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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 361 records · Page 20

Fracture Intensity Impacts on Reaction Front Propagation and Mineral Weathering in Three‐Dimensional Fractured Media

Abstract Studying reaction front propagation in heterogeneous natural settings is challenging, but numerical simulations can provide insight into the varying spatial and temporal scales of reaction front propagation. Here, the impact of increasing fracture intensity on mineral dissolution rates, and the extent of reaction front propagation is investigated using reactive transport simulations in upscaled discrete fracture network domains with varied fracture intensity. Domain‐averaged dissolution rates vary less than 0.5 log units regardless of the fracture intensity, but the spatial distribution of reactions is controlled by the location and number of dead‐end fractures and the number of connected flowpaths through the domain. Higher fracture intensities lead to more weathering in the domain because of more available mineral for water‐rock interactions. We find that reaction fronts propagate through the primary flowpaths in the first 10,000 years of the simulation for a 10‐m length domain, then propagate into secondary flowpaths and dead‐end fractures between 10,000 and 100,000 years, and finally into the matrix over timescales of hundreds of thousands of years. The domain‐averaged reaction rates decrease through time corresponding to a transition from dissolution in advection‐dominated, fast‐flowing pathways, to dissolution in transport‐limited zones of disconnected fractures and matrix. Matrix dissolution, or dissolution under transport‐limited conditions, is the dominant process at late times in these simulations. The results of these simulations recreate the observed paradox found in nature where highly fractured hillslopes tend to be more weathered but have slower weathering rates, while hillslopes with fewer fractures, are less weathered but have higher dissolution rates.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗

Pseudo Aircraft Systems - A multi-aircraft simulation system for air traffic control research

Pseudo Aircraft Systems (PAS) is a computerized flight dynamics and piloting system designed to provide a high fidelity multi-aircraft real-time simulation environment to support Air Traffic Control research. PAS is composed of three major software components that run on a network of computer workstations. Functionality is distributed among these components to allow the system to execute fast enough to support real-time operation. PAS workstations are linked by an Ethernet Local Area Network, and standard UNIX socket protocol is used for data transfer. Each component of PAS is controlled and operated using a custom designed Graphical User Interface. Each of these is composed of multiple windows, and many of the windows and sub-windows are used in several of the components. Aircraft models and piloting logic are sophisticated and realistic and provide complex maneuvering and navigational capabilities. PAS will continually be enhanced with new features and improved capabilities to support ongoing and future Air Traffic Control system development.

Weske, Reid A.↗

A Deep Learning Modeling Framework to Capture Mixing Patterns in Reactive-Transport Systems

Prediction and control of chemical mixing are vital for many scientific areas such as subsurface reactive transport, climate modeling, combustion, epidemiology, and pharmacology. Due to the complex nature of mixing in heterogeneous and anisotropic media, the mathematical models related to this phenomenon are not analytically tractable. Numerical simulations often provide a viable route to predict chemical mixing accurately. However, contemporary modeling approaches for mixing cannot utilize available spatial-temporal data to improve the accuracy of the future prediction and can be compute-intensive, especially when the spatial domain is large and for long-term temporal predictions. To address this knowledge gap, in this work we will present in this paper a deep learning (DL) modeling framework applied to predict the progress of chemical mixing under fast bimolecular reactions. This framework uses convolutional neural networks (CNN) for capturing spatial patterns and long short-term memory (LSTM) networks for forecasting temporal variations in mixing. By careful design of the framework—placement of non-negative constraint on the weights of the CNN and the selection of activation function, the framework ensures non-negativity of the chemical species at all spatial points and for all times. Our DL-based framework is fast, accurate, and requires minimal data for training. The time needed to obtain a forecast using the model is a fraction (≈ O(-6)) of the time needed to obtain the result using a high-fidelity simulation. To achieve an error of 10% (measured using the infinity norm) for capturing local-scale mixing features such as interfacial mixing, only 24% to 32% of the sequence data for model training is required. To achieve the same level of accuracy for capturing global-scale mixing features, the sequence data required for model training is 64% to 70% of the total spatial-temporal data. Hence, the proposed approach—a fast and accurate way to forecast long-time spatial-temporal mixing patterns in heterogeneous and anisotropic media—will be a valuable tool for modeling reactive-transport in a wide range of applications.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Hydrodynamic conditions in laser irradiated buried layer experiments

