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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 253 records · Page 14

MORSE Monte Carlo shielding calculations for the zirconium hydride reference reactor

Verification of DOT-SPACETRAN transport calculations of a lithium hydride and tungsten shield for a SNAP reactor was performed using the MORSE (Monte Carlo) code. Transport of both neutrons and gamma rays was considered. Importance sampling was utilized in the MORSE calculations. Several quantities internal to the shield, as well as dose at several points outside of the configuration, were in satisfactory agreement with the DOT calculations of the same.

Burgart, C. E.↗

Shield weight optimization using Monte Carlo transport calculations

Outlines are given of the theory used in FASTER-3 Monte Carlo computer program for the transport of neutrons and gamma rays in complex geometries. The code has the additional capability of calculating the minimum weight layered unit shield configuration which will meet a specified dose rate constraint. It includes the treatment of geometric regions bounded by quadratic and quardric surfaces with multiple radiation sources which have a specified space, angle, and energy dependence. The program calculates, using importance sampling, the resulting number and energy fluxes at specified point, surface, and volume detectors. Results are presented for sample problems involving primary neutron and both primary and secondary photon transport in a spherical reactor shield configuration. These results include the optimization of the shield configuration.

Jordan, T. M.↗

A Monte Carlo photocurrent/photoemission computer program

A Monte Carlo computer program was developed for the computation of photocurrents and photoemission in gamma (X-ray)-irradiated materials. The program was used for computation of radiation-induced surface currents on space vehicles and the computation of radiation-induced space charge environments within space vehicles.

Chadsey, W. L.↗

Monte Carlo analysis of lobular gas-surface scattering in tubes applied to thermal transpiration

A model of rarefied gas flow in tubes was developed which combines a lobular distribution with diffuse reflection at the wall. The model with Monte Carlo techniques was used to explain previously observed deviations in the free molecular thermal transpiration ratio which suggest molecules can have a greater tube transmission probability in a hot-to-cold direction than in a cold-to-hot direction. The model yields correct magnitudes of transmission probability ratios for helium in Pyrex tubing (1.09 to 1.14), and some effects of wall-temperature distribution, tube surface roughness, tube dimensions, gas temperature, and gas molecular mass.

Smith, J. D.↗

A Monte Carlo error analysis program for near-Mars, finite-burn, orbital transfer maneuvers

A computer program was developed which performs an error analysis of a minimum-fuel, finite-thrust, transfer maneuver between two Keplerian orbits in the vicinity of Mars. The method of analysis is the Monte Carlo approach where each off-nominal initial orbit is targeted to the desired final orbit. The errors in the initial orbit are described by two covariance matrices of state deviations and tracking errors. The function of the program is to relate these errors to the resulting errors in the final orbit. The equations of motion for the transfer trajectory are those of a spacecraft maneuvering with constant thrust and mass-flow rate in the neighborhood of a single body. The thrust vector is allowed to rotate in a plane with a constant pitch rate. The transfer trajectory is characterized by six control parameters and the final orbit is defined, or partially defined, by the desired target parameters. The program is applicable to the deboost maneuver (hyperbola to ellipse), orbital trim maneuver (ellipse to ellipse), fly-by maneuver (hyperbola to hyperbola), escape maneuvers (ellipse to hyperbola), and deorbit maneuver.

Green, R. N.↗

Variance reduction in Monte Carlo analysis of rarefied gas diffusion

The present analysis uses the Monte Carlo method to solve the problem of rarefied diffusion between parallel walls. The diffusing molecules are evaporated or emitted from one of two parallel walls and diffused through another molecular species. The analysis treats the diffusing molecule as undergoing a Markov random walk and the local macroscopic properties are found as the expected value of the random variable, the random walk payoff. By biasing the transition probabilities and changing the collision payoffs the expected Markov walk payoff is retained but its variance is reduced so that the M. C. result has a much smaller error.

Perlmutter, M.↗

Monte Carlo treatment of Lyman-alpha radiation in a plane-parallel atmosphere.

A Monte Carlo technique involving Stokes vectors is used to obtain the state of polarization and intensity of solar Lyman-alpha photons as they diffuse through a plane-parallel homogeneous model of earth's hydrogen envelope. Fine structure of Lyman-alpha and Doppler redistribution of frequencies are taken into account. Comparison of the results with Heath's observed upper limit for polarization of 1.5 per cent implies an optical thickness tau greater than 7 and intensities of 8-10 kilorayleighs for a solar Lyman-alpha flux of 5.8 ergs per sq cm per sec.

Modali, S. B.↗

Transfer of resonance-line radiation in differentially expanding atmospheres. I - General considerations and Monte Carlo calculations.

A Monte Carlo method is given for analyzing the transfer of resonance radiation in a rapidly and differentially expanding nebula. Coherence in the frame of the atom is shown to lead to interesting modifications of the emergent radiation field, as compared with the other more usual assumptions of coherence or redistribution in the fluid frame. Results are presented in tabular form suitable for further use. Sample line profiles produced by pure scattering out of the continuum are generated, and it is shown that an arbitrarily high peak can be obtained. This conclusion is independent of the coherence assumption used. The distribution of the number of scatterings is found in all cases. An analytic solution is presented for the case of coherence in the fluid frame.

