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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 73 records · Page 4

Regional Seismic Travel Time v.3.2.0

The RSTT software computes predictions of the travel time of seismic energy traveling from a source to a receiver through 2.5D models of the seismic velocity distribution within the Earth. The two primary applications for the RSTT library are tomographic inversion studies and seismic event location calculations. In tomographic inversions studies, a seismologist begins with number of source-receiver travel time observations and an initial starting model of the velocity distribution within the Earth. A forward travel time calculator, such as the RSTT library, is used to compute predictions of each observed travel time and all of the residuals (observed minus predicted travel time) are calculated. The Earth model is then modified in some systematic way with the goal of minimizing the residuals. The Earth model obtained in this way is assumed to be a better model than the starting model if it has lower residuals. The other major application for the RSTT library is seismic event location. Given an Earth model, an initial estimate of the location of a seismic event, and some number of observations of seismic travel time thought to have originated from that event, location codes systematically modify the estimate of the location of the event with the goal of minimizing the difference between the observed and predicted travel times. The second application, seismic event location, is routinely implemented by the military as part of its effort to monitor the Earth for nuclear tests conducted by foreign countries.

BALLARD, SANFORD↗

Anisotropic grain boundary area and energy distributions in tungsten

Describing microstructure evolution in tungsten requires a quantitative description of the anisotropic grain boundary energy. Here we present a grain boundary energy function for tungsten that specifies the energy of an arbitrary boundary given its five macroscopic crystallographic parameters. A comparison of measured grain boundary areas and the grain boundary energies given by the function at the Σ11, Σ17b, and Σ33a misorientations, which are problematic to determine by measurement or atomistic calculations, reveals inverse correlations that are similar to what have been observed in other metals.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Tuning the melting point of selected ionic liquids through adjustment of the cation’s dipole moment.

In prior research with thermally robust salts [Cassity et al., PCCP, 2017, 19, 31560] it was noted that an increase in the dipole moment of the cation generally led to a decrease in the melting point. Molecular dynamics simulations of the liquid state revealed that an increased dipole moment reduces cation-cation repulsions through dipole-dipole alignment. This was believed to reduce the liquid phase enthalpy, which would tend to lower the melting point of the IL. Here, we also test this principle by replacing hydrogen atoms with fluorine atoms at selected positions within the cation. This allows us to alter the electrostatics of the cation without substantially affecting the sterics. Furthermore, the strength of the dipole moment can be controlled by choosing different positions within the cation for replacement. We studied variants of four different parent cations paired with bistriflimide and determined their melting points, and enthalpies and entropies of fusion through DSC experiments. The decreases in the melting point were determined to be enthalpically driven. We found that the dipole moment of the cation, as determined by quantum chemical calculations, is inversely correlated with the melting point of the given compound. Molecular dynamics simulations of the crystalline and solid states of two isomers showed differences in their enthalpies of fusion that closely matched those seen experimentally. Moreover, this reduction in the enthalpy of fusion was determined to be caused by an increase in the enthalpy of the crystalline state. We provide evidence that dipole-dipole interactions between cations leads to the formation of cationic domains in the crystalline state. These cationic associations partially block favourable cation–anion interactions, which are recovered upon melting. If, however, the dipole- dipole interactions between cations is too strong they have a tendency to form glasses. This study provides a design rule for lowering the melting point of structurally similar ILs by altering their dipole moment.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗

Learning local and semi-local density functionals from exact exchange-correlation potentials and energies

Finding accurate exchange-correlation (XC) functionals remains the defining challenge in density functional theory (DFT). Despite 40 years of active development, attaining general purpose chemical accuracy is still elusive with existing functionals. We present a data-driven pathway to learn the XC functional by using the exact density, XC energy, and XC potential. While the exact densities are obtained from accurate configuration interaction (CI), the exact XC energies and XC potentials are obtained via inverse DFT calculations on the CI densities. We demonstrate how simple neural network (NN)–based local density approximation (LDA) and generalized gradient approximation (GGA), trained on just five atoms and two molecules, provide remarkable improvement in total energies and densities. Particularly, the NN-based GGA functional attains similar accuracy as the higher rung SCAN meta-GGA on various thermochemistry datasets. These results underscore the promise of using the XC potential in modeling XC functionals and can pave the way for systematic learning of increasingly accurate XC functionals.

