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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 325 records · Page 18
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2000

Slender Vortex Filament with Slowly Varying Core Structure

We give a brief review of the asymptotic theory of slender vortex filaments with emphases on the choices of scalings characterizing the physical problems and the corresponding assumptions and/or restrictions introduced in the formation of the asymptotic theory of Callegari and Ting (1978) and its extension by Klein and Ting (1992). In particular, the slender filaments considered are assumed to be forming loops or tori. Because of this restriction, the theory is not applicable to the trailing vortex system of a rotorcraft. We describe the multiple length scales characterizing the vortex system, formulate the expansion scheme, derive the governing equations and then identify the assumptions or restrictions inherent in the multi-scale analysis and needed for the validity of the asymptotic theory of the trailing vortex system.

Ting, Lu↗
NASA NTRS1973

Vortex age as a wake turbulence scaling parameter

Research which was conducted to determine the significance of vortex age as a scaling parameter in wake turbulence development and dissipation is reported. Tests were conducted at three angles of attack, three free stream speeds, and seven downstream positions from 2 to 30 chordlengths using an NACA 0012 wing and a five hole yawhead pitot probe. The end surface of the wing tip was flat. Speeds were selected to give a predetermined range of vortex ages. The complete velocity structure of the vortex was measured at each station and speed. The resulting plots of maximum tangential velocity and vortex core diameter versus downstream distance and vortex age indicate that vortex age is not a self sufficient scaling parameter. In addition to the expected effect of lift coefficient there is also a definite free stream speed influence at high wing angles of attack. The exact cause and nature of this effect is not fully understood, but it does not appear to be explainable in terms of Mach number or Reynolds number; however, the influence of tip edge shape on spanwise flow separation appears to be an important factor.

Marshall, J. R.↗
DOE OSTI2021

Flexosensitive polarization vortices in thin ferroelectric films

In this work, we present a theoretical study on the influence of the flexoelectric coupling on the spatial distribution and temperature behavior of the spontaneous polarization for several types of stable domain structure in thin ferroelectric films, such as stripe domains and vortices. Finite-element modeling (FEM) for BaTiO 3 films and analytical calculations within the Landau-Ginzburg-Devonshire approach reveals that an out-of-plane polarization component can be very sensitive to the flexoelectric coupling for periodic quasi-2D stripe domains and 3D vortex-antivortex structures. However, the influence is rather different for these structures. The flexoelectric coupling increases significantly the amplitude of a small out-of-plane polarization component in the stripe domains, and the “up” or “down” direction of the component is defined by the sign of the flexoelectric coefficients. Concerning the vortex-antivortex pairs, their antivortices with in-plane antiсirculation have smooth wide dipolar cores through the entire film, whose shape and other features are almost insensitive to the coupling. The vortices with in-plane vorticity have spikelike cores with an out-of-plane quadrupolar moment induced by the flexoelectric coupling. The cores are located near the film–dead-layer interfaces. FEM results corroborated by analytical calculations prove that a change of the flexoelectric coefficient sign leads to a reorientation of the core axial polarization, making the flexosensitive 3D vortices similar to the recently introduced “flexons” in cylindrical nanoparticles. The relatively wide temperature range (from 200 to 400 K) of the flexosensitive vortices' existence gives us confidence that they can be observed experimentally in thin ferroelectric films by scanning-probe and nonlinear optical microscopy methods.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
NASA NTRS1993

Vortex features of F-106B aircraft at subsonic speeds

A NASA Langley Research Center flight-research experiment to study the vortex-flow structure and separated-flow origins over an F-106B aircraft wing is described and subsonic 1 g data from various techniques are presented. Off-surface techniques, such as vapor screen, image enhancement, photogrammetry, and computer graphics are integrated to analyze vortex-flow systems. The spatial location of vortex cores and their tracks over the wing are derived from this analysis as a function of angle of attack and Reynolds number. Multiple vortices are observed and are likely attributed to small surface distortions in the wing leading-edge region. Comparisons of off-surface determined vortex core location and reattachment point approximation from the vapor-screen technique are made with those from the on-surface techniques of static pressure and oil flow and show generally good agreement. Wind-tunnel vortex features showed reasonably good agreement with flight results over the forward part of the wing for angles of attack from 16 to 20 deg.

