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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 541 records · Page 30
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2014

Force Limiting Vibration Tests Evaluated from both Ground Acoustic Tests and FEM Simulations of a Flight Like Vehicle System Assembly

Marshall Space Flight Center has conducted a series of ground acoustic tests with the dual goals of informing analytical judgment, and validating analytical methods when estimating vibroacoustic responses of launch vehicle subsystems. The process of repeatedly correlating finite element-simulated responses with test-measured responses has assisted in the development of best practices for modeling and post-processing. In recent work, force transducers were integrated to measure interface forces at the base of avionics box equipment. Other force data was indirectly measured using strain gauges. The combination of these direct and indirect force measurements has been used to support and illustrate the advantages of implementing the Force Limiting approach for equipment qualification tests. The comparison of force response from integrated system level tests to measurements at the same locations during component level vibration tests provides an excellent illustration. A second comparison of the measured response cases from the system level acoustic tests to finite element simulations has also produced some principles for assessing the suitability of Finite Element Models (FEMs) for making vibroacoustics estimates. The results indicate that when FEM models are employed to guide force limiting choices, they should include sufficient detail to represent the apparent mass of the system in the frequency range of interest.

Smith, Andrew↗
NASA NTRS1992

Finite-element analyses and fracture simulation in thin-sheet aluminum alloy

A two-dimensional, elastic-plastic finite-element analysis was used with a critical crack-tip-opening angle (CTOA) fracture criterion to model stable crack growth in thin-sheet 2024-T3 aluminum alloy under monotonic loading after precracking at different cyclic stress levels. Tests were conducted on three types of specimens: middle-crack, three-hole-crack and blunt-notch tensile specimens. An experiment technique was developed to measure CTOA during crack growth initiation and stable tearing using a high-resolution video camera and recorder. Crack front shapes were also measured during initiation and stable tearing using a fatigue marker-load technique. Three-dimensional elastic-plastic finite-element analyses of these crack shapes for stationary cracks were conducted to study the crack-front opening displacements. Predicted load against crack extension on middle-crack tension specimens agreed well with test results even for large-scale plastic deformations. The analyses were able to predict the effects of specimen size and precracking stress history on stable tearing. Predicted load against load-line displacements agreed well with test results up to maximum load bu the analyses tended to overpredict displacements as crack grew beyond the maximum load under displacement-controlled conditions. During the initiation phase, the measured CTOA values were high but decreased and remained nearly constant after a small amount of stable tearing. The constant value of CTOA agree well with the calculated value from the finite-element analysis. The larger CTOA values measured at the sheet surface during the initiation phase may be associated with the crack tunneling observed in the tests. Three-dimensional analyses for nonstraight crack fronts predicted much higher displacements near the free surface than in the interior.

Newman, J. C., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS2007

Simulating Space Capsule Water Landing with Explicit Finite Element Method

A study of using an explicit nonlinear dynamic finite element code for simulating the water landing of a space capsule was performed. The finite element model contains Lagrangian shell elements for the space capsule and Eulerian solid elements for the water and air. An Arbitrary Lagrangian Eulerian (ALE) solver and a penalty coupling method were used for predicting the fluid and structure interaction forces. The space capsule was first assumed to be rigid, so the numerical results could be correlated with closed form solutions. The water and air meshes were continuously refined until the solution was converged. The converged maximum deceleration predicted is bounded by the classical von Karman and Wagner solutions and is considered to be an adequate solution. The refined water and air meshes were then used in the models for simulating the water landing of a capsule model that has a flexible bottom. For small pitch angle cases, the maximum deceleration from the flexible capsule model was found to be significantly greater than the maximum deceleration obtained from the corresponding rigid model. For large pitch angle cases, the difference between the maximum deceleration of the flexible model and that of its corresponding rigid model is smaller. Test data of Apollo space capsules with a flexible heat shield qualitatively support the findings presented in this paper.