Science & Technology - Other Topics↗

Electron density profiles from ionograms - Underlying ionization corrections and their comparison with rocket results

Electron density profiles from nine daytime rocket flights at Wallops Island, Va., conducted at high and low levels of solar activity are compared with profiles calculated by inversion of ionograms obtained at the same times and location. Sources of error and uncertainty in the ionogram inversion are discussed, as are means for their amelioration. In most cases, agreement between the two kinds of measurement within a few percent in electron density and within a few percent of a scale height can be achieved.

Wright, J. W.↗

Nonlinear wave choked inlets

The quasi-one dimensional flow program was modified in two ways. The Runge-Kutta subroutine was replaced with a subroutine which used a modified divided difference form of the Adams Pece method and the matrix inversion routine was replaced with a pseudo inverse routine. Calculations were run using both the original and modified programs. Comparison of the calculations showed that the original Runge-Kutta routine could not detect singularity near the throat and was integrating across it. The modified version was able to detect the singularity and therefore gave more valid calculations.

Source record↗

Inverse scattering for an exterior Dirichlet problem

Scattering caused by a metallic cylinder in the field of a wire carrying a periodic current is studied, with a view to determining the location and shape of the cylinder in light of far field measurements between the cylinder and the wire. The associated direct problem is the exterior Dirichlet problem for the Helmholtz equation in two dimensions, and an improved low frequency estimate for its solution by integral equation methods is shown by inverse scattering calculations to be accurate to this estimate. The far field measurements are related to low frequency boundary integral equations whose solutions may be expressed in terms of a mapping function for the exterior of the unknown curve onto the exterior of a unit disk. The conformal transformation's Laurent expansion coefficients can be related to those of the far field, the first of which leads to the calculation of the distance between the source and the cylinder, while the other coefficients are determined by placing the source in a different location.

Hariharan, S. I.↗

Recursive inverse kinematics for robot arms via Kalman filtering and Bryson-Frazier smoothing

This paper applies linear filtering and smoothing theory to solve recursively the inverse kinematics problem for serial multilink manipulators. This problem is to find a set of joint angles that achieve a prescribed tip position and/or orientation. A widely applicable numerical search solution is presented. The approach finds the minimum of a generalized distance between the desired and the actual manipulator tip position and/or orientation. Both a first-order steepest-descent gradient search and a second-order Newton-Raphson search are developed. The optimal relaxation factor required for the steepest descent method is computed recursively using an outward/inward procedure similar to those used typically for recursive inverse dynamics calculations. The second-order search requires evaluation of a gradient and an approximate Hessian. A Gauss-Markov approach is used to approximate the Hessian matrix in terms of products of first-order derivatives. This matrix is inverted recursively using a two-stage process of inward Kalman filtering followed by outward smoothing. This two-stage process is analogous to that recently developed by the author to solve by means of spatial filtering and smoothing the forward dynamics problem for serial manipulators.

Rodriguez, G.↗

Unsteady airloading panel method for prop-fans

An unsteady, linear, compressible, three dimensional lifting surface panel method is presented for use with propellers and prop-fans. Both gust and blade vibration problems can be treated. Derivation of the theory is based on the acceleration potential method and can be considered a generalization of the analogous wing theory to include rotation and multiple blades. As with the wing methods, the integral equation is discretized and solved by matrix inversion. Sample calculations are use to explore the difference between 2D and 3D results and the significance of unsteadiness in angular inflow calculations for propellers. It is shown at the once-per-revolution frequency of propellers, that quasi-steady methods should be adequate. At the high frequencies of interest in noise analysis, 2D strip methods give adequate results away from blade tips. For flutter, frequencies lie in an intermediate range where a full 3D unsteady technique seems to be required.

