Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “Static Analysis”

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.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 19 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2024

LSAFE: a Lightweight Static Analysis Framework for binary Executables

Static analysis is a widely used technique for analyzing various aspects of programs. However, as programs become more complex, static analysis tools require larger resources, such as CPU time and memory, to perform the same tasks. Moreover, the source code of programs may not always be accessible, requiring static analysis to be performed on the binary executable code directly. To overcome these challenges, we propose a lightweight static analysis framework called LSAFE, which constructs control flow graphs (CFGs) and data dependency graphs (DDGs) of target programs with optimized performance in terms of CPU and memory usage. We evaluated the proposed framework using both Spec benchmark programs and real-world industrial applications, and found that it outperformed Angr, an existing state-of-the-art static analysis tool. Additionally, we demonstrate a case study that utilizes the CFG generated by LSAFE to detect memory leaks.

Qu, Guangzhi↗
DOE OSTI2024

Deciphering Discrepancies: A Comparative Analysis of Docker Image Security

As the use of microservices continues to grow and become a foundational approach to architecting software solutions, ensuring the security of microservices is paramount. Docker images have emerged as the predominant solution to containerize microservices–and thus, Docker images are becoming a large attack surface. Thus, reducing vulnerabilities in Docker images will reduce microservice cyberattacks. A common way to find vulnerabilities in Docker images employs static analysis tools like Trivy and Grype. However, these tools frequently generate disparate vulnerability reports when analyzing the same Docker image, thus causing uncertainty in tool selection. We collected 927 Docker images, analyzed them with Trivy and Grype, and compared the vulnerabilities reported in each image. Among the 865 images found to have vulnerabilities, Trivy and Grype disagreed on both the number of vulnerabilities and the vulnerability IDs found therein. Since both tools interface with external vulnerability databases, some discrepancies can be attributed to how the tools interface with these external resources. The external vulnerability databases partially overlap and frequently contradict one another, thereby creating challenges for static analysis tool developers and end users alike. This New Ideas and Emerging Results (NIER) study contains new and critical information that practitioners need for selecting and using static analysis tools–given that increases in the use of Docker technologies means increases in the size of the attack surfaces.

Boles, Brittany [Montana State University]↗
DOE OSTI2026

Enabling topography-resolving structural dynamic contact simulation

Damping of structures and systems is often dominated by frictional dissipation in connections, the prediction of which remains a longstanding scientific challenge. Previous studies have shown that the actual topography of contact interfaces may have a strong effect, especially in the partial slip/liftoff regime. We recently proposed a multi-scale method, which couples finite element and boundary element modeling. The primary benefit of this approach is that it permits to analyze the effect of the actual contact topography on the dynamics of jointed structures. While this multi-scale modeling method was initially developed for quasi-static analysis, we demonstrate herein how it can be used for time step integration and Harmonic Balance analysis. We cross-verify those fully dynamic analysis methods against each other and quasi-static results, for the S4 Beam benchmark. We compare the multi-scale method against state-of-the-art full-FE analysis, in terms of numerical damping and computational performance. Some discrepancy is found to be of physical origin. Depending on the load history, it is shown that the system settles to a slightly different equilibrium. Finally, transient multi-scale simulations enable the prediction of this interesting phenomenon, for the first time, for a structure with bolted joints.

Frictional-unilateral contact↗
DOE OSTI2025

Enhancing Developer Productivity - L2 Milestone (Final Report)

This report documents the work done as part of the “Enhancing Developer Productivity” level 2 milestone. The team surveyed developers about impediments and successes; improved our CI pipeline monitoring and reporting; developed tools for line coverage reporting and analysis; improved compiler warning adherence in SIERRA; prototyped static analysis, AI, and mutation testing tooling in SIERRA; and developed a 3-5 year SIERRA plan document to help these initiatives continue past this milestone.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗
DOE OSTI2026

ROSE

Developed at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), ROSE is an open source compiler infrastructure to build source-to-source program transformation and analysis tools for large-scale C (C89 to C23), C++ (C++98 to C++23), UPC, Fortran (Fortran4, 66, 77, 95, 2003), OpenMP, Java, Python, and Binary applications. ROSE users range from experienced compiler researchers to library and tool developers who may have minimal compiler experience. ROSE is particularly well suited for building custom tools for static analysis, program optimization, arbitrary program transformation, domain-specific optimizations, complex loop optimizations, performance analysis, and cyber-security. ROSE is: A library (and set of associated tools) to quickly and easily apply compiler techniques to one's code in order to improve application performance and developer productivity. A research and development compiler infrastructure for for writing custom source-to-source translators to perform source code transformations, analysis, and optimizations. Is

