Error Convergence Characterization for Stochastic Transport Methods.
Abstract not provided.
Olson, Aaron↗
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Next Generation Uncertainty Quantification and Stochastic Media Monte Carlo Transport Methods.
Abstract not provided.
Olson, Aaron Jeffrey↗
Next Generation Uncertainty Quantification and Stochastic Media Monte Carlo Transport Methods.
Abstract not provided.
Olson, Aaron Jeffrey↗
Quantitative Assessment of Transportation Network Vulnerability with Dynamic Traffic Simulation Methods
Transportation networks are critical to the social and economic function of nations. Given the continuing increase in the populations of cities throughout the world, the criticality of transportation infrastructure is expected to increase. Thus, it is ever more important to mitigate congestion as well as to assess the impact disruptions would have on individuals who depend on transportation for their work and livelihood. Moreover, several government organizations are responsible for ensuring transportation networks are available despite the constant threat of natural disasters and terrorist activities. Most of the previous transportation network vulnerability research has been performed in the context of static traffic models, many of which are formulated as traditional optimization problems. However, transportation networks are dynamic because their usage varies over time. Thus, more appropriate methods to characterize the vulnerability of transportation networks should consider their dynamic properties. This paper presents a quantitative approach to assess the vulnerability of a transportation network to disruptions with methods from traffic simulation. Our approach can prioritize the critical links over time and is generalizable to the case where both link and node disruptions are of concern. We illustrate the approach through a series of examples. Our results demonstrate that the approach provides quantitative insight into the time varying criticality of links. Such an approach could be used as the objective function of less traditional optimization methods that use simulation and other techniques to evaluate the relative utility of a particular network defense to reduce vulnerability and increase resilience.
Shekar, Venkateswaran↗
Inlet sensitivity study for a supersonic transport
Method of comparing inlet performance and weight compromises for supersonic transport
TURBOJET ENGINE↗
Superconductivity in single crystals of ZrP 1.27 Se 0.73
Results are reported for single crystals of the PbFCl-type layered compound ZrP 1.27 Se 0.73 that were produced using the iodine vapor transport method. Electrical transport, magnetization, and heat capacity measurements reveal disordered metallic behavior and the occurrence of bulk superconductivity, with a transition temperature (T c ) of 7.1 K and an anisotropic orbitally limited upper critical field. 31 P nuclear magnetic resonance measurements provide additional microscopic information, where the line shape, Knight shift, and spin-lattice relaxation data are consistent with the superconductivity originating from the corrugated Zr-P(2c)/Se plane. This suggests that the superconductivity first forms in the corrugated plane and the bulk superconductivity eventually occurs via coupling between the square planar layers. These data also show that either there are multiple superconducting gaps or there is a single gap that does not fully open across the entire Fermi surface. Finally, these results clarify the superconducting state in this material and will enable further measurements that require single-crystal specimens.
75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
The growth of ZnSe single crystals by physical vapor transport
ZnSe single crystals have been grown in sealed quartz ampoules by the physical vapor transport method. Complete transport of the starting material and single site growth have been achieved with no material adhering to the ampoule wall. Growth is initiated in a narrow channel in the cold finger attached to the growth end of the ampoule. The highest growth rate to date has been 280 mg/day which corresponds to an average transport rate of about 1.93 mmol/day. The largest single crystal, measuring 1 cm x 4 mm x 2 mm, had a total growing time of 11 days or an average growth rate of 171 mg/day.
Cheng, Hai-Yuin↗
The Random Ray Method for neutral particle transport
A new approach to solving partial differential equations (PDEs) based on the method of characteristics (MOC) is presented. The Random Ray Method (TRRM) uses a stochastic rather than deterministic discretization of characteristic tracks to integrate the phase space of a problem. TRRM is potentially applicable in a number of transport simulation fields where long characteristic methods are used, such as neutron transport and gamma ray transport in reactor physics as well as radiative transfer in astrophysics. In this study, TRRM is developed and then tested on a series of exemplar reactor physics benchmark problems. The results show extreme improvements in memory efficiency compared to deterministic MOC methods, while also reducing algorithmic complexity, allowing for a sparser computational grid to be used while maintaining accuracy.
