Engineering topics

Grinstein, Fernando F.

Publications and source records attributed to Grinstein, Fernando F..

8 records

DOE OSTI2024

Transition in ICF Capsule Implosions

Longstanding design and reproducibility challenges in inertial confinement fusion (ICF) capsule implosion experiments involve recognizing the need for appropriately characterized and modeled three-dimensional initial conditions and high-fidelity simulation capabilities to predict transitional flow approaching turbulence, material mixing characteristics, and late-time quantities of interest—e.g., fusion yield. We build on previous coarse graining simulations of the indirect-drive national ignition facility (NIF) cryogenic capsule N170601 experiment-a precursor of N221205 which resulted in net energy gain. We apply effectively combined initialization aspects and multiphysics coupling in conjunction with newly available hydrodynamics simulation methods, including directional unsplit algorithms and low Mach-number correction-key advances enabling high fidelity coarse grained simulations of radiation-hydrodynamics driven transition. Our presentation includes discussion of the capsule initialization and implosion dynamics, analysis of the vorticity production budget, transition signatures, quantities of interest—late-time ion temperature and fusion-neutron yield, numerical uncertainty quantification, and comparisons with NIF data.

42 ENGINEERING↗

DOE OSTI2021

Modeling and simulation of transitional Rayleigh–Taylor flow with partially averaged Navier–Stokes equations

In this work, the partially averaged Navier–Stokes (PANS) equations are used to predict the variable-density Rayleigh–Taylor (RT) flow at Atwood number 0.5 and maximum Reynolds number 500. This is a prototypical problem of material mixing, featuring laminar, transitional, and turbulent flow, instabilities and coherent structures, density fluctuations, and production of turbulence kinetic energy by both shear and buoyancy mechanisms. These features pose numerous challenges to modeling and simulation, making the RT flow ideal to develop the validation space of the recently proposed PANS Besnard–Harlow–Rauenzahn-linear eddy viscosity model closure. The numerical simulations are conducted at different levels of physical resolution and test three approaches to set the parameters $f_\phi$ defining the range of physically resolved scales. The computations demonstrate the efficiency (accuracy vs cost) of the PANS model predicting the spatiotemporal development of the RT flow. Results comparable to large-eddy simulations and direct numerical simulations are obtained at significantly lower physical resolution without the limitations of the Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes equations in these transitional flows. The data also illustrate the importance of appropriate selection of the physical resolution and the resolved fraction of each dependent quantity $\phi$ of the turbulent closure, $f_\phi$. These two aspects determine the ability of the model to resolve the flow phenomena not amenable to modeling by the closure and, as such, the computations’ fidelity.

Navier Stokes equations↗

DOE OSTI2020

Effect of the numerical discretization scheme in Shock-Driven turbulent mixing simulations

In this work, we evaluate the effects of distinct numerical strategies in simulations of shock-driven turbulent mixing. An air-SF 6 -air gas curtain subjected to Mach 1.2 shock-waves is computed with Implicit Large-Eddy Simulation based on three numerical schemes: directional-split with Harten-Lax-van Leer (HLL) solver; directional-unsplit using HLL-Contact (HLLC) solver; and directional-unsplit with HLLC solver and a Low Mach number Correction (LMC). The results illustrate the importance of the numerical strategy to the accuracy of the predictions. Whereas both split and unsplit schemes result in a similar spatial development of the initial shock-driven instability, only the unsplit schemes can predict the turbulent mixing transition after reshock observed by the laboratory experiments. Such feature increases the mixing rate of the two fluids, this being particularly pronounced when the LMC is active due to i) the reduced flow Mach number, and ii) the larger effective Reynolds number. Since the selected mixing problem is driven by the deposition of vorticity at the fluids’ interface, the resultant flow physics is analyzed by investigating the contribution of distinct inviscid mechanisms to the production of vorticity: baroclinicity, stretching, and dilatation. As expected, it is observed that the production of vorticity is initially dominated by the baroclinicity mechanism. Yet, the relevance of the remainder mechanisms is enhanced after the reshock and may even surpass the baroclinicity term.

