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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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At least 19 records

Conservative high-order data transfer method on generalized polygonal meshes

A conservative data transfer (remap) between two meshes is an important step of arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian (ALE) hydrodynamics simulations. High-order numerical methods for ALE simulations require both high-order (curvilinear) meshes and high-order remap algorithms. Here we develop a conservative and bounds-preserving method for accurate remapping of discrete fields on generalized polygonal meshes with curvilinear edges. The properties of the proposed method are studied theoretically and numerically for various (smooth and non-smooth) mesh deformations and discrete fields that represent smooth and discontinuous functions.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Applying an Oriented Divergence Theorem to Swept Face Remap

Here we present a novel oriented divergence theorem and apply the results to a swept face remap method (conservative data transfer between two meshes) in arbitrary Langrangian–Eulerian hydrodynamics. In our setting, we compute the material flux along swept regions between corresponding faces in the source and target meshes. Since the swept region may add material, subtract material, or do both when it intersects itself, we cannot apply the conventional divergence theorem without accounting for orientation and self-overlaps. In this work, we encode the swept region orientation and geometry with a map from the unit n -dimensional cube, and then apply an oriented analog of divergence theorem to compute the material flux. We present efficient implementation strategies for the presented method. We also provide numerical evidence supporting our results and discuss extensions to more general mesh topologies.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Remapping of Data Between One-Dimensional Meshes

In this report we present two approaches to data remapping between one-dimensional meshes implemented with the c++ programming language. Our goal was to test the performance of two search algorithms, linear and binary, and verify the accuracy of our implementations of the two methods. We first introduce the concept of data remap and meshing components, as well as their various uses. We then delve into the differences between point-wise and conservative remap, the algorithms used in the implementations, and lastly confirm the implementations work as intended when given various inputs. We expect that, after profiling, the binary search algorithm will be more efficient than the linear algorithm for sorted sets of data, the point-wise remap implementation to accurately approximate the data transfer between two meshes, and the conservative remap implementation to conserve the area underneath the curve of two distinct meshes.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Discrete Data Transfer Technique for Fluid-Structure Interaction

This paper presents a general three-dimensional algorithm for data transfer between dissimilar meshes. The algorithm is suitable for applications of fluid-structure interaction and other high-fidelity multidisciplinary analysis and optimization. Because the algorithm is independent of the mesh topology, we can treat structured and unstructured meshes in the same manner. The algorithm is fast and accurate for transfer of scalar or vector fields between dissimilar surface meshes. The algorithm is also applicable for the integration of a scalar field (e.g., coefficients of pressure) on one mesh and injection of the resulting vectors (e.g., force vectors) onto another mesh. The author has implemented the algorithm in a C++ computer code. This paper contains a complete formulation of the algorithm with a few selected results.

Samareh, Jamshid A.↗

Development and Implementation of a Generic Analysis Template for Structural-Thermal-Optical-Performance Modeling

Performance-related effects of system level temperature changes can be a key consideration in the design of many types of optical instruments. This is especially true for space-based imagers, which may require complex thermal control systems to maintain alignment of the optical components. Structural-Thermal-Optical-Performance (STOP) analysis is a multi-disciplinary process that can be used to assess the performance of these optical systems when subjected to the expected design environment. This type of analysis can be very time consuming, which makes it difficult to use as a trade study tool early in the project life cycle. In many cases, only one or two iterations can be performed over the course of a project. This limits the design space to best practices since it may be too difficult, or take too long, to test new concepts analytically. In order to overcome this challenge, automation, and a standard procedure for performing these studies is essential. A methodology was developed within the framework of the Comet software tool that captures the basic inputs, outputs, and processes used in most STOP analyses. This resulted in a generic, reusable analysis template that can be used for design trades for a variety of optical systems. The template captures much of the upfront setup such as meshing, boundary conditions, data transfer, naming conventions, and post-processing, and therefore saves time for each subsequent project. A description of the methodology and the analysis template is presented, and results are described for a simple telescope optical system.

