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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 217 records · Page 12

A Flexible Tool for Beam Induced Background Simulations at a Muon Collider

A Muon Collider represents a very interesting possibility for a future machine to explore the energy frontier in particle physics.However, to reach the needed luminosity, beam intensities of the order of $10^{9-11}$ muons per bunch are needed. In this context, the Beam Induced Background must be taken into account for its effects on the magnets and on the detector. Several optimizations can be conceived with the aim to mitigate them. In this view, it is of crucial importance to develop a flexible tool that allows to easily reconstruct the machine geometry in a Monte Carlo code, allowing to simulate in detail the interaction of muon decay products in the machine, while being able to change the machine optics itself to find the best configuration.In this contribution, a possible approach to such a purpose is presented, based on FLUKA for the Monte Carlo simulation and on LineBuilder for the geometry reconstruction.First results for the 1.5TeV machine optics developed by the MAP collaboration are discussed in this paper.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

IMS Rapid Response FY21 Summary Report for: Integrating Patterned Probes with Four-Dimensional Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy for Unrivaled Crystallographic Structure Determination in Nanomaterials

The initial goal of our 4-dimensional scanning transmission electron microscopy (4D-STEM)-based project was to develop strain resolution two orders of magnitude better than what is now currently possible with electron-based scattering techniques, all while collecting scattering information from 7 different tilt axes at one time [multi-beam electron diffraction (MBED)1 ] through the development of a new electron probe-forming aperture with non-circular features (patterned probes 2 ). We set out to accomplish this through a collaboration with Drs. Colin Ophus and Ben Savitsky at Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory (they are the world-leading experts in developing the complex computational codes required to perform orientation analysis and quantitative strain mapping on our 4D-STEM data sets. We are motivated to invest in this area as it will be the only technique sensitive enough to perform three- dimensional automated crystallographic orientation mapping (ACOM) and strain mapping for materials exposed to external stimulus (a focus of our larger efforts).

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Particulate Emission and Optical Measurements in n-Heptane Low-Swirl Non-Premixed Flames at Elevated Pressures

A series of ground combustion tests conducted at elevated pressures demonstrates in-chamber optical measurements of soot emissions, combined with conventional gaseous and particle emissions sampling techniques. Utilizing a micro-radial-entry counter-swirl (MRX) burner, we successfully stabilized an n-heptane low-swirl, non-premixed spray flame across a wide range of equivalence ratios at pressures reaching 250 psia. Our optical diagnostics feature a temporally gated diffused-backlight illumination extinction imaging (DBI-EI) system, equipped with a 470-nm strobe high-intensity LED array as the illumination source, along with a line-of-sight telecentric camera. By accessing the flame tube, the pulsed DBI-EI provides illuminating optical extinction images, enabling experimental estimation of soot volume fractions within the reaction zone. This imaging technique will allow for real-time observation of soot formation dynamics occurring above the air-blast fuel injector. To further enhance our analysis, we employed simultaneous gaseous and particulate extractive diagnostics, interpreting in-flame particulate information through CO2 sampling, exhaust particle sizing, and particle counting. The processed dataset reveals a promising application of DBI-EI for propulsion emission analysis in high-pressure environments, where optical beam-steering effects can significantly impact results. This report is essential to bridging the divide between in-flame optical diagnostics and exhaust extractive measurements. By achieving an understanding of non-premixed combustion emission characteristics, we attempt to provide invaluable data for computer code validation, advancing the field of combustion research and supporting the development of cleaner, more efficient engines.

high-pressure flame↗

Particulate Emission and Optical Measurements in n-Heptane Low-Swirl Non-Premixed Flames at Elevated Pressures

