Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “Code Assessment”

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 91 records · Page 5

Test code for the assessment and improvement of Reynolds stress models

An existing two-dimensional, compressible flow, Navier-Stokes computer code, containing a full Reynolds stress turbulence model, was adapted for use as a test bed for assessing and improving turbulence models based on turbulence simulation experiments. To date, the results of using the code in comparison with simulated channel flow and over an oscillating flat plate have shown that the turbulence model used in the code needs improvement for these flows. It is also shown that direct simulation of turbulent flows over a range of Reynolds numbers are needed to guide subsequent improvement of turbulence models.

Rubesin, M. W.↗

Tiltrotor Aeroacoustic Code (TRAC) Prediction Assessment and Initial Comparisons With TRAM Test Data

A prediction sensitivity assessment to inputs and blade modeling is presented for the TiltRotor Aeroacoustic Code (TRAC). For this study, the non-CFD prediction system option in TRAC is used. Here, the comprehensive rotorcraft code, CAMRAD.Mod 1, coupled with the high-resolution sectional loads code HIRES, predicts unsteady blade loads to be used in the noise prediction code WOPWOP. The sensitivity of the predicted blade motions, blade airloads, wake geometry, and acoustics is examined with respect to rotor rpm, blade twist and chord, and to blade dynamic modeling. To accomplish this assessment. an interim input-deck for the TRAM test model and an input-deck for a reference test model are utilized in both rigid and elastic modes. Both of these test models are regarded as near scale models of the V-22 proprotor (tiltrotor). With basic TRAC sensitivities established, initial TRAC predictions are compared to results of an extensive test of an isolated model proprotor. The test was that of the TiltRotor Aeroacoustic Model (TRAM) conducted in the Duits-Nederlandse Windtunnel (DNW). Predictions are compared to measured noise for the proprotor operating over an extensive range of conditions. The variation of predictions demonstrates the great care that must be taken in defining the blade motion. However, even with this variability, the predictions using the different blade modeling successfully capture (bracket) the levels and trends of the noise for conditions ranging from descent to ascent.

Burley, Casey L.↗

Tiltrotor Aeroacoustic Code (TRAC) Prediction Assessment and Initial Comparisons with Tram Test Data

A prediction sensitivity assessment to inputs and blade modeling is presented for the TiltRotor Aeroacoustic Code (TRAC). For this study, the non-CFD prediction system option in TRAC is used. Here, the comprehensive rotorcraft code, CAMRAD.Mod1, coupled with the high-resolution sectional loads code HIRES, predicts unsteady blade loads to be used in the noise prediction code WOPWOP. The sensitivity of the predicted blade motions, blade airloads, wake geometry, and acoustics is examined with respect to rotor rpm, blade twist and chord, and to blade dynamic modeling. To accomplish this assessment, an interim input-deck for the TRAM test model and an input-deck for a reference test model are utilized in both rigid and elastic modes. Both of these test models are regarded as near scale models of the V-22 proprotor (tiltrotor). With basic TRAC sensitivities established, initial TRAC predictions are compared to results of an extensive test of an isolated model proprotor. The test was that of the TiltRotor Aeroacoustic Model (TRAM) conducted in the Duits-Nederlandse Windtunnel (DNW). Predictions are compared to measured noise for the proprotor operating over an extensive range of conditions. The variation of predictions demonstrates the great care that must be taken in defining the blade motion. However, even with this variability, the predictions using the different blade modeling successfully capture (bracket) the levels and trends of the noise for conditions ranging from descent to ascent.

Burley, Casey L.↗

Redundancy reduction in image coding

We assess redundancy reduction in image coding in terms of the information acquired by the image-gathering process and the amount of data required to convey this information. A clear distinction is made between the theoretically minimum rate of data transmission, as measured by the entropy of the completely decorrelated data, and the actual rate of data transmission, as measured by the entropy of the encoded (incompletely decorrelated) data. It is shown that the information efficiency of the visual communication channel depends not only on the characteristics of the radiance field and the decorrelation algorithm, as is generally perceived, but also on the design of the image-gathering device, as is commonly ignored.