Caroff, L. J.↗

Determination of the geometrical factor and of the spatial distributions of particles for a cosmic ray telescope using a Monte Carlo approach

A program is presented which uses a Monte Carlo technique to compute the geometrical factor of a detector, and the spatial and angular distributions of simulated particles at designated layers within the detector. As the program is written, each layer is assumed to be rectangular, parallel to every other layer with its edges parallel to the edges of every other layer, and centered about a common axis. This program is written in Fortran 4 for the IBM 360 computers and is currently being run under the Fortran 4 (h) compiler. Same features such as the subroutine ERRSET, RANDU, and REMTIM and the type declarations REAL *8 and LOGICAL *1 may need to be changed for use with a different computer system. The use of input data cards, and a sample data set are presented. Lists of the symbol definition, card images of the FORTRAN object deck and subroutines are included along with a flow diagram.

Hemmer, M.↗

Monte Carlo calculations of lunar regolith thickness distributions.

It is pointed out that none of the existing models of lunar regolith evolution take into account the relationship between regolith thickness, crater shape, and volume of debris ejected. The results of a Monte Carlo computer simulation of regolith evolution are presented. The simulation was designed to consider the full effect of the buffering regolith through calculation of the amount of debris produced by any given crater as a function of the amount of debris present at the site of the crater at the time of crater formation. The method is essentially an improved version of the Oberbeck and Quaide (1968) model.

Oberbeck, V. R.↗

Space shuttle solid rocket booster recovery system definition. Volume 2: SRB water impact Monte Carlo computer program, user's manual

The HD 220 program was created as part of the space shuttle solid rocket booster recovery system definition. The model was generated to investigate the damage to SRB components under water impact loads. The random nature of environmental parameters, such as ocean waves and wind conditions, necessitates estimation of the relative frequency of occurrence for these parameters. The nondeterministic nature of component strengths also lends itself to probabilistic simulation. The Monte Carlo technique allows the simultaneous perturbation of multiple independent parameters and provides outputs describing the probability distribution functions of the dependent parameters. This allows the user to determine the required statistics for each output parameter.

Source record↗

Topics in structural dynamics: Nonlinear unsteady transonic flows and Monte Carlo methods in acoustics

The results are reported of two unrelated studies. The first was an investigation of the formulation of the equations for non-uniform unsteady flows, by perturbation of an irrotational flow to obtain the linear Green's equation. The resulting integral equation was found to contain a kernel which could be expressed as the solution of the adjoint flow equation, a linear equation for small perturbations, but with non-constant coefficients determined by the steady flow conditions. It is believed that the non-uniform flow effects may prove important in transonic flutter, and that in such cases, the use of doublet type solutions of the wave equation would then prove to be erroneous. The second task covered an initial investigation into the use of the Monte Carlo method for solution of acoustical field problems. Computed results are given for a rectangular room problem, and for a problem involving a circular duct with a source located at the closed end.

Haviland, J. K.↗

A Monte Carlo investigation of experimental data requirements for fitting polynomial functions

This report examines the extent to which sample size affects the accuracy of a low order polynomial approximation of an experimentally observed quantity and establishes a trend toward improvement in the accuracy of the approximation as a function of sample size. The task is made possible through a simulated analysis carried out by the Monte Carlo method, in which data are generated by using several transcendental or algebraic functions as models. Contaminated data of varying amounts are fitted to linear quadratic or cubic polynomials, and the behavior of the mean-squared error of the residual variance is determined as a function of sample size. Results indicate that the effect of the size of the sample is significant only for relatively small sample sizes and diminishes drastically for moderate and large amounts of experimental data.

Canavos, G. C.↗

Monte Carlo applications to acoustical field solutions

The Monte Carlo technique is proposed for the determination of the acoustical pressure-time history at chosen points in a partial enclosure, the central idea of this technique being the tracing of acoustical rays. A statistical model is formulated and an algorithm for pressure is developed, the conformity of which is examined by two approaches and is shown to give the known results. The concepts that are developed are applied to the determination of the transient field due to a sound source in a homogeneous medium in a rectangular enclosure with perfect reflecting walls, and the results are compared with those presented by Mintzer based on the Laplace transform approach, as well as with a normal mode solution.

Haviland, J. K.↗

Nonlinear panel response by a Monte Carlo approach

The vibration of clamped and simply supported elastic panels due to subsonic and supersonic turbulent boundary-layer flows is investigated by a Monte Carlo technique. The resulting generalized random forces are simulated numerically from boundary-layer turbulence spectra, and the response analysis is performed in the time domain. The mutual interaction between panel motion and external and/or internal airflow is included. Response studies are performed with respect to rms response, probability structure, peak distribution, threshold crossing and spectral density. The effect on the response statistics of in-plane loading, static pressure differential, and cavity pressure is investigated.

Vaicaitis, R.↗

Monte Carlo approach to the spatial deposition of energy by electrons in molecular hydrogen

The Monte Carlo (MC) and continuous slowdown approximation (CSDA) approaches to the spatial deposition of energy by electrons are compared using the same detailed atomic cross section (DACS). It is found that the CSDA method overestimates the amount of energy that is deposited near the end of the path for electrons above a few hundred electron volts. The MC results are in approximate agreement with experimental data in such a way as to be relatively independent of the actual gas used. Our MC results are extended to obtain the three-dimensional deposition of energy by sub-keV electrons in molecular hydrogen.

Heaps, M. G.↗

Solution of the radiative transfer theory problems by the Monte Carlo method

The Monte Carlo method is used for two types of problems. First, there are interpretation problems of optical observations from meteorological satellites in the short wave part of the spectrum. The sphericity of the atmosphere, the propagation function, and light polarization are considered. Second, problems dealt with the theory of spreading narrow light beams. Direct simulation of light scattering and the mathematical form of medium radiation model representation are discussed, and general integral transfer equations are calculated. The dependent tests method, derivative estimates, and solution to the inverse problem are also considered.

Marchuk, G. I.↗