A series of ground combustion tests conducted at elevated pressures demonstrates in-chamber optical measurements of soot emissions, combined with conventional gaseous and particle emissions sampling techniques. Utilizing a micro-radial-entry counter-swirl (MRX) burner, we successfully stabilized an n-heptane low-swirl, non-premixed spray flame across a wide range of equivalence ratios at pressures reaching 250 psia. Our optical diagnostics feature a temporally gated diffused-backlight illumination extinction imaging (DBI-EI) system, equipped with a 470-nm strobe high-intensity LED array as the illumination source, along with a line-of-sight telecentric camera. By accessing the flame tube, the pulsed DBI-EI provides illuminating optical extinction images, enabling experimental estimation of soot volume fractions within the reaction zone. This imaging technique will allow for real-time observation of soot formation dynamics occurring above the air-blast fuel injector. To further enhance our analysis, we employed simultaneous gaseous and particulate extractive diagnostics, interpreting in-flame particulate information through CO2 sampling, exhaust particle sizing, and particle counting. The processed dataset reveals a promising application of DBI-EI for propulsion emission analysis in high-pressure environments, where optical beam-steering effects can significantly impact results. This report is essential to bridging the divide between in-flame optical diagnostics and exhaust extractive measurements. By achieving an understanding of non-premixed combustion emission characteristics, we attempt to provide invaluable data for computer code validation, advancing the field of combustion research and supporting the development of cleaner, more efficient engines.

high-pressure flame↗

Improved Spacecraft Materials for Radiation Shielding

In the execution of this proposal, we will first examine current and developing spacecraft materials and evaluate their ability to attenuate adverse biological mutational events in mammalian cell systems and reduce the rate of cancer induction in mice harderian glands as a measure of their protective qualities. The HZETRN code system will be used to generate a database on GCR attenuation in each material. If a third year of funding is granted, the most promising and mission-specific materials will be used to study the impact on mission cost for a typical Mars mission scenario as was planned in our original two year proposal at the original funding level. The most promising candidate materials will be further tested as to their transmission characteristics in Fe and Si ion beams to evaluate the accuracy of the HZETRN transmission factors. Materials deemed critical to mission success may also require testing as well as materials developed by industry for their radiation protective qualities (e.g., Physical Sciences Inc.) A study will be made of designing polymeric materials and composite materials with improved radiation shielding properties as well as the possible improvement of mission-specific materials.

Wilson, J. W.↗

Maximizing the efficiency of plasma-based lepton accelerators

The next generation of particle accelerators will likely rely on compact accelerating structures to achieve very high gradients; one such candidate is accelerators using plasmas for the accelerating structures. Because of the small length scales of these structures, they can also be prone to the beam break-up instability, which would spoil the quality of the beam and leave it unsuitable for many applications. The goal of this project is to develop a framework for understanding the instabilities in plasma accelerators using language from conventional linear accelerator instabilities, such as wake fields and wake functions. During the course of this Phase I, we benchmarked a pseudo-spectral particle-in-cell code to determine its suitability for computing wake functions, and developed a procedure for extracting wake functions from a sequence of simulations using this code.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

Feasibility study of a high spatial and time resolution beam emission spectroscopy diagnostic for localized density fluctuation measurements in Lithium Tokamak eXperiment-β (LTX-β)

Trapped electron mode (TEM) is the main source of turbulence predicted for the unique operation regime of a flat temperature profile under low-recycling conditions in the LTX-β tokamak, while ion temperature gradient driven turbulence may also occur with gas fueling from the edge. To investigate mainly TEM scale density fluctuations, a high spatial and time resolution 2D beam emission spectroscopy (BES) diagnostic is being developed. Apart from spatially localized density turbulence measurement, BES can provide turbulence flow and flow shear dynamics. This BES system will be realized using an avalanche photodiode-based camera and narrow band interference filter. The system can acquire data at 2 MHz. Simulations with the Simulation of Spectra (SOS) code indicate that a high signal to noise ratio can be achieved with the proposed system. This will enable sampling the density fluctuations at this high time resolution. Finally, the design considerations and system optimization using the SOS code are presented.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Initial Investigation of Coupled Electron-Photon Transport with SCEPTRE and RAPTURE (Rev.1.1)