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
Method for transporting impellent gases
The described system DAL comprises a method and a device for transportation of buoyant impellent gases, without the need for expensive pipes and liquid tankers. The gas is self air-lifted from its source to a consignment point by means of voluminous, light, hollow bodies. Upon release of the gas at the consignment point, the bodies are filled with another cheap buoyant gas (steam or heated air) for the return trip to the source. In both directions substantial quantities of supplementary freight goods can be transported. Requirements and advantages are presented.
Papst, H.↗
Analyzing users’ preferences between personal and pooled rideshare services using a mixed logit modeling approach
Ridesharing has become an increasingly popular transportation method over the past decade. Transportation network companies such as Uber and Lyft generally provide two types of rideshare services: personal rideshare, in which users ride alone or with individuals they know, and pooled rideshare, in which users ride with passengers they do not know but share similar routes. Pooled rideshare is capable of reducing energy consumption and traffic in the transportation system in comparison to personal rideshare. Despite the growth in trip volume, ridesharing usage is still low compared to other popular transportation methods in the U.S., particularly traveling in one’s own personal vehicle. Furthermore, pooled rideshare usage is lower than personal rideshare. To understand riders’ preferences, a national survey (N = 2884) was conducted in the U.S. to investigate users’ choice behaviors in rideshare services examining personal versus pooled rideshare. Each survey respondent completed 20 stated-preference scenarios where participants choose between a personal or pooled rideshare option. Based on the responses, a mixed logit model was developed to capture the choice behavior preferences of the participants. The model unveiled the impact of demographic and trip attribute variables on users’ rideshare preferences. The discussion encompassed insights into demographic backgrounds and trip attributes, accompanied by a set of policy recommendations aimed at enhancing future pooled rideshare utilization.
Choice model↗
Multigrid and Krylov Subspace Methods for Transport Equations: Absorption Case
In this paper we look at Krylov subspace methods for solving the transport equations in a slab geometry. The spatial discretization scheme used is a finite element method called Modified Linear Discontinuous scheme (MLD). We investigate the convergence rates for a number of Krylov subspace methods for this problem and compare with the results of a spatial multigrid scheme.
Oliveira, S.↗
Interactive Visualization of Multi-Group Cross Sections on High-Fidelity Spatial Meshes
Core simulation tools utilizing Monte Carlo transport methods represent the 'Holy Grail' for nuclear reactor analysis. However, deterministic transport methods pose a number of advantages to Monte Carlo from a computational perspective, which seems likely to make these methods more viable in the near to intermediate term. Deterministic methods almost universally discretize the energy domain in a few to hundreds of energy groups. One of the key challenges for deterministic transport-based methods to be viable is accurate, reactor agnostic multi-group cross section generation. This paper describes tools for data processing and visualization of multigroup cross sections generated on high-fidelity spatial meshes from the OpenMC Monte Carlo code. Next generation deterministic transport reactor core modeling tools will require multi-group cross section (MGXS) generation on high-fidelity spatial meshes. High-fidelity MGXS are necessary for the accurate simulation of neutron physics in nuclear reactors with a high degree of spectral heterogeneity - e.g., large localized neutron flux gradients throughout a reactor core. Although many local (e.g., pin cell) approximations have been developed to model the scalar flux to compute spectral-averaged MGXS, these techniques cannot account for complex intra-pin and intra-assembly spatial self-shielding effects. Monte Carlo presents the most accurate method for reactor agnostic multi-group cross section generation since it does not require the use of local approximations to the flux. Monte Carlo has been proposed as a highly desirable framework for reactor agnostic cross section generation for many years. Monte Carlo methods can effectively embed all of the relevant spectral effects into the MGXS through the random particle tracking and interaction sampling processes. Previous work has applied MCNP and Serpent to compute few-group constants for diffusion calculations, and OpenMC to compute multi-group cross sections for transport-based methods. The primary difficulty with using Monte Carlo for MGXS generation