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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 901 records · Page 50

CLARREO shortwave observing system simulation experiments of the twenty-first century: Simulator design and implementation

Projected changes in the Earth system will likely be manifested in changes in reflected solar radiation. This paper introduces an operational Observational System Simulation Experiment (OSSE) to calculate the signals of future climate forcings and feedbacks in top-of-atmosphere reflectance spectra. The OSSE combines simulations from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Fourth Assessment Report for the NCAR Community Climate System Model (CCSM) with the MODTRAN radiative transfer code to calculate reflectance spectra for simulations of current and future climatic conditions over the 21st century. The OSSE produces narrowband reflectances and broadband fluxes, the latter of which have been extensively validated against archived CCSM results. The shortwave reflectance spectra contain atmospheric features including signals from water vapor, liquid and ice clouds, and aerosols. The spectra are also strongly influenced by the surface bidirectional reflectance properties of predicted snow and sea ice and the climatological seasonal cycles of vegetation. By comparing and contrasting simulated reflectance spectra based on emissions scenarios with increasing projected and fixed present-day greenhouse gas and aerosol concentrations, we find that prescribed forcings from increases in anthropogenic sulfate and carbonaceous aerosols are detectable and are spatially confined to lower latitudes. Also, changes in the intertropical convergence zone and poleward shifts in the subsidence zones and the storm tracks are all detectable along with large changes in snow cover and sea ice fraction. These findings suggest that the proposed NASA Climate Absolute Radiance and Refractivity Observatory (CLARREO) mission to measure shortwave reflectance spectra may help elucidate climate forcings, responses, and feedbacks.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Systematic Uncertainties from Gribov Copies in Lattice Calculation of Parton Distributions in the Coulomb Gauge

Recently, a new method has been proposed to compute parton distributions using boosted correlators fixed in the Coulomb gauge (CG) within the framework of large-momentum effective theory. This approach, which does not involve Wilson lines, could greatly improve the efficiency and precision of lattice quantum chromodynamics calculations. However, concerns remain regarding whether systematic uncertainties from Gribov copies, which correspond to ambiguities in lattice gauge-fixing, are adequately controlled. This work assesses the effects of Gribov copies on Coulomb-gauge-fixed quark correlators. We utilize different strategies for Coulomb-gauge fixing, selecting two different groups of Gribov copies based on lattice gauge configurations. We examine the differences in the resulting spatial quark correlators in both vacuum and pion states. Our findings indicate that the statistical errors of the matrix elements from both Gribov copies, regardless of the correlation range, decrease proportionally to the square root of the number of gauge configurations. The difference between the strategies does not show statistical significance compared to the gauge noise, demonstrating that the effect of the Gribov copies can be neglected in practical lattice calculations of quark parton distributions.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Fast calculation of the tokamak vertical instability

There has been recent interest in fast calculations of the tokamak axisymmetric vertical instability for real time feedback control purposes. It is shown that the maximum eigenvalue for the basic rigid version of this stability problem can be obtained by finding the positive root to a simple scalar function. This function can be generalized to include plasma mass and has complexity linear in the number of conductive elements. The formulation is based on standard matrix decompositions of the fixed-geometry part of the eigenproblem. The calculation bottleneck is the summary of mutual inductances from the reconstructed equilibrium current density. The with-mass spectrum can be made fully real-valued by the addition of a critical amount of damping with negligible effect on the vertical growth rate. Furthermore, the calculation has been implemented in the plasma control system at the DIII-D tokamak and used in experiments.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

An analytic implementation of the IR-resummation for the BAO peak

We develop an analytic method for implementing the IR-resummation of [1], which allows one to correctly and consistently describe the imprint of baryon acoustic oscillations (BAO) on statistical observables in large-scale structure. We show that the final IR-resummed correlation function can be computed analytically without relying on numerical integration, thus allowing for an efficient and accurate use of these predictions on real data in cosmological parameter fitting. In this work we focus on the one-loop correlation function and the BAO peak. We show that, compared with the standard numerical integration method of IR-resummation, the new method is accurate to better than 0.2%, and is quite easily improvable. We also give an approximate resummation scheme which is based on using the linear displacements of a fixed fiducial cosmology, which when combined with the method described above, is about six times faster than the standard numerical integration. Finally, we show that this analytic method is generalizable to higher loop computations.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Determining the vibrational entropy change in the giant magnetocaloric material LaFe 11.6 Si 1.4 by nuclear resonant inelastic x-ray scattering

