Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “Fluid equations”

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 181 records · Page 10

Model fusion with physics-guided machine learning: Projection-based reduced-order modeling

The unprecedented amount of data generated from experiments, field observations, and large-scale numerical simulations at a wide range of spatiotemporal scales has enabled the rapid advancement of data-driven and especially deep learning models in the field of fluid mechanics. Although these methods are proven successful for many applications, there is a grand challenge of improving their generalizability. This is particularly essential when data-driven models are employed within outer-loop applications like optimization. In this work, we put forth a physics-guided machine learning (PGML) framework that leverages the interpretable physics-based model with a deep learning model. Leveraging a concatenated neural network design from multi-modal data sources, the PGML framework is capable of enhancing the generalizability of data-driven models and effectively protects against or inform about the inaccurate predictions resulting from extrapolation. We apply the PGML framework as a novel model fusion approach combining the physics-based Galerkin projection model and long- to short-term memory (LSTM) network for parametric model order reduction of fluid flows. We demonstrate the improved generalizability of the PGML framework against a purely data-driven approach through the injection of physics features into intermediate LSTM layers. Our quantitative analysis shows that the overall model uncertainty can be reduced through the PGML approach, especially for test data coming from a distribution different than the training data. Moreover, we demonstrate that our approach can be used as an inverse diagnostic tool providing a confidence score associated with models and observations. The proposed framework also allows for multi-fidelity computing by making use of low-fidelity models in the online deployment of quantified data-driven models.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Learning and discovering multiple solutions using physics-informed neural networks with random initialization and deep ensemble

In this work we explore the capability of physics-informed neural networks (PINNs) to discover multiple solutions. Many real-world phenomena governed by nonlinear differential equations (DEs), such as fluid flow, exhibit multiple solutions under the same conditions, yet capturing this solution multiplicity remains a significant challenge. A key difficulty lies in providing appropriate initial conditions or guesses, as widely used time-marching schemes and Newton’s method are highly sensitive to these choices when solving complex computational problems. While machine learning models, particularly PINNs, have shown promise in solving DEs, their ability to capture multiple solutions remains underexplored. In this work, we propose a simple and practical approach using PINNs to learn and discover multiple solutions. We first demonstrate that PINNs, when combined with random initialization and deep ensemble method—originally developed for uncertainty quantification—can effectively uncover multiple solutions to nonlinear ordinary and partial DEs. Although training large ensembles of PINNs may appear computationally demanding, this can be done efficiently using vectorization techniques supported by modern deep learning frameworks, allowing many networks to be trained simultaneously. Our approach highlights the critical role of initialization in shaping solution diversity, addressing an often-overlooked aspect of machine learning for scientific computing. Furthermore, we propose utilizing PINN-generated solutions as initial conditions or initial guesses for conventional numerical solvers to enhance accuracy and efficiency in capturing multiple solutions. Extensive numerical experiments, including the Allen–Cahn equation and cavity flow, where our approach successfully identifies both stable and unstable solutions, validate the effectiveness of our method. These findings establish a general and efficient framework for addressing solution multiplicity in nonlinear DEs.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Linear shaped-charge jet optimization using machine learning methods

Linear shaped charges are used to focus energy into rapidly creating a deep linear incision. The general design of a shaped charge involves detonating a confined mass of high explosive (HE) with a metal-lined concave cavity on one side to produce a high velocity jet for the purpose of striking and penetrating a given material target. This jetting effect occurs due to the interaction of the detonation wave with the cavity geometry, which produces an unstable fluid phenomenon known as the Richtmyer–Meshkov instability and results in the rapid growth of a long narrow jet. We apply machine learning and optimization methods to hydrodynamics simulations of linear shaped charges to improve the simulated jet characteristics. The designs that we propose and investigate in this work generally involve modifying the behavior of the detonation waves prior to interaction with the liner material. These designs include the placement of multiple detonators and the use of metal inclusions within the HE. In conclusion, we are able to produce a linear shaped-charge design with a higher penetration depth than the baseline case that we consider and accomplish this using the same amount of or less HE.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Embedding condition describing shearing, dissipative collapse

