Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “iterative analysis”

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.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 595 records · Page 33
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1979

Improvements in surface singularity analysis and design methods

The coupling of the combined source vortex distribution of Green's potential flow function with contemporary numerical techniques is shown to provide accurate, efficient, and stable solutions to subsonic inviscid analysis and design problems for multi-element airfoils. The analysis problem is solved by direct calculation of the surface singularity distribution required to satisfy the flow tangency boundary condition. The design or inverse problem is solved by an iteration process. In this process, the geometry and the associated pressure distribution are iterated until the pressure distribution most nearly corresponding to the prescribed design distribution is obtained. Typically, five iteration cycles are required for convergence. A description of the analysis and design method is presented, along with supporting examples.

Bristow, D. R.↗
NASA NTRS2007

Investigation of a Parabolic Iterative Solver for Three-dimensional Configurations

A parabolic iterative solution procedure is investigated that seeks to extend the parabolic approximation used within the internal propagation module of the duct noise propagation and radiation code CDUCT-LaRC. The governing convected Helmholtz equation is split into a set of coupled equations governing propagation in the positive and negative directions. The proposed method utilizes an iterative procedure to solve the coupled equations in an attempt to account for possible reflections from internal bifurcations, impedance discontinuities, and duct terminations. A geometry consistent with the NASA Langley Curved Duct Test Rig is considered and the effects of acoustic treatment and non-anechoic termination are included. Two numerical implementations are studied and preliminary results indicate that improved accuracy in predicted amplitude and phase can be obtained for modes at a cut-off ratio of 1.7. Further predictions for modes at a cut-off ratio of 1.1 show improvement in predicted phase at the expense of increased amplitude error. Possible methods of improvement are suggested based on analytic and numerical analysis. It is hoped that coupling the parabolic iterative approach with less efficient, high fidelity finite element approaches will ultimately provide the capability to perform efficient, higher fidelity acoustic calculations within complex 3-D geometries for impedance eduction and noise propagation and radiation predictions.

Nark, Douglas M.↗
DOE OSTI2012

SEMI-BLIND EIGEN ANALYSES OF RECOMBINATION HISTORIES USING COSMIC MICROWAVE BACKGROUND DATA

Cosmological parameter measurements from cosmic microwave background (CMB) experiments, such as Planck, ACTPol, SPTPol, and other high-resolution follow-ons, fundamentally rely on the accuracy of the assumed recombination model or one with well-prescribed uncertainties. Deviations from the standard recombination history might suggest new particle physics or modified atomic physics. Here we treat possible perturbative fluctuations in the free electron fraction, X{sub e}(z), by a semi-blind expansion in densely packed modes in redshift. From these we construct parameter eigenmodes, which we rank order so that the lowest modes provide the most power to probe X{sub e}(z) with CMB measurements. Since the eigenmodes are effectively weighed by the fiducial X{sub e} history, they are localized around the differential visibility peak, allowing for an excellent probe of hydrogen recombination but a weaker probe of the higher redshift helium recombination and the lower redshift highly neutral freezeout tail. We use an information-based criterion to truncate the mode hierarchy and show that with even a few modes the method goes a long way from the fiducial recombination model computed with RECFAST, X{sub e,i}(z), toward the precise underlying history given by the new and improved recombination calculations of COSMOREC or HYREC, X{sub e,f}(z), in the hydrogen recombination regime, though not well in the helium regime. Without such a correction, the derived cosmic parameters are biased. We discuss an iterative approach for updating the eigenmodes to further hone in on X{sub e,f}(z) if large deviations are indeed found. We also introduce control parameters that downweight the attention on the visibility peak structure, e.g., focusing the eigenmode probes more strongly on the X{sub e}(z) freezeout tail, as would be appropriate when looking for the X{sub e} signature of annihilating or decaying elementary particles.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2015

Design and tritium permeation analysis of China HCCB TBM port cell

China is planning to develop a helium-cooled ceramic breeder (HCCB) test blanket module (TBM) on ITER to test key blanket technologies. In this paper, the design and tritium permeation analysis of China HCCB TBM port cell are introduced. A theoretical model has been developed to estimate tritium permeation rates and leak rates from the components and pipes which China has scheduled to house in the port cell. It is shown that on normal working conditions, the permeation and leak rate of the systems in the port cell will be no higher than 1.58 Ci/d without the use of tritium permeation barriers, and 0.10 Ci/d with the use of tritium permeation barriers. It also appears that tritium permeation barriers are necessary for high temperature components such as the reduction bed and the heater.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2022