Lamar, John E.↗
DOE OSTI2024

Analysis of the Aeroelastic Dynamics of Lightweight Flexible Variations of the SNL-NRT Turbine

Current trends show that wind turbines are growing in size to meet a rising demand for renewable energy generation, and their upscaled rotors have inherently become more flexible to maintain a proportionally lighter design. This is because larger rotors must be less massive relative to their diameter to minimize the levelized cost of energy (LCOE), which means that blades that are notably less stiff are produced as a result. These structural changes to blades are often reflected in their compromised aeroelastic stability and amplified deformation during operation, which has the potential to decrease the blade’s expected lifetime and the performance of the machine overall. Variations in blade flexibility are also known to influence vortex-wake structures downstream of the turbine, causing patterns of velocity deficit to evolve in ways that affect the performance of other turbines in the farm. This research explores how the increased flexibility of modern utility-scale wind turbine blades influences rotor aeroelastic behavior and interactions with farm flow. High-fidelity simulations of Sandia National Laboratories’ (SNL) National Rotor Testbed (NRT) wind turbine are presented. Flexible variations of the NRT baseline blade are simulated in a variety of realistic operational conditions typically expected at the SNL’s SWiFT facility in Lubbock, Texas. Solutions are then compared to investigate how specific changes to the structural properties of the NRT baseline blade’s design and construction can influence its aeroelastic response at the rotor and the evolution of the turbine’s wake.

Farrell, Alayna (ORCID:000000023555720X)↗
DOE OSTI2017

Magnetic-field-induced vortex-lattice transition in HgBa 2 CuO 4 + δ

Measurements of the 17 O nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) quadrupolar spectrum of apical oxygen in HgBa 2 CuO 4+δ were performed over a range of magnetic fields from 6.4–30 T in the superconducting state. Oxygen-isotope-exchanged single crystals were investigated with doping corresponding to superconducting transition temperatures from 74 K underdoped, to 78 K overdoped. The apical oxygen site was chosen since its NMR spectrum has narrow quadrupolar satellites that are well separated from any other resonance. Nonvortex contributions to the spectra can be deconvolved in the time domain to determine the local magnetic field distribution from the vortices. Numerical analysis using Brandt's Ginzburg-Landau theory was used to find structural parameters of the vortex lattice, penetration depth, and coherence length as a function of magnetic field in the vortex solid phase. From this analysis we report a vortex structural transition near 15 T from an oblique lattice with an opening angle of 73° at low magnetic fields to a triangular lattice with 60° stabilized at high field. The temperature for onset of vortex dynamics has been identified from spin-spin relaxation. This is independent of the magnetic field at sufficiently high magnetic field similar to that reported for YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7 and Bi 2 Sr 2 CaCu 2 O 8+δ and is correlated with mass anisotropy of the material. Here, this behavior is accounted for theoretically only in the limit of very high anisotropy.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2022

Topological monopole's gauge field‐induced anomalous Hall effect in artificial honeycomb lattice

Abstract Vortex magnetic structure in artificial honeycomb lattice provides a unique platform to explore emergent properties due to the additional Berry phase curvature imparted by chiral magnetization to circulating electrons via direct interaction. We argue that while the perpendicularly aligned magnetic component leads to the quantized flux of monopole at the center of the Berry sphere, the in‐plane vortex circulation of magnetization gives rise to unexpected nontrivial topological Berry phase due to the gauge field transformation. The unprecedented effect signifies the importance of vector potential in multiply connected geometrical systems. Experimental confirmations to proposed hypotheses are obtained from Hall resistance measurements on permalloy honeycomb lattice. Investigation of the topological gauge transformation due to the in‐plane chirality reveals anomalous quasi‐oscillatory behavior in Hall resistance as a function of perpendicular field. The oscillatory nature of is owed to the fluctuation in equilibrium current as a function of Fermi wave‐vector , envisaged under the proposed new formulation in this article. Our synergistic approach suggests that artificially tunable nanostructured material provides new vista to the exploration of topological phenomena of strong fundamental importance. Key Points Demonstration of gauge field flux due to vortex magnetism. Anomalous Hall effect in magnetic honeycomb lattice. Topological monopole‐induced magnetic flux.

Guo, Jiasen↗
DOE OSTI2017

Electrical switching of the magnetic vortex circulation in artificial multiferroic structure of Co/Cu/PMN-PT(011)

For this research, Co films and micron sized disks were grown on top of piezoelectric PMN-PT(011) and Cu/PMN-PT(001) substrates and investigated by the Magneto-Optic Kerr Effect and Photoemission Electron Microscopy. By applying an electric field in the surface normal direction, we find that the strain of the ferroelectric PMN-PT(011) substrate induces an in-plane uniaxial magnetic anisotropy in the Co overlayer. Under specific conditions, the Co magnetic vortex could be switched between clockwise and counter-clockwise circulations. The variations of the Co vortex switching were attributed to the variations of the ferroelectric domains under the Co disks. Lastly, we speculate that the switching of the magnetic vortex circulation is a dynamical process which may involve pulses of appropriate magnitude and duration of the uniaxial magnetic anisotropy delivered to the magnetic vortex.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
NASA NTRS1994

On the vortical-flow-prediction capability of an unstructured-grid Euler solver

The results from a concentrated computational effort are presented with the primary objective being directed at evaluating the vortical-flow-prediction capability of an unstructured-grid Euler solver. Both viscous and inviscid solutions, obtained from an established structured-grid method, along with experimental wind-tunnel data are used as benchmark measures to assess the validity of the unstructured-grid Euler results. Viscous effects on vortical flows are first identified by comparing the viscous and inviscid solutions obtained from the structured-grid method. Computational data analysis is then presented which reveals excellent correlations between the inviscid structured and unstructured-grid results in terms of off-surface flow structures, surface pressure distribution, and the predicted longitudinal aerodynamic characteristics. The sensitivity of the unstructured-grid inviscid solutions to grid refinement is also discussed along with an analysis of the convergence and performance characteristics for each method.