Highlights: • Perturbative approach to the time-dependent Karmarkar condition in shearing collapse. • Analysis of the (in)stability of the collapsing fluid using the TOV equation. • Study of the temperature profiles using a causal heat transport equation. In this work we employ the time-dependent Karmarkar condition to model dissipative gravitational collapse in the presence of shear which leads to a final static configuration. We believe that this is a first attempt at using the time-dependent Karmarkar condition describing a radiating star with shear in which the collapsing core dissipates energy in the form of a radial heat flux. The final static configuration which is described by an embedding class I spacetime was obtained by Hansraj and Moodly who showed that this solution satisfies all the physical requirements for a static compact object. As the collapse proceeds and the heat flux tends to zero the dynamical core evolves into a static compact core with the exterior spacetime being described by the vacuum Schwarzschild solution.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Benchmarking NIMROD continuum kinetic formulations through the steady-state poloidal flow

In this work, continuum kinetic formulations are employed as a mechanism to include closure physics in an extended magnetohydrodynamics model. Two continuum kinetic approaches have been implemented in the plasma fluid code NIMROD [Sovinec et al., “Nonlinear magnetohydrodynamics with high-order finite elements,” J. Comput. Phys. 195, 355 (2004)] including a Chapman–Enskog-like (CEL) formulation and a more conventional df approach. Ion kinetic closure schemes are employed to describe the neoclassical flow properties in axisymmetric toroidal geometry. In particular, predictions for steady-state values of poloidal flow profiles in tokamak geometry are provided using both the df formulation and two different solution techniques for the CEL approach. These results are benchmarked against analytic theory predictions as well as results from the drift kinetic code DK4D. The continuum kinetic formulations employed here show agreement with both the analytic theory and DK4D results, and offer a novel velocity space representation involving higher-order finite elements in pitch angle.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

T2Well-ECO2NV2 v1.0 beta

T2Well-ECO2NV2 combines the T2Well code for simulating coupled well-reservoir fluid and heat flow with the ECO2N Version 2.0 equation of state module for calculating the fluid properties of water-CO2-salt mixtures at high temperatures. The combination of these two capabilities in T2Well-ECO2NV2 creates the capability of simulating injection and withdrawal of fluids in high-Temperature geothermal or geologic carbon sequestration systems. While the previously released T2Well-ECO2N Version 1.0 was useful for geologic carbon sequestration, the new T2Well-ECO2NV2 has capabilities for higher temperature and thereby allows the simulation of CO2-rich geothermal systems.

Oldenburg, CurtisM↗

Development of five-moment two-fluid modeling for Z-pinch physics

The Z-pinch m = 0 instability as well as its stabilization by radially sheared axial flow is studied using the nonlinear ideal five-moment twofluid (5M2F) model with an extension of that model to include Braginskii heat and momentum transport. Using the ideal 5M2F model, linear growth rate results are compared with prior work using MHD and Hall MHD. At small normalized wavenumber, 1 < k a < 4 , where a is the effective pinch radius, 5M2F results agree with Hall MHD within 20% in scenarios without radially sheared axial flow. With the sheared flow and focusing on ka = 10/3, agreement with Hall MHD is excellent. In the limit of small ion inertial length, results also match with MHD. A comparison with PIC modeling of shear-free m = 0 stability focuses on a plasma scenario based on recent experimental results. In a scan of mode wavenumber, ideal 5M2F results are qualitatively similar to PIC: the growth rate rises to a peak at a moderate wavenumber and declines at a large wavenumber in contrast to MHD results, which show the saturation of the growth rate with the increasing wavenumber rather than a decline. The peak normalized 5M2F growth rate is &#x3B3; &#x3C4; A = 1.5 , where sA is the Alfven transit time across the pinch. The peak occurs at normalized wavenumber ka = 10. For comparison, PIC results have a peak growth of &#x3B3; &#x3C4; A = 0.77 at ka = 5. Including Braginskiibased closure of the 5M2F model does not qualitatively change the ideal results in this particular case. Nonlinear saturation is studied using the 5M2F model with the dissipative Braginskii-based closure in cases with pinch-edge sheared-flow speed equal to half the Alfven speed. Nonlinear mixing due to the sheared flow yields a quasi-steady state after modest losses of pinch ion inventory and pinch thermal energy, approximately 30% and 10%, respectively. 5M2F modeling captures the essential physics of m = 0 instability and offers a computationally tractable route to high-fidelity modeling of 3D Z-pinch behavior, including m = 1 instability.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