Liquid lithium as divertor material to mitigate severe damage of nearby components during plasma transients

The successful operation of thermonuclear fusion reactors such as ITER, DEMO, and future commercial plants is mainly determined by the optimum choice of materials for various components. The objective of this work is to accurately and comprehensively simulate the entire device in 3D to predict pros and cons of various materials, e.g., liquid lithium in comparison to tungsten and carbon to predict future ITER-like and DEMO divertor performances. We used our comprehensive HEIGHTS simulation package to investigate ITER-like components response during transient events in exact 3D geometry. Starting from the lost hot core plasma particles through SOL, deposition on the divertor surface, and the generation of secondary plasma of divertor materials. Our simulations predicted significant reduction in the heat loading and damage to the divertor nearby and internal components in the case when lithium is used on the divertor plates. While if tungsten or carbon are used on the divertor plate, significant melting areas and vaporization spots can occur (less for carbon) on the reflector, dome, and stainless steel tubes, and even parts of the first walls can melt due to the high radiation power of the secondary divertor plasma. Lithium photon radiation deposition into the divertor and nearby surfaces was decreased by two orders of magnitude compared to tungsten and by one order of magnitude compared to carbon. This analysis showed that using liquid lithium for ITER-like surfaces and future DEMO can lead to significant enhancement in components lifetime.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2017

Design Features of the Neutral Particle Diagnostic System for the ITER Tokamak

The control of the deuterium–tritium (DT) fuel isotopic ratio has to ensure the best performance of the ITER thermonuclear fusion reactor. The diagnostic system described in this paper allows the measurement of this ratio analyzing the hydrogen isotope fluxes (performing neutral particle analysis (NPA)). The development and supply of the NPA diagnostics for ITER was delegated to the Russian Federation. The diagnostics is being developed at the Ioffe Institute. The system consists of two analyzers, viz., LENPA (Low Energy Neutral Particle Analyzer) with 10–200 keV energy range and HENPA (High Energy Neutral Particle Analyzer) with 0.1–4.0MeV energy range. Simultaneous operation of both analyzers in different energy ranges enables researchers to measure the DT fuel ratio both in the central burning plasma (thermonuclear burn zone) and at the edge as well. When developing the diagnostic complex, it was necessary to account for the impact of several factors: high levels of neutron and gamma radiation, the direct vacuum connection to the ITER vessel, implying high tritium containment, strict requirements on reliability of all units and mechanisms, and the limited space available for accommodation of the diagnostic hardware at the ITER tokamak. The paper describes the design of the diagnostic complex and the engineering solutions that make it possible to conduct measurements under tokamak reactor conditions. The proposed engineering solutions provide a safe—with respect to thermal and mechanical loads—common vacuum channel for hydrogen isotope atoms to pass to the analyzers; ensure efficient shielding of the analyzers from the ITER stray magnetic field (up to 1 kG); provide the remote control of the NPA diagnostic complex, in particular, connection/disconnection of the NPA vacuum beamline from the ITER vessel; meet the ITER radiation safety requirements; and ensure measurements of the fuel isotopic ratio under high levels of neutron and gamma radiation.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
NASA NTRS2004

Aerodynamic Optimization of Rocket Control Surface Geometry Using Cartesian Methods and CAD Geometry

Aerodynamic design is an iterative process involving geometry manipulation and complex computational analysis subject to physical constraints and aerodynamic objectives. A design cycle consists of first establishing the performance of a baseline design, which is usually created with low-fidelity engineering tools, and then progressively optimizing the design to maximize its performance. Optimization techniques have evolved from relying exclusively on designer intuition and insight in traditional trial and error methods, to sophisticated local and global search methods. Recent attempts at automating the search through a large design space with formal optimization methods include both database driven and direct evaluation schemes. Databases are being used in conjunction with surrogate and neural network models as a basis on which to run optimization algorithms. Optimization algorithms are also being driven by the direct evaluation of objectives and constraints using high-fidelity simulations. Surrogate methods use data points obtained from simulations, and possibly gradients evaluated at the data points, to create mathematical approximations of a database. Neural network models work in a similar fashion, using a number of high-fidelity database calculations as training iterations to create a database model. Optimal designs are obtained by coupling an optimization algorithm to the database model. Evaluation of the current best design then gives either a new local optima and/or increases the fidelity of the approximation model for the next iteration. Surrogate methods have also been developed that iterate on the selection of data points to decrease the uncertainty of the approximation model prior to searching for an optimal design. The database approximation models for each of these cases, however, become computationally expensive with increase in dimensionality. Thus the method of using optimization algorithms to search a database model becomes problematic as the number of design variables is increased.