Unstructured grid↗
NASA NTRS1994

On the Vortical-Flow Prediction Capability of an Unstructured-Grid Euler Solver

The results from a concentrated computational effort are presented with the primary objective being directed at evaluating the vortical-flow-prediction capability of an unstructured-grid Euler solver. Both viscous and inviscid solutions, obtained from an established structured-grid method, along with an experimental wind-tunnel data are used as bench-mark measures to assess the validity of the unstructured-grid Euler results. Viscous effects on vortical flows are first identified by comparing the viscous and inviscid solutions obtained form the structured-grid method. Computational data analysis are then presented which reveal excellent correlations between the inviscid structured and unstructured-grid results in terms of off-surface flow structures, surface pressure distribution and the predicted longitudinal aerodynamic characteristics. The sensitivity of the unstructured-grid inviscid solutions to grid refinement is also discussed along with an analysis of the convergence and performance characteristics for each method.

Unstructured grid↗
NASA NTRS1988

Local flow structures defined by kinematic events in isotropic turbulence

The spatial structure of turbulent motion in incompressible isotropic turbulence is investigated using a conditional average in which the conditional event specifies the local deformation tensor in addition to the local velocity vector. This average gives the best estimate of the flow field around a fixed point x given the kinematic state at x. Estimates are calculated for various kinematic states in isotropic turbulence, including pure translation, pure shear, plane strain, axisymmetric strain, and pure rotation. It is demonstrated that the large-scale motion is dominated by a vortex ring structure associated with the translational component, except at critical points of the velocity vector field.

Adrian, R. J.↗
DOE OSTI2025

Entrainment, Detrainment, and Dilution of Dry and Moist Atmospheric Thermals

Here this study examines the entrainment, detrainment, and dilution of dry and moist (cloud) atmospheric thermals in large-eddy simulations. In a neutrally stable environment (with respect to dry dynamics), moist thermals have an increase in radius R with thermal height z t (α ≡ dR/dz t ) about 4 times smaller compared to dry thermals when density stratification is considered and ~2.4 times smaller without density stratification (i.e., applying the Boussinesq approximation). An analytic expression relating α to several dimensionless parameters is derived from the thermal impulse–circulation relation to clarify the factors impacting α. This expression shows that the difference in buoyancy structure between moist and dry thermals, with buoyancy concentrated in the central cores of moist thermals owing to latent heating, explains their smaller spreading rates. Individual contributions of entrainment and detrainment are analyzed using a direct parcel-based approach in the simulations. Moist thermals have similar fractional detrainment but much smaller fractional entrainment rates compared to dry thermals, consistent with the differences in α. Despite having smaller α, moist thermals are similarly dilute (quantified by a passive tracer) as dry thermals because of their greater mixing efficiency with the environment. Thus, moist thermals are substantially dilute but expand much less in size/volume as they rise compared to dry thermals. The α values for moist thermals in (dry) neutral and statically stable environments are similar, but fractional entrainment and especially detrainment rates are greater in the stable environment. Large detrainment rates are associated with a breakdown of the broader thermal vortex ring structure, especially with low environmental relative humidity, attributed in part to evaporation and buoyancy reversal.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2014

General rotating quantum vortex filaments in the low-temperature Svistunov model of the local induction approximation

In his study of superfluid turbulence in the low-temperature limit, Svistunov [“Superfluid turbulence in the low-temperature limit,” Phys. Rev. B 52, 3647 (1995)] derived a Hamiltonian equation for the self-induced motion of a vortex filament. Under the local induction approximation (LIA), the Svistunov formulation is equivalent to a nonlinear dispersive partial differential equation. In this paper, we consider a family of rotating vortex filament solutions for the LIA reduction of the Svistunov formulation, which we refer to as the 2D LIA (since it permits a potential formulation in terms of two of the three Cartesian coordinates). This class of solutions holds the well-known Hasimoto-type planar vortex filament [H. Hasimoto, “Motion of a vortex filament and its relation to elastica,” J. Phys. Soc. Jpn. 31, 293 (1971)] as one reduction and helical solutions as another. More generally, we obtain solutions which are periodic in the space variable. A systematic analytical study of the behavior of such solutions is carried out. In the case where vortex filaments have small deviations from the axis of rotation, closed analytical forms of the filament solutions are given. A variety of numerical simulations are provided to demonstrate the wide range of rotating filament behaviors possible. Doing so, we are able to determine a number of vortex filament structures not previously studied. We find that the solution structure progresses from planar to helical, and then to more intricate and complex filament structures, possibly indicating the onset of superfluid turbulence.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2017

