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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 505 records · Page 28

Use of Fluka to Create Dose Calculations

Monte Carlo codes provide an effective means of modeling three dimensional radiation transport; however, their use is both time- and resource-intensive. The creation of a lookup table or parameterization from Monte Carlo simulation allows users to perform calculations with Monte Carlo results without replicating lengthy calculations. FLUKA Monte Carlo transport code was used to develop lookup tables and parameterizations for data resulting from the penetration of layers of aluminum, polyethylene, and water with areal densities ranging from 0 to 100 g/cm^2. Heavy charged ion radiation including ions from Z=1 to Z=26 and from 0.1 to 10 GeV/nucleon were simulated. Dose, dose equivalent, and fluence as a function of particle identity, energy, and scattering angle were examined at various depths. Calculations were compared against well-known results and against the results of other deterministic and Monte Carlo codes. Results will be presented.

Lee, Kerry T.↗

Autonomous Spacecraft Inspection with Free-Flying Drones

This paper describes a proof-of-concept mission demonstrating a multi-agent system performing visual inspection of damage sustained by a spacecraft. Free-flying satellites, simulated by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), autonomously fly around a mock space module maximizing the search space for damage detection. The free-flyers are responsible for independently coordinating their flights to avoid collision with the space module and each other, while executing mission tasks. Damage analysis on the surface of the mock space module is performed in real-time using video from each free-flyer. Three-dimensional modeling is deployed offline to supplement and improve damage detection. This approach demonstrates the feasibility of deploying real space systems for damage detection, where 2D analysis can quickly determine region of interest and 3D visualization can produce a human-navigable virtual environment with depth perspective for further investigation.

unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)↗

Universal Coating by 3D Hybrid Programmable Matter

Motivated by the prospect of nano-robots that assist human physiological functions at the nanoscale, we investigate the coating problem in the three-dimensional model for hybrid programmable matter. In this model, a single agent with strictly limited viewing range and the computational capability of a deterministic finite automaton can act on passive tiles by picking up a tile, moving, and placing it at some spot. The goal of the coating problem is to fill each node of some surface graph of size n with a tile. We first solve the problem on a restricted class of graphs with a single tile type, and then use constantly many tile types to encode this graph in certain surface graphs capturing the surface of 3D objects. Our algorithm requires O(n^2) steps, which is worst-case optimal compared to an agent with global knowledge and no memory restrictions.

programmable matter↗

Development of a three dimensional numerical water quality model for continental shelf applications

A model to predict the distribution of water quality parameters in three dimensions was developed. The mass transport equation was solved using a non-dimensional vertical axis and an alternating-direction-implicit finite difference technique. The reaction kinetics of the constituents were incorporated into a matrix method which permits computation of the interactions of multiple constituents. Methods for the computation of dispersion coefficients and coliform bacteria decay rates were determined. Numerical investigations of dispersive and dissipative effects showed that the three-dimensional model performs as predicted by analysis of simpler cases. The model was then applied to a two dimensional vertically averaged tidal dynamics model for the Providence River. It was also extended to a steady state application by replacing the time step with an iteration sequence. This modification was verified by comparison to analytical solutions and applied to a river confluence situation.

Spaulding, M.↗

A three-dimensional turbulent compressible flow model for ejector and fluted mixers

A three dimensional finite element computer code was developed to analyze ejector and axisymmetric fluted mixer systems whose flow fields are not significantly influenced by streamwise diffusion effects. A two equation turbulence model was used to make comparisons between theory and data for various flow fields which are components of the ejector system, i.e., (1) turbulent boundary layer in a duct; (2) rectangular nozzle (free jet); (3) axisymmetric nozzle (free jet); (4) hypermixing nozzle (free jet); and (5) plane wall jet. Likewise, comparisons of the code with analytical results and/or other numerical solutions were made for components of the axisymmetric fluted mixer system. These included: (1) developing pipe flow; (2) developing flow in an annular pipe; (3) developing flow in an axisymmetric pipe with conical center body and no fluting and (4) developing fluted pipe flow. Finally, two demonstration cases are presented which show the code's ability to analyze both the ejector and axisymmetric fluted mixers.

Rushmore, W. L.↗

Three-dimensional linear instability modeling of the cloud level Venus atmosphere

Based on the success of several two-dimensional (latitude, longitude) linear barotropic instability models at matching some of the observed characteristics of the cloud level, polar region of the Venus atmosphere, a more realistic, linear, three-dimensional (height, latitude and longitude) model has been developed to further test the hypothesis that the observed features can be described by linear instability theory. The approach taken is to vary the model input parameters to see whether it is possible to produce modes that resemble the observations of wave activity and to compare those input parameters with other observations of the mean state. Sensitivity studies show that in addition to a well-documented dependence on the mean zonal wind, the growth and propagation of unstable modes depends on the latitude variation of the mean temperature (and hence static stability). These studies have led to the specification of a model basic state wind and temperature field that produces modes which are matched to observations of spatial structure, preferred wavenumber and phase speed of the polar disturbances. Wavenumber 2 is found to have the shortest growth time and unlike the two-dimensional results, wavenumbers 1-3 share a nearly common period of about 3 days. The derived basic state has a temperature field that is quite similar to Pioneer Venus observations; however, in some regions the model basic state wind field departs from cyclostrophic values based on temperature observations.