Nelson, Andrea↗
NASA NTRS1977

Chain Pooling modeling selection as developed for the statistical analysis of a rotor burst protection experiment

As many as three iterated statistical model deletion procedures were considered for an experiment. Population model coefficients were chosen to simulate a saturated 2 to the 4th power experiment having an unfavorable distribution of parameter values. Using random number studies, three model selection strategies were developed, namely, (1) a strategy to be used in anticipation of large coefficients of variation, approximately 65 percent, (2) a strategy to be sued in anticipation of small coefficients of variation, 4 percent or less, and (3) a security regret strategy to be used in the absence of such prior knowledge.

Holms, A. G.↗
DOE OSTI2014

X-ray diagnostic developments in the perspective of DEMO

Soft X-ray diagnostics at present are not adequate for a burning plasma experiment, neither in term of hardware nor as diagnostic conception. Detectors have to be radiation tolerant, easily shielded, with low sensitivity to neutrons and gammas and with energy discrimination. Layout and viewing capability should be more flexible, thanks to the use also of optical devices, going toward a configuration intermediate between discrete tomography and pure imaging. The general conception of these diagnostics should therefore evolve in the direction of pattern recognition for a real time feedback. This work is focused on the diagnostic developments undertaken at the ENEA- Frascati X-ray Laboratory, following in particular three directions: gas detector for fast and advanced high density tomography, C-MOS solid state imaging detectors for slow control and X-ray polycapillary optics. GEM gas detectors in photon counting mode (noise free) were developed in the range 1-30 keV having high efficiency, high time resolution (up to microseconds), energy discrimination in bands and optical flexibility. Discrimination of X-rays, neutrons and gammas has been demonstrated, thanks to the combination of intrinsic gain and discrimination thresholds, at neutron fluxes (10{sup 7} n/s*cm{sup 2}) comparable with the expected ones at the ports of ITER. GEM detectors are also extremely flexible in the design, allowing optimization of the measurements and solutions for shielding or minimization of the effect of background radiation. Two solid state C-MOS imagers working in photon counting mode, one based on Si semiconductor (Medipix-2, range 5-30 keV) and the other one having a CdTe sensor (Pixirad, range 2-100 keV) have been characterized in laboratory. C-MOS imagers have features and performances thoroughly complementary to the GEM detector and, thanks to their higher pixel density, could be used as remote imaging detectors coupled to optics. X-ray polycapillary lenses have been therefore studied in the laboratory both as imaging optical device (full lens) or to define a line of sight (cylinder lens); the preliminary results are encouraging toward the goal of using these lenses to transport X-ray radiation far from the reactor. Reflective or diffractive X-ray optics can be also an option for tomography. A GEM detector has been installed at KSTAR and in the next future hopefully the other approaches will be tested there: once their feasibility will be demonstrated, the issue of the improvement of the radiation tolerance will be faced and the development of algorithms for data analysis as well.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
NASA NTRS1996

Predictions of Control Inputs, Periodic Responses and Damping Levels of an Isolated Experimental Rotor in Trimmed Flight