Versatile strain-tuning of modulated long-period magnetic structures

In this paper, we report a detailed small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) study of the skyrmion lattice phase of MnSi under compressive and tensile strain. In particular, we demonstrate that tensile strain applied to the skyrmion lattice plane, perpendicular to the magnetic field, acts to destabilize the skyrmion lattice phase. Finally, this experiment was enabled by our development of a versatile strain cell, unique in its ability to select the application of either tensile or compressive strain in-situ by using two independent helium-actuated copper pressure transducers, whose design has been optimized for magnetic SANS on modulated long-period magnetic structures and vortex lattices, and is compact enough to fit in common sample environments such as cryostats and superconducting magnets.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2021

Quantitative and interpretable order parameters for phase transitions from persistent homology

Here, we apply modern methods in computational topology to the task of discovering and characterizing phase transitions. As illustrations, we apply our method to four two-dimensional lattice spin models: the Ising, square ice, XY, and fully frustrated XY models. In particular, we use persistent homology, which computes the births and deaths of individual topological features as a coarse-graining scale or sublevel threshold is increased, to summarize multiscale and high-point correlations in a spin configuration. We employ vector representations of this information called persistence images to formulate and perform the statistical task of distinguishing phases. For the models we consider, a simple logistic regression on these images is sufficient to identify the phase transition. Interpretable order parameters are then read from the weights of the regression. This method suffices to identify magnetization, frustration, and vortex-antivortex structure as relevant features for phase transitions in our models. We also define “persistence” critical exponents and study how they are related to those critical exponents usually considered.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2019

Nonequilibrium structural phase transitions of the vortex lattice in MgB 2

We have studied nonequilibrium phase transitions in the vortex lattice in superconducting MgB2, where metastable states are observed in connection with an intrinsically continuous rotation transition. Using small- angle neutron scattering and a stop-motion technique, we investigated the manner in which the metastable vortex lattice returns to the equilibrium state under the influence of an ac magnetic field. This shows a qualitative difference between the supercooled case which undergoes a discontinuous transition and the superheated case where the transition to the equilibrium state is continuous. In both cases, the transition may be described by an activated process, with an activation barrier that increases as the metastable state is suppressed, as previously reported for the supercooled vortex lattice [Louden et al., Phys. Rev. B 99, 060502(R) (2019).] Separate preparations of superheated metastable vortex lattices with different domain populations showed an identical transition toward the equilibrium state. This provides further evidence that the vortex lattice metastability, and the kinetics associated with the transition to the equilibrium state, is governed by nucleation and growth of domains and the associated domain boundaries.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2018

Hedgehog Spin-Vortex Crystal Antiferromagnetic Quantum Criticality in CaK ( Fe 1 - x Ni x ) 4 As 4 Revealed by NMR

Two ordering states, antiferromagnetism and nematicity, have been observed in most iron-based superconductors (SCs). In contrast to those SCs, the newly discovered SC CaK(Fe 1-x Ni x ) 4 As 4 exhibits an antiferromagnetic (AFM) state, called hedgehog spin-vortex crystal structure, without nematic order, providing the opportunity for the investigation into the relationship between spin fluctuations and SC without any effects of nematic fluctuations. Our 75 As nuclear magnetic resonance studies on CaK(Fe 1-x Ni x ) 4 As 4 (0≤ x ≤ 0.049) revealed that CaKFe 4 As 4 is located close to a hidden hedgehog SVC AFM quantum-critical point (QCP). The magnetic QCP without nematicity in CaK(Fe 1-x Ni x ) 4 As 4 highlights the close connection of spin fluctuations and superconductivity in iron-based SCs. The advantage of stoichiometric composition also makes CaKFe 4 As 4 an ideal platform for further detailed investigation of the relationship between magnetic QCP and superconductivity in iron-based SCs without disorder effects.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
NASA NTRS1976

Investigating complex aerodynamic flows with a laser velocimeter

The paper discusses the application of the laser velocimeter in the study of two highly complex aerodynamic flows. In the first experiment, the laser velocimeter has been used with frequency tracking electronics to survey the multiple vortex wake structure behind a model of a large jet transport. The second application is to the study of the induced instantaneous inflow velocities near the blades of a model helicopter rotor; counter type processing was used in these measurements. In each experiment, the data output channels of these processors were handled in an on-line fashion, including both velocity computations and the plotting of fully reduced data.

Orloff, K. L.↗