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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 199 records · Page 11

An Improved Fracture Mechanics-Informed Multiscale Thermomechanical Damage Model for Ceramic Matrix Composites

This paper extends recent work done by the authors in modeling length scale-dependent damage behavior of ceramic matrix composites (CMCs) to include effects of local anisotropy introduced by matrix cracking. This model captures scale-dependent damage initiation and propagation behavior of the brittle matrix by employing internal state variable (ISV) theory within a multiscale modeling framework to obtain damaged matrix stress/strain constitutive relationships at each length scale. The damage ISV captures the effects of matrix cracking and growth by using fracture mechanics and the self-consistent scheme to determine the reduced stiffness of the cracked matrix. Matrix cracks, which activate when stress intensity factors near manufacturing induced cavities exceed the fracture toughness of the material, are assumed to be transversely isotropic in the plane of the crack, and matrix anisotropy occurs when the damaged stiffness tensor is rotated from the crack plane to the global axes. The crack progression and temporal evolution of the damage ISV are governed by fracture mechanics and crack growth kinetics. The model effectively captures first matrix cracking, which is the first significant deviation from linear elasticity. The nonlinear predictive capabilities of the material model are demonstrated for monolithic silicon carbide (SiC) and a 2D woven five-harness satin (5HS) carbon fiber SiC matrix (C/SiC) CMC.

Skinner, Travis↗

Optimal Wentzell Boundary Control of Parabolic Equations

This paper deals with a class of optimal control problems governed by an initial-boundary value problem of a parabolic equation. The case of semi-linear boundary control is studied where the control is applied to the system via the Wentzell boundary condition. The differentiability of the state variable with respect to the control is established and hence a necessary condition is derived for the optimal solution in the case of both unconstrained and constrained problems. The condition is also sufficient for the unconstrained convex problems. A second order condition is also derived.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

A Nonlinear Optimal Control Problem Arising from a Sterilization Process for Packaged Foods

In this paper we study an optimization problem arising from a sterilization process for packaged foods by using a microwave heating method. The goal of the optimal control is to find the optimal frequency function such that the temperature profile at the final stage has a relative uniform distribution in the food product. The underlying state variables are electric, magnetic fields and temperature which satisfy the coupled nonlinear Maxwell’s system and a nonlinear heat equation. The control variable for the system is chosen to be the electric frequency function. We show that there exists an optimal frequency which minimizes the cost functional. Moreover, an optimality condition is also derived.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Discrete Time McKean–Vlasov Control Problem: A Dynamic Programming Approach

We consider the stochastic optimal control problem of nonlinear mean-field systems in discrete time. We reformulate the problem into a deterministic control problem with marginal distribution as controlled state variable, and prove that dynamic programming principle holds in its general form. We apply our method for solving explicitly the mean-variance portfolio selection and the multivariate linear-quadratic McKean–Vlasov control problem.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Crystal plasticity model of residual stress in additive manufacturing using the element elimination and reactivation method

Selective laser melting is receiving increasing interest as an additive manufacturing technique. Residual stresses induced by the large temperature gradients and inhomogeneous cooling process can favour the generation of cracks. In this work, a crystal plasticity finite element model is developed to simulate the formation of residual stresses and to understand the correlation between plastic deformation, grain orientation and residual stresses in the additive manufacturing process. The temperature profile and grain structure from thermal-fluid flow and grain growth simulations are implemented into the crystal plasticity model. An element elimination and reactivation method is proposed to model the melting and solidification and to reinitialize state variables, such as the plastic deformation, in the reactivated elements. The accuracy of this method is judged against previous method based on the stiffness degradation of liquid regions by comparing the plastic deformation as a function of time induced by thermal stresses. The method is used to investigate residual stresses parallel and perpendicular to the laser scan direction, and the correlation with the maximum Schmid factor of the grains along those directions. The magnitude of the residual stress can be predicted as a function of the depth, grain orientation and position with respect to the molten pool. The simulation results are directly comparable to X-ray diffraction experiments and stress–strain curves.