A Poisson equation method for prescribing fully developed non-Newtonian inlet conditions for computational fluid dynamics simulations in models of arbitrary cross-section

Prescribing inlet boundary conditions for computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations of internal flow in complex geometries such as anatomical vascular models is challenging. In the absence of patient-specific inlet velocity data, a common approach for long blood vessels is to assume that the inlet flow is fully developed. In vessels of irregular cross section, however, prescribing fully developed conditions is complicated due to the lack of a general closed-form analytical solution. In this study, we develop a simple Poisson equation method for prescribing fully developed inlet conditions for the flow of either Newtonian or non-Newtonian fluids in CFD models of arbitrary cross-section. We first derive the generalized Poisson equation for fully developed flow of a non-Newtonian fluid and we then develop and verify a methodology for numerically computing the solution on any planar boundary domain. In addition, we develop a simple extension of the method for prescribing a non-orthogonal inlet velocity that represents fully developed flow from an upstream tube that is connected to the CFD inlet at a non-orthogonal angle. This may be used to investigate a common source of uncertainty in CFD simulations of internal flow that is due to a lack of information concerning the exact streamwise flow direction at the inlets. Comparison to several Newtonian and non-Newtonian benchmark verification solutions shows the method to be extremely accurate. As a practical demonstration case, we use the method to prescribe fully developed conditions on multiple non-circular inlets for the non-Newtonian flow of blood in a patient-specific model of the inferior vena cava (IVC). Finally, we further demonstrate the utility of the method by performing a sensitivity study using the patient-specific IVC model, wherein we investigate the influence of inlet velocity flow direction on the non-Newtonian IVC hemodynamics. Given its simplicity and computational efficiency, the method is shown to be far superior to alternative approaches for prescribing fully developed inlet conditions in such complicated geometries. In conclusion, to facilitate the adoption of our Poisson equation method, we have distributed our OpenFOAM source code and the associated test cases from this study as open-source software.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Effect of topology changes on the breakup of a periodic liquid jet

Here, the breakup of a periodic jet is examined computationally, using a front-tracking/finite-volume method, where the interface is represented by connected marker points moving with the fluid, while the governing equations are solved on a fixed grid. Tracking the interface allows control of whether topology changes take place or not. The Reynolds and Capillary numbers are kept relatively low ($Re = 150$ and $Ca = 2$) so most of the flow is well resolved. The effect of topology changes is examined by following the jet until it has mostly disintegrated, for different “coalescence criterion,” based on the thickness of thin films and threads. The evolution of both two-dimensional and fully three-dimensional flows is examined. It is found that although there is a significant difference between the evolution when no breakup takes place and when it does, once breakup takes place the evolution is relatively insensitive to exactly how it is triggered for a range of coalescence criterion, and any differences are mostly confined to the smallest scales.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

The liquid-conduction, vapor-flow heat pipe model in Sockeye

A single-phase heat pipe flow model implemented in the heat pipe application Sockeye is described. This model solves one-dimensional, compressible flow equations for the vapor phase in the center of a heat pipe, which are coupled to the two-dimensional heat conduction equation for the wick, liquid, and cladding, as well as to an ordinary differential equation tracking the working fluid inventory in the evaporator section of the heat pipe. This model is demonstrated with several test problems, including comparisons to analytic solutions for the vapor flow fields, analytic curves for sonic and capillary limitations of heat pipe operation, and some experimental data. The numerical solution gives excellent agreement for verification problems and good agreement with experimental results. Also, demonstrations show that the model is very robust, allowing for full simulations of heat pipe transients, including frozen startup, sonic-limited (supersonic) flow, and heat pipe shutdown.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Lectures on statistical mechanics