Hanson, D. B.↗

Physical and optical properties of the Pinatubo volcanic aerosol: Aircraft observations with impactors and a Sun-tracking photometer

As determined in situ by impactor samplers flown on an ER-2 at 16.5- to 20.7-km pressure altitude and on a DC-8 at 9.5- to 12.6-km pressure altitudes, the 1991 Pinatubo volcanic eruption increased the particle surface area of stratospheric aerosols up to 50-fold and the particle volume up to 2 orders of magnitude. Particle composition was typical of a sulfuric acid-water mixture at ER-2 altitudes. Ash particles coated with sulfuric acid comprised a significant fraction of aerosol at DC-8 altitudes. Mie-computed light extinction increased up to 20-fold at midvisible and greater than 100-fold at near-IR wavelengths. The optical thickness measured through the aerosol layer by an autotracking Sun photometer aboard a DC-8 aircraft at 10.7- to 11.3-km pressure altitudes shows a spectral shape that is similar to the Mie-calculated spectral extinction at ER-2 altitudes. Surface area distributions calculated by inversion of spectral optical depth measurements show characteristics that are similar to the mean surface area distribution resulting from 35 in situ measurements.

Pueschel, R. F.↗

Evidence for Limited Indirect Aerosol Forcing in Stratocumulus

Increases in cloud cover and condensed water contribute more than half of the indirect aerosol effect in an ensemble of general circulation model (GCM) simulations estimating the global radiative forcing of anthropogenic aerosols. We use detailed simulations of marine stratocumulus clouds and airborne observations of ship tracks to show that increases in cloud cover and condensed water in reality are far less than represented by the GCM ensemble. Our results offer an explanation for recent simplified inverse climate calculations indicating that indirect aerosol effects are greatly exaggerated in GCMs.

Ackerman, Andrew S.↗

Thermographic Imaging of Defects in Anisotropic Composites

Composite materials are of increasing interest to the aerospace industry as a result of their weight versus performance characteristics. One of the disadvantages of composites is the high cost of fabrication and post inspection with conventional ultrasonic scanning systems. The high cost of inspection is driven by the need for scanning systems which can follow large curve surfaces. Additionally, either large water tanks or water squirters are required to couple the ultrasonics into the part. Thermographic techniques offer significant advantages over conventional ultrasonics by not requiring physical coupling between the part and sensor. The thermographic system can easily inspect large curved surface without requiring a surface following scanner. However, implementation of Thermal Nondestructive Evaluations (TNDE) for flaw detection in composite materials and structures requires determining its limit. Advanced algorithms have been developed to enable locating and sizing defects in carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP). Thermal Tomography is a very promising method for visualizing the size and location of defects in materials such as CFRP. However, further investigations are required to determine its capabilities for inspection of thick composites. In present work we have studied influence of the anisotropy on the reconstructed image of a defect generated by an inversion technique. The composite material is considered as homogeneous with macro properties: thermal conductivity K, specific heat c, and density rho. The simulation process involves two sequential steps: solving the three dimensional transient heat diffusion equation for a sample with a defect, then estimating the defect location and size from the surface spatial and temporal thermal distributions (inverse problem), calculated from the simulations.

Plotnikov, Y. A.↗

Precision Requirements for Space-based XCO2 Data

Precision requirements have been determined for the column-averaged CO2 dry air mole fraction (X(sub CO2)) data products to be delivered by the Orbiting Carbon Observatory (OCO). These requirements result from an assessment of the amplitude and spatial gradients in X(sub CO2), the relationship between X(sub CO2) precision and surface CO2 flux uncertainties calculated from inversions of the X(sub CO2) data, and the effects of X,,Z biases on CO2 flux inversions. Observing system simulation experiments and synthesis inversion modeling demonstrate that the OCO mission design and sampling strategy provide the means to achieve the X(sub CO2) precision requirements. The impact of X(sub CO2) biases on CO2 flux uncertainties depend on their spatial and temporal extent since CO2 sources and sinks are inferred from regional-scale X(sub CO2) gradients. Simulated OCO sampling of the TRACE-P CO2 fields shows the ability of X(sub CO2) data to constrain CO2 flux inversions over Asia and distinguish regional fluxes from India and China.

