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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 37 records · Page 2
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2026

Glovebox CFD Analysis: Low-Flow, Laminar CFD Analysis of Glovebox Ventilation and Humidity Transport in Ansys Fluent 2025 R1

There are gloveboxes that frequently exceed the 30% relative humidity level required for operations. These exceedances result in alternative operations needing to be utilized. This report documents a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis performed to characterize airflow and humidity transport within a representative glovebox under nominal, low-flow conditions. The analysis focuses on establishing the flow regime, identifying transport-limited regions, and evaluating the implications of laminar flow on humidity removal. A single-phase, laminar flow model with a species transport model was used to represent air and water vapor mixing. Results demonstrate that, at the nominal flow rates, airflow is laminar with weak mixing, which will result in long residence times, tens of minutes long or more, in low-velocity regions. These conclusions suggests that humidity reduction is transport-limited. This analysis provides qualitative insight into airflow structure and humidity transport trends. In addition to characterization of glovebox airflow and humidity transport, results are intended to inform experimental validation and future transient modeling efforts.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2026

HLW Melter Refractory Thermal Finite Element Analysis using ANSYS

The objective of this calculation is to provide thermal profiles, heat dissipation and refractory thermal expansion results from changes to inputs/assumptions related to optimization of margins and conservatisms (described in Section 3).

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗
NASA NTRS1988

Suitability of ANSI standards for quantifying communication satellite system performance

A study on the application of American National Standards X3.102 and X3.141 to various classes of communication satellite systems from the simple analog bent-pipe to NASA's Advanced Communications Technology Satellite (ACTS) is discussed. These standards are proposed as means for quantifying the end-to-end communication system performance of communication satellite systems. An introductory overview of the two standards are given followed by a review of the characteristics, applications, and advantages of using X3.102 and X3.141 to quantify with a description of the application of these standards to ACTS.

Cass, Robert D.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Evaluation and Analysis of the ANSI X3T9.5 (FDDI) PMD and Proposed SMF-PMD as Influenced by Various Fiber Link Characteristics

The purpose of this project is to evaluate the operational parameters of the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) fiber optic cable plant. The evaluation is based on the Fiber Distributed Data Interface (FDDI) Physical Medium Dependent (PMD) and Single Mode Fiber (SMF) PMD standards. From the KSC fiber profile, it would be necessary to develop the modifications needed in existing FDDI PMD and proposed SMF-PMD standards to provide for FDDI implementation and operation at KSC. This analysis should examine the major factors that influence the operating conditions of the KSC fiber plant. These factors would include, but are not limited to the number and type of connectors, attenuation and dispersion characteristics of the fiber, non-standard fiber sizes, modal bandwidth, and many other relevant or significant fiber plant characteristics that effect FDDI characteristics. This analysis is needed to gain a better understanding of overall impact that each of these factors have on FDDI performance at KSC.

Wernicki, M. Chris↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Modeling and Analysis of Stirling Power Convertors

Modeling and Analysis of Stirling Power Convertors Luis A. Rodriguez1 Steven M. Geng, Terry V. Reid, Scott D. Wilson NASA Glenn Research Center, Cleveland, OH, 44135, USA NASA Glenn’s Thermal Energy Conversion Branch is supporting the development of the next generation free-piston Stirling power convertors. American Superconductor (AMSC) and Sunpower Inc. are the two firms under contract to develop the Flexure Isotope Stirling Convertor (FISC) and the Sunpower Robust Stirling Convertor (SRSC), respectively. To comprehend and forecast convertor performance, Sage, ANSYS® Maxwell, and ANSYS® Fluent were used to model the Stirling thermodynamic cycle, alternator electromagnetics, and piston and displacer dynamics. I. Introduction Stirling convertors are being developed by NASA as a potential steady source of electrical power for NASA’s future scientific space missions. Currently, NASA Glenn Research Center has two corporations under contract, American Superconductor (AMSC) and Sunpower Inc., for the development of the next generation of free-piston Stirling convertors for dynamic radioisotope power systems. AMSC is developing the Flexure Isotope Stirling Convertor (FISC), which uses flexures to prevent side motion and rubbing of the piston. Similarly, Sunpower Inc, is developing the Sunpower Robust Stirling Convertor (SRSC). The SRSC uses gas bearings to prevent radial contact of the moving piston. As convertor development continues, it is increasingly important to understand and predict the interactions of components in the system, how they respond to one another, and how they perform as a response to changes in operating conditions. A suitable and enlightening way to demonstrate and foresee these interactions is with the use of accurate modeling software. Sage, ANSYS® Maxwell, and ANSYS® Fluent are the current modeling tools used by NASA to analytically determine convertor performance. Sage is a one-dimensional object-oriented commercial software package used for modeling and optimizing Stirling convertors for Dynamic Radioisotope Power Systems (DRPS) and it is one of the most accurate Stirling convertor codes in use by NASA. This code is the successor to GLIMPS (Globally-Implicit Stirling Cycle Simulation) and GLOP (GLIMPS Optimization) software created by Gedeon Associates [1]. Model input parameters are typically material/gas type, component physical dimensions, temperatures, frequency, charge pressure, and number of time/space nodes. Sage is used to model both the FISC’s and SRSC’s Stirling cycle thermodynamics and piston/displacer dynamics. Performance maps were created and analyzed for both power systems to better understand the relationship between the following conditions: cold-end temperature, hot-end temperature, piston/displacer amplitudes, pressure drop, and thermal input power. The synergy between these conditions will help determine parameter sensitivity. ANSYS® Maxwell was used to create a three-dimensional (3-D) axisymmetric model for both FISC and SRSC alternators. The significant physical components included in each model are the magnets, magnet carrier, outer/inner laminations, and the coil. Inputs to the model are piston amplitude, piston frequency, alternator load, coil resistance, tuning capacitance, and specific material properties. The alternator models calculate terminal voltage, current, piston/current phase, voltage/current phase, coil inductance, terminal power and efficiency. The RI2 losses, core (hysteresis and eddy) losses, and magnet/can eddy losses are also a part of the final results. ANSYS® Fluent is used to build 3-D computational fluid dynamic (CFD) models to examine the Stirling cycle thermodynamics for both the FISC and SRSC systems. Three-dimensional Computer Aided Design (CAD) models were used to create the physical components of each convertor. Steady-state simulations were conducted for hardware testing, prediction of environmental losses during testing, and generation of radiation look-up tables. The model inputs to the aforementioned analysis are the material properties and boundary thermal conditions. The steady-state model calculates temperature and heat flow distributions. Transient 3-D calculations were also part of the CFD analysis. In this study a physically reduced version of the FISC is used to obtain a prediction of available engine power. For the gas bearing SRSC, the transient effort is used to obtain a prediction of bearing pad performance and its sensitivity to micro-channel geometric variation. The model inputs to the transient simulations are the piston amplitude, displacer amplitude, frequency, displacer/piston phase angle, dynamic deforming CFD grid, temperature boundary conditions, and user defined files describing motion profile of piston/displacer. The results of the model are temperature distributions, heat distributions, and PV power produced at pre-determined conditions.

Luis A Rodriguez↗
DOE OSTI2025

ESTIMATION OF THE WAKEFIELD RESONANT FREQUENCY USING DIFFERENT SIMULATION TOOLS

Reliable and fast wakefield calculations are important for beam dynamics and THz generation in accelerators. We compare approaches and limitations with different available simulation tools and compare results. As an example, we analyse a cylindrical corrugated waveguide with narrower and wider radii of 5 and 6 mm, and aperture width and periodicity of 1 and 2 mm using ABCI by KEK and ANSYS HFSS simulation software. First, ABCI was used to determine the resonant frequency of the cylindri-cal corrugated waveguide with different lengths. The corresponding results were taken as a reference to exam-ine the simulation method in the ANSYS HFSS environ-ment. The eigenmode solver of ANSYS HFSS was used to determine different resonant frequencies. This was fol-lowed by examining a cylindrical corrugated waveguide that was implemented having a length of 17 mm for dif-ferent conductor settings. The corresponding waveguide was fed by a plane wave having a resonant frequency that satisfies the intersection of the light line and dispersion curve of the corresponding mode. The analysis showed that the maximum loss factor was achieved at 39.20 and 40.07 GHz using ANSYS HFSS simulation data for differ-ent conductors, whereas ABCI resulted in 38.50 GHz. The talk will present the results gathered by different simula-tion setups implemented in ANSYS HFSS.

Unutmaz, Muhammed [SLAC National Accelerator Labor↗
NASA NTRS2004

Eccentric loading of microtensile specimens

Ceramic materials have a lower density than most metals and are capable of performing at extremely high temperatures. The utility of these materials is obvious; however, the fracture strength of brittle materials is not easily predicted and often varies greatly. Characteristically, brittle materials lack ductility and do not yield as other materials. Ceramics materials are naturally populated with microscopic cracks due to fabrication techniques. Upon application of a load, stress concentration occurs at the root of these cracks and fracture will eventually occur at some not easily predicted strength. In order to use ceramics in any application some design methodology must exist from which a component can be placed into service. This design methodology is CARES/LIFE (Ceramics Analysis and Reliability Evaluation of Structures) which has been developed and refined at NASA over the last several decades. The CARES/LIFE computer program predicts the probability of failure of a ceramic component over its service life. CARES combines finite element results from a commercial FE (finite element) package such as ANSYS and experimental results to compute the abovementioned probability of failure. Over the course of several tests CARES has had great success in predicting the life of various ceramic components and has been used throughout industry. The latest challenge is to verify that CARES is valid for MEMS (Micro-Electro Mechanical Systems). To investigate a series of microtensile specimens were fractured in the laboratory. From this data, material parameters were determined and used to predict a distribution of strength for other specimens that exhibit a known stress concentration. If the prediction matches the experimental results then these parameters can be applied to a desired component outside of the laboratory. During testing nearly half of the tensile Specimens fractured at a location that was not expected and hence not captured in the FE model. It has been my duty to investigate the nature of this phenomenon in hopes of finding a better correlation between theory and empirical results. To investigate I built complete FE models of all of the tensile specimens using ANSYS. It is suspected that some misalignment naturally occurs during testing and thus additional bending stresses are present in the specimens. I modeled this eccentric loading and ran several FE trials using ANSYS/PDS (a probabilistic design system in ANSYS). My objective this summer has been familiarize myself with the CARES/LIFE program in hopes of using it in conjunction with ANSYS to help verify that CARES is applicable to MEMS-scale (greater that 1 micron, less than 1 millimeter) components.

Trapp, Mark A.↗
NASA NTRS2007

Accounting for Uncertainties in Strengths of SiC MEMS Parts

A methodology has been devised for accounting for uncertainties in the strengths of silicon carbide structural components of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS). The methodology enables prediction of the probabilistic strengths of complexly shaped MEMS parts using data from tests of simple specimens. This methodology is intended to serve as a part of a rational basis for designing SiC MEMS, supplementing methodologies that have been borrowed from the art of designing macroscopic brittle material structures. The need for this or a similar methodology arises as a consequence of the fundamental nature of MEMS and the brittle silicon-based materials of which they are typically fabricated. When tested to fracture, MEMS and structural components thereof show wide part-to-part scatter in strength. The methodology involves the use of the Ceramics Analysis and Reliability Evaluation of Structures Life (CARES/Life) software in conjunction with the ANSYS Probabilistic Design System (PDS) software to simulate or predict the strength responses of brittle material components while simultaneously accounting for the effects of variability of geometrical features on the strength responses. As such, the methodology involves the use of an extended version of the ANSYS/CARES/PDS software system described in Probabilistic Prediction of Lifetimes of Ceramic Parts (LEW-17682-1/4-1), Software Tech Briefs supplement to NASA Tech Briefs, Vol. 30, No. 9 (September 2006), page 10. The ANSYS PDS software enables the ANSYS finite-element-analysis program to account for uncertainty in the design-and analysis process. The ANSYS PDS software accounts for uncertainty in material properties, dimensions, and loading by assigning probabilistic distributions to user-specified model parameters and performing simulations using various sampling techniques.

Nemeth, Noel↗
DOE OSTI2024

Numerical Simulation of Light to Heat Conversion by Plasmonic Nanoheaters

Plasmonic nanoparticles are widely recognized as photothermal conversion agents, i.e., nanotransducers or nanoheaters. Translation of these materials into practical applications requires quantitative analyses of their photothermal conversion efficiencies (η). However, the value of η obtained for different materials is dramatically influenced by the experimental setup and method of calculation. Here, we evaluate the most common methods for estimating η (Roper’s and Wang’s) and compare these with numerical estimates using the simulation software ANSYS. Experiments were performed with colloidal gold nanorod solutions suspended in a hanging droplet irradiated by an 808 nm diode laser and monitored by a thermal camera. The ANSYS simulations accounted for both heating and evaporation, providing η values consistent with the Wang method but higher than the Roper approach. This study details methods for estimating the photothermal efficiency and finds ANSYS to be a robust tool where experimental constraints complicate traditional methods.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2024

Exploring the Feasibility of INCONEL® ALLOY 740H® for Power Plant Headers: Integrating Machine Learning with Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)

This keynote presentation explores the behavior of headers—essential components of pipeline systems—using ANSYS simulation software and machine learning techniques. The study aims to predict the thermal and mechanical performance of headers under diverse conditions through both steady-state and transient simulations. We investigate critical parameters such as heat transfer coefficient, fluid velocity, and temperature to optimize header design. Conducted as part of a DOE project led by NCAT in collaboration with UNC Charlotte, this research encompasses multiple key topics. The initial section focuses on the behavior of header systems under steady-state conditions using ANSYS simulation. It underscores the importance of headers in industrial infrastructure, especially in the energy sector, and examines the implications of material selection and flow direction on heat transfer dynamics. Methodologically, we employ Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analysis through ANSYS, detailing the development of models, material properties, geometry specifications, boundary conditions, and meshing strategies. Our simulations explore various operational parameters, including temperature and mass flow rates, crucial for predicting heat transfer coefficients and enhancing header design. Results from the study include parametric investigations into mesh sensitivity, viscosity model evaluations, and the effects of heat transfer locations, all validated against theoretical calculations. We conclude with insights on mesh optimization, the suitability of viscosity models, and recommendations for future research aimed at improving header system efficiency and sustainability in industrial applications.

20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Uncertainty-Based Design: Finite Element and Explainable Machine Learning Modeling of Carbon–Carbon Composites for Ultra-High Temperature Solar Receivers

Design under uncertainty has significantly grown in research developments during the past decade. Additionally, machine learning (ML) and explainable ML (XML) have offered various opportunities to provide reliable predictable models. The current article investigates the use of finite element modeling (FEM), ML and XML predictions, and uncertain-based design of carbon-carbon (C-C) composites for use in ultra-high temperatures. A C-C composite concentrating solar power (CSP) as a microvascular receiver is considered as a case study. These C-C composites are fiber composites with directly integrated carbonized microchannels to form a lightweight, high-absorptivity material that includes an embedded microvascular network of channels. The topology of these microchannels is engineered to optimize heat transfer to a supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO2) heat transfer fluid. The mechanical characterization of C-C composites is highly challenging. Thus, designing every component made of C-C composites for ultra-high temperature applications needs an uncertainty-based analysis. As a part of a comprehensive project on the development of a novel carbonized microvascular C-C composite, this paper explores C-C composite sensitivity analysis, FEM, ML prediction, and XML analysis. The resulting composite can then be carbonized and coated with an oxidation-resistant coating to form a thermally efficient and mechanically robust C-C composite. An ANSYS 3-D-FE model was used to analyze the CSP’s stress/strain. To consider the variability in the mechanical and thermal properties of C-C composites, various mechanical properties are considered as the ANSYS FEM’s input. A synthetic dataset from 730 ANSYS runs was produced to feed into the ML and XML algorithms for uncertainty analysis and prediction. The ML and XML algorithms could accurately predict the CSP stresses/strains.

Daghigh, Vahid (ORCID:0000000298941620)↗
NASA NTRS1992

Fortran for the nineties

Fortran has largely enjoyed prominence for the past few decades as the computer programming language of choice for numerically intensive scientific, engineering, and process control applications. Fortran's well understood static language syntax has allowed resulting parsers and compiler optimizing technologies to often generate among the most efficient and fastest run-time executables, particularly on high-end scalar and vector supercomputers. Computing architectures and paradigms have changed considerably since the last ANSI/ISO Fortran release in 1978, and while FORTRAN 77 has more than survived, it's aged features provide only partial functionality for today's demanding computing environments. The simple block procedural languages have been necessarily evolving, or giving way, to specialized supercomputing, network resource, and object-oriented paradigms. To address these new computing demands, ANSI has worked for the last 12-years with three international public reviews to deliver Fortran 90. Fortran 90 has superseded and replaced ISO FORTRAN 77 internationally as the sole Fortran standard; while in the US, Fortran 90 is expected to be adopted as the ANSI standard this summer, coexisting with ANSI FORTRAN 77 until at least 1996. The development path and current state of Fortran will be briefly described highlighting the many new Fortran 90 syntactic and semantic additions which support (among others): free form source; array syntax; new control structures; modules and interfaces; pointers; derived data types; dynamic memory; enhanced I/O; operator overloading; data abstraction; user optional arguments; new intrinsics for array, bit manipulation, and system inquiry; and enhanced portability through better generic control of underlying system arithmetic models. Examples from dynamical astronomy, signal and image processing will attempt to illustrate Fortran 90's applicability to today's general scalar, vector, and parallel scientific and engineering requirements and object oriented programming paradigms. Time permitting, current work proceeding on the future development of Fortran 2000 and collateral standards will be introduced.

