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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 685 records · Page 38

Gauge-fixing quantum density operators at scale

We provide a theory, algorithms, and simulations of nonequilibrium quantum systems using a one-dimensional (1D) completely positive (CP), matrix-product (MP) density-operator (𝜌) representation. By generalizing the matrix product state's orthogonality center, to additionally store positive classical mixture correlations, the MP⁢𝜌 factorization naturally emerges. In this setting, we analytically and numerically examine the virtual gauge freedoms associated with the representation of quantum density operators. Based on this perspective, we simplify algorithms in certain limits to speed up the integration of the canonical-form master-equation dynamics. This enables us to quickly evolve under the dynamics of two-body quantum channels without resorting to optimization-based methods. In addition to this technical advance, we also scale up numerical examples and discuss implications for accurately modeling hardware architectures and predicting their performance in the near term. This includes an example of the quantum to classical transition of informationally leaky, i.e., decohering, qubits. In this setting, because of loss from environmental interactions, nonlocal complex coherence correlations are converted into global incoherent classical statistical mixture correlations. Lastly, the representation of both global and local correlations is discussed. We expect this work to have applications in additional nonequilibrium settings, beyond qubit engineering.

Gangapuram, Amit Jamadagni [Oak Ridge National Lab↗

Constitutive and inducible oleoresin defenses share genetic architectures and mechanisms in Pinus taeda

The oleoresin defense system of loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) protects trees from insects and pathogens and is an important source of renewable biofuels and chemicals, but the genetic basis of oleoresin production is poorly understood. We characterized the genetic architecture of oleoresin flow, resin canal number, stem wood terpene content, and monoterpene composition in two clonal populations of P. taeda. We used quantitative genetic analyses, genome-wide association studies (GWASs), multiplex network learning, and gene expression profiling to elucidate shared gene networks underlying defense traits and to identify high-quality candidates for breeding and engineering loblolly pine. Genetic analyses revealed polygenic inheritance and trait-to-trait correlations provide strong evidence for shared genes regulating constitutive and induced oleoresin flow. We identified 236 single nucleotide polymorphisms associated with oleoresin flow, resin canal number, and terpene composition and highlight candidate genes likely involved in terpene biosynthesis, cambial meristem reprogramming, and pathogen perception and immune signaling. Fourteen GWAS candidates were methyl jasmonate-responsive in tissues where resin canals initiate and terpene production occurs. Integrating quantitative genetics, GWAS, gene expression, and multiplex network analyses enabled the prioritization of high-quality candidate genes. This work advances the development of more resilient loblolly pine optimized for ecological performance, renewable chemical, and biofuel production.

genome-wide association study↗

Openpronghorn

OpenPronghorn is a simulation tool specifically tailored for modeling thermal-hydraulic phenomena in advanced nuclear reactors. It is built on the Multiphysics Object-Oriented Simulation Environment (MOOSE), an open-source platform that facilitates the development of high-performance scientific computing applications. OpenPronghorn solves the Navier-Stokes equations, which describe the conservation of mass, momentum, and energy in fluid flows, using the finite volume numerical method. The code supports a wide range of fluid flow conditions that are applicable to nuclear reactors, including incompressible and weakly compressible flows, as well as single-phase and multiphase flows. It is capable of modeling diverse flow regimes, including laminar and turbulent flows, using various turbulence models such as the standard k-epsilon models, the v2f model, and the mixing length model. For multiphase flows, OpenPronghorn employs a mixture a Eulerian modeling approach with mixture, drift-flux, and full Eulerian models, and includes open-sourced interfacial transfer correlations for drag, exchange, and heat transfer coming from the scientific literature. OpenPronghorn's modular design allows it to handle multiscale simulations, ranging from detailed Reynolds-Averaged Navier Stokes (RANS) simulations to coarse-mesh and lumped parameter models. This flexibility enables users to perform high-fidelity simulations of specific reactor components as well as system-level analyses of entire reactor circuits. The code can be coupled with other MOOSE-based tools using the MultiApp system, allowing for the transfer of coupling quantities such as mass flow rates, heat fluxes, and boundary conditions between different simulation scales. One of the main features of OpenPronghorn is the it includes built-in validation cases from the open-source scientific literature and supports the implementation of user-defined models and correlations through MOOSE's FunctorMaterial system. OpenPronghorn is designed to be computationally efficient, leveraging the SIMPLE projection method for large-scale problems, and can be run on high-performance computing systems to handle the extensive computational demands of detailed reactor simulations. Overall, OpenPronghorn is a versatile and robust tool that provides critical insights into the thermal-hydraulic behavior of advanced nuclear reactors, supporting the design, safety, and optimization of next-generation nuclear energy systems.