The calculation of open shell ionization level and radiative properties of materials in Non-Local Thermal Equilibrium (NLTE) is currently still a major challenge for any atomic model. The predictions of various NLTE atomic codes at these conditions still differ significantly. In recent years, a new buried layer platform was developed at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and the Laboratory for Laser Energetics. This platform is used to measure ionization distribution and emission of open L-shell, mid-Z ions and open M-shell, high-Z ions at NLTE conditions that are relevant in many laser plasma applications. These experiments offer a unique chance for benchmarking the atomic models. In order to perform these experiments, a uniform well characterized plasma source is required. In this work, we present one-dimensional (1D) and two-dimensional simulations of the experimental platform. These simulations were used for both the design and the analysis of the experiments. The simulations demonstrate the different phases of hydrodynamic evolution of the target and identify the time windows in which uniform conditions can be achieved. A 1D expansion of the target was found to be adequate to describe the target's evolution for most of the experiment duration. The fast 1D simulations were compared with recent experimental results from the Omega laser facility. The sensitivity of the results to several modeling parameters such as the electron flux limiter and laser resonant absorption is reported.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Generalizing to new geometries with Geometry-Aware Autoregressive Models (GAAMs) for fast calorimeter simulation

Generation of simulated detector response to collision products is crucial to data analysis in particle physics, but computationally very expensive. One subdetector, the calorimeter, dominates the computational time due to the high granularity of its cells and complexity of the interactions. Generative models can provide more rapid sample production, but currently require significant effort to optimize performance for specific detector geometries, often requiring many models to describe the varying cell sizes and arrangements, without the ability to generalize to other geometries. Here, we develop a geometry-aware autoregressive model, which learns how the calorimeter response varies with geometry, and is capable of generating simulated responses to unseen geometries without additional training. The geometry-aware model outperforms a baseline unaware model by over 50% in several metrics such as the Wasserstein distance between the generated and the true distributions of key quantities which summarize the simulated response. A single geometry-aware model could replace the hundreds of generative models currently designed for calorimeter simulation by physicists analyzing data collected at the Large Hadron Collider. This proof-of-concept study motivates the design of a foundational model that will be a crucial tool for the study of future detectors, dramatically reducing the large upfront investment usually needed to develop generative calorimeter models.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

Transient Efficiency, Flexibility, and Reliability Optimization of Coal-Fired Power Plants - Final Report

This program developed an advanced model-based monitoring and model-predictive control algorithms for a coal fired power plant (CFPP), and deployed these algorithms in a real-time platform to demonstrate performance benefits for transient flexibility and plant operation efficiency. More specifically, the objectives were successfully achieved through a combination of (i) developing a high-fidelity transient plant model in Apros, which was used as a high-fidelity plant simulation between $100-50\% TMCR$ where TMCR denotes the turbine maximum continuous rating, i.e., baseload, (ii) developing a very fast physics-based reduced-order model (ROM) of the plant, which ran more than $100\times$ faster than real-time, enabling its use as real-time embedded model for model-based estimation (MBE) and model predictive control (MPC) (iii) implementing a real-time MBE based on ROM using a robust unscented Kalman filter (UKF) to continuously tune the ROM to match the measurements from high-fidelity Apros plant model despite significant plant-model mismatch, and thus, obtain a Digital Twin of the plant (iv) designing and implementing a real-time MPC with dual objectives of transient plant load tracking with high ramp rates and minimizing coal consumption, i.e., improving plant efficiency in the baseload-partload operation range of $100-50\% TMCR$. Each key element above was developed and tested individually, and has been reported in corresponding Topical Reports. Finally, all the individual elements were integrated in an overall closed-loop system, that was successfully tested in desktop Simulink test harness simulations with ROM or high-fidelity model as the plant. Thereafter, the Simulink implementation was used to auto-generate C-code and deploy as real-time Docker microservice containers in Linux, and validate that they can run in real-time in the hardware-in-the loop (HIL) setup and produce the same results as in Simulink. The results of the integrated simulation tests in Simulink as well as the real-time HIL deployment are documented in this final report, showing good load tracking for load ramps at $3-4\%/min$ ramp rates, and achieving up to $5.5\%$ reduction in coal relative to baseline operation at $50\% TMCR$ load. The desktop and HIL simulations show successful performance of the overall model based estimation and control solution and achieve the key objectives of the program for flexible, efficient and reliable operation of subcritical coal fired power plants.