Presented here is a transcription of the lecture notes from Professor Allan N. Kaufman’s graduate statistical mechanics course Physics 212A and 212B at the University of California Berkeley from the 1972–1973 academic year. 212A addressed equilibrium statistical mechanics with topics: fundamentals (micro-canonical and sub-canonical ensembles, adiabatic law and action conservation, fluctuations, pressure, and virial theorem), classical fluids and other systems (equation of state, deviations from ideality, virial coefficients and van der Waals potential, canonical ensemble and partition function, quasistatic evolution, grand-canonical ensemble and partition function, chemical potential, simple model of a phase transition, quantum virial expansion, numerical simulation of equations of state, and phase transition), chemical equilibrium (systems with multiple species and chemical reactions, law of mass action, Saha equation, chemical equilibrium including ionization and excited states), and long-range interactions (including Coulomb, dipole, and gravitational interactions, Debye–Hückel theory, and shielding). 212B addressed nonequilibrium statistical mechanics with topics: fundamentals (definitions: realizations, moments, characteristic function, and discrete variables), Brownian motion (Langevin equation, fluctuation–dissipation theorem, spatial diffusion, Boltzmann’s H-theorem), Liouville and Klimontovich equations, Landau equation (derivation, elaboration, and H-theorem, and irreversibility), Markov processes and Fokker–Planck equation (derivations of the Fokker–Planck equation and a master equation), linear response and transport theory (linear Boltzmann equation, linear response theory of Kubo and Mori, relation of entropy production to electrical conductivity, transport relations and coefficients, normal mode solutions of the transport equations, sketch of a generalized Langevin equation method for transport theory), and an introduction to nonequilibrium quantum statistical mechanics.

plasma dynamics↗

Theory of ignition and burn propagation in inertial fusion implosions

A detailed analytic model is presented here to investigate the physics of burn propagation in inertially confined plasmas. The onset of ignition and burn propagation occurs when alpha heating of the hot spot causes rapid ablation of shell mass into the hot spot. This allows large energy gains to be achieved since most of the fuel mass is located in the shell. Here, we first present a comprehensive review of previous analytic models that have been used to describe the physics of hot-spot evolution and ignition; we then show that a proper description of a propagating burn wave requires a comprehensive model of hot spot and shell evolution that includes proper mass conservation in the shell, fusion reactivity, and fuel depletion. The analytic theory is in good agreement with detailed radiation-hydrodynamic simulations that predict the onset of burn propagation as occurring when the yield enhancement caused by alpha heating is between 15- and 25-fold, $f_α$ ~ 1.4, where $f_α$ = alpha energy deposited/hot-spot energy at bang time, and the hot-spot burnup fraction is approximately 2%. We show that the definition of ignition is not sensitive to the alpha-particle stopping power nor asymmetries provided that the absorbed fraction of alpha particles $θ_α$ is correctly accounted for. Finally, we use the results of 2-D simulations to show that even when $θ_α$ is small and unknown (as is true in hot spots with mid modes that have significant leakage of alpha particles into the surrounding cold bubbles), one can still relate the experimentally measureable parameter $\chi^{53}_α$ to the yield amplification and the burning-plasma parameter $Q^{\text{hs}}_α$ = alpha energy deposited/total input work delivered to the hot spot

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Drive-pressure optimization in ramp-wave compression experiments through differential evolution

Ramp-wave dynamic-compression experiments are used to examine quasi-isentropic loading paths in materials. The gradual and continuous increase in pressure created by ramp waves make these types of experiments ideal for studying nonequilibrium material behavior, such as solidification kinetics. In ramp-wave compression experiments, the input drive pressure to the experimental setup may be exerted through one of a number of different mechanisms (e.g., magnetic fields, gas-gun-driven impactors, or high-energy lasers) and is generally required for simulating such experiments. Yet, regardless of the specific mechanism, this drive pressure cannot be measured directly (measurements are generally taken at a location near the back of the experimental setup through a transparent window), leading to an inverse problem where one must determine the drive pressure at the front of the experimental setup (i.e., the input) that corresponds to the particle velocity (the output) measured near the back of the experimental setup. Furthermore, we solve this inverse problem using a heuristic optimization algorithm, known as differential evolution, coupled with a multiphysics, hydrodynamics code that simulates the compression of the experimental setup. By running many rounds of forward simulations of the experimental setup, our optimization process iteratively searches for a drive pressure that is optimized to closely reproduce the experimentally measured particle velocity near the back of the experimental setup. While our optimization methodology requires a significant number of hydrodynamics simulations to be conducted, many of these can be performed in parallel, which greatly reduces the time cost of our methodology. One novel aspect of our method for determining the drive pressure is that it does not require physical modeling of the drive mechanism and can thus be broadly applied to many types of ramp-compression experiments, regardless of the drive mechanism.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

A boundary value “reservoir problem” and boundary conditions for multi-moment multifluid simulations of sheaths