Pinnow, NathanT [Lawrence Livermore National Labor↗
DOE OSTI2025

ToF-SIMS spectral analysis of pristine and neutron irradiated single crystal tungsten

Time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) has many promising features in studying materials including high spatial resolution and high mass accuracy of elements, molecules, and isotopes. Its ability to resolve isotopes is especially attractive in studying transmutation products of single crystal tungsten (SCW) post neutron irradiation. Tungsten (W) is a contender of plasma facing materials (PFMs) due to its high thermal and radiological stability. PFMs to be used in the construction of fusion vessels are subject to high temperature and neutron irradiation, resulting in changes to materials including transmutation, which ultimately impact material mechanical and thermal properties. We used IONTOF TOF.SIMS V instrument equipped with a 30 keV Bi 3 + primary ion beam to study pristine SCW and irradiated SCW speciemens. Scanning electron microscope coupled with focused ion beam (SEM-FIB) was used to reduce the dosage of neutron irradiated tungsten and prepare for specimens for SIMS analysis. Static ToF-SIMS spectra were obtained, and transmutation product peak identification was presented in this work. Identified molecules and molecular fragments were compared against isotope theoretical mass to charge ratios of tungsten, rhenium, osmium, and other relevant products. Our results show that ToF-SIMS provides a viable means to study transmutation products of W post neutron irradiation. Such applications are suitable to investigate transmutation effects on materials that are being considered and developed for fusion pilot plants.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2024

Toward Automated Detection of Portability Bugs in Kokkos Parallel Programs

Performance-portable programming frameworks provide abstractions for parallel execution to allow easily porting an application to multiple backend programming models, such as CUDA, HIP, and OpenMP. However, programs may still have portability bugs that manifest only on specific backends. Traditional testing is ineffective in discovering these bugs, as it would require concrete execution on all supported hardware configurations for a potentially infinite set of inputs. To mitigate this issue, we focused on a specific programming framework, Kokkos, and identified several categories of common portability bugs. We then developed Klokkos, a static analysis approach based on symbolic execution that can run on commodity hardware, before execution on supercomputers. As a proof-of-concept, we ran Klokkos on examples encoding the identified bugs. Our results show that Klokkos is effective, efficient, and precise: it detected all the considered bugs, quickly, and without any false positives. Although preliminary, our results motivate further research and development in this direction.

Kale, Vivek↗
DOE OSTI2026

Self-Admitted Technical Debt in Scientific Software: Prioritization, Sentiment, and Propagation Across Artifacts

Self-admitted technical debt (SATD) impairs scientific software (SSW), yet its prioritization, sentiment, persistence, and propagation remains underexplored. Understanding how SSW developers express, and address SATD is crucial for improving SSW maintenance, and tooling. This study investigates how SATD types and artifacts in SSW are prioritized, how sentiment relates to urgency, SATD removal and resolution rates, and the extent to which SATD propagates across artifacts. We analyzed nine SSW repositories using a SATD classification model and a semantic embedding-based prioritization heuristic. SATD was examined across multiple artifacts, with sentiment assessed via a fine-tuned transformer. Propagation was traced, priority scores compared to static analysis, and removal and resolution rates quantified. SATD in comments, commits, and pull requests receive higher priority than SATD in issues, with negative sentiment amplifying urgency. Resolution and removal rates lag behind open-source software (OSS) averages. Most SATD remains confined to the originating artifact, but longer propagation chains are rare and correlate with higher priority, highlighting persistent and high impact debt. Prioritization is influenced by artifact type and sentiment, while low removal and resolution rates signal persistent debt. Cross-artifact propagation marks high priority, unresolved SATD, providing empirical guidance for targeted monitoring, review prioritization, and tool supported maintenance in SSW.

Melin, Eric [Boise State University]↗
DOE OSTI2025

pnnl/CARTS

This compiler for ARTS (CARTS) is framework designed to connect a high productive languages with a distributed fine grained runtime that run effectively across clusters. It is built using MLIR and the LLVM infrastructure and it can be used as a platform to test static analysis ideas mapped towards distributed environments with novel technologies