Scola, Salvatore↗

Simplified Applied Loads of a Transonic Truss-Braced Wing Derived from Computational Fluid Dynamics

The transonic truss-braced wing (TTBW) concept is under consideration by the NASA Advanced Air Transport Technology (AATT) project due to its potential to reduce fuel consumption of transport aircraft. To properly evaluate the TTBW concept, detailed structural modeling and subsequent test planning is underway, which requires a simplified set of discrete applied loads that simulate the distributed aerodynamic pressures. Given the unique architecture of the TTBW and its intended operation in the transonic regime, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is the ideal approach to employ to ensure the aerodynamics of this configuration are sufficiently captured. To convert aerodynamic results into input for structural models, application of a data transfer tool, Discrete Data Transfer Between Dissimilar Meshes (DDTBDM), is presented to resolve aerodynamic pressures from CFD into single load vectors at hardpoints along both the wing and the strut. Evaluation of mapping the aerodynamic forces to hardpoints at rib and spar intersections in a structural model is performed, and the results are also compared with a linear static aeroelastic analysis. The structural responses indicate that distributing forces along only the wing and strut forward spars is insufficient for simulating the distributed aerodynamic loads. Adding moments along the forward spars improved the global response of the wing, but the point moments created unrealistic local rotations within the structure. When distributing loads along both the forward and aft spars of the wing and strut, the global response was less sensitive to the inclusion of point moments, which indicated the arrangement of point forces alone was sufficient input for structural design work and testing and provided a more continuous loading profile.

Finite Element↗

Simplified Applied Loads of a Transonic Truss-Braced Wing Derived from Computational Fluid Dynamic

The transonic truss-braced wing (TTBW) concept is under consideration by the NASA Advanced Air Transport Technology (AATT) project due to its potential to reduce fuel consumption of transport aircraft. To properly evaluate the TTBW concept, detailed structural modeling and subsequent test planning is underway, which requires a simplified set of discrete applied loads that simulate the distributed aerodynamic pressures. Given the unique architecture of the TTBW and its intended operation in the transonic regime, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is the ideal approach to employ to ensure the aerodynamics of this configuration are sufficiently captured. To convert aerodynamic results into input for structural models, application of a data transfer tool, Discrete Data Transfer Between Dissimilar Meshes (DDTBDM), is presented to resolve aerodynamic pressures from CFD into single load vectors at hardpoints along both the wing and the strut. Evaluation of mapping the aerodynamic forces to hardpoints at rib and spar intersections in a structural model is performed, and the results are also compared with a linear static aeroelastic analysis. The structural responses indicate that distributing forces along only the wing and strut forward spars is insufficient for simulating the distributed aerodynamic loads. Adding moments along the forward spars improved the global response of the wing, but the point moments created unrealistic local rotations within the structure. When distributing loads along both the forward and aft spars of the wing and strut, the global response was less sensitive to the inclusion of point moments, which indicated the arrangement of point forces alone was sufficient input for structural design work and testing and provided a more continuous loading profile.

Finite Element↗

Extended testing of a general contextual classifier using the massively parallel processor - Preliminary results and test plans

Earlier encouraging test results of a contextual classifier that combines spatial and spectral information employing a general statistical approach are expanded. The earlier results were of limited meaning because they were produced from small (50-by-50 pixel) data sets. An implementation of the contextual classifier on NASA Goddard's Massively Parallel Processor (MPP) is presented; for the first time the MPP makes feasible the testing of the classifier on large data sets (a 12-hour test on a VAX-11/780 minicomputer now takes 5 minutes on the MPP). The MPP is a Single-Instruction, Multiple Data Stream computer, consisting of 16,384 bit serial microprocessors connected in a 128-by-128 mesh array with each element having data transfer connections with its four nearest neighbors so that the MPP is capable of billions of operations per second. Preliminary results are given (with more expected for the conference) and plans are mentioned for extended testing of the contextual classifier on Thematic Mapper data sets.

Tilton, J. C.↗

Capillary Liquid Acquisition Device Heat Entrapment

Cryogenic liquid acquisition devices (LADs) for space-based propulsion interface directly with the feed system, which can be a significant heat leak source. Further, the accumulation of thermal energy within LAD channels can lead to the loss of subcooled propellant conditions and result in feed system cavitation during propellant outflow. Therefore, the fundamental question addressed by this program was: To what degree is natural convection in a cryogenic liquid constrained by the capillary screen meshes envisioned for LADs? Testing was first conducted with water as the test fluid, followed by LN2 tests. In either case, the basic experimental approach was to heat the bottom of a cylindrical column of test fluid to establish stratification patterns measured by temperature sensors located above and below a horizontal screen barrier position. Experimentation was performed without barriers, with screens, and with a solid barrier. The two screen meshes tested were those typically used by LAD designers, 200x1400 and 325x2300, both with Twill Dutch Weave. Upon consideration of both the water and LN2 data, it was concluded that heat transfer across the screen meshes was dependent upon barrier thermal conductivity and that the capillary screen meshes were impervious to natural convection currents.