Rahman, Zia-Ur↗

Initial ASME code rule analysis on Simple and Full assessment

ASME & ASTM codes present simple and full assessment methodologies to qualify nuclear grade graphite components. This report explains the theory behind the statistical portion of the codes and describes the issues discussed in a 2020 workshop in the simple assessment, as well as the full assessment. The methodology for the full assessment was developed by Hindley []. He used a validation methodology to match the experimental average failure load of test specimens from several geometries to the calculated 50% POF load to tune the grouping criteria parameters based on an RMSE penalty function. The grouping criteria consists of a minimum volume to satisfy the weakest link theory of the Weibull distribution and a minimum stress range parameter. Hindley’s work found a minimum link volume of 10 times the grain size and a stress range parameter of 7% [satisfy the validation requirements. Several studies found that the link volume of 10 times the grain size was not satisfactory for the volume grouping criteria for graphite grades with fine grains. ASME 2021 code adopted a new volume grouping criteria based on fracture toughness for calculation of the process zone volume. However, errors were found in the ASME 2021 code process zone volume equation and the question is now open as to what volume grouping criteria is satisfactory. This report presents results from sensitivity studies that were done to evaluate the volume grouping criteria effect on the full assessment POF. This report also presents results from sensitivity studies on other aspects of the code that affect the POF, the mesh size and the choice of the Weibull threshold parameter. All three sensitivity studies: the volume grouping criteria, the mesh size, and the threshold parameter choice are found to affect the component qualification decision for components of structural reliability class 1 (SRC-1). The sensitivity analysis results are presented in the body of the report for NBG-18, which is the same grade of graphite as Hindley used in his thesis. Results from NBG-17, IG-110, 2114, and PCEA are presented in the Appendix. For NBG-18, it was found that increasing the threshold increases the POF, finer meshes result in higher POFs, and that smaller link volume requirements lead to higher POFs (which is inconsistent with Hindley’s findings). This report proposes a new validation study similar to Hindley’s []. The purpose of the new validation study is to tune the threshold, mesh size and grouping criteria based on results from multiple grades of graphite, including finer grain graphites T220 (1-3 microns) and NG-CT-50 (5 microns). The test specimens will be broken at 3 labs, such that we can measure between lab measurement variability, with at least 5 test specimens per lab such that the within lab uncertainty can also be measured. Hindley’s validation method tried matching the average experimental load with the median. The future study will attempt to match failures at lower percentiles, which would be closer to the SRC POF limit. We are currently looking into what geometries make sense and the best method to measure multi-axial stress states. These design decisions are still being set.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Codes and Standards Assessment for Hydrogen Blends into the Natural Gas Infrastructure

Energy utilities are evaluating emerging energy technologies to reduce reliance on carbon as an energy carrier. Hydrogen has been identified as a potential substitute for carbon-based fuels that can be blended into other gaseous energy carriers, such as natural gas. However, hydrogen blending into natural gas has important implications on safety which need to be evaluated. Designers and installers of systems that utilize hydrogen gas blending into natural gas distribution systems need to adhere to local building codes and engage with the authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) for safety and permitting approvals. These codes and standards must be considered to understand where safety gaps might be apparent when injecting hydrogen into the natural gas infrastructure. This report generates a list of relevant codes and standards for hydrogen blending on existing, upgraded, or new pipelines. Additionally, a preliminary assessment was made to identify the codes and standards that need to be modified to enable this technology as well as potential gaps due to the unique nature and safety concerns of gaseous hydrogen.