316 stainless steel↗

Extended isogeometric analysis of multi-material and multi-physics problems using hierarchical B-splines

Here, this paper presents an immersed, isogeometric finite element framework to predict the response of multi-material, multi-physics problems with complex geometries using locally refined discretizations. To circumvent the need to generate conformal meshes, this work uses an extended finite element method (XFEM) to discretize the governing equations on non-conforming, embedding meshes. A flexible approach to create truncated hierarchical B-splines discretizations is presented. This approach enables the refinement of each state variable field individually to meet field-specific accuracy requirements. To obtain an immersed geometry representation that is consistent across all hierarchically refined B-spline discretizations, the geometry is immersed into a single mesh, the XFEM background mesh, which is constructed from the union of all hierarchical B-spline meshes. An extraction operator is introduced to represent the truncated hierarchical B-spline bases in terms of Lagrange shape functions on the XFEM background mesh without loss of accuracy. The truncated hierarchical B-spline bases are enriched using a generalized Heaviside enrichment strategy to accommodate small geometric features and multi-material problems. The governing equations are augmented by a formulation of the face-oriented ghost stabilization enhanced for locally refined B-spline bases. We present examples for two- and three-dimensional linear elastic and thermo-elastic problems. The numerical results validate the accuracy of our framework. The results also demonstrate the applicability of the proposed framework to large, geometrically complex problems.

42 ENGINEERING↗

A Thermoplasticity Model for Oil Shale

Several regions of the world have abundant oil shale resources, but accessing this energy supply poses a number of challenges. One particular difficulty is the thermomechanical behavior of the material. When heated to sufficient temperatures, thermal conversion of kerogen to oil, gas, and other products takes place. This alteration of microstructure leads to a complex geomechanical response. In this work, we develop a thermoplasticity model for oil shale. The model is based on critical state plasticity, a framework often used for modeling clays and soft rocks. The model described here allows for both hardening due to mechanical deformation and softening due to thermal processes. In particular, the preconsolidation pressure—defining the onset of plastic volumetric compaction—is controlled by a state variable representing the kerogen content of the material. As kerogen is converted to other phases, the material weakens and plastic compaction begins. We calibrate and compare the proposed model to a suite of high-temperature uniaxial and triaxial experiments on core samples from a pilot in situ processing operation in the Green River Formation. In conclusion, we also describe avenues for future work to improve understanding and prediction of the geomechanical behavior of oil shale operations.

04 OIL SHALES AND TAR SANDS↗

A Scalable Space-Time Domain Decomposition Approach for Solving Large Scale Nonlinear Regularized Inverse Ill Posed Problems in 4D Variational Data Assimilation

We address the development of innovative algorithms designed to solve the strong-constraint Four Dimensional Variational Data Assimilation (4DVar DA) problems in large scale applications. We present a space-time decomposition approach which employs the whole domain decomposition, i.e. both along the spacial and temporal direction in the overlapping case, and the partitioning of both the solution and the operator. Starting from the global functional defined on the entire domain, we get to a sort of regularized local functionals on the set of sub domains providing the order reduction of both the predictive and the Data Assimilation models. The algorithm convergence is developed. Performance in terms of reduction of time complexity and algorithmic scalability is discussed on the Shallow Water Equations on the sphere. The number of state variables in the model, the number of observations in an assimilation cycle, as well as numerical parameters as the discretization step in time and in space domain are defined on the basis of discretization grid used by data available at repository Ocean Synthesis/Reanalysis Directory of Hamburg University.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Hybrid Inverse Parameter Identification of Fully Coupled Ductile Damage Model for Steel Sheet DP600 with Two Different Algorithms: Trust Region and Genetic Algorithms

Ductile damage model has been widely regarded as a valuable method to predict the failure of sheet metal. Based on the thermodynamic theory and continuum damage mechanics, the fully coupled ductile damage model can be developed, which also can better predict the initiation and growth of the fracture. But the identifications of model parameters with theoretical methodology are difficult due to the complex coupling relationships existing among all state variables. The inverse methodology is regarded as a good method to resolve the problem. In this paper, the recently proposed fully coupled ductile damage model is chosen to investigate the deformation behavior of DP600 steel, in which the mixed saturation isotropic and kinematic hardenings are taken into account and fully coupled with the ductile damage. During the identification process, the least square formula of the error between experimental and numerical results is selected as the target function. The trust region algorithm and genetic algorithm are used with the help of MATLAB for the identification of three damage parameters. Finally, by comparing the experimental and numerical results, the validations of two algorithms are proved. The efficiency of the optimization process with trust region algorithm is higher, but with lower accuracy. Meanwhile, the optimization process is greatly affected by the chosen initial values of the ductile damage parameters.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

High-Resolution Electron Microscopy and Kinetic Studies of Precipitation Hardening Reactions in Cast Al-5.8Zn-2.2Mg-2.5Cu