Elson, Lee S.↗

Computation and turbulence modeling for three-dimensional boundary layers including turbomachinery rotor flows

A method is developed for predicting the behavior of three-dimensional, turbulent boundary layers occurring in internal flows, including those on turbomachinery rotor blades. These boundary layers are complex, turbulent, and subject to Coriolis and centrifugal forces. The major thrust of this paper is the development and use of an algebraic Reynolds stress model (ARSM) that captures the changes in turbulent flow structure arising from curvature, rotation, and three dimensionality. The prediction of pressure-driven secondary flow agrees well with the measured data, and all three turbulence models (k-epsilon, algebraic eddy viscosity, and ARSM) show the same level of agreement. The prediction of boundary-layer development on rotor blades shows much better agreement with measurements with the ARSM. It is essential to employ higher-order turbulence models to capture the effects of rotation, curvature, and three dimensionality on boundary layers in turbomachinery.

Zhang, J.↗

Urban air pollution dispersion model

Three-dimensional integrated puff model simulates smoke plume dispersion processes and estimates pollutant concentration during periods of low wind speed. Applications for model are given.

Robert, J. J.↗

Influence of heating mode on three-dimensional mantle convection

Numerical models of three-dimensional thermal convection in highly viscous spherical shells with different combinations of internal and basal heating consistently have upwelling concentrations in the form of cylindrical plumes and downwelling in planar sheets. As the proportion of internal heating increases, the number of upwelling plumes increases, and downwelling sheets become more vigorous and time-dependent. With any amount of basal heating, the entire convective pattern, during its evolution, is anchored to the upwelling plumes. As the proportion of internal heating increases, the heat flow carried by the upwelling plumes remains a large fraction of the basal heat flow. Downwelling sheets carry only a minor fraction (approximately 30 percent) of the basal heat flow (even when the shell is entirely heated from below), but they advect almost all of the internally generated heat. The relatively large number of plumes in the earth's mantle (inferred from hotspots), the possibility that downwelling slabs are vigorous enough to penetrate the lower mantle, and the small fraction of terrestrial surface heat flow carried by plumes all suggest that the mantle is predominantly heated from within.

Bercovici, D.↗

Radiative Effect of Clouds on Tropospheric Chemistry in a Global Three-Dimensional Chemical Transport Model

Clouds exert an important influence on tropospheric photochemistry through modification of solar radiation that determines photolysis frequencies (J-values). We assess the radiative effect of clouds on photolysis frequencies and key oxidants in the troposphere with a global three-dimensional (3-D) chemical transport model (GEOS-CHEM) driven by assimilated meteorological observations from the Goddard Earth Observing System data assimilation system (GEOS DAS) at the NASA Global Modeling and Assimilation Office (GMAO). We focus on the year of 2001 with the GEOS-3 meteorological observations. Photolysis frequencies are calculated using the Fast-J radiative transfer algorithm. The GEOS-3 global cloud optical depth and cloud fraction are evaluated and generally consistent with the satellite retrieval products from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and the International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project (ISCCP). Results using the linear assumption, which assumes linear scaling of cloud optical depth with cloud fraction in a grid box, show global mean OH concentrations generally increase by less than 6% because of the radiative effect of clouds. The OH distribution shows much larger changes (with maximum decrease of approx.20% near the surface), reflecting the opposite effects of enhanced (weakened) photochemistry above (below) clouds. The global mean photolysis frequencies for J[O1D] and J[NO2] in the troposphere change by less than 5% because of clouds; global mean O3 concentrations in the troposphere increase by less than 5%. This study shows tropical upper tropospheric O3 to be less sensitive to the radiative effect of clouds than previously reported (approx.5% versus approx.20-30%). These results emphasize that the dominant effect of clouds is to influence the vertical redistribution of the intensity of photochemical activity while global average effects remain modest, again contrasting with previous studies. Differing vertical distributions of clouds may explain part, but not the majority, of these discrepancies between models. Using an approximate random overlap or a maximum-random overlap scheme to take account of the effect of cloud overlap in the vertical reduces the impact of clouds on photochemistry but does not significantly change our results with respect to the modest global average effect.