Since the early 1990s the Aeroflightdynamics Directorate at the Ames Research Center has been conducting tests on isolated hingeless rotors in hover and forward flight. The primary objective is to generate a database on aeroelastic stability in trimmed flight for torsionally soft rotors at realistic tip speeds. The rotor test model has four soft inplane blades of NACA 0012 airfoil section with low torsional stiffness. The collective pitch and shaft tilt are set prior to each test run, and then the rotor is trimmed in the following sense: the longitudinal and lateral cyclic pitch controls are adjusted through a swashplate to minimize the 1/rev flapping moment at the 12 percent radial station. In hover, the database comprises lag regressive-mode damping with pitch variations. In forward flight the database comprises cyclic pitch controls, root flap moment and lag regressive-mode damping with advance ratio, shaft angle and pitch variations. This report presents the predictions and their correlation with the database. A modal analysis is used, in which nonrotating modes in flap bending, lag bending and torsion are computed from the measured blade mass and stiffness distributions. The airfoil aerodynamics is represented by the ONERA dynamic stall models of lift, drag and pitching moment, and the wake dynamics is represented by a state-space wake model. The trim analysis of finding, the cyclic controls and the corresponding, periodic responses is based on periodic shooting with damped Newton iteration; the Floquet transition matrix (FTM) comes out as a byproduct. The stabillty analysis of finding the frequencies and damping levels is based on the eigenvalue-eigenvector analysis of the FTM. All the structural and aerodynamic states are included from modeling to trim analysis. A major finding is that dynamic wake dramatically improves the correlation for the lateral cyclic pitch control. Overall, the correlation is fairly good.

Gaonkar, G. H.↗
NASA NTRS1976

MSFC crack growth analysis computer program, version 2 (users manual)

An updated version of the George C. Marshall Space Flight Center Crack Growth Analysis Program is described. The updated computer program has significantly expanded capabilities over the original one. This increased capability includes an extensive expansion of the library of stress intensity factors, plotting capability, increased design iteration capability, and the capability of performing proof test logic analysis. The technical approaches used within the computer program are presented, and the input and output formats and options are described. Details of the stress intensity equations, example data, and example problems are presented.

Creager, M.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Integration of rocket turbine design and analysis through computer graphics

An interactive approach with engineering computer graphics is used to integrate the design and analysis processes of a rocket engine turbine into a progressive and iterative design procedure. The processes are interconnected through pre- and postprocessors. The graphics are used to generate the blade profiles, their stacking, finite element generation, and analysis presentation through color graphics. Steps of the design process discussed include pitch-line design, axisymmetric hub-to-tip meridional design, and quasi-three-dimensional analysis. The viscous two- and three-dimensional analysis codes are executed after acceptable designs are achieved and estimates of initial losses are confirmed.

Hsu, Wayne↗
NASA NTRS1993

Finite element large deflection random response of thermally buckled plates

The governing nonlinear equations of motion are derived for a rectangular isotropic plate subjected to a combined thermal-acoustic loading. The thermal loading is taken to be a steady state temperature distribution, and the acoustic loading is considered to be a stationary Gaussian pressure with zero mean and uniform magnitude and phase over the plate surface. With these types of loads, the thermal-acoustic analysis can be separated into two problems: (1) thermal post-buckling; and (2) random vibration of the thermally buckled plate. Since both analyses are nonlinear, iterative techniques are used to solve each. For the random vibration analysis, the method of equivalent linearization is used; both auto- and cross-correlation terms are included. Results obtained using the present formulation are compared with previous classical equivalent linearization results.

Locke, J. E.↗
DOE OSTI2024

Results from a synthetic model of the ITER XRCS-Core diagnostic based on high-fidelity x-ray ray tracing

A high-fidelity synthetic diagnostic has been developed for the ITER core x-ray crystal spectrometer diagnostic based on x-ray ray tracing. This synthetic diagnostic has been used to model expected performance of the diagnostic, to aid in diagnostic design, and to develop engineering tolerances. The synthetic model is based on x-ray ray tracing using the recently developed xicsrt ray tracing code and includes a fully three-dimensional representation of the diagnostic based on the computer aided design. The modeled components are: plasma geometry and emission profiles, highly oriented pyrolytic graphite pre-reflectors, spherically bent crystals, and pixelated x-ray detectors. Plasma emission profiles have been calculated for Xe 44+ , Xe 47+ , and Xe 51+ , based on an ITER operational scenario available through the Integrated Modelling & Analysis Suite database, and modeled within the ray tracing code as a volumetric x-ray source; the shape of the plasma source is determined by equilibrium geometry and an appropriate wavelength distribution to match the expected ion temperature profile. All individual components of the x-ray optical system have been modeled with high-fidelity producing a synthetic detector image that is expected to closely match what will be seen in the final as-built system. Particular care is taken to maintain preservation of photon statistics throughout the ray tracing allowing for quantitative estimates of diagnostic performance.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
DOE OSTI2016