The SCEPTRE1 code models coupled photon and electron transport in material media using discrete ordinates methods. The code can use different solvers in 1D and 3D in parallel, promising users the ability to run problems that are significant both in physics and computational scale. One capability that is perhaps unique at this time in the NNSA complex is SCEPTRE’s coupled photon– electron transport physics in a discrete ordinates approach. For example, incident x–rays can generate a significant electron population, whose transport can be simulated within the same code. In this context, fully–coupled means that photons can produce electrons and electrons can produce photons; uncoupled or no–coupling means photons do not produce electrons. Partial–coupling, an intermediate option in which photons can produce electrons but electrons do not produce photons, is not considered in the present work. The MCNP code can treat this physics with a Monte Carlo approach. MCNP should be viewed as complementary to SCEPTRE in both computational method (Monte Carlo versus discrete ordinates) as well as data libraries. SCEPTRE and MCNP should provide important checks on each other, especially from complementary modeling frameworks of a S n (discrete ordinates) mesh based method versus Monte Carlo particle based method. In order to learn more about SCEPTRE, and how it might inform engineering work at the Laboratory, we used it to carry out a set of initial studies. This was a series of 1D simulations of photon beams hitting Aluminum slabs. Our studies mainly used SCEPTRE directly, and made little use of the closely associated RAPTURE code (more on this below). The goals of these studies were first, to familiarize ourselves with operating the code, and second, to begin to assess the importance of coupled electron–photon transport. To support these studies, we began to develop a set of scripts to initialize inputs, run tools, process outputs, and plot results. An initial version of these scripts has been committed to the Lightning workflow repository. This memo relates the results of those studies.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Implicit solution methods in computational fluid dynamics

A class of implicit finite difference schemes of the Beam and Warming approximate factorization type will be addressed. The development and analysis of various aspects of this class of schemes will be given along with the motivations behind many of the choices. Various acceleration and efficiency modifications such as matrix reduction, diagonalization and flux split schemes will be presented. The methods are demonstrated in fully vectorized codes for a CRAY type architecture. The emphasis will be on the Euler equations in generalized coordinates.

Pulliam, Thomas H.↗

Physics of heavy ions (1989-1990)

The results from studies on polar wind ion heating due to kinetic ion beam instabilities and the effects of such ion heating on the outflow of O(+) in the polar wind are presented and discussed. First, the linear instabilities associated with an O(+) and H(+) polar wind plasma in the presence of O(+) and H(+) beams for a range of O(+)/H(+) beam densities, T(sub e)/T(sub i), and ion beam speeds were examined. Then, nonlinear heating of the polar wind ions was studied, using numerical simulations. The O(+) and H(+) polar wind ions were modeled by isotropic Maxwellian distributions, and the electrons, O(+) beams, and H(+) beams were modeled by drifting Maxwellian distributions. The effects of the kinetic ion heating on the outflow of the polar wind ions were examined from the ionosphere, using a time-dependent hydrodynamic model. A numerical code to solve the O(+) and H(+) continuity and momentum equations in a flux tube from ionospheric to magnetospheric altitudes were developed. The effects of ion heating were included by allowing for the altitudinal variation of the ion temperatures in the momentum equation. The ion temperature profiles were specified based on the ion heating characteristics found from previous kinetic simulations. It was assumed that heating occurred above 1500 km and increased to a saturated value of temperature that was obtained directly from the kinetic simulation study. The characteristics of the dynamical polar wind without ion heating were studied, and a flux tube on closed field lines that suddenly became open at t = 0 was simulated. Then, the effects of ion heating were included. To gain some physical insight, two limiting cases were considered: preferential H(+) heating and preferential O(+) heating. How O(+) heating can lead to enhanced polar wind O(+) fluxes in the polar magnetosphere is shown.

Ashour-Abdalla, M.↗

Build-up Approach to Updating the Mock Quiet Spike(TradeMark) Beam Model

A crucial part of aircraft design is ensuring that the required margin for flutter is satisfied. A trustworthy flutter analysis, which begins by possessing an accurate dynamics model, is necessary for this task. Traditionally, a model was updated manually by fine tuning specific stiffness parameters until the analytical results matched test data. This is a time consuming iterative process. NASA Dryden Flight Research Center has developed a mode matching code to execute this process in a more efficient manner. Recently, this code was implemented in the F-15B/Quiet Spike(TradeMark) (Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation, Savannah, Georgia) model update. A build-up approach requiring several ground vibration test configurations and a series of model updates was implemented in order to determine the connection stiffness between aircraft and test article. The mode matching code successfully updated various models for the F-15B/Quiet Spike(TradeMark) project to within 1 percent error in frequency and the modal assurance criteria values ranged from 88.51-99.42 percent.

