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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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All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1977

Doubly-curved variable-thickness isoparametric heterogeneous finite element

This paper describes an element streamlined for the analysis of doubly-curved, variable-thickness structural components and illustrates its effective application to vibration and static problems. The element is isoparametric, doubly-curved, thin-shell and triangular with variable thickness and accounts for anisotropic, inhomogeneous elastic material behavior. The element has six nodes (three corner and three mid-side) with five degrees-of-freedom (DOF) per node - three translations and two rotations. Quadratic isoparametric interpolation polynomials are used to express the element geometry and displacement variables in terms of corresponding nodal variables.

Minich, M. D.↗
NASA NTRS2003

Hierarchical Strategy for Rapid Analysis Environment

A new philosophy is developed wherein the hierarchical definition of data is made use of in creating a better environment to conduct analyses of practical problems. This system can be adapted to conduct virtually any type of analysis, since this philosophy is not bound to any specific kind of analysis. It provides a framework to manage different models and its results and more importantly, the interaction between the different models. Thus, it is ideal for many types of finite element analyses like globalAoca1 analysis and those that involve multiple scales and fields. The system developed during the course of this work is just a demonstrator of the basic concepts. A complete implementation of this strategy could potentially make a major impact on the way analyses are conducted. It could considerably reduce the time frame required to conduct the analysis of real-life problems by efficient management of the data involved and reducing the human effort involved. It also helps in better decision making because of more ways to interpret the results. The strategy has been currently implemented for structural analysis, but with more work it could be extended to other fields of science when the finite element method is used to solve the differential equations numerically. This report details the work that has been done during the course of this project and its achievements and results. The following section discusses the meaning of the word hierarchical and the different references to the term in the literature. It talks about the development of the finite element method, its different versions and how hierarchy has been used to improve the methodology. The next section describes the hierarchical philosophy in detail and explains the different concepts and terms associated with it. It goes on to describe the implementation and the features of the demonstrator. A couple of problems are analyzed using the demonstrator program to show the working of the system. The two problems considered are two dimensional plane stress analysis problems. The results are compared with those obtained using conventional analysis. The different challenges faced during the development of this system are discussed. Finally, we conclude with suggestions for future work to add more features and extend it to a wider range of problems.

Whitcomb, John↗
NASA NTRS1998

Model Refinement Using Eigensystem Assignment

This paper presented a novel approach for the refinement of finite-element-based analytical models of flexible structures is presented. The proposed approach models the possible refinements in the mass, damping, and stiffness matrices of the finite element model in the form of a constant gain feedback with acceleration, velocity, and displacement measurements, respectively. Once, the free elements of the structural matrices have been defined, the problem of model refinement reduces to obtaining position, velocity, and acceleration gain matrices, which reassign a desired subset of the eigenvalues of the model, along with partial mode shapes, from their baseline values to those obtained from system identification test data. A sequential procedure is used to assign one self-conjugate pair of closed-loop eigenvalues at each step using symmetric output feedback gain matrices, and the closed-loop eigenvectors are partially assigned, while ensuring that the eigenvalues assigned in the previous steps are not disturbed. The procedure can also impose that gain matrices be dissipative in order to guarantee the stability of the refined model. A numerical example, involving finite element model refinement for a structural testbed at NASA Langley (CSI Evolutionary Model) is presented to demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed approach.

Maghami, Pieman G.↗
DOE OSTI2019

The Shifted Interface Method: A flexible approach to embedded interface computations

We propose a new embedded finite element method to simulate partial differential equations over domains with internal interfaces. Our approach belongs to the family of surrogate/approximate interface methods and relies on the idea of shifting the location and value of jump interface conditions. This choice has the goal of preserving optimal convergence rates while avoiding small cut cells and related problematic issues, typical of traditional embedded methods. The proposed approach is accurate, robust, efficient, and simple to implement. We apply this concept to internal interface computations in the context of the mixed Poisson problem, also known as the Darcy flow problem. An extensive set of numerical tests is provided to demonstrate the performance of the proposed approach.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2017

An Advanced One-Dimensional Finite Element Model for Incompressible Thermally Expandable Flow