Bolshinskiy, L. G.↗

Cryogenic Capillary Screen Heat Entrapment

Cryogenic liquid acquisition devices (LADs) for space-based propulsion interface directly with the feed system, which can be a significant heat leak source. Further, the accumulation of thermal energy within LAD channels can lead to the loss of sub-cooled propellant conditions and result in feed system cavitation during propellant outflow. Therefore, the fundamental question addressed by this program was: "To what degree is natural convection in a cryogenic liquid constrained by the capillary screen meshes envisioned for LADs.?"Testing was first conducted with water as the test fluid, followed by LN2 tests. In either case, the basic experimental approach was to heat the bottom of a cylindrical column of test fluid to establish stratification patterns measured by temperature sensors located above and below a horizontal screen barrier position. Experimentation was performed without barriers, with screens, and with a solid barrier. The two screen meshes tested were those typically used by LAD designers, "200x1400" and "325x2300", both with Twill Dutch Weave. Upon consideration of both the water and LN2 data it was concluded that heat transfer across the screen meshes was dependent upon barrier thermal conductivity and that the capillary screen meshes were impervious to natural convection currents.

Bolshinskiy, L.G.↗

Sandia Toolkit Manual (V.5.21.1)

This report provides documentation for the Sandia Toolkit (STK) modules. STK modules are intended to provide infrastructure that assists the development of computational engineering software such as finite-element analysis applications. STK includes modules for unstructured-mesh data structures, reading/writing mesh files, geometric proximity search, transfers, MPMD coupling support, and various other utilities. This document contains a chapter for each module, and each chapter contains overview descriptions and usage examples. Usage examples are primarily code listings which are generated from working test programs that are included in the STK code-base. A goal of this approach is to ensure that the usage examples will not fall out of date.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Burner liner thermal-structural load modeling

The software package Transfer Analysis Code to Interface Thermal/Structural Problems (TRANCITS) was developed. The TRANCITS code is used to interface temperature data between thermal and structural analytical models. The use of this transfer module allows the heat transfer analyst to select the thermal mesh density and thermal analysis code best suited to solve the thermal problem and gives the same freedoms to the stress analyst, without the efficiency penalties associated with common meshes and the accuracy penalties associated with the manual transfer of thermal data.

Maffeo, R.↗

Partition Thickness Considerations for Additively Manufactured Acoustic Liners

Three types of uniform-depth liners are evaluated to explore the effects of partition thickness on the surface impedance achieved with additively manufactured liners. A transmission line code is used to predict the effects of sound transmission through empty chambers and wire mesh facesheets, and is combined with the Motsinger and Kraft model to account for sound transmission through perforated facesheets. The inclusion of partitions causes a blockage effect, i.e., a portion of the surface is ‘blocked’ (nonactive surface). For liners with no facesheet, these blockage effects are incorporated simply by accounting for the change in cross sectional area between the individual chamber and the unit cell that includes half of a partition thickness around the perimeter of this chamber. Comparison of impedances predicted in this manner with data acquired in the NASA Langley Normal Incidence Tube (NIT) confirms the efficacy of this modeling approach. Two approaches are considered to account for the inclusion of a wiremesh or perforated plate facesheet on these same cores. The first accounts for the effects of partition thickness before including the transfer impedance across the facesheet, while the second reverses these steps. A comparison of data acquired in the NASA NIT with modeled impedances suggests the first approach is best when the facesheet is a wire mesh, but the second approach is preferred when a perforated plate facesheet is used. It is hypothesized that this is due to the fact that a lumped element model is used to compute the transfer impedance across a wire mesh, while the corresponding transfer impedance across a perforated sheet explicitly incorporates the efffects of the liner core. However, comparisons of data acquired in the NASA Langley Grazing Flow Impedance Tube with modeled impedances seem slightly better when the first approach is employed with a perforated plate facesheet. Thus, the effects of partition thickness on liners with perforated sheets subjected to grazing incidence sound require further review

acoustic↗

Calculation of winged-body-like flow fields using an implicit upwind space-marching code