Retamales, Mauricio Eduardo Tano [Idaho National L↗

FleetREDI Dashboard Fleet DNA Data Summaries

Developing daily duty cycle summaries for every vehicle-day within NLR’s Fleet DNA database was a key output of the FleetREDI project. This project captured second-by-second GPS and controller area network (CAN) data on in-use medium- and heavy-duty fleet vehicles and then summarized the data to provide an overview of vehicle operation throughout the United States. These data summaries were then displayed in aggregated formats on the FleetREDI dashboard, where users can explore the data within Fleet DNA. Fleet DNA’s clearinghouse of commercial fleet vehicle operating data helps vehicle manufacturers and developers optimize vehicle designs and helps fleet managers choose advanced technologies for their fleets. This online tool, which provides data summaries and visualizations similar to real-world "genetics" for medium- and heavy-duty fleet vehicles, helps users understand the broad operational range of commercial vehicles across vocations and weight classes.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗

InfoRich VD&PT Controls Project Awarded Under the ARPA-E NEXTCAR Program (CRADA Final Report)

This CRADA supports the proposal led by General Motors LLC (GM) entitled "InfoRich VD&PT Controls" submitted under the Department of Energy (DOE) Advance Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) NEXT-Generation Energy Technologies for Connected and Automated on-Road-vehicles (NEXTCAR) Program award DE-AR1564-1552. The project team is led by GM with sub-tier partners Carnegie Mellon University (CMU), and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). The work under this NREL CRADA Joint Work Statement (JWS) is in support of GM's pending DOE Cooperative Agreement for DE-AR1564-1552 which extends through 04-01-2020.

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗

Systems and controls laboratory

Advanced aerospace systems and control including thrust modulation, optimizer research, fluidic devices, hydraulic jet valves, and related research

Source record↗

Quiet STOL propulsion session introductory remarks

Research activities, preliminary design activities, and system optimization studies in support of the development of advanced, quiet, STOL propulsion systems are discussed. Noise alleviation by means of controlling the source and by means of acoustical treatment receive considerable emphasis. A STOL airplane designed for a given payload has essentially double the installed thrust of a comparable CTOL airplane. Unless compensated for during the design process, this alone will tend to increase the source noise by 3 db. The propulsive lift introduces flap impingement noise or duct and flap scrubbing noise, noise sources not present in CTOL airplanes to any significant degree. These additional noise sources are illustrated. Depending on the specific configuration, this will tend to increase the noise by several db or more. Although the propulsive lift characteristics of STOL airplanes will tend to increase source noise significantly, the proximity of STOL airfields to populated areas leads to STOL noise objectives considerably lower than those currently applicable to CTOL airplanes.

Schroeder, R. W.↗

Computational Fluid Dynamics Program at NASA Ames Research Center

The Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) Program at NASA Ames Research Center is reviewed and discussed. The technical elements of the CFD Program are listed and briefly discussed. These elements include algorithm research, research and pilot code development, scientific visualization, advanced surface representation, volume grid generation, and numerical optimization. Next, the discipline of CFD is briefly discussed and related to other areas of research at NASA Ames including experimental fluid dynamics, computer science research, computational chemistry, and numerical aerodynamic simulation. These areas combine with CFD to form a larger area of research, which might collectively be called computational technology. The ultimate goal of computational technology research at NASA Ames is to increase the physical understanding of the world in which we live, solve problems of national importance, and increase the technical capabilities of the aerospace community. Next, the major programs at NASA Ames that either use CFD technology or perform research in CFD are listed and discussed. Briefly, this list includes turbulent/transition physics and modeling, high-speed real gas flows, interdisciplinary research, turbomachinery demonstration computations, complete aircraft aerodynamics, rotorcraft applications, powered lift flows, high alpha flows, multiple body aerodynamics, and incompressible flow applications. Some of the individual problems actively being worked in each of these areas is listed to help define the breadth or extent of CFD involvement in each of these major programs. State-of-the-art examples of various CFD applications are presented to highlight most of these areas. The main emphasis of this portion of the presentation is on examples which will not otherwise be treated at this conference by the individual presentations. Finally, a list of principal current limitations and expected future directions is given.

Holst, Terry L.↗

Analysis and design technology for high-speed aircraft structures

Recent high-speed aircraft structures research activities at NASA Langley Research Center are described. The following topics are covered: the development of analytical and numerical solutions to global and local thermal and structural problems, experimental verification of analysis methods, identification of failure mechanisms, and the incorporation of analysis methods into design and optimization strategies. The paper describes recent NASA Langley advances in analysis and design methods, structural and thermal concepts, and test methods.