20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS↗

Transient Efficiency, Flexibility, and Reliability Optimization of Coal-Fired Power Plants - Final Program Review

This program developed an advanced model-based monitoring and model-predictive control algorithms for a coal fired power plant (CFPP), and deployed these algorithms in a real-time platform to demonstrate performance benefits for transient flexibility and plant operation efficiency. More specifically, the objectives were successfully achieved through a combination of (i) developing a high-fidelity transient plant model in Apros, which was used as a high-fidelity plant simulation between $100-50\% TMCR$ where TMCR denotes the turbine maximum continuous rating, i.e., baseload, (ii) developing a very fast physics-based reduced-order model (ROM) of the plant, which ran more than $100\times$ faster than real-time, enabling its use as real-time embedded model for model-based estimation (MBE) and model predictive control (MPC) (iii) implementing a real-time MBE based on ROM using a robust unscented Kalman filter (UKF) to continuously tune the ROM to match the measurements from high-fidelity Apros plant model despite significant plant-model mismatch, and thus, obtain a Digital Twin of the plant (iv) designing and implementing a real-time MPC with dual objectives of transient plant load tracking with high ramp rates and minimizing coal consumption, i.e., improving plant efficiency in the baseload-partload operation range of $100-50\% TMCR$. Each key element above was developed and tested individually, and has been reported in corresponding Topical Reports. Finally, all the individual elements were integrated in an overall closed-loop system, that was successfully tested in desktop Simulink test harness simulations with ROM or high-fidelity model as the plant. Thereafter, the Simulink implementation was used to auto-generate C-code and deploy as real-time Docker microservice containers in Linux, and validate that they can run in real-time in the hardware-in-the loop (HIL) setup and produce the same results as in Simulink. The results of the integrated simulation tests in Simulink as well as the real-time HIL deployment are documented in this final report, showing good load tracking for load ramps at $3-4\%/min$ ramp rates, and achieving up to $5.5\%$ reduction in coal relative to baseline operation at $50\% TMCR$ load. The desktop and HIL simulations show successful performance of the overall model based estimation and control solution and achieve the key objectives of the program for flexible, efficient and reliable operation of sub-critical coal fired power plants.

20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS↗

Three-dimensional galaxy simulations

A three-dimensional fully self-consistent computer model was used to determine the evolution of galaxies consisting of 100,000 simulation stars with exponential radial density variation. Comparison with two-dimensional (infinitesimally thin disk) simulations showed only a very slight stabilizing effect due to the additional degree of freedom. The addition of a fully self-consistent, nonrotating, exponential core/halo component resulted in considerable stabilization. The most pronounced instabilities present were those due to the Jeans' instability in the outer regions of the disk, while at the same time a relatively slowly-growing bar instability appeared. The two-dimensional disk, plus core/halo simulation, showed the usual fast-growing instability leading to bar formation.

Hohl, F.↗

Numerical simulation of magnetohydrodynamic shock propagation in the corona

Recent developments in the field of numerical simulation models for the study of shock wave propagation in the corona are presented. These models are based on gasdynamic (GD) and ideal (that is, dissipationless, except at shocks) magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) theories. The characteristics and physical interpretations of the results derived from these models are discussed in some detail. The most significant physical results obtained to date are provided by the two-dimensional non-planar, time-dependent, MHD numerical simulation model. In this model, the non-linear interaction among the three essential MHD waves, i.e., fast-, slow-, and Alfven waves are demonstrated. Finally, the physical relevance of these numerical simulation models in relation to observed solar activity is presented.

