We implemented multi-task learning in the Text GCN, performed hyperparameter optimization, and measured the clinical task performances. We evaluated micro and macro-F1 scores of four information extraction tasks, including subsite, laterality, behavior, and histological grades from cancer pathology reports. The scores for the Text GCN significantly outperformed our previous studies with convolutional neural networks, suggesting that the Text GCN model is superior to traditional models in task performance.

Yoon, Hong-Jun↗

Design optimization of MAPS-based detectors using a data-driven fast simulation approach

A parametric simulation tool for pixel sensors is presented. A realistic pixel response is simulated purely based on measurement input, without requiring detailed knowledge of the underlying manufacturing process. As such, it provides an efficient alternative to the use of Technology Computer-Aided Design simulations, which typically depend on proprietary process information. Due to its parametric approach, the package is fast and thus particularly useful for larger detector systems and high hit rate environments. This work presents measurements, simulation and its validation for the MALTA2 sensor. It is a small collection electrode monolithic active pixel sensor produced in the Tower 180 nm complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor imaging process. Modifications to the sensor’s periphery, mainly in the hit merger, are studied in order to optimize the performance for tracking and calorimetry. This optimization is of special interest as part of the MALTA3 sensor redesign in the 65 nm Tower Partners Semiconductor Co. process.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Designing Ti-6Al-4V microstructure for strain delocalization using neural networks

Abstract The deformation behavior of Ti-6Al-4V titanium alloy is significantly influenced by slip localized within crystallographic slip bands. Experimental observations reveal that intense slip bands in Ti-6Al-4V form at strains well below the macroscopic yield strain and may serially propagate across grain boundaries, resulting in long-range localization that percolates through the microstructure. These connected, localized slip bands serve as potential sites for crack initiation. Although slip localization in Ti-6Al-4V is known to be influenced by various factors, an investigation of optimal microstructures that limit localization remains lacking. In this work, we develop a novel strategy that integrates an explicit slip band crystal plasticity technique, graph networks, and neural network models to identify Ti-6Al-4V microstructures that reduce the propensity for strain localization. Simulations are conducted on a dataset of 3D polycrystals, each represented as a graph to account for grain neighborhood and connectivity. The results are then used to train neural network surrogate models that accurately predict localization-based properties of a polycrystal, given its microstructure. These properties include the ratio of slip accumulated in the band to that in the matrix, fraction of total applied strain accommodated by slip bands, and spatial connectivity of slip bands throughout the microstructure. The initial dataset is enriched by synthetic data generated by the surrogate models, and a grid search optimization is subsequently performed to find optimal microstructures. Describing a 3D polycrystal with only a few features and a combination of graph and neural network models offer robustness compared to the alternative approaches without compromising accuracy. We show that while each material property is optimized through a unique microstructure solution, elongated grain shape emerges as a recurring feature among all optimal microstructures. This finding suggests that designing microstructures with elongated grains could potentially mitigate strain localization without compromising strength.

Ahmadikia, Behnam↗

Shaping Micro-Bunched Electron Beams for Compact X-ray Free-Electron Lasers with Transverse Gradient Undulators

Laser-modulator-based micro-bunching of electron beams has been applied to many novel operating modes of X-ray free-electron lasers from harmonic generation to attosecond pulse production. Recently, it was also identified as a key enabling technology for the production of a compact XFEL driven by a relatively low-energy beam. In traditional laser modulator schemes with low-energy and high-current bunches, collective effects limit the possible working points that can be employed, and thus it is difficult to achieve optimal XFEL performance. We propose to utilize transverse longitudinal coupling in a transverse gradient undulator (TGU) to shape micro-bunched electron beams so as to optimize their performance in a compact X-ray free-electron laser. We show that a TGU added to a conventional laser modulator stage enables much more flexibility in the design, allowing one to generate longer micro-bunches less subject to slippage effects and even lower the slice emittance of the micro-bunches. We present a theoretical analysis of laser-based micro-bunching with an added TGU, simulation of compression with collective effects in such systems, and finally XFEL simulations demonstrating the gains in peak power enabled by the TGU. Although we focus on the application to compact XFELs, what we propose is a general phase space manipulation that may find utility in other applications as well.

eSASE↗

Conceptual designs and computer models of imaging radiometers for earth observations

An analytical model is developed based on engineering principles which can be used to predict the performance of spaceborne electro-optical remote sensors. Computer simulations and trade-off studies can be performed with this model to determine optimal sensor performance and design parameters. Computer algorithms were developed from which LOTUS spreadsheet macros were written. Computer simulations were performed to determine the performance characteristics and design parameters for the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectrometer Nadir (MODIS-N) currently under development at NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center.

Montgomery, Harry E.↗