Wang, John T.↗
DOE OSTI2016

Assessment of a Hybrid Continuous/Discontinuous Galerkin Finite Element Code for Geothermal Reservoir Simulations

FALCON (“Fracturing And Liquid CONvection”) is a hybrid continuous / discontinuous Galerkin finite element geothermal reservoir simulation code based on the MOOSE (“Multiphysics Object-Oriented Simulation Environment”) framework being developed and used for multiphysics applications. In the present work, a suite of verification and validation (“V&V”) test problems for FALCON was defined to meet the design requirements, and solved to the interests of enhanced geothermal system (“EGS”) design. Furthermore, the intent for this test problem suite is to provide baseline comparison data that demonstrates the performance of the FALCON solution methods. The simulation problems vary in complexity from singly mechanical or thermo process, to coupled thermo-hydro-mechanical processes in geological porous media. Numerical results obtained by FALCON agreed well with either the available analytical solution or experimental data, indicating the verified and validated implementation of these capabilities in FALCON. Some form of solution verification has been attempted to identify sensitivities in the solution methods, where possible, and suggest best practices when using the FALCON code.

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2016

Calibration of higher eigenmodes of cantilevers

A method is presented for calibrating the higher eigenmodes (resonant modes) of atomic force microscopy cantilevers that can be performed prior to any tip-sample interaction. The method leverages recent efforts in accurately calibrating the first eigenmode by providing the higher-mode stiffness as a ratio to the first mode stiffness. A one-time calibration routine must be performed for every cantilever type to determine a power-law relationship between stiffness and frequency, which is then stored for future use on similar cantilevers. Then, future calibrations only require a measurement of the ratio of resonant frequencies and the stiffness of the first mode. This method is verified through stiffness measurements using three independent approaches: interferometric measurement, AC approach-curve calibration, and finite element analysis simulation. Power-law values for calibrating higher-mode stiffnesses are reported for several cantilever models. Once the higher-mode stiffnesses are known, the amplitude of each mode can also be calibrated from the thermal spectrum by application of the equipartition theorem.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2016

The Application of Hydraulic and Thermal Stimulation Techniques to Create Enhanced Geothermal Systems

Geothermal energy production requires temperature at depth, a working fluid to transport heat to the surface, and a network of fluid pathways connecting injection and production wells. These requirements constrain the availability of geothermal energy resources. Enhanced Geothermal System (EGS) development expands geothermal resource availability by artificially generating networks of fluid pathways in the reservoir. This is accomplished through hydraulic and thermal stimulation of the geothermal reservoir. Hydraulic and thermal techniques were applied at the Raft River geothermal field as part of a Department of Energy (DOE) EGS development project. The test well RRG-9 ST1 was hydraulically stimulated three times between February 2012 and April 2014. Since June, 2013 continuous injection of sub-reservoir temperature plant water has been used to thermally stimulate the well. The stimulation program has resulted in a large increase in the injectivity of the well, an increase from less than 20 gpm in June 2013 to nearly 1,000 gpm in April 2016. Wellbore imaging and temperature analysis identified a northeast striking fracture zone intersecting the well between 5,640 and 5,660 ft. measured depth (MD) has nominally accepted all of the injected fluid. Microseismic activity, related to stimulation program and plant activity was used to track possible fluid pathways within the reservoir. The microseismic data indicates that the injected fluid moves primarily to the northeast through the Narrows Zone, a northeast striking fault structure that bisects the field. Tracers injected into RRG-9 ST1 and recovered at the production wells RRG-2 and RRG-4, located to the northeast of RRG-9 ST1, support this theory. It is hypothesized that water injected into RRG-9 ST1 moves through the intersecting fracture zone which connects into the Narrows Zone, and then moves along the Narrows Zone to the northeast. This conceptual model was numerical simulated using FALCON a finite element reservoir simulation code developed by Idaho National Laboratory. The modeling suggests that both thermal and hydraulic fracturing mechanisms played an important role in improving the injectivity at RRG-9 ST1. The stimulation program at Raft River has successfully demonstrated the effectiveness of hydraulic and thermal stimulation techniques. RRG-9 ST1 is now in commercial use.

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY↗
NASA NTRS2005

Study of Electromagnetic Scattering From Material Object Doped Randomly With Thin Metallic Wires Using Finite Element Method

A new numerical simulation method using the finite element methodology (FEM) is presented to study electromagnetic scattering due to an arbitrarily shaped material body doped randomly with thin and short metallic wires. The FEM approach described in many standard text books is appropriately modified to account for the presence of thin and short metallic wires distributed randomly inside an arbitrarily shaped material body. Using this modified FEM approach, the electromagnetic scattering due to cylindrical, spherical material body doped randomly with thin metallic wires is studied.