Magnetocaloric ${\mathrm{LaFe}}_{13{-}x}{\mathrm{Si}}_{x}$-based compounds belong to the outstanding materials with potential for efficient solid-state refrigeration. We have performed temperature-dependent $^{57}\mathrm{Fe}$ nuclear resonant inelastic x-ray scattering measurements (in a field ${{\mu}}_{0}H$ of ${\sim}0.7$ T) of the vibrational (phonon) density of states, VDOS, in ${\mathrm{LaFe}}_{11.6}{\mathrm{Si}}_{1.4}$ across the metamagnetic isostructural first-order phase transition at ${T}_{C}{\sim}192$ K from the low-temperature ferromagnetic (FM) to the high-temperature paramagnetic (PM) phase, in order to determine the change in thermodynamic properties of the Fe lattice at ${T}_{C}$. The experimental results are compared with density-functional-theory-based first-principles calculations using the fixed-spin moment approach. Our combined experimental and theoretical results reveal distinct and abrupt changes in the VDOS of the Fe sublattice across ${T}_{C}$, occurring within a small temperature interval of $\mathrm{{\Delta}}T{\le}12$ K around ${T}_{C}$. This indicates that strong magnetoelastic coupling (at the atomic scale) is present up to ${T}_{C}$, leading to a pronounced lattice softening (phonon redshift) in the PM phase. These changes originate from the itinerant electron magnetism associated with Fe and are correlated with distinct modifications in the Fe-partial electronic density of states $D({E}_{F}$) at the Fermi energy ${E}_{F}$. From the experimental VDOS we can infer an abrupt increase (jump) in the Fe-partial vibrational entropy $\mathrm{{\Delta}}{S}_{\mathrm{vib}}$ of $+6.9\pm{}2.6$ J/(kg K) and in the vibrational specific heat $\mathrm{{\Delta}}{C}_{\mathrm{vib}}$ of $+2.7\pm{}1.6$ J/(kg K) upon heating. The increase in magnitude of the vibrational entropy $|\mathrm{{\Delta}}{S}_{\mathrm{vib}}|=6.9$ J/(kg K) of the Fe sublattice at ${T}_{C}$ upon heating is substantial, if compared with the magnitude of the isothermal entropy change $|\mathrm{{\Delta}}{S}_{\mathrm{iso}}|$ of 14.2 J/(kg K) in a field change $\mathrm{{\Delta}}B$ from 0 to 1 T, as obtained from isothermal magnetization measurements on our sample and using the Maxwell relation. Finally, we demonstrate that $\mathrm{{\Delta}}{S}_{\mathrm{vib}}$ obtained by nuclear resonant inelastic x-ray scattering is a sizable quantity and contributes directly and cooperatively to the total entropy change $\mathrm{{\Delta}}{S}_{\mathrm{iso}}$ at the phase transition of ${\mathrm{LaFe}}_{13{-}x}{\mathrm{Si}}_{x}$.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

An Update on Improvements to NiCE Support for RELAP-7

The Multiphysics Object-Oriented Simulation Environment (MOOSE) is a framework that facilitates the development of applications that rely on finite-element analysis to solve a coupled, nonlinear system of partial differential equations. RELAP-7 represents an update to the venerable RELAP-5 simulator that is built upon this framework and attempts to model the balance-of-plant concerns in a full nuclear plant. This report details the continued support and integration of RELAP-7 and the NEAMS Integrated Computational Environment (NiCE). RELAP-7 is fully supported by the NiCE due to on-going work to tightly integrate NiCE with the MOOSE framework, and subsequently the applications built upon it. NiCE development throughout the first quarter of FY15 has focused on improvements, bug fixes, and feature additions to existing MOOSE-based application support. Specifically, this report will focus on improvements to the NiCE MOOSE Model Builder, the MOOSE application job launcher, and the 3D Nuclear Plant Viewer. This report also includes a comprehensive tutorial that guides RELAP-7 users through the basic NiCE workflow: from input generation and 3D Plant modeling, to massively parallel job launch and post-simulation data visualization.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Time-resolved Chemical Imaging of Molecules by High-order Harmonics and Ultrashort Rescattering Electrons

Directly monitoring atomic motion during a molecular transformation with atomic-scale spatio-temporal resolution is a frontier of ultrafast optical science and physical chemistry. Here we provide the foundation for a new imaging method, fixed-angle broadband laser-induced electron scattering, based on structural retrieval by direct one-dimensional Fourier transform of a photoelectron energy distribution observed along the polarization direction of an intense ultrafast light pulse. The approach exploits the scattering of a broadband wave packet created by strong-field tunnel ionization to self-interrogate the molecular structure with picometre spatial resolution and bond specificity. With its inherent femtosecond resolution, combining our technique with molecular alignment can, in principle, provide the basis for time-resolved tomography for multi-dimensional transient structural determination.

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS↗

Development of Multi-physics (Multiphase CFD + MCNP) simulation for generic solution vessel power calculation

The current study aims to predict the steady state power of a generic solution vessel and to develop a corresponding heat transfer coefficient correlation for a Moly99 production facility by conducting a fully coupled multi-physics simulation. A prediction of steady state power for the current application is inherently interconnected between thermal hydraulic characteristics (i.e. Multiphase computational fluid dynamics solved by ANSYS-Fluent 17.2) and the corresponding neutronic behavior (i.e. particle transport solved by MCNP6.2) in the solution vessel. Thus, the development of a coupling methodology is vital to understand the system behavior at a variety of system design and postulated operating scenarios. In this study, we report on the k-effective (keff) calculation for the baseline solution vessel configuration with a selected solution concentration using MCNP K-code modeling. The associated correlation of thermal properties (e.g. density, viscosity, thermal conductivity, specific heat) at the selected solution concentration are developed