Engineering topics

Ragusa, J. C.

Publications and source records attributed to Ragusa, J. C..

7 records

DOE OSTI2013

Exponentially-convergent Monte Carlo for the 1-D transport equation

We define a new exponentially-convergent Monte Carlo method for solving the one-speed 1-D slab-geometry transport equation. This method is based upon the use of a linear discontinuous finite-element trial space in space and direction to represent the transport solution. A space-direction h-adaptive algorithm is employed to restore exponential convergence after stagnation occurs due to inadequate trial-space resolution. This methods uses jumps in the solution at cell interfaces as an error indicator. Computational results are presented demonstrating the efficacy of the new approach. (authors)

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

DOE OSTI2013

A Monte Carlo implementation of the predictor-corrector Quasi-Static method

The Quasi-Static method (QS) is a useful tool for solving reactor transients since it allows for larger time steps when updating neutron distributions. Because of the beneficial attributes of Monte Carlo (MC) methods (exact geometries and continuous energy treatment), it is desirable to develop a MC implementation for the QS method. In this work, the latest version of the QS method known as the Predictor-Corrector Quasi-Static method is implemented. Experiments utilizing two energy-groups provide results that show good agreement with analytical and reference solutions. The method as presented can easily be implemented in any continuous energy, arbitrary geometry, MC code. (authors)

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

DOE OSTI2013

Analysis of physics-based preconditioning for single-phase subchannel equations

The (single-phase) subchannel approximations are used throughout nuclear engineering to provide an efficient flow simulation because the computational burden is much smaller than for computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations, and empirical relations have been developed and validated to provide accurate solutions in appropriate flow regimes. Here, the subchannel equations have been recast in a residual form suitable for a multi-physics framework. The Eigen spectrum of the Jacobian matrix, along with several potential physics-based preconditioning approaches, are evaluated, and the the potential for improved convergence from preconditioning is assessed. The physics-based preconditioner options include several forms of reduced equations that decouple the subchannels by neglecting crossflow, conduction, and/or both turbulent momentum and energy exchange between subchannels. Eigen-scopy analysis shows that preconditioning moves clusters of eigenvalues away from zero and toward one. A test problem is run with and without preconditioning. Without preconditioning, the solution failed to converge using GMRES, but application of any of the preconditioners allowed the solution to converge. (authors)

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

DOE OSTI2013

Entropy viscosity method applied to Euler equations

The entropy viscosity method [4] has been successfully applied to hyperbolic systems of equations such as Burgers equation and Euler equations. The method consists in adding dissipative terms to the governing equations, where a viscosity coefficient modulates the amount of dissipation. The entropy viscosity method has been applied to the 1-D Euler equations with variable area using a continuous finite element discretization in the MOOSE framework and our results show that it has the ability to efficiently smooth out oscillations and accurately resolve shocks. Two equations of state are considered: Ideal Gas and Stiffened Gas Equations Of State. Results are provided for a second-order time implicit schemes (BDF2). Some typical Riemann problems are run with the entropy viscosity method to demonstrate some of its features. Then, a 1-D convergent-divergent nozzle is considered with open boundary conditions. The correct steady-state is reached for the liquid and gas phases with a time implicit scheme. The entropy viscosity method correctly behaves in every problem run. For each test problem, results are shown for both equations of state considered here. (authors)

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

DOE OSTI2013

Characterization of high order spatial discretizations and lumping techniques for discontinuous finite element SN transport

We examine several possible methods of mass matrix lumping for discontinuous finite element discrete ordinates transport using a Lagrange interpolatory polynomial trial space. Though positive outflow angular flux is guaranteed with traditional mass matrix lumping in a purely absorbing 1-D slab cell for the linear discontinuous approximation, we show that when used with higher degree interpolatory polynomial trial spaces, traditional lumping does yield strictly positive outflows and does not increase in accuracy with an increase in trial space polynomial degree. As an alternative, we examine methods which are 'self-lumping'. Self-lumping methods yield diagonal mass matrices by using numerical quadrature restricted to the Lagrange interpolatory points. Using equally-spaced interpolatory points, self-lumping is achieved through the use of closed Newton-Cotes formulas, resulting in strictly positive outflows in pure absorbers for odd power polynomials in 1-D slab geometry. By changing interpolatory points from the traditional equally-spaced points to the quadrature points of the Gauss-Legendre or Lobatto-Gauss-Legendre quadratures, it is possible to generate solution representations with a diagonal mass matrix and a strictly positive outflow for any degree polynomial solution representation in a pure absorber medium in 1-D slab geometry. Further, there is no inherent limit to local truncation error order of accuracy when using interpolatory points that correspond to the quadrature points of high order accuracy numerical quadrature schemes. (authors)

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

DOE OSTI2013

S{sub 2}SA preconditioning for the S{sub n} equations with strictly non negative spatial discretization

Preconditioners based upon sweeps and diffusion-synthetic acceleration have been constructed and applied to the zeroth and first spatial moments of the 1-D S{sub n} transport equation using a strictly non negative nonlinear spatial closure. Linear and nonlinear preconditioners have been analyzed. The effectiveness of various combinations of these preconditioners are compared. In one dimension, nonlinear sweep preconditioning is shown to be superior to linear sweep preconditioning, and DSA preconditioning using nonlinear sweeps in conjunction with a linear diffusion equation is found to be essentially equivalent to nonlinear sweeps in conjunction with a nonlinear diffusion equation. The ability to use a linear diffusion equation has important implications for preconditioning the S{sub n} equations with a strictly non negative spatial discretization in multiple dimensions. (authors)

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

DOE OSTI2013

A diffusion synthetic acceleration scheme for rectangular geometries based on bilinear discontinuous finite elements

A DSA technique to accelerate the iterative convergence of S{sub n} transport solves is derived for bilinear discontinuous (BLD) finite elements on rectangular grids. The diffusion synthetic acceleration equations are discretized using BLD elements by adapting the Modified Interior Penalty technique, introduced in [4] for triangular grids. The MIP-DSA equations are SPD and thus are solved using a preconditioned CG technique. Fourier analyses and implementation of the technique in a BLD S{sub n} transport code show that the technique is stable is effective. (authors)

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