Herrera, Claudia Y.↗

Impact Testing and Simulation of Composite Airframe Structures

Dynamic tests were performed at NASA Langley Research Center on composite airframe structural components of increasing complexity to evaluate their energy absorption behavior when subjected to impact loading. A second objective was to assess the capabilities of predicting the dynamic response of composite airframe structures, including damage initiation and progression, using a state-of-the-art nonlinear, explicit transient dynamic finite element code, LS-DYNA. The test specimens were extracted from a previously tested composite prototype fuselage section developed and manufactured by Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation under the US Army's Survivable Affordable Repairable Airframe Program (SARAP). Laminate characterization testing was conducted in tension and compression. In addition, dynamic impact tests were performed on several components, including I-beams, T-sections, and cruciform sections. Finally, tests were conducted on two full-scale components including a subfloor section and a framed fuselage section. These tests included a modal vibration and longitudinal impact test of the subfloor section and a quasi-static, modal vibration, and vertical drop test of the framed fuselage section. Most of the test articles were manufactured of graphite unidirectional tape composite with a thermoplastic resin system. However, the framed fuselage section was constructed primarily of a plain weave graphite fabric material with a thermoset resin system. Test data were collected from instrumentation such as accelerometers and strain gages and from full-field photogrammetry.

Jackson, Karen E.↗

Build-up Approach to Updating the Mock Quiet Spike(TM)Beam Model

A crucial part of aircraft design is ensuring that the required margin for flutter is satisfied. A trustworthy flutter analysis, which begins by possessing an accurate dynamics model, is necessary for this task. Traditionally, a model was updated manually by fine tuning specific stiffness parameters until the analytical results matched test data. This is a time consuming iterative process. The NASA Dryden Flight Research Center has developed a mode matching code to execute this process in a more efficient manner. Recently, this code was implemented in the F-15B/Quiet Spike (Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation, Savannah, Georgia) model update. A build-up approach requiring several ground vibration test configurations and a series of model updates was implemented to determine the connection stiffness between aircraft and test article. The mode matching code successfully updated various models for the F-15B/Quiet Spike project to within 1 percent error in frequency and the modal assurance criteria values ranged from 88.51-99.42 percent.

Herrera, Claudia Y.↗

A laser inverse Compton scattering diagnostic to study runaway electron dynamics during tokamak disruptions

The goal is to design a new diagnostic based on laser inverse Compton scattering (LICS) to study the dynamics of runaway electron formation and their subsequent loss during triggered disruptions in DIII-D. It is known that better measurements of the runaway electron population, throughout the evolution of a disruption, is critical for mitigating the impact of energetic electron beams especially in high plasma current discharges such as those in reactor relevant burning plasmas. The goal of the LICS approach being designed for DIII-D is to measure the timeresolved spatial profile and energy distribution of the runaway electrons while they are in the core of the tokamak plasma. During the last year, a code was developed to simulate the signals from a new laser scattering diagnostic for DIII-D, which will measure the relativistic electron population expected in DIII-D after disruptions triggered by argon pellet injection.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Using NASTRAN to model missile inertia loads

An important use of NASTRAN is in the area of structural loads analysis on weapon systems carried aboard aircraft. The program is used to predict bending moments and shears in missile bodies, when subjected to aircraft induced accelerations. The missile, launcher and aircraft wing are idealized, using rod and beam type elements for solution economy. Using the inertia relief capability of NASTRAN, the model is subjected to various acceleration combinations. It is found to be difficult to model the launcher sway braces and hooks which transmit compression only or tension only type forces respectively. A simple, iterative process was developed to overcome this modeling difficulty. A proposed code modification would help model compression or tension only contact type problems.