Miller, C. E.↗

Automatic Incorporation of Flaws into Cad and FEA Models Based On Measured NDE Data

Automatic incorporation of non-destructive evaluation (NDE) data into CAD and finite element (FE) models for structural analysis is essential for accurate residual-life and strength analyses of composite structures. Currently, two significant but independent challenges exist for incorporating NDE data in such analyses: interpretation of the NDE signals to locate and characterize the structural defects and the incorporation of that information into structural analysis tools. The first challenge will be addressed through linear inversion of calculated synthetic responses generated by a simulation engine to evaluate flaw size, location, and other characteristics. The second challenge will be addressed by building on prior and parallel defect modeling efforts to integrate suitable flaw models into the CAD/finite-element representation of a specimen. Ultrasonic NDE information is usually represented using C-Scans of time-of-flight or intensity information. Other modalities such as thermography and computed tomography (CT) could also be used to characterize the structure. This information will first be projected into material coordinates and then aligned with the specimen’s finite element mesh. The NDE data can then be incorporated by inserting flaw geometry into the CAD and FE analysis model and automatic modification of local material properties and boundary conditions. This process will enable the use of structural analysis tools even for practical modalities such as ultrasound and thermography which may not directly give accurate-enough geometric information to fully define the flaw. The full flaw characteristics will be inferred using prior expert and modeling knowledge to categorize flaw signatures. Outputs for this project will include demonstrated methods for creating structural analysis geometric models that incorporate flaw characterization information; these models can then be used directly in popular commercial FEA software. In addition, the primary deliverable for the project will include a software that will be able to automatically incorporate different kinds of flaws into an existing FE models. The models will be generated in standard file formats to enable direct import into the analysis software.

Adarsh Krishnamurthy↗

An Inverse Heat Conduction Algorithm Used to Calculate the Temperatures on the Inner and Outer Cylindrical Surfaces of an HMX-based PBX Explosive Annulus

In this work, a new Inverse Heat Conduction (IHC) algorithm is applied to estimate the surface temperatures at twelve locations on the inner and outer cylindrical boundaries of an HMX-based Plastic Bonded Explosive (PBX) annulus. This IHC algorithm was developed in references using a set of Direct Heat Conduction (DHC) solutions and a temperature correction method. The DHC solutions were calculated using a Galerkin based finite element (FE) method. This HMX based PBX annulus was used in the Large Scale Annular Cookoff (LSAC) experiment, Shot 5. The reason Shot 5 was chosen as a prototype mathematical model for this study is that the temperature was measured at eighteen locations in the midplane of the HMX-based PBX annulus. In addition, this annulus underwent an experimental thermal ignition and a deflagration that caused a thermal explosion and the disassembly of the experiment. The objective of this study is to describe how the application of the temperature correction algorithm produced the convergence of the DHC solutions to the measured temperatures at twelve internal locations in the midplane of the HMX-based PBX annulus.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

An approximation for inverse Laplace transforms

Programmable calculator runs simple finite-series approximation for Laplace transform inversions. Utilizing family of orthonormal functions, approximation is used for wide range of transforms, including those encountered in feedback control problems. Method works well as long as F(t) decays to zero as it approaches infinity and so is appliable to most physical systems.

Lear, W. M.↗

'Wrong' bond interactions at inversion domain boundaries in GaAs

Electronic structure calculations of GaAs inversion-domain boundaries (IDBs) on different planes are reported. The resulting interface energies are analyzed in terms of the number of 'wrong' bonds (Ga-Ga and As-As) and their mutual compensation. The compensation energy varies roughly inversely proportionally to the distance between the wrong bonds. This favors local compensation in stoichiometric material. This automatically occurs for 110-plane planes or by chemical reconstruction for other planes. Ga-rich IDBs are predicted to have low energy in either Ga-rich or n-type material.

Lambrecht, W. R. L.↗