Deshpande, Manohar D.↗
DOE OSTI2022

Investigation of Cutter–Woodchip Contact Pressure in a New Biomass Comminution System

A Crumbler ® rotary shear system was recently developed to process fuel-grade woodchips into feedstocks having more uniform particle sizes for improved flowability and higher thermochemical output yield than a traditional hammer mill. It represents a significant innovation in the state of the art of biomass comminution equipment. However, the milling unit has experienced significant abrasive wear of the feeding teeth and cutters when processing hard and dusty feedstocks, such as logging residue and corn stover. Here, we present initial simulation results from a finite-element stress analysis of the rotary shear, which is used to investigate the dynamics of interaction between the cutters and woodchips. This is the first step for optimizing the cutter design to improve the system lifetime and processing efficiency, thus reducing downtime and improving overall productivity.

42 ENGINEERING↗
NASA NTRS2006

Statistical of a Characterization and the Simulation of a Reverberation Chamber Using Finite-Element Techniques

The statistical characterization of a simulation reverberation chamber is performed by considering a two-dimensional finite element model. This model includes a source to study the particular modal fields that couple into either a transverse electric or transverse magnetic configuration. The analysis includes a characterization of the basic field statistics, max-to-average ratio, normalized standard deviation, stirring ratio, and field uniformity. The shielding effectiveness of an aperture will be studied that will provide some insight into the nature of the fields coupled from a complex to a noncomplex environment.

Bunting, Charles F.↗
DOE OSTI2019

Electromagnetics Simulations with Vector-valued Finite Elements in MOOSE

Vector-valued finite elements have become an essential part of modern electromagnetic (EM) numerical simulation. This talk will describe the development and initial validation of a MOOSE-based EM solver application, ELK (Electromagnetics Library for Kinetics and fluids), that utilizes the recently added vector-valued finite element system. The primary motivation for the development of ELK was to study EM wave propagation in radio-frequency (rf) driven systems, such as those encountered in the study of antenna structures, waveguides, and plasma physics. In simulating these scenarios with traditional scalar-valued finite elements, boundary conditions on tangential field components can sometimes be difficult to define, and field discontinuities encountered with certain geometric or structural features (e.g., abrupt corners and inhomogeneous materials) can often lead to non-physical results. Vector-valued elements can largely mitigate and even eliminate these difficulties. ELK verification and validation efforts thus far have focused on standard wave propagation benchmarks for antennas and waveguides, and the impact of vector-valued elements on the implementation and results of these simulations will be described. Progress using ELK for plasma physics simulation, where inhomogeneous simulation domains are commonplace, will also be discussed.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2019

Two-tier model reduction of viscoelastically damped finite element models

Transient simulations of linear viscoelastically damped structures necessitate critical computational resources to directly integrate the full-order finite element model with time-stepping algorithms. Traditional modal reduction techniques are not directly applicable to these systems since viscoelastic materials depend on time and frequency. A more appropriate reduction basis is obtained from the nonlinear, complex eigenvalue problem, whose eigenvectors capture the appropriate kinematics and enable frequency-based mode selection; unfortunately, the computational cost is prohibitive for computing these modes from large-scale engineering models. To address this shortcoming, this work proposes a novel two-tier reduction procedure to reduce the upfront cost of solving the complex, nonlinear eigenvalue problem. The first reduction step reduces the full-order model with real mode shapes linearized about various centering frequencies to capture the kinematics over a full range of viscoelastic material behavior (glassy, rubbery, and glass-transition zones). This tier-one reduction preserves time-temperature superposition and allows the equations to depend parametrically on operating temperature. The second-level reduction then solves the complex, nonlinear eigenmode solutions in the tier-one reduced space about a fixed temperature to further reduce the equations-of-motion. The method is demonstrated on a cantilevered sandwich plate to display its accuracy and efficiency in comparison to full-order model predictions.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗
DOE OSTI2015

Mechanical Properties of Niobium Cavities

The mechanical stability of bulk Nb cavity is an important aspect to be considered in relation to cavity material, geometry and treatments. Mechanical properties of Nb are typically obtained from uniaxial tensile tests of small samples. In this contribution we report the results of measurements of the resonant frequency and local strain along the contour of single-cell cavities made of ingot and fine-grain Nb of different purity subjected to increasing uniform differential pressure, up to 6 atm. Measurements have been done on cavities subjected to different heat treatments. Good agreement between finite element analysis simulations and experimental data in the elastic regime was obtained with a single set of values of Young’s modulus and Poisson’s ratio. The experimental results indicate that the yield strength of medium-purity ingot Nb cavities is higher than that of fine-grain, high-purity Nb.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
NASA NTRS1996

Multidisciplinary Design Of Hot Composite Structures

Unified computer code developed to implement multidisciplinary approach to design and analysis of composite-material structures that must withstand high temperatures. Code modular: includes executive module communicating with and coordinating other modules performing calculations pertaining to traditionally separate disciplines like those of acoustics, structural vibrations, structural loads, and thermal effects. Essential feature, finite-element numerical simulation of relevant physical phenomena according to applicable disciplines. Same finite-element mesh used in thermal, vibrational, and structural analyses; minimizing data-preparation time and eliminating errors incurred in transforming temperatures from one finite-element mesh to another.