Here, this paper provides an overview of a new one-dimensional finite element flow model for incompressible but thermally expandable flow. The flow model was developed for use in system analysis tools for whole-plant safety analysis of sodium fast reactors. Although the pressure-based formulation was implemented, the use of integral equations in the conservative form ensured the conservation laws of the fluid. A stabilization scheme based on streamline-upwind/Petrov-Galerkin and pressure-stabilizing/Petrov-Galerkin formulations is also introduced. The flow model and its implementation have been verified by many test problems, including density wave propagation, steep gradient problems, discharging between tanks, and the conjugate heat transfer in a heat exchanger.

42 ENGINEERING↗
NASA NTRS2000

Stress Recovery and Error Estimation for Shell Structures

The Penalized Discrete Least-Squares (PDLS) stress recovery (smoothing) technique developed for two dimensional linear elliptic problems is adapted here to three-dimensional shell structures. The surfaces are restricted to those which have a 2-D parametric representation, or which can be built-up of such surfaces. The proposed strategy involves mapping the finite element results to the 2-D parametric space which describes the geometry, and smoothing is carried out in the parametric space using the PDLS-based Smoothing Element Analysis (SEA). Numerical results for two well-known shell problems are presented to illustrate the performance of SEA/PDLS for these problems. The recovered stresses are used in the Zienkiewicz-Zhu a posteriori error estimator. The estimated errors are used to demonstrate the performance of SEA-recovered stresses in automated adaptive mesh refinement of shell structures. The numerical results are encouraging. Further testing involving more complex, practical structures is necessary.

Yazdani, A. A.↗
DOE OSTI2019

Matrix-free subcell residual distribution for Bernstein finite element discretizations of linear advection equations

In this work, we introduce a new residual distribution (RD) framework for the design of bound-preserving high-resolution finite element schemes. The continuous and discontinuous Galerkin discretizations of the linear advection equation are modified to construct local extremum diminishing (LED) approximations. To that end, we perform mass lumping and redistribute the element residuals in a manner which guarantees the LED property. The hierarchical correction procedure for high-order Bernstein finite element discretizations involves localization to subcells and definition of bound-preserving weights for subcell contributions. Using strong stability preserving (SSP) Runge–Kutta methods for time integration, we prove the validity of discrete maximum principles under CFL-like time step restrictions. The low-order version of our method has roughly the same accuracy as the one derived from a piecewise (multi)-linear approximation on a submesh with the same nodal points. In high-order extensions, we use an element-based flux-corrected transport (FCT) algorithm which can be interpreted as a nonlinear RD scheme. The proposed LED corrections are tailor-made for matrix-free implementations which avoid the rapidly growing cost of matrix assembly for high-order Bernstein elements. The results for 1D, 2D, and 3D test problems compare favorably to those obtained with the best matrix-based approaches.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗
DOE OSTI2015

A time-parallel method for the solution of PDE-constrained optimization problems

We study a time-parallel approach to solving quadratic optimization problems with linear time-dependent partial differential equation (PDE) constraints. These problems arise in formulations of optimal control, optimal design and inverse problems that are governed by parabolic PDE models. They may also arise as subproblems in algorithms for the solution of optimization problems with nonlinear time-dependent PDE constraints, e.g., in sequential quadratic programming methods. We apply a piecewise linear finite element discretization in space to the PDE constraint, followed by the Crank-Nicolson discretization in time. The objective function is discretized using finite elements in space and the trapezoidal rule in time. At this point in the discretization, auxiliary state variables are introduced at each discrete time interval, with the goal to enable: (i) a decoupling in time; and (ii) a fixed-point iteration to recover the solution of the discrete optimality system. The fixed-point iterative schemes can be used either as preconditioners for Krylov subspace methods or as smoothers for multigrid (in time) schemes. We present promising numerical results for both use cases.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗
DOE OSTI2019

A Monte Carlo Rectangle Packing Algorithm for Identifying Likely Spatial Distributions of Final Closure Cap Subsidence in the E-Area Low-Level Waste Facility