Multifluid simulations of plasma sheaths are increasingly used to model a wide variety of problems in plasma physics ranging from global magnetospheric flows around celestial bodies to plasma–wall interactions in thrusters and fusion devices. For multifluid problems, accurate boundary conditions to model an absorbing wall that resolves a classical sheath remain an open research area. This work justifies the use of vacuum boundary conditions for absorbing walls to show comparable accuracy between a multifluid sheath and lower moments of a continuum-kinetic sheath.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Generation of excited species in a streamer discharge

At or near atmospheric pressure, most transient discharges, particularly in molecular gases or gas mixture containing molecular gases result in a space-charge dominated transport called a streamer discharge. The excited species generation in such discharges forms the basis for plasma chemistry in most technological applications. In this paper we simulate the propagation of streamers in atmospheric pressure N 2 to understand the energy partitioning in the formation of various excited species and compare the results to a uniform Townsend discharge. The model is fully two-dimensional with azimuthal symmetry. Results show a significantly larger fraction of the energy goes into vibrational excitation of the N 2 ground state in a streamer-type discharge in comparison to a Townsend discharge. For lower applied voltages, the anode-directed (negative) steamer is slightly more efficient in channeling energy for excited species production in comparison to a cathode-directed (positive) streamer. Near 70% overvoltage both types of streamers show very similar energy partitioning but quite different from a Townsend discharge.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Laser-plasma acceleration beyond wave breaking

Laser wakefield accelerators rely on the extremely high electric fields of nonlinear plasma waves to trap and accelerate electrons to relativistic energies over short distances. When driven strongly enough, plasma waves break, trapping a large population of the background electrons that support their motion. Aside from limiting the maximum electric field, this trapping can lead to accelerated electron bunches with large energy spreads. Here we introduce a novel regime of plasma wave excitation and wakefield acceleration that allows for arbitrarily high electric fields while avoiding the deleterious effects of unwanted trapping. Here, the regime, enabled by spatiotemporal shaping of laser pulses, exploits the property that nonlinear plasma waves with superluminal phase velocities cannot trap charged particles and are therefore immune to wave breaking.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Scaling of the mean transverse flow and Reynolds shear stress in turbulent plane jet

Here, proper scaling for the mean transverse flow and Reynolds shear stress in a turbulent plane jet is determined using a scaling patch approach. By seeking an admissible scaling, a key concept in the scaling patch approach, for the mean continuity equation, a proper scale for the mean transverse flow in a turbulent plane jet is found as V ref = –δdU ctr /dx, where δ is the jet half width and dU ctr /dx is the decay rate of the mean axial velocity at the jet centerline. By seeking an admissible scaling for the mean axial momentum equation, a proper scale for the kinematic Reynolds shear stress is found as R uv,ref =U ctr V ref , which is a mix of the velocity scales in the axial and transverse directions. Approximation functions for the scaled mean transverse flow and Reynolds shear stress are developed and found to agree well with experimental and numerical data. Similarities and differences between the scales of the mean transverse flow and Reynolds shear stress in turbulent plane jets and zero-pressure-gradient turbulent boundary layer flows are clarified.

42 ENGINEERING↗

On the mechanism of ionization oscillations in Hall thrusters

Low-frequency ionization oscillations involving plasma and neutral density (breathing modes) are the most violent perturbations in Hall thrusters for electric propulsion. Because of its simplicity, the zero-dimensional (0D) predator–prey model of two nonlinearly coupled ordinary differential equations for plasma and neutral density has often been used for the characterization of such oscillations and scaling estimates. In this work, we investigate the properties of its continuum analog, the one-dimensional (1D) system of two nonlinearly coupled equations in partial derivatives (PDEs) for plasma and neutral density. This is a more general model, of which the standard 0D predator–prey model is a special limit case. We show that the 1D model is stable and does not show any oscillations for the boundary conditions relevant to Hall thrusters and the uniform ion velocity. We then propose a reduced 1D model based on two coupled PDEs for plasma and neutral densities that is unstable and exhibit oscillations if the ion velocity profile with the near-the-anode back-flow (toward the anode) region is used. Comparisons of the reduced model with the predictions of the full model that takes into account the self-consistent plasma response show that the main properties of the breathing mode are well captured. In particular, it is shown that the frequency of the breathing mode oscillations is weakly dependent on the final ion velocity but shows a strong correlation with the width of the ion back-flow region.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