Starnes, James H., Jr.↗

A shooting approach to suboptimal control

The shooting method is used to solve the suboptimal control problem where the control history is assumed to be piecewise linear. Suboptimal solutions can be obtained without difficulty and can lead to accurate approximate controls and good starting multipliers for the regular shooting method by increasing the number of nodes. Optimal planar launch trajectories are presented for the advanced launch system.

Hull, David G.↗

Improved Composite Flexible Blanket Insulation

Improved composite flexible blanket insulation is quilt of layers of advanced lightweight insulating materials. Each layer designed to optimize contribution to inhibition of radiative, conductive, and/or convective transfer of heat from hot side to cold side. Intended to protect spacecraft against heating during reentry into atmosphere, used on Earth where requirements for lightweight, flexible, highly efficient insulating materials protect people and equipment against temperatures up to about 1,650 degrees C. Such as, furnace curtains and insulating layers on firefighting equipment and protective clothing.

Kourtides, D. A.↗

A Thermal Management Systems Model for the NASA GTX RBCC Concept

The Vehicle Integrated Thermal Management Analysis Code (VITMAC) was further developed to aid the analysis, design, and optimization of propellant and thermal management concepts for advanced propulsion systems. The computational tool is based on engineering level principles and models. A graphical user interface (GUI) provides a simple and straightforward method to assess and evaluate multiple concepts before undertaking more rigorous analysis of candidate systems. The tool incorporates the Chemical Equilibrium and Applications (CEA) program and the RJPA code to permit heat transfer analysis of both rocket and air breathing propulsion systems. Key parts of the code have been validated with experimental data. The tool was specifically tailored to analyze rocket-based combined-cycle (RBCC) propulsion systems being considered for space transportation applications. This report describes the computational tool and its development and verification for NASA GTX RBCC propulsion system applications.

Traci, Richard M.↗

Knowledge Capture and Management for Space Flight Systems

The incorporation of knowledge capture and knowledge management strategies early in the development phase of an exploration program is necessary for safe and successful missions of human and robotic exploration vehicles over the life of a program. Following the transition from the development to the flight phase, loss of underlying theory and rationale governing design and requirements occur through a number of mechanisms. This degrades the quality of engineering work resulting in increased life cycle costs and risk to mission success and safety of flight. Due to budget constraints, concerned personnel in legacy programs often have to improvise methods for knowledge capture and management using existing, but often sub-optimal, information technology and archival resources. Application of advanced information technology to perform knowledge capture and management would be most effective if program wide requirements are defined at the beginning of a program.

Goodman, John L.↗

OpenMDAO Framework Status

Advancing and exploring the science of Multidisciplinary Analysis & Optimization (MDAO) capabilities are high-level goals in the Fundamental Aeronautics Program s Subsonic Fixed Wing (SFW) project. The OpenMDAO team has made significant progress toward completing the Alpha OpenMDAO deliverable due in September 2010. Included in the presentation are: details of progress on developing the OpenMDAO framework, example usage of OpenMDAO, technology transfer plans, near term plans, progress toward establishing partnerships with external parties, and discussion of additional potential collaborations.

Naiman, Cynthia Gutierrez↗

Advances in Adaptive Control Methods

This poster presentation describes recent advances in adaptive control technology developed by NASA. Optimal Control Modification is a novel adaptive law that can improve performance and robustness of adaptive control systems. A new technique has been developed to provide an analytical method for computing time delay stability margin for adaptive control systems.

Nguyen, Nhan↗

Enhanced Fluoride Over-Coated Al Mirrors for FUV Astronomy

Astronomical observations in the Far Ultraviolet (FUV) spectral region are some of the more challenging due to the very distant and faint objects that are typically searched for in cosmic origin studies such as origin of large scale structure, the formation, evolution, and age of galaxies and the origin of stellar and planetary systems. These challenges are driving the need to improve the performance of optical coatings over a wide spectral range that would increase reflectance in mirrors and reduced absorption in dielectric filters used in optical telescope for FUV observations. This paper will present recent advances in reflectance performance for Al+MgF2 mirrors optimized for Lyman-alpha wavelength by performing the deposition of the MgF2 overcoat at elevated substrate temperatures. We will also present optical characterization of little studied rare-earth fluorides such as GdF3 and LuF3 that exhibit low-absorption over a wide wavelength range and could therefore be used as high refractive index alternatives for dielectric coatings at FUV wavelengths.

Reflectance↗