03 NATURAL GAS↗

Code Verification Capabilities and Assessments in Support of ASC V&V Level 2 Milestone #6035

This document provides a summary of the code verification activities supporting the FY17 Level 2 V&V milestone entitled “Deliver a Capability for V&V Assessments of Code Implementations of Physics Models and Numerical Algorithms in Support of Future Predictive Capability Framework Pegposts.” The physics validation activities supporting this milestone are documented separately. The objectives of this portion of the milestone are: 1) Develop software tools to support code verification analysis; 2) Document standard definitions of code verification test problems; and 3) Perform code verification assessments (focusing on error behavior of algorithms). This report and a set of additional standalone documents serve as the compilation of results demonstrating accomplishment of these objectives.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

IPACS (Integrated Probabilistic Assessment of Composite Structures): Code development and applications

A methodology and attendant computer code have been developed and are described to computationally simulate the uncertain behavior of composite structures. The uncertain behavior includes buckling loads, stress concentration factors, displacements, stress/strain etc., which are the consequences of the inherent uncertainties (scatter) in the primitive (independent random) variables (constituent, ply, laminate and structural) that describe the composite structures. The computer code, IPACS (Integrated Probabilistic Assessment of Composite Structures), can handle both composite mechanics and composite structures. Application to probabilistic composite mechanics is illustrated by its uses to evaluate the uncertainties in the major Poisson's ratio and in laminate stiffness and strength. IPACS application to probabilistic structural analysis is illustrated by its use to evaluate the uncertainties in the buckling of a composite plate, in the stress concentration factor in a composite panel and in the vertical displacement and ply stress in a composite aircraft wing segment.

Chamis, C. C.↗

Benchmark Problems Used to Assess Computational Aeroacoustics Codes

The field of computational aeroacoustics (CAA) encompasses numerical techniques for calculating all aspects of sound generation and propagation in air directly from fundamental governing equations. Aeroacoustic problems typically involve flow-generated noise, with and without the presence of a solid surface, and the propagation of the sound to a receiver far away from the noise source. It is a challenge to obtain accurate numerical solutions to these problems. The NASA Glenn Research Center has been at the forefront in developing and promoting the development of CAA techniques and methodologies for computing the noise generated by aircraft propulsion systems. To assess the technological advancement of CAA, Glenn, in cooperation with the Ohio Aerospace Institute and the AeroAcoustics Research Consortium, organized and hosted the Fourth CAA Workshop on Benchmark Problems. Participants from industry and academia from both the United States and abroad joined to present and discuss solutions to benchmark problems. These demonstrated technical progress ranging from the basic challenges to accurate CAA calculations to the solution of CAA problems of increasing complexity and difficulty. The results are documented in the proceedings of the workshop. Problems were solved in five categories. In three of the five categories, exact solutions were available for comparison with CAA results. A fourth category of problems representing sound generation from either a single airfoil or a blade row interacting with a gust (i.e., problems relevant to fan noise) had approximate analytical or completely numerical solutions. The fifth category of problems involved sound generation in a viscous flow. In this case, the CAA results were compared with experimental data.

Dahl, Milo D.↗

Application of engineering codes to the assessment of spacecraft charging induced hazards

One of the major hurdles to developing a better understanding of the environmentally induced interactions in spacecraft systems (spacecraft charging) is the lack of simple tools to analyze the behavior of the spacecraft in a sub-storm environment. The available tool, NASA Charging Analyzer Program (NASCAP), is expensive to use and treats only half of the problem - surface effects only. In response to this need, we have developed, under our IRAD Program, a set of engineering tools that operate on personal computers and addresses both the surface and bulk charging aspects of the interactions. These engineering codes utilize circuit analysis techniques and model simplifications to allow rapid computations. The codes were compared to both NASCAP predictions and to bulk charging data with excellent agreement for both phenomena. The models used in our engineering codes are shown, and in the engineering codes, the models are defined in terms of plates or triangles in an unconfined space. The predictions are based upon current balances to each plate. The code has routines to allow interactions between the plates to simulate 'barrier' effects. The agreement for the predicted differential surface voltages for the model is given. In conducting the comparison of engineering codes to NASCAP predictions, it was found that some inconsistencies existed in the NASCAP code that are not obvious to the user. The use of the grid imposes constraints that voltage gradients exist between the grid points. This allows the existence of voltage gradients in conductors and influences surface resistivity predictions. These points are discussed along with the predictions for treating these inconsistencies properly. The model predictions for a variable intensity substorm is also presented.