Precipitation age hardening (T6) response of Al-5.8Zn-2.2Mg-2.5Cu alloy in near-net-shaped cast condition was investigated. Cast samples were manufactured using the controlled diffusion solidification (CDS) technology combined with a metallic mold tilt pour gravity casting process. This study was conducted using (1) non-isothermal aging during differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) experiments and (2) isothermal aging during which transient bulk and micro-hardness measurements taken at four aging temperatures of 343, 393, 433 and 473 K. A detailed microstructural investigation combined with a quantitative image analysis was carried out on both DSC and hardness specimens using high-resolution electron microscopy (HREM) and energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) elemental mappings. Hardness measurements were analyzed using a kinetic modeling approach (single state variable combined with a kinetic equation that is valid for the Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloys). The results confirm the formation of hardening phases of GP zone, intermediate hardening metastable phase η′ and equilibrium phase η. The results of calorimetric measurements, electron microscopy and selected area diffraction patterns are in good agreement and confirm transient precipitation/dissolution sequences. A mean value of activation energy Q{sub A} of 75 kJ/mol was evaluated for combined bulk diffusion rate of alloying elements during precipitation of strengthening phases within Al matrix.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Physical Regime Sensitivity

Abstract This work presents a novel sensitivity approach that quantifies sensitivity to regimes of a model’s state variables rather than constitutive model parameters. This Physical Regime Sensitivity (PRS) determines which regimes of a model’s independent variables have the biggest influence on an experiment or application. PRS analysis is demonstrated on a strength model used in the simulation of a copper Taylor cylinder. In a series of simulations, the strength model was perturbed sequentially in local regimes of plastic strain, plastic strain rate, temperature and pressure, and then the prediction of cylinder shape was compared to unperturbed calculations. Results show, for example, that the deformed length of the cylinder was most sensitive to strength at a strain rate of 1.0 × 10 4 /sec., but the deformed footprint radius was most sensitive to strength at a strain rate of about 4.0 × 10 4 /sec. Compared to current histogram approaches, PRS can be used to design or interpret integrated experiments by identifying not just which regimes are accessed somewhere in the experiment but the causality question of which regimes actually affect the measured data. PRS should allow one to focus experimental and modeling efforts where they are most needed and to better interpret experiments.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Control of Fractional Diffusion Problems via Dynamic Programming Equations

In this study, we explore the approximation of feedback control of integro-differential equations containing a fractional Laplacian term. To obtain feedback control for the state variable of this nonlocal equation, we use the Hamilton–Jacobi–Bellman equation. It is well known that this approach suffers from the curse of dimensionality, and to mitigate this problem we couple semi-Lagrangian schemes for the discretization of the dynamic programming principle with the use of Shepard approximation. This coupling enables approximation of high-dimensional problems. Numerical convergence toward the solution of the continuous problem is provided together with linear and nonlinear examples. The robustness of the method with respect to disturbances of the system is illustrated by comparisons with an open-loop control approach.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Role of corner interfacial area in uniqueness of capillary pressure-satuation - interfacial area relation under transient conditions

Capillary pressure ( P c ) and phase saturation ( S w ) in two-phase flow are well known to be hysteretically related. Thermodynamically-derived multiphase flow theories conjecture that this hysteresis will be lifted if specific interfacial area ( a nw ) is included as a new state variable to create a unique P c -S-a nw surface. Specific interfacial area is defined as the total interfacial area per volume of a porous medium. Several studies have confirmed the existence of a unique P c -S w -a nw surface under equilibrium conditions for a given porous medium. However, there is only one experimental work in the literature, where the unique- ness of this surface under transient conditions was questioned. However, in the data analysis only the terminal menisci were considered to calculate the specific interfacial area. In this paper, we investigate the uniqueness of P c -S-a nw surfaces with and without the inclusion of corner fluid-fluid interfacial area, under different dynamic conditions, in two different micro-models bearing two different (granular vs. triangulated) pore morphologies. We establish a systematic metric to analyze hysteresis under different hydrodynamic conditions.