is the tremendous computational resources required to adequately converge multi-group cross sections in each spatial region and energy group. Recent development of the OpenMC Monte Carlo code for high-performance computing platforms has made multigroup cross section generation from Monte Carlo more tractable in the foreseeable future. The recent release of OpenMC v0.7.1 includes a new Python-based module for MGXS generation. The MGXS generation module leverages many of the algorithms and features for 'big data' analysis of large tally datasets on complex spatial meshes. This paper describes the data management workflow and visualization tools which have been developed to explore the plethora of MGXS data generated with OpenMC. It is the authors' hope that the development of the visualization tool described in this paper will ultimately enable the design of machine learning algorithms to accelerate the convergence rate of high-fidelity multi-group cross section generated with Monte Carlo. (authors)
73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
Models for convection and segregation in the growth of HgCdTe by the vertical Bridgman method
Transport processes in the vertical Bridgman growth of Hg(1-x)Cd(x)Te were investigated by numerical analysis of an idealized quasi-steady-state model of this system. The analysis was specifically directed at an explanation for the radial and axial segregation data obtained by Szofran and Lehoczky (1984) and Szofran et al. (1984) on this system, who reported, respectively, on the observations of diffusion-controlled axial segregation and on the presence of large compositional nonuniformities of CdTe across the radius of the crystal. It is shown that the data sets of these groups can be explained by the results of a detailed analysis of heat transfer, convection, and species transport which account for thermosolutal convection in the melt and for heat transfer mechanisms that dominate the HgCdTe alloy. Predictions from this analysis is applicable to the growth of other materials, because they suggest conditions for the growth of radially uniform crystals with nearly constant axial composition profiles.
Kim, Do Hyun↗
Final report of activities for the LDRD-express project #223796 titled: “Fluid models of charged species transport: numerical methods with mathematically guaranteed properties”, PI: Ignacio Tomas, Co-PI: John Shadid
This report summarizes the findings and outcomes of the LDRD-express project with title “Fluid models of charged species transport: numerical methods with mathematically guaranteed properties”. The primary motivation of this project was the computational/mathematical exploration of the ideas advanced aiming to improve the state-of-the-art on numerical methods for the one-fluid Euler-Poisson models and gain some understanding on the Euler-Maxwell model. Euler-Poisson and Euler-Maxwell, by themselves are not the most technically relevant PDE plasma-models. However, both of them are elementary building blocks of PDE-models used in actual technical applications and include most (if not all) of their mathematical difficulties. Outside the classical ideal MHD models, rigorous mathematical and numerical understanding of one-fluid models is still a quite undeveloped research area, and the treatment/understanding of boundary conditions is minimal (borderline non-existent) at this point in time. This report focuses primarily on bulk-behaviour of Euler-Poisson’s model, touching boundary conditions only tangentially.
70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
Gray two-moment neutrino transport: Comprehensive tests and improvements for supernova simulations
Aims. In this work we extended an energy-integrated neutrino transport method to facilitate efficient, yet precise, modeling of compact astrophysical objects. We particularly focus on core-collapse supernovae. Methods. We implemented a gray neutrino-transport framework from the literature into FLASH and performed a detailed evaluation of its accuracy in core-collapse supernova simulations. Based on comparisons with results from simulations using energy-dependent neutrino transport, we incorporated several improvements to the original scheme. Results. Our analysis shows that our gray neutrino transport method successfully reproduces key aspects from more complex energy-dependent transport across a variety of progenitors and equations of state. We find both qualitative and reasonable quantitative agreement with multi-group M1 transport simulations. However, the gray scheme tends to slightly favor shock revival. In terms of gravitational wave and neutrino signals, there is a good alignment with the energy-dependent transport, although we find 15–30% discrepancies in the average energy and luminosity of heavy-lepton neutrinos. Simulations using the gray transport are around four times faster than those using energy-dependent transport.