Marvin, R.↗

Assessment of Static Delamination Propagation Capabilities in Commercial Finite Element Codes Using Benchmark Analysis

With capabilities for simulating delamination growth in composite materials becoming available, the need for benchmarking and assessing these capabilities is critical. In this study, benchmark analyses were performed to assess the delamination propagation simulation capabilities of the VCCT implementations in Marc TM and MD NastranTM. Benchmark delamination growth results for Double Cantilever Beam, Single Leg Bending and End Notched Flexure specimens were generated using a numerical approach. This numerical approach was developed previously, and involves comparing results from a series of analyses at different delamination lengths to a single analysis with automatic crack propagation. Specimens were analyzed with three-dimensional and two-dimensional models, and compared with previous analyses using Abaqus . The results demonstrated that the VCCT implementation in Marc TM and MD Nastran(TradeMark) was capable of accurately replicating the benchmark delamination growth results and that the use of the numerical benchmarks offers advantages over benchmarking using experimental and analytical results.

Orifici, Adrian C.↗

Collisionless losses of fast ions in the Divertor Tokamak Test due to toroidal field ripple

In this paper we analyze fast ion motion in the Divertor Tokamak Test device. DTT is planned to be heated through a mix of 45 MW heating power, including 15 MW negative-ion-based Neutral Beam heating (NNBI) which is currently being developed by Consorzio RFX in Padova, Italy. An issue for DTT is that a Toroidal Field (TF) ripple with a maximum value of about 0.42% (with respect to the on-axis magnetic field $B_0$) is expected on the low-field side (LFS), and this ripple interacts with fast ions through rather well-known phenomena of ripple-precession resonances, in addition to prompt losses of ions which do not complete a full orbit in the poloidal plane. We will show that, with the planned geometry of NNBI, prompt losses are negligible, and ripple-precession losses amount to a maximum 0.15%. The calculations are performed with the guiding center code ORBIT using two different equilibria, and a beam with energy 400 keV and injection angle $\alpha_{inj} = 40^{\circ}$ (measured w.r.t. the first wall), which corresponds to a pitch of injected particles $\lambda = v_{\parallel}/v \approx \sin{\alpha_{inj}} = 0.65$. Main resonances are of the form $\omega_b - n N \omega_d = 0$, $\omega_b$ and $\omega_d$ being the bounce and precession frequency, respectively, $N=18$ the ripple periodicity and $3 \le n \le 6$ are the toroidal wavenumbers of the resonances. Although collisionless interaction with the TF ripple does not pose a serious threat to the NNBI project, an open question remains whether the presence of these resonances will interact with fast particles accelerated by \alfven eigenmodes, and if stochastization of the resonances is possible in DTT, as it was observed in the past in TORE SUPRA.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Novel high-gain, improved-bandwidth, finned-ladder V-band Traveling-Wave Tube slow-wave circuit design

The V-band frequency range of 59-64 GHz is a region of the millimeter-wave spectrum that has been designated for inter-satellite communications. As a first effort to develop a high-efficiency V-band Traveling-Wave Tube (TWT), variations on a ring-plane slow-wave circuit were computationally investigated to develop an alternative to the more conventional ferruled coupled-cavity circuit. The ring-plane circuit was chosen because of its high interaction impedance, large beam aperture, and excellent thermal dissipation properties. Despite these advantages, however, low bandwidth and high voltage requirements have, until now, prevented its acceptance outside the laboratory. In this paper, the three-dimensional electrodynamic simulation code MAFIA (solution of MAxwell's Equation by the Finite-Integration-Algorithm) is used to investigate methods of increasing the bandwidth and lowering the operating voltage of the ring-plane circuit. Calculations of frequency-phase dispersion, beam on-axis interaction impedance, attenuation and small-signal gain per wavelength were performed for various geometric variations and loading distributions of the ring-plane TWT slow-wave circuit. Based on the results of the variations, a circuit termed the finned-ladder TWT slow-wave circuit was designed and is compared here to the scaled prototype ring-plane and a conventional ferruled coupled-cavity TWT circuit over the V-band frequency range. The simulation results indicate that this circuit has a much higher gain, significantly wider bandwidth, and a much lower voltage requirement than the scaled ring-plane prototype circuit, while retaining its excellent thermal dissipation properties. The finned-ladder circuit has a much larger small-signal gain per wavelength than the ferruled coupled-cavity circuit, but with a moderate sacrifice in bandwidth.

Kory, Carol L.↗