Stevens, N. J.↗

Two-dimensional computer code for design assessment of SRM aft closure environment

A general interpolants method for constructing numerical analogs of the partial differential equations of continuum mechanics and which combines the best features of both finite element and finite difference methods was used in a two dimensional axisymmetric analysis of the space shuttle solid motor aft closure region flowfield. The numerical technique used is discussed as well as the results of the analysis. A steady state solution for the submerged nozzle nose region indicates the development of an area gas flow recirculation near the propellant burning surface boundary and in the region of the underside of the nozzle nose. This recirculation region remains spatially fixed for successive iterations (greater than 800) of the solution.

Freeman, J. A.↗

An Assessment of Comprehensive Code Prediction State-of-the-Art Using the HART II International Workshop Data

Despite significant advancements in computational fluid dynamics and their coupling with computational structural dynamics (= CSD, or comprehensive codes) for rotorcraft applications, CSD codes with their engineering level of modeling the rotor blade dynamics, the unsteady sectional aerodynamics and the vortical wake are still the workhorse for the majority of applications. This is especially true when a large number of parameter variations is to be performed and their impact on performance, structural loads, vibration and noise is to be judged in an approximate yet reliable and as accurate as possible manner. In this paper, the capabilities of such codes are evaluated using the HART II Inter- national Workshop data base, focusing on a typical descent operating condition which includes strong blade-vortex interactions. Three cases are of interest: the baseline case and two cases with 3/rev higher harmonic blade root pitch control (HHC) with different control phases employed. One setting is for minimum blade-vortex interaction noise radiation and the other one for minimum vibration generation. The challenge is to correctly predict the wake physics - especially for the cases with HHC - and all the dynamics, aerodynamics, modifications of the wake structure and the aero-acoustics coming with it. It is observed that the comprehensive codes used today have a surprisingly good predictive capability when they appropriately account for all of the physics involved. The minimum requirements to obtain these results are outlined.

vanderWall, Berend G.↗

Overview of the fatigue/fracture/life working group program at the Lewis Research Center

Constitutive and life prediction models are developed and verified for materials typically used in hot gas path components of reusable space propulsion systems over the range of relevant operating environments. The efforts were centered on the development of crack initiation life prediction methods, while the efforts of a counterpart group were centered on the development of cyclic crack propagation life prediction methods. The complexion of the active tasks are presented. A significant new task started this year will incorporate the various material constitutive and life prediction models developed in this program into a comprehensive creep-fatigue damage analysis and life assessment computer code. The program will function as a postprocessor to general structural analysis programs (such as finite element or boundary element codes) using the output of such analyses (stress, strain, and temperature fields as functions of time) as the input to the damage analysis and life assessment code. The code will be designed to execute on engineering/scientific workstations and will feature a windowing, mouse-driven user interface. Current plans call for the code to be finished and made available for use in mid 1991.

Mcgaw, Michael A.↗

As-Flown Shuttle Micro-Meteoroid Orbital Debris (MMOD) Assessment History

The final flight of the Space Shuttle program was completed on July 21st of 2011. The reusable nature of the Orbiter vehicles has provided NASA with a unique opportunity to inspect and sample spacecraft surfaces exposed to the MMOD environment in low Earth orbit. This paper will provide details of MMOD damages found on Orbiter surfaces after recent flights, as well as putting these damages in context by providing historical comparisons of recent damage to previous flights. The Bumper threat assessment computer code is used by NASA to determine spacecraft MMOD penetration risk. The tool was used before each mission to estimate pre-flight MMOD risk for the Shuttle Program Office using planned vehicles attitudes and exposure times. This paper summarizes the efforts of the authors to assess the expected number MMOD impacts of selected particles sizes of 52 shuttle missions ranging from STS-50 (1992) through STS-133 (2011) using as-flown attitude data. The missions encompass the Shuttle/Mir precursors to the International Space Station (ISS) as well as the ISS assembly flights. The paper includes a comparison of observed MMOD impact damage to the predicted number of impacts from Bumper code assessments. This data can be used to validate engineering models of the orbital debris and micrometeoroid environment, such NASA s ORDEM debris model and MEM meteoroid model.