Astronomy & Astrophysics↗
Intercomparison of 3D pore-scale flow and solute transport simulation methods
Multiple numerical approaches have been developed to simulate porous media fluid flow and solute transport at the pore scale. These include methods that 1) explicitly model the three-dimensional geometry of pore spaces and 2) those that conceptualize the pore space as a topologically consistent set of stylized pore bodies and pore throats. In previous work we validated a model of class 1, based on direct numerical simulation using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) codes, against magnetic resonance velocimetry (MRV) measurements of pore-scale velocities. Here we expand that validation to include additional models of class 1 based on the immersed-boundary method (IMB), lattice Boltzmann method (LBM), smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH), as well as a model of class 2 (a pore-network model or PNM). The PNM approach used in the current study was recently improved and demonstrated to accurately simulate solute transport in a two-dimensional experiment. While the PNM approach is computationally much less demanding than direct numerical simulation methods, the effect of conceptualizing complex three-dimensional pore geometries on solute transport in the manner of PNMs has not been fully determined. We apply all four approaches (CFD, LBM, SPH and PNM) to simulate pore-scale velocity distributions and nonreactive solute transport, and intercompare the model results with previously reported experimental observations. Experimental observations are limited to measured pore-scale velocities, so solute transport comparisons are made only among the various models. Comparisons are drawn both in terms of macroscopic variables (e.g., permeability, solute breakthrough curves) and microscopic variables (e.g., local velocities and concentrations).
computational fluid dynamics↗
Improvements to a class of hybrid methods for radiation transport: Nyström reconstruction and defect correction methods
In this study, two modifications are introduced for improving the accuracy, versatility, and robustness of a class of hybrid methods for radiation transport. In general, such methods are constructed by splitting the radiative flux into collided and uncollided components to which low- and high-resolution angular approximations are applied, respectively. In this work we focus on discrete ordinates discretizations of high and low order. The first modification we introduce changes the way in which the collided component is mapped into the uncollided component at the end of each time step in a simulation. The new mapping is a Nyström-type reconstruction that is applicable to arbitrary discrete ordinates quadratures, is guaranteed to preserve positivity of the solution provided that all ordinate weights are positive, is significantly more accurate than previous methods, and can be readily extended to other discretizations such as moment methods, finite element methods, and diffusion approximations. The second modification leverages integral deferred correction (IDC) to iteratively correct for the splitting error introduced by the inconsistency in angular discretization between the collided and uncollided components, in addition to improving the accuracy of the low-order temporal error that is treated by traditional IDC methods. Numerical tests in one- and two-dimensional geometries are used to demonstrate the increased accuracy and efficiency of the proposed modifications. It is found that the two techniques combined yield methods with solution accuracy and memory requirements comparable to that of monolithic discrete ordinates methods while reducing runtime by as much as a factor of between two and ten, depending on the problem.
73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
The Legendre Polynomial Axial Expansion Method
This work presents a new formulation of the axial expansion transport method explicitly using Legendre polynomials for arbitrarily high-order expansions. This new formulation also features an alternative method of axial leakage calculation to allow for nonextruded flat source region meshes. This alternative axial leakage is introduced alongside a balance equation requirement to ensure that neutron balance is preserved in the coarse mesh for a given axial leakage formulation, which allows for effective coarse mesh finite difference acceleration. A matrix exponential table method is derived to allow for fast computations of arbitrarily high-order matrix exponentials for this work and precludes the need for further research into matrix exponential calculations for this method. Numerical results are presented that demonstrate the stability of the axial expansion method in systems with voidlike regions, showcase the speedup from matrix exponential tables, and investigate the axial convergence of the method in terms of both expansion order and mesh size.
Herring, Nicholas↗