Liu, Hongyu↗

3-dimensional current collection model

A three-dimensional, time dependent current collection model of a satellite has been developed for the TSS-1 system. The system has been simulated particularly for the Research of Plasma Electrodynamics (ROPE) experiment. The Maxwellian distributed particles with the geomagnetic field effects are applied in this numerical simulation. The preliminary results indicate that a ring current is observed surrounding the satellite in the equatorial plane. This ring current is found between the plasma sheath and the satellite surface and is oscillating with a time scale of approximately 1 microsec. This is equivalent to the electron plasma frequency. An hour glass shape of electron distribution was observed when the viewing direction is perpendicular to the equatorial plane. This result is consistent with previous findings from Linson (1969) and Antoniades et al. (1990). Electrons that are absorbed by the satellite are limited from the background ionosphere as indicated by Parker and Murphy (1967).

Hwang, Kai-Shen↗

Verification and Validation of a Three-Dimensional Composite Impact Model with Tabulated Input

A material model which incorporates several key capabilities which have been identified by the aerospace community as lacking in the composite impact models currently available in the commercial transient dynamic finite element code LS-DYNA® has been developed. The material model utilizes experimentally based tabulated input to define the evolution of plasticity and damage as opposed to specifying discrete input parameters (such as modulus and strength. The plasticity portion of the orthotropic, three-dimensional, macroscopic composite constitutive model is based on an extension of the Tsai-Wu composite failure model into a generalized yield function with a non-associative flow rule. The capability to account for the rate and temperature dependent deformation response of composites has also been incorporated into the material model. For the damage model, a strain equivalent formulation is utilized to allow for the uncoupling of the deformation and damage analyses. In the damage model, a diagonal damage tensor is defined to account for the directionally dependent variation of damage. However, the terms in the damage matrix are semi-coupled such that the damage in a particular coordinate direction is a function of the stresses and plastic strains in all of the coordinate directions. For the failure model, a tabulated approach is utilized in which a stress or strain based invariant is defined as a function of the location of the current stress state in stress space to define the initiation of failure, which allows an arbitrarily shaped failure surface to be defined. A systematic series of validation and verification studies, at a variety of length scales ranging from single element simulations to simulations of a flat panel impact test, have been performed to fully exercise and evaluate the capabilities of the developed model.

Impact↗

Energetics of a sudden stratospheric warming simulated with a three-dimensional, spectral, quasi-geostrophic model

The energetics of a three dimensional, quasi-geostrophic simulation of a sudden stratospheric warming which developed spontaneously during an annual cycle simulation are described. Daily values of the stratospheric temperatures, zonal winds, heating rates, energies, and energy conversions are discussed and compared with those for observed warmings. It is shown that, like observed warmings, the simulated warming was preceded by an increased vertical flux of eddy kinetic energy from the troposphere and the polar heating resulted because of the strong convergence of the horizontal, eddy heat flux which was only partially balanced by adiabatic and diabatic cooling. There is a significant similarity between the energetics of the simulated and observed warmings. In addition, the warming was spontaneous and the model did not develop a major warming in each winter of the simulation. These facts suggest that this model may be useful for studying not only the warming process but also the conditions that favor its development.

Haggard, K. V.↗

Modeling of three-dimensional mixing and reacting ducted flows

A computer code based on a finite-element solution algorithm is developed to perform an analytical investigation on the turbulent mixing and reaction of hydrogen jets injected from multiple orifices transverse and parallel to a supersonic airstream. A laser optical cavity flow field was also analyzed to demonstrate the generality of the proposed model. Computational results provide a three-dimensional description of velocity, temperature, and species-concentration fields downstream of injection. Major conclusions are that the analysis has immediate utility in evaluating the mixing effectiveness of transverse H2 injection data since it has been tested in its ability to model this type of data and that turbulent mixing length theory, constant effective Prandtl number, and a Lewis number of unity provide reasonable agreement with transverse H2 injection data downstream of the near-injection region. Efforts are presently being directed toward using the code in modeling laser and scramjet data for a wide range of flow conditions.

Zelazny, S. W.↗

Design applications for supercomputers

The complexity of codes for solutions of real aerodynamic problems has progressed from simple two-dimensional models to three-dimensional inviscid and viscous models. As the algorithms used in the codes increased in accuracy, speed and robustness, the codes were steadily incorporated into standard design processes. The highly sophisticated codes, which provide solutions to the truly complex flows, require computers with large memory and high computational speed. The advent of high-speed supercomputers, such that the solutions of these complex flows become more practical, permits the introduction of the codes into the design system at an earlier stage. The results of several codes which either were already introduced into the design process or are rapidly in the process of becoming so, are presented. The codes fall into the area of turbomachinery aerodynamics and hypersonic propulsion. In the former category, results are presented for three-dimensional inviscid and viscous flows through nozzle and unducted fan bladerows. In the latter category, results are presented for two-dimensional inviscid and viscous flows for hypersonic vehicle forebodies and engine inlets.

Studerus, C. J.↗