The Mach-8 flow past a 60-deg swept fin mounted on a 12-degree ramp has been simulated using a parabolized Navier-Stokes solver employing an upwind algorithm in order to investigate the interference patterns that develop when a bow shock impinges on a wing shock. Good agreement with experimental data is found downstream of the interaction for each of three meshes of varying grid point density and computed surface pressure and heat transfer. In the wedge flow region, some disagreement with experimental data is noted for both pressure and heat transfer.

Lawrence, Scott L.↗

Global dynamic modeling of a transmission system

The work performed on global dynamic simulation and noise correlation of gear transmission systems at the University of Akron is outlined. The objective is to develop a comprehensive procedure to simulate the dynamics of the gear transmission system coupled with the effects of gear box vibrations. The developed numerical model is benchmarked with results from experimental tests at NASA Lewis Research Center. The modal synthesis approach is used to develop the global transient vibration analysis procedure used in the model. Modal dynamic characteristics of the rotor-gear-bearing system are calculated by the matrix transfer method while those of the gear box are evaluated by the finite element method (NASTRAN). A three-dimensional, axial-lateral coupled bearing model is used to couple the rotor vibrations with the gear box motion. The vibrations between the individual rotor systems are coupled through the nonlinear gear mesh interactions. The global equations of motion are solved in modal coordinates and the transient vibration of the system is evaluated by a variable time-stepping integration scheme. The relationship between housing vibration and resulting noise of the gear transmission system is generated by linear transfer functions using experimental data. A nonlinear relationship of the noise components to the fundamental mesh frequency is developed using the hypercoherence function. The numerically simulated vibrations and predicted noise of the gear transmission system are compared with the experimental results from the gear noise test rig at NASA Lewis Research Center. Results of the comparison indicate that the global dynamic model developed can accurately simulate the dynamics of a gear transmission system.

Choy, F. K.↗

An overlapped grid method for multigrid, finite volume/difference flow solvers: MaGGiE

The objective is to develop a domain decomposition method via overlapping/embedding the component grids, which is to be used by upwind, multi-grid, finite volume solution algorithms. A computer code, given the name MaGGiE (Multi-Geometry Grid Embedder) is developed to meet this objective. MaGGiE takes independently generated component grids as input, and automatically constructs the composite mesh and interpolation data, which can be used by the finite volume solution methods with or without multigrid convergence acceleration. Six demonstrative examples showing various aspects of the overlap technique are presented and discussed. These cases are used for developing the procedure for overlapping grids of different topologies, and to evaluate the grid connection and interpolation data for finite volume calculations on a composite mesh. Time fluxes are transferred between mesh interfaces using a trilinear interpolation procedure. Conservation losses are minimal at the interfaces using this method. The multi-grid solution algorithm, using the coaser grid connections, improves the convergence time history as compared to the solution on composite mesh without multi-gridding.

Baysal, Oktay↗

Investigation of CAD-based Geometry Workflows for Multiphysics Fusion Problems Using OpenMC and MOOSE

Fusion system designs are complex and require intricate and accurate meshes to be properly modeled. In this study, we investigate the use of CAD-based geometry workflows in fusion systems multiphysics problems. A simplified tokamak was introduced and modeled in CAD using a multiphysics coupling of OpenMC Monte Carlo transport and MOOSE heat conduction. The meshed geometry was prepared using direct accelerated geometry Monte Carlo (DAGMC) for particle transport, and a volumetric mesh was also prepared to be used in MOOSE and to tally OpenMC results. Cardinal was used to run OpenMC Monte Carlo particle transport within MOOSE framework. The heat source distribution and tritium production were calculated in OpenMC. The data transfer system was used to transfer heat source and temperature distribution between OpenMC and MOOSE. Two computational studies related to mesh refinement were performed: (1) refining the DAGMC and volumetric meshes used for tallying results and solving heat conduction and (2) only refining the DAGMC particle transport mesh. The refinement of the tally mesh has a much larger effect on the runtime compared to the refinement of the DAGMC particle transport surface mesh.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