Design and optimization of Artificial Neural Networks for the modelling of superconducting magnets operation in tokamak fusion reactors

In superconducting tokamaks, the cryoplant provides the helium needed to cool different clients, among which by far the most important one is the superconducting magnet system. The evaluation of the transient heat load from the magnets to the cryoplant is fundamental for the design of the latter and the assessment of suitable strategies to smooth the heat load pulses, induced by the intrinsically pulsed plasma scenarios characteristic of today's tokamaks, is crucial for both suitable sizing and stable operation of the cryoplant. For that evaluation, accurate but expensive system-level models, as implemented in e.g. the validated state-of-the-art 4C code, were developed in the past, including both the magnets and the respective external cryogenic cooling circuits. Here we show how these models can be successfully substituted with cheaper ones, where the magnets are described by suitably trained Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) for the evaluation of the heat load to the cryoplant. First, two simplified thermal-hydraulic models for an ITER Toroidal Field (TF) magnet and for the ITER Central Solenoid (CS) are developed, based on ANNs, and a detailed analysis of the chosen networks' topology and parameters is presented and discussed. The ANNs are then inserted into the 4C model of the ITER TF and CS cooling circuits, which also includes active controls to achieve a smoothing of the variation of the heat load to the cryoplant. The training of the ANNs is achieved using the results of full 4C simulations (including detailed models of the magnets) for conventional sigmoid-like waveforms of the drivers and the predictive capabilities of the ANN-based models in the case of actual ITER operating scenarios are demonstrated by comparison with the results of full 4C runs, both with and without active smoothing, in terms of both accuracy and computational time. Exploiting the low computational effort requested by the ANN-based models, a demonstrative optimization study has been finally carried out, with the aim of choosing among different smoothing strategies for the standard ITER plasma operation.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2012

Implementation of the Iterative Proportion Fitting Algorithm for Geostatistical Facies Modeling

In geostatistics, most stochastic algorithm for simulation of categorical variables such as facies or rock types require a conditional probability distribution. The multivariate probability distribution of all the grouped locations including the unsampled location permits calculation of the conditional probability directly based on its definition. In this article, the iterative proportion fitting (IPF) algorithm is implemented to infer this multivariate probability. Using the IPF algorithm, the multivariate probability is obtained by iterative modification to an initial estimated multivariate probability using lower order bivariate probabilities as constraints. The imposed bivariate marginal probabilities are inferred from profiles along drill holes or wells. In the IPF process, a sparse matrix is used to calculate the marginal probabilities from the multivariate probability, which makes the iterative fitting more tractable and practical. This algorithm can be extended to higher order marginal probability constraints as used in multiple point statistics. The theoretical framework is developed and illustrated with estimation and simulation example.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2018

Generalized trigonometric Fourier-series method with automatic time step control for non-linear point kinetics equations

The trigonometric Fourier-series method (TFS) is generalized to provide approximate solutions for non-linear point kinetics equations with feedback using varying step sizes. This method can provide a very stable solution against the size of the discrete time step allowing much larger step sizes to be used. Systems of the point kinetics equations are solved using Fourier-series expansion over a partition of the total time interval. The approximate solution requires determining the series coefficients over each time step in that partition. These coefficients are determined using the high-order derivatives of the solution vector at the beginning of the time step introducing a system of linear algebraic equations to be solved at each step. This system is similar to the Vandermonde system. Two successive orders of the partial sums are used to estimate the local truncation error. This error and some other constrains are used to produce the largest step size allowable at each step while keeping the error within a specific tolerance. The process of calculating suitable step sizes should be automatic and inexpensive. Convergence and stability of the proposed method are discussed and a new formula is introduced to maintain stability. The proposed method solves the general linear and non-linear kinetics problems. The method has been applied to five different types of reactivities including step/ramp insertions with temperature feedback. The method is seemed to be valid for larger time intervals than those used in the conventional numerical integration, and is thus useful in reducing computing time. Computational results are found to be consistent with the analysis, they demonstrate that the convergence of the iteration scheme can be accelerated and the resulting computing times can be greatly reduced while maintain computational accuracy.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