A Monte Carlo rectangle packing algorithm, summarized in Figure ES-1, has been developed to provide insights into the likely spatial distribution of subsided areas or holes in the final closure cap for the E-Area Low-Level Waste Facility (ELLWF) resulting from the placement of non-crushable waste containers within slit and engineered trench disposal units. Using historical records provided by Solid Waste Management as an indicator of future waste streams, a probability distribution of unique waste containers was constructed, and Monte Carlo sampling was used to sequentially select waste containers for placement in a rectangular region bounded by the disposal unit footprint. Within this Monte Carlo approach, the probability of any container type being selected is weighted by the fractional abundance relative to all other container types. For each Monte Carlo realization, the frequency of non-crushable waste containers appearing at each location on a spatially discretized mesh is updated. After many realizations, the location(s) with the highest frequencies of non-crushable waste containers are regarded as the most likely locations to experience subsidence (i.e., for a hole to form). Utilizing this approach has enabled the down-selection of a computationally intractable set of subsidence hole combinations to be explored in three-dimensional finite element groundwater flow and contaminant transport models. Such an approach can be applied to a number of different packaging problems.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗
DOE OSTI2022

EEL: A MOOSE-based Application for 3D Electro-Chemo-Thermo-Mechanical Modeling of Solid-State Batteries

This report describes a tool for three dimensional, high fidelity, coupled electro-chemo-thermo-mechanical modeling of solid-state batteries. A complete version of the tool is available as open source software at https://github.com/hugary1995/eel.git. The theoretical framework of the tool revolves around an inf-sup statement on a total potential, comprising the Helmholtz free energy, the electrical kinetic potential, the chemical potential, the Fourier potential, the chemical reaction potential, and the external power expenditure. The tool uses the finite element framework of Multiphysics Object-Oriented Simulation Environment (MOOSE) and a variational formulation to solve the boundary value problem for solid-state battery incorporating the full set of multiphysics couplings. The variational formulation also enables a modular software architecture for the tool so additional physics can be easily included by specifying the new contribution to the total potential. The report discusses several method of manufactured solutions that were used to verify the implementation of different physics and the Butler-Volmer reaction kinetics at the electrolyte-electrode interface. Finally, the report discusses results from complete charge/discharge simulations of a quasi-1D and a 3D solid-state battery.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
NASA NTRS1972

Viscel: A general purpose computer program for analysis of linear viscoelastic structures, volume 2

The VISCEL program is a general purpose computer program developed for equilibrium analysis of linear viscoelastic structures. The program is written in FORTRAN 5 language to operate on the Univac 1108 computer under the EXEC 8 operating system. The program, an extension of the linear equilibrium problem solver ELAS, is an updated and extended version of its earlier form written for the IBM 7094 computer. Finite element matrix displacement approach coupled with the synchronized material property concept, utilizing incremental time steps, was adopted for the solution presented. The step-by-step procedure involves solution of recursive equations in the time domain, which takes into account the memory of material properties. Incremental and accumulative displacements and stresses are obtained at the end of each time step. In order to minimize the extent of computations resulting from accumulative effects of material memory, the program provides an option which enables the employment of constant time steps in the logarithmic scale. Program documentation is presented.

Gupta, K. K.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Effect of damping on excitability of high-order normal modes

The effect of localized structural damping on the excitability of higher-order large space telescope spacecraft modes is investigated. A preprocessor computer program is developed to incorporate Voigt structural joint damping models in a finite-element dynamic model. A postprocessor computer program is developed to select critical modes for low-frequency attitude control problems and for higher-frequency fine-stabilization problems. The selection is accomplished by ranking the flexible modes based on coefficients for rate gyro, position gyro, and optical sensor, and on image-plane motions due to sinusoidal or random PSD force and torque inputs.

Merchant, D. H.↗
NASA NTRS1975

The effects of localized damping on structural response

The effect of localized structural damping on the excitability of higher order normal modes of the large space telescope was investigated. A preprocessor computer program was developed to incorporate Voigt structural joint damping models in a NASTRAN finite-element dynamic model. A postprocessor computer program was developed to select critical modes for low-frequency attitude control problems and for higher frequency fine-stabilization problems. The mode selection is accomplished by ranking the flexible modes based on coefficients for rate gyro, position gyro, and optical sensors, and on image-plane motions due to sinusoidal or random power spectral density force and torque inputs.