Manzano Franco, Joseph [Pacific Northwest National↗
DOE OSTI2026

High Yield nTOF Spec A and NP Filter Holders Static and Seismic Analysis

The Neutron Time-of-Flight (nTOF) detectors located in the Alcove and at the North Pole (Spec A and Spec NP respectively) need filtering in the beam path to enable them to take data at NIF yields above 5MJ. The filtering consists of 12cm of filter material divided into four, 3cm thick “pucks.” The pucks are 7cm in diameter. Each puck is mounted into a rotatable stage, also called a Filter Flipper, that can bring it into and out of the beam path, see Figure 1-1. These stages are bolted onto a plate that connects the filter stages to the mounting hardware used to position them in the NIF Target Bay. The top-level filter mount assemblies will be permanently mounted in the facility; removal is possible if needed for NIF maintenance, but the design intent is for the assemblies to remain in their locations after alignment is completed.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2025

Radioisotope Identification with List-Mode Gamma-Ray Data

This work explores the potential of utilizing temporal data from gamma-ray detectors, known as list-mode data, to enhance radioisotope identification. Traditional identification methods, which rely on full gamma-ray spectrum analysis, often require long dwell times and struggle with spectra containing similarly spaced spectral peaks. We hypothesize that by leveraging the probabilistic nature of nuclear decay and the time-encoded information from decay sequences and interactions with surrounding materials, we can improve classification accuracy over static spectral analysis. This research examines the temporal content of list-mode data through exploratory data analysis via correlation discovery and qualitative distribution analysis. Additionally, we propose a probabilistic classification model that can utilize spectral data, temporal data, or both to determine if the incorporation of temporal information improves radioisotope identification. Our findings suggest that the temporal information present in list-mode gamma-ray data has merit and should be further investigated to develop more robust and optimal methods for utilizing this temporal information in applications requiring radioisotope identification.

List-mode data↗
DOE OSTI2024

Radioisotope Identification with List-Mode Gamma Ray Data: A rigorous assessment on the value of temporal information applied to radioisotope identification.

This work explores the potential of utilizing temporal data from gamma-ray detectors, known as list-mode data, to enhance radioisotope identification. Traditional identification methods, which rely on full gamma-ray spectrum analysis, often require long dwell times and struggle with “confuser” sources, or spectra with similarly spaced spectral peaks. We hypothesize that by leveraging the probabilistic nature of nuclear decay and the time-encoded information from decay sequences and interactions with surrounding materials, we can improve classification accuracy over static spectral analysis. This research rigorously examines the temporal content of list-mode data through exploratory data analysis via correlation discovery and information theory. We further propose a basic classification model that can utilize spectral or temporal data (or both) to determine if the incorporation of temporal information can improve radioisotope identification. The findings suggest that the temporal information present in list-mode gamma-ray data has merit and should be further investigated.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2025

LeaPP: Learning Pathways to Polymorphs through Machine Learning Analysis of Atomic Trajectories

Understanding the mechanisms underlying crystal nucleation and growth is crucial for many technological applications. Due to the short length and time scales involved, crystal nucleation is often studied using molecular simulations. Most existing approaches to extract the nucleation mechanism from simulations focus on the analysis of static snapshots of the configurations, potentially overlooking subtle local fluctuations and the history of the particles involved in the formation of solid nuclei. Here, in this work, we propose a novel methodology called LeaPP that categorizes nucleation trajectories based on the temporal information of their constituent particles. We leverage the time evolution of the local environment of the crystallizing particles to encapsulate the relationship between the structure and dynamics and distinguish between different evolving particle paths. Identification of the distinct particle paths further enables characterizing the nucleation trajectories into different pathways. Collectively, LeaPP provides a more nuanced understanding of nucleation through an unsupervised approach with lesser dependence on traditional order parameters. Furthermore, the pathways identified by LeaPP are predictive of the resulting polymorph. We demonstrate LeaPP on three different systems─Lennard-Jones-like particles, Ni 3 Al, and water on surfaces. The general methodology underlying LeaPP─considering the time evolution of the building blocks─applies to a wide range of self-assembly problems.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2024

Waste Tank Structural Assessment

This chapter describes the single and double shell tanks at Hanford, analysis of record and static and thermal loads analysis.

Grant, Christopher L.↗
DOE OSTI2026

A multigigabit link layer protocol for single picosecond latency determinism using AMD ultrascale+ GTH and GTY transreceivers

recision timing distribution systems require determin istic and repeatable high speed serial data link latency. The EIC Timing Data Link will employ a specialized link layer protocol for deterministic multigigabit communication us ing AMD Ultrascale+ GTH and GTY transceivers. Link la tency must also be measurable to accurately compensate in real time for latency variations of the physical medium. The point-to-point link is full duplex and fully synchronous with a latency control algorithm to align the internal clocks of each system with picosecond resolution. Deterministic clock domain crossing between systems is ensured using static timing analysis of the elastic buffer control signals.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