Wu, S. T.↗

A real scale simulator for high frequency LEMP

The real scale simulator is described which was designed by the Centre d'Etudes de Gramat (CEG) to study the coupling of fast rise time Lightning Electromagnetic pulse in a fighter aircraft. The system capability of generating the right electromagnetic environment was studied using a Finite Difference Time Domain (FDTD) computer program. First, data of inside stresses are shown. Then, a time domain and a frequency domain approach is exposed and compared.

Gauthier, D.↗

The RAPT control method for nonlinear systems

The Rapid Advancement Preview Tracking (RAPT) control method uses both a nonlinear system model and a linearized system model to provide a form of feedback/preview control for nonlinear systems. It uses measurements of the states to calculate the current preview control signal from a local linearization of the state equations, and then iteratively calculates a perturbation correction for that control using the nonlinear equations. The corrected control signal is then applied to the system, driving the end-effector to the next position along a specified trajectory. Computer simulations of tracking control for two-link planar manipulators indicate that this algorithm may be fast enough for real-time control.

Long, T. W.↗

Particle tracing in the magnetosphere - New algorithms and results

A fast and efficient method is employed to trace charged particles through realistic magnetospheric electric and magnetic fields, greatly reducing computer simulation times. The method is applicable for particles having arbitrary charge, energy, or pitch angle but which conserve the first two adiabatic invariants. An efficient method is used to classify drift orbits, which greatly facilitates identification of the last closed drift path or other drift boundaries. The time-independent evolution of the bounce-averaged phase space density along convective drift orbits is calculated. These three tools can be used to quantitatively describe convective evolution of the particle distribution from the tail, an essential step in understanding the production of unstable distributions in the magnetosphere.

Sheldon, R. B.↗

Time-dependent simulation of oblique MHD cosmic-ray shocks using the two-fluid model

Using a new, second-order accurate numerical method we present dynamical simulations of oblique MHD cosmic-ray (CR)-modified plane shock evolution. Most of the calculations are done with a two-fluid model for diffusive shock acceleration, but we provide also comparisons between a typical shock computed that way against calculations carried out using the more complete, momentum-dependent, diffusion-advection equation. We also illustrate a test showing that these simulations evolve to dynamical equilibria consistent with previously published steady state analytic calculations for such shocks. In order to improve understanding of the dynamical role of magnetic fields in shocks modified by CR pressure we have explored for time asymptotic states the parameter space of upstream fast mode Mach number, M(sub f), and plasma beta. We compile the results into maps of dynamical steady state CR acceleration efficiency, epsilon(sub c). We have run simulations using constant, and nonisotropic, obliquity (and hence spatially) dependent forms of the diffusion coefficient kappa. Comparison of the results shows that while the final steady states achieved are the same in each case, the history of CR-MHD shocks can be strongly modified by variations in kappa and, therefore, in the acceleration timescale. Also, the coupling of CR and MHD in low beta, oblique shocks substantially influences the transient density spike that forms in strongly CR-modified shocks. We find that inside the density spike a MHD slow mode wave can be generated that eventually steepens into a shock. A strong layer develops within the density spike, driven by MHD stresses. We conjecture that currents in the shear layer could, in nonplanar flows, results in enhanced particle accretion through drift acceleration.

Frank, Adam↗

Simulation evaluation of TIMER, a time-based, terminal air traffic, flow-management concept

A description of a time-based, extended terminal area ATC concept called Traffic Intelligence for the Management of Efficient Runway scheduling (TIMER) and the results of a fast-time evaluation are presented. The TIMER concept is intended to bridge the gap between today's ATC system and a future automated time-based ATC system. The TIMER concept integrates en route metering, fuel-efficient cruise and profile descents, terminal time-based sequencing and spacing together with computer-generated controller aids, to improve delivery precision for fuller use of runway capacity. Simulation results identify and show the effects and interactions of such key variables as horizon of control location, delivery time error at both the metering fix and runway threshold, aircraft separation requirements, delay discounting, wind, aircraft heading and speed errors, and knowledge of final approach speed.