Chamis, Christos C.↗
DOE OSTI2016

Interfacing VPSC with finite element codes. Demonstration of irradiation growth simulation in a cladding tube

This Milestone report shows good progress in interfacing VPSC with the FE codes ABAQUS and MOOSE, to perform component-level simulations of irradiation-induced deformation in Zirconium alloys. In this preliminary application, we have performed an irradiation growth simulation in the quarter geometry of a cladding tube. We have benchmarked VPSC-ABAQUS and VPSC-MOOSE predictions with VPSC-SA predictions to verify the accuracy of the VPSCFE interface. Predictions from the FE simulations are in general agreement with VPSC-SA simulations and also with experimental trends.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗
DOE OSTI2022

ExaAM: Metal additive manufacturing simulation at the fidelity of the microstructure

Additive manufacturing (AM), or 3D printing, of metals is transforming the fabrication of components, in part by dramatically expanding the design space, allowing optimization of shape and topology. However, although the physical processes involved in AM are similar to those of welding, a field with decades of experimental, modeling, simulation, and characterization experience, qualification of AM parts remains a challenge. The availability of exascale computational systems, particularly when combined with data-driven approaches such as machine learning, enables topology and shape optimization as well as accelerated qualification by providing process-aware, locally accurate microstructure and mechanical property models. We describe the physics components comprising the Exascale Additive Manufacturing simulation environment and report progress using highly resolved melt pool simulations to inform part-scale finite element thermomechanics simulations, drive microstructure evolution, and determine constitutive mechanical property relationships based on those microstructures using polycrystal plasticity. We report on implementation of these components for exascale computing architectures, as well as the multi-stage simulation workflow that provides a unique high-fidelity model of process–structure–property relationships for AM parts. In addition, we discuss verification and validation through collaboration with efforts such as AM-Bench, a set of benchmark test problems under development by a team led by the National Institute of Standards and Technology.

3D printing↗
DOE OSTI2026

Finite-element boundary-integral simulation of thin wires and inhomogeneous penetrable bodies in subsurface multilayered anisotropic media

With the prevailing presence of drilling wells near the subsurface in mature oil and gas fields, the application of electromagnetic methods can be particularly challenging where the electromagnetic field is affected by the steel casing. In the past decades, borehole-to-surface and crosswell electromagnetic methods have been utilized for monitoring of reservoir and underground CO 2 storage. This paper presents a unified finite-element boundary-integral (FEBI) method capable of simultaneously modeling the complex electromagnetic interactions between thin metallic wires (representing steel casings) with 3D trajectory and arbitrary 3D inhomogeneous penetrable bodies (such as CO 2 plumes or hydrocarbon reservoirs) within anisotropic multilayered subsurface environments. Unlike existing approaches that treat these components separately or require dense discretization, or are limited to vertical wells, our unified formulation preserves flexible electromagnetic coupling while delivering improved computational efficiency. Assuming the background formation is multilayered anisotropic media, the surface integral equation method is applied to model the thin wires and boundaries of the inhomogeneous bodies. Meanwhile, the finite element method is applied to model the volume of inhomogeneous bodies. Here, the performance of the proposed FEBI method is assessed through comparison with reference numerical results and its practical significance is demonstrated through CO 2 plume monitoring scenarios.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗
NASA NTRS1989

Multibody instantly centered moving Lagrangian observer schemes. I - Formulation. II - Application to vehicular simulations

A finite element modeling method employing an instantly centered moving Lagrangian observer is proposed to solve multibody problems involving several rotating components, each with its own rotational history. The present technique allows the steady-state behavior of the problem simulation to be rendered stationary and time independent. In the second part, the method is extended to model the steady and transient response of ground-based automotive-type vehicular systems, including the modeling of vehicular obstruction rollover events.

Padovan, Joseph↗