Merchant, D. H.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Survey and development of finite elements for nonlinear structural analysis. Volume 1: Handbook for nonlinear finite elements

A survey of research efforts in the area of geometrically nonlinear finite elements is presented. The survey is intended to serve as a guide in the choice of nonlinear elements for specific problems, and as background to provide directions for new element developments. The elements are presented in a handbook format and are separated by type as beams, plates (or shallow shells), shells, and other elements. Within a given type, the elements are identified by the assumed displacement shapes and the forms of the nonlinear strain equations. Solution procedures are not discussed except when a particular element formulation poses special problems or capabilities in this regard. The main goal of the format is to provide quick access to a wide variety of element types, in a consistent presentation format, and to facilitate comparison and evaluation of different elements with regard to features, probable accuracy, and complexity.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1978

The ATLAS integrated structural analysis and design software system

The ATLAS system provides an extensive set of integrated technical computer-program modules for the analysis and design of general structural configurations, as well as capabilities that are particularly suited for the aeroelastic design of flight vehicles. The system is based on the stiffness formulation of the finite element structural analysis method and can be executed in batch and interactive computing environments on CDC 6600/CYBER computers. Problem-definition input data are written in an engineering-oriented language using a free field format. Input-data default values, generation options, and data quality checks provided by the preprocessors minimize the amount of data and flowtime for problem definition/verfication. Postprocessors allow selected input and calculated data to be extracted, manipulated, and displayed via on-line and off-line prints or plots for monitoring and verifying problem solutions. The sequence and mode of execution of selected program modules are controlled by a common user-oriented language.

Dreisbach, R. L.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Thermographic measurement of fatigue damage

The paper presents a thermographic technique developed to measure the extent of fatigue damage in composite materials during fatigue loading. It is noted that heat generated by cyclic loading of fatigue damaged material raises the surface temperature. These temperatures were measured with an infrared camera and were used as boundary conditions in a finite element heat transfer program, which has been developed especially to calculate the extent of the heat generation zone, and thereby to define the fatigue damage zone. It is reported that the finite element program was verified by comparing calculated heat generation with the actual heat generation for a simple heat transfer problem that had a closed form solution. Damage zones are calculated for several boron/epoxy fatigue specimens from thermograms of specimens. The calculated damage zones were compared with damage detected by C-scan, X-ray, and scanning electron microscope (SEM) examinations. It is concluded that the analysis was effective in locating the boundaries of the fatigue damage zones.

Whitcomb, J. D.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Structural Optimization

Programming Structural Synthesis System (PROSSS) provides structural synthesis capability by combining SPAR and CONMIN computer programs with set of interface procedures. SPAR is large general-purpose finite-element structural-analysis program, and CONMIN is large general-purpose optimization program. User supplies two small problem-dependent programs to define design variables, constraints, and objective function.

Rogers, J. L., Jr↗
NASA NTRS1986

An Investigation of Energy Transmission Due to Flexural Wave Propagation in Lightweight, Built-Up Structures

A technique to measure flexural structure-borne noise intensity is investigated. Two accelerometers serve as transducers in this cross-spectral technique. The structure-borne sound power is obtained by two different techniques and compared. In the first method, a contour integral of intensity is performed from the values provided by the two-accelerometer intensity technique. In the second method, input power is calculated directly from the output of force and acceleration transducers. A plate and two beams were the subjects of the sound power comparisons. Excitation for the structures was either band-limited white noise or a deterministic signal similar to a swept sine. The two-accelerometer method was found to be sharply limited by near field and transducer spacing limitations. In addition, for the lightweight structures investigated, it was found that the probe inertia can have a significant influence on the power input to the structure. In addition to the experimental investigation of structure-borne sound energy, an extensive study of the point harmonically forced, point-damped beam boundary value problem was performed to gain insight into measurements of this nature. The intensity formulations were also incorporated into the finite element method. Intensity mappings were obtained analytically via finite element modeling of simple structures.

Mickol, John Douglas↗