Godinez-Brizuela, Omar E.↗

Impact of petrophysical uncertainty on Bayesian hydrogeophysical inversion and model selection

Quantitative hydrogeophysical studies rely heavily on petrophysical relationships that link geophysical properties to hydrogeological properties and state variables. Coupled inversion studies are frequently based on the questionable assumption that these relationships are perfect (i.e., no scatter). Using synthetic examples and crosshole ground-penetrating radar (GPR) data from the South Oyster Bacterial Transport Site in Virginia, USA, we investigate the impact of spatially-correlated petrophysical uncertainty on inferred posterior porosity and hydraulic conductivity distributions and on Bayes factors used in Bayesian model selection. Our study shows that accounting for petrophysical uncertainty in the inversion (I) decreases bias of the inferred variance of hydrogeological subsurface properties, (II) provides more realistic uncertainty assessment and (III) reduces the overconfidence in the ability of geophysical data to falsify conceptual hydrogeological models.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗

Pressurizer dynamic model and emulated programmable logic controllers for nuclear power plants cybersecurity investigations

This work demonstrates the functionality of the pressurizer using a fast-running three regions, non-equilibrium model and control programs of emulated PLCs. The state variables from an integrated model of primary loop in a representative PWR plant are communicated to the pressurizer’s emulated PLCs using a synchronized data transfer function. In turn, the PLCs communicate back instructions to the pressurizer model to adjust the pressure and water level to remain within preprogramed setpoints. Pressurizer model simultaneously solves the coupled mass and energy conservation equations in the saturated vapor and saturated and subcooled liquid regions using fixed step solver. Results demonstrate the response of the pressurizer model linked to an emulated pressure and water level PLCs in a simulated transient involving surge-in and surge-out events. The 50 ms response delay time for the emulated PLC insignificantly affects operation and predictions of the pressurizer model.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Bifurcations analysis of turbulent energy cascade

This note studies the mechanism of turbulent energy cascade through an opportune bifurcations analysis of the Navier–Stokes equations, and furnishes explanations on the more significant characteristics of the turbulence. A statistical bifurcations property of the Navier–Stokes equations in fully developed turbulence is proposed, and a spatial representation of the bifurcations is presented, which is based on a proper definition of the fixed points of the velocity field. The analysis first shows that the local deformation can be much more rapid than the fluid state variables, then explains the mechanism of energy cascade through the aforementioned property of the bifurcations, and gives reasonable argumentation of the fact that the bifurcations cascade can be expressed in terms of length scales. Furthermore, the study analyzes the characteristic length scales at the transition through global properties of the bifurcations, and estimates the order of magnitude of the critical Taylor-scale Reynolds number and the number of bifurcations at the onset of turbulence.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Degenerate limit thermodynamics beyond leading order for models of dense matter

Analytical formulas for next-to-leading order temperature corrections to the thermal state variables of interacting nucleons in bulk matter are derived in the degenerate limit. The formalism developed is applicable to a wide class of non-relativistic and relativistic models of hot and dense matter currently used in nuclear physics and astrophysics (supernovae, proto-neutron stars and neutron star mergers) as well as in condensed matter physics. We consider the general case of arbitrary dimensionality of momentum space and an arbitrary degree of relativity (for relativistic models). For non-relativistic zero-range interactions, knowledge of the Landau effective mass suffices to compute next-to-leading order effects, but for finite-range interactions, momentum derivatives of the Landau effective mass function up to second order are required. Results from our analytical formulas are compared with the exact results for zero- and finite-range potential and relativistic mean-field theoretical models. In all cases, inclusion of next-to-leading order temperature effects substantially extends the ranges of partial degeneracy for which the analytical treatment remains valid. Effects of many-body correlations that deserve further investigation are highlighted.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Digital memcomputing: From logic to dynamics to topology

Digital memcomputing machines (DMMs) are a class of computational machines designed to solve combinatorial optimization problems. A practical realization of DMMs can be accomplished via electrical circuits of highly non-linear, point-dissipative dynamical systems engineered so that periodic orbits and chaos can be avoided. A given logic problem is first mapped into this type of dynamical system whose point attractors represent the solutions of the original problem. A DMM then finds the solution via a succession of elementary instantons whose role is to eliminate solitonic configurations of logical inconsistency (“logical defects”) from the circuit. By employing a supersymmetric theory of dynamics, a DMM can be described by a cohomological field theory that allows for computation of certain topological matrix elements on instantons that have the mathematical meaning of intersection numbers on instantons. We discuss the “dynamical” meaning of these matrix elements, and argue that the number of elementary instantons needed to reach the solution cannot exceed the number of state variables of DMMs, which in turn can only grow at most polynomially with the size of the problem. These results shed further light on the relation between logic, dynamics and topology in digital memcomputing.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