42 ENGINEERING↗

DOE OSTI2020

Coarse grained simulation of convectively driven turbulent mixing, transition, and turbulence decay

Accurate predictions with quantifiable uncertainties are essential to many practical turbulent flow applications exhibiting extreme geometrical complexity and broad ranges of length and time scales. Under-resolved computer simulations are typically unavoidable in such applications, and implicit large-eddy simulation (ILES) often becomes the effective strategy. In this work, we focus on assessing ILES initialized with well-characterized 25 6 3 homogeneous isotropic turbulence datasets generated with direct numerical simulation (DNS). ILES solutions based on the LANL xRAGE code are studied as function of resolution for 6 4 3 , 12 8 3 , 25 6 3 , and 51 2 3 grids. ILES performance of new directionally-unsplit high-order numerical hydrodynamics algorithms in xRAGE is examined in this context. Compared to the initial 25 6 3 DNS, we find longer inertial subranges and higher turbulence Reynolds number (Re) for 25 6 3 and 51 2 3 xRAGE — attributed to having linked DNS (Navier–Stokes based) solutions to nominally inviscid (higher Re) Euler based ILES solutions. For fixed 25 6 3 resolution, we find that significantly larger simulated turbulence Re can be achieved with the higher-order unsplit (vs. split) discretizations.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

DOE OSTI2016

Initial conditions and modeling for simulations of shock driven turbulent material mixing

Here, we focus on the simulation of shock-driven material mixing driven by flow instabilities and initial conditions (IC). Beyond complex multi-scale resolution issues of shocks and variable density turbulence, me must address the equally difficult problem of predicting flow transition promoted by energy deposited at the material interfacial layer during the shock interface interactions. Transition involves unsteady large-scale coherent-structure dynamics capturable by a large eddy simulation (LES) strategy, but not by an unsteady Reynolds-Averaged Navier–Stokes (URANS) approach based on developed equilibrium turbulence assumptions and single-point-closure modeling. On the engineering end of computations, such URANS with reduced 1D/2D dimensionality and coarser grids, tend to be preferred for faster turnaround in full-scale configurations.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

DOE OSTI2015

Effects of Initial Condition Spectral Content on Shock Driven-Turbulent Mixing

The mixing of materials due to the Richtmyer-Meshkov instability and the ensuing turbulent behavior is of intense interest in a variety of physical systems including inertial confinement fusion, combustion, and the final stages of stellar evolution. Extensive numerical and laboratory studies of shock-driven mixing have demonstrated the rich behavior associated with the onset of turbulence due to the shocks. Here we report on progress in understanding shock-driven mixing at interfaces between fluids of differing densities through three-dimensional (3D) numerical simulations using the RAGE code in the implicit large eddy simulation context. We consider a shock-tube configuration with a band of high density gas (SF 6 ) embedded in low density gas (air). Shocks with a Mach number of 1.26 are passed through SF 6 bands, resulting in transition to turbulence driven by the Richtmyer-Meshkov instability. The system is followed as a rarefaction wave and a reflected secondary shock from the back wall pass through the SF 6 band. We apply a variety of initial perturbations to the interfaces between the two fluids in which the physical standard deviation, wave number range, and the spectral slope of the perturbations are held constant, but the number of modes initially present is varied. By thus decreasing the density of initial spectral modes of the interface, we find that we can achieve as much as 25% less total mixing at late times. This has potential direct implications for the treatment of initial conditions applied to material interfaces in both 3D and reduced dimensionality simulation models.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

DOE OSTI2013

Simulation ensemble for a laser–driven shear experiment

We perform an ensemble of simulations of a laser-driven shear experiment [L. Welser-Sherrill et al., “Two laser-driven mix experiments to study reshock and shear,” High Energy Density Phys. J. 9(3), 496–499 (2013)] in the strong-shock high energy-density regime to better understand material mixing driven by the Kelvin–Helmholtz instability. Each simulation uses a different realization of random initial interface perturbations based on data from targets used in experiments. Validation of the simulations is based on direct comparison of simulation and radiographic data. Simulations are also compared with published direct numerical simulation and the theory of homogeneous isotropic turbulence. Despite the fact that the flow is neither homogeneous, isotropic, nor fully turbulent, there are local regions in which the flow demonstrates characteristics of homogeneous isotropic turbulence. Our analysis shows characteristics consistent with those of incompressible isotropic turbulence. Our results show that turbulent features are present both near the shock front and in a separated region in the wake of the shock. These features develop and decay at different rates. Finally, we use the ensemble of three-dimensional simulations to test the performance of two-dimensional Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes simulations. In this context, we also test a presumed probability density function turbulent mixing model extensively used in combustion applications.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

DOE OSTI2013

Analysis of the effects of energy deposition on shock-driven turbulent mixing

We perform simulations of laser-driven turbulence experiments with energy deposition, modeling situations where energy is deposited in a mixing layer before or after it is reshocked. Such situations are experienced in, e.g., inertial confinement fusion capsules. We show that the timing of the energy deposition has a significant impact on the development of turbulent flow and corresponding turbulent material mixing. In particular, if the energy is deposited before the shock wave begins interacting with the mixing layer, the development of turbulence and turbulent mixing are inhibited. If, however, the energy is deposited after the shock wave has interacted with a portion of the mixing layer, turbulence generation and turbulent mixing are enhanced.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