Hyde, James L.↗

Code Coverage Status of the ARC Code RCT

The Argonne Reactor Code (ARC) software system supports users in their fast reactor design goals by providing neutronic, thermal-hydraulic, and structural analysis capabilities. REBUS plays a pivotal role in the ARC system as the primary fuel cycle analysis capability for fast reactor problems. Over its 60 year history, ARC software usage with REBUS has been applied to numerous fast and thermal spectrum reactor analysis projects with good to excellent comparison against experiments. The RCT code is a later addition and uses the REBUS restart files to define its input. The RCT code was built to provide pin depletion details on EBR-II models and thus many features of RCT were specifically tailored to the needs of EBR-II models. Additional approximations were invoked which are likely only valid for the EBR-II reactor and the particular fuel management that was done for it. The purpose of the present work is to identify a set of test problems for RCT and assess the code coverage for those test problems. The goal is to document what parts of the existing RCT code are touched by the set of test problems and which are not. Because no detailed verification work has been done on RCT, the existing regression testing suite was chosen for the code coverage assessment. The code coverage analysis of RCT was performed with the Code Coverage Tool of the Intel Fortran compiler which requires modifications to the compilation of RCT. The detailed coverage tables are given for each part of RCT. As will be discussed and shown, some parts of the RCT capability that are known to be used by the EBR-II analysis work are not tested by the regression testing suite. These aspects should be resolved before major source code changes are taken for the RCT software. Because REBUS and DIF3D are not subroutines of RCT, the coverage changes in both of those codes is not altered by RCT. The same is true for all of the modules of DIF3D that are used by RCT such as SYSLIB and SEGLIB.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗

Assessment of the NASA code FDNS2D for computation of film cooling effectiveness

The role of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) programs is usually one of analysis. Generally they are not used in the design phase of a project. There was an effort to integrate CFD codes into the design phase of combustion devices, specifically, in the design of the Space Transportation Main Engine (STME) nozzle. Before the results of such analyses can be accepted, the credibility of the CFD codes upon which they are based must be established. The effort to assess the capability of the NASA code FDNS2D to compute the heat transfer to a solid bounding surface is detailed. Specifically, high speed flow over a flat plate is considered, and the resulting wall shear stress, and heat transfer are computed. These values are compared against analytical results (for wall shear stress) and experimental data (for heat transfer). A brief description is given of the FDNS2D code, with special emphasis on how it handles solid wall boundary conditions. The flow conditions and the FDNS solution are presented, along with comparison to analytical and experimental data. Some intermediate observations are then made, followed by a recommendation for adoption of an alternate method for computing the wall heat flux.

Woodbury, Keith A.↗

User's manual for three dimensional boundary layer (BL3-D) code

An assessment has been made of the applicability of a 3-D boundary layer analysis to the calculation of heat transfer, total pressure losses, and streamline flow patterns on the surface of both stationary and rotating turbine passages. In support of this effort, an analysis has been developed to calculate a general nonorthogonal surface coordinate system for arbitrary 3-D surfaces and also to calculate the boundary layer edge conditions for compressible flow using the surface Euler equations and experimental data to calibrate the method, calculations are presented for the pressure endwall, and suction surfaces of a stationary cascade and for the pressure surface of a rotating turbine blade. The results strongly indicate that the 3-D boundary layer analysis can give good predictions of the flow field, loss, and heat transfer on the pressure, suction, and endwall surface of a gas turbine passage.

Anderson, O. L.↗