Himer, J. T.↗
NASA NTRS1997

The International Space Station Assembly on Schedule

As engineers continue to prepare the International Space Station (ISS) for in-orbit assembly in the year 2002, ANSYS software has proven instrumental in resolving a structural problem in the project's two primary station modules -- Nodes 1 and 2. Proof pressure tests performed in May revealed "low temperature, post-yield creep" in some of the Nodes' gussets, which were designed to reinforce ports for loads from station keeping and reboost motion of the entire space station. An extensive effort was undertaken to characterize the creep behavior of the 2219-T851 aluminum forging material from which the gussets were made. Engineers at Sverdrup Technology, Inc. (Huntsville, AL) were responsible for conducting a combined elastic-plastic-creep analysis of the gussets to determine the amount of residual compressive stress which existed in the gussets following the proof pressure tests, and to determine the stress-strain history in the gussets while on-orbit. Boeing, NASA's Space Station prime contractor, supplied the Finite Element Analysis (FEA) model geometry and developed the creep equations from the experimental data taken by NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center and Langley Research Center. The goal of this effort was to implement the uniaxial creep equations into a three dimensional finite element program, and to determine analytically whether or not the creep was something that the space station program could live with. The objective was to show analytically that either the creep rate was at an acceptable level, or that the node module had to be modified to lower the stress levels to where creep did not occur. The elastic-plastic-creep analysis was performed using the ANSYS finite element program of ANSYS, Inc. (Houston, PA). The analysis revealed that the gussets encountered a compressive stress of approximately 30,000 pounds per square inch (psi) when unloaded. This compressive residual stress significantly lowered the maximum tension stress in the gussets which decreased the creep strain rate. The analysis also showed that the gussets would not experience a great deal of creep from future pressure tests if braces or struts proposed by Boeing were installed to redistribute stress away from them. Subsequent analysis of on-orbit station keeping and reboost loads convinced Boeing that the gussets should be removed altogether.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS2000

Validation of High Displacement Piezoelectric Actuator Finite Element Models

The paper presents the results obtained by using NASTRAN(Registered Trademark) and ANSYS(Regitered Trademark) finite element codes to predict doming of the THUNDER piezoelectric actuators during the manufacturing process and subsequent straining due to an applied input voltage. To effectively use such devices in engineering applications, modeling and characterization are essential. Length, width, dome height, and thickness are important parameters for users of such devices. Therefore, finite element models were used to assess the effects of these parameters. NASTRAN(Registered Trademark) and ANSYS(Registered Trademark) used different methods for modeling piezoelectric effects. In NASTRAN(Registered Trademark), a thermal analogy was used to represent voltage at nodes as equivalent temperatures, while ANSYS(Registered Trademark) processed the voltage directly using piezoelectric finite elements. The results of finite element models were validated by using the experimental results.

Taleghani, B. K.↗
NASA NTRS2001

Fatigue and Damage Tolerance Analysis of a Hybrid Composite Tapered Flexbeam

The behavior of nonlinear tapered composite flexbeams under combined axial tension and cyclic bending loading was studied using coupon test specimens and finite element (FE) analyses. The flexbeams used a hybrid material system of graphite/epoxy and glass/epoxy and had internal dropped plies, dropped in an overlapping stepwise pattern. Two material configurations, differing only in the use of glass or graphite plies in the continuous plies near the midplane, were studied. Test specimens were cut from a full-size helicopter tail-rotor flexbeam and were tested in a hydraulic load frame under combined constant axialtension load and transverse cyclic bending loads. The first determination damage observed in the specimens occurred at the area around the tip of the outermost ply-drop group in the tapered region of the flexbeam, near the thick end. Delaminations grew slowly and stably, toward the thick end of the flexbeam, at the interfaces above and below the dropped-ply region. A 2D finite element model of the flexbeam was developed. The model was analyzed using a geometrically non-linear analysis with both the ANSYS and ABAQUS FE codes. The global responses of each analysis agreed well with the test results. The ANSYS model was used to calculate strain energy release rates (G) for delaminations initiating at two different ply-ending locations. The results showed that delaminations were more inclined to grow at the locations where they were observed in the test specimens. Both ANSYS and ABAQUS were used to calculate G values associated with delamination initiating at the observed location but growing in different interfaces, either above or below the ply-ending group toward the thick end, or toward the thin end from the tip of the resin pocket. The different analysis codes generated the same trends and comparable peak values, within 5-11 % for each delamination path. Both codes showed that delamination toward the thick region was largely mode II, and toward the thin region was predominantly mode I. The calculated peak G-values from either analysis predict delamination is most likely to occur along the same interface where it was observed in the test specimens. Calculated peak G values were used with material characterization data to calculate a curve relating the fatigue life of the specimens, N, to the applied transverse load, V, for a given constant axial load.

Murri, Gretchen B.↗