Credeur, Leonard↗

Status of the NEAMS and ARC fast reactor tools integration to the NEAMS Workbench

The Workbench initiative was launched in FY-2017 within the Nuclear Energy Advanced Modeling and Simulation (NEAMS) program to facilitate the transition from conventional tools to high-fidelity tools. The NEAMS Workbench provides a common user interface for model creation, real-time validation, execution, output processing, and visualization for integrated codes. The integration of the Argonne Reactor Computation (ARC) suite of codes into the NEAMS Workbench through the PyARC module was initiated in FY-2017. The ARC codes, which focus on fast reactor multiphysics analysis, contain both legacy codes like DIF3D and REBUS-3 that were developed with over 30 years of experience, and newer NEAMS additions like MC 2 -3, PERSENT, and PROTEUS. Recent work expended this integration to other tools to support the U.S. fast reactor community such as DASSH for sub-channel thermal-hydraulics, Griffin for high-fidelity deterministic transport calculations, and OpenMC for Monte Carlo simulations (with Shift integration planned for FY-2023). The integration of the “extended ARC” suite of codes into the NEAMS Workbench interface relies on the PyARC and PyGriffin modules to handles the pre- and post-processing of these codes input, and the runtime environment. The PyARC module together with the NEAMS Workbench interface are both released under Open Source Software licenses.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗

Direct numerical simulations of turbulent shear flows

Numerical simulations of wakes of axisymmetric bodies and of turbulent mixing layers are reported. The flows were assumed to be statistically homogeneous in the mean flow direction, in concert with experimental data and the self-similarity theorem. The nonlinear Navier-Stokes equations were solved by a pseudo-spectral numerical method using a 32 x 32 x 33 point grid and an algorithm for fast Fourier transforms and inverse transforms. Leapfrog time differencing was employed on nonlinear terms and time differencing on viscous terms. Towed wakes and wakes behind a self-propelled body were simulated, showing that the towed wakes exhibited a proper temporal behavior after an initial period of adjustment, including the development of a kurtosis near the wake edge, which is experimentally verifiable. The mixing-layer simulation displayed the laboratory demonstrated presence of large scale features such as vortex cores, while the lateral coherence was weak.

Metcalfe, R. W.↗

Fe(exp3) - A Monte Carlo Simulation Capability for Evaluation of New Air Traffic Management Concepts

The concepts of unmanned aircraft system traffic management (UTM) and urban air mobility (UAM) introduce high-density operations in low-altitude airspace and will change the paradigm of the traditional air traffic system. The Flexible engine for Fast-time evaluation of Flight environments (Fe3) provides the capability of statistically analyzing high-density, high-fidelity, and low-altitude traffic system without conducting infeasible and cost-prohibitive flight tests that involve a large volume of aerial vehicles. With this simulation capability, stakeholders can study the impacts of critical factors, define requirements, policies, and protocols needed to support a safe yet efficient traffic system, assess operational risks, and optimize flight schedules. This work provides an introduction to this simulation tool including its architecture and various models involved. Its performance and applications in high density air traffic operations are also presented.

Paralellization↗

Parallel Unsteady Turbopump Flow Simulations for Reusable Launch Vehicles

An efficient solution procedure for time-accurate solutions of Incompressible Navier-Stokes equation is obtained. Artificial compressibility method requires a fast convergence scheme. Pressure projection method is efficient when small time-step is required. The number of sub-iteration is reduced significantly when Poisson solver employed with the continuity equation. Both computing time and memory usage are reduced (at least 3 times). Other work includes Multi Level Parallelism (MLP) of INS3D, overset connectivity for the validation case, experimental measurements, and computational model for boost pump.

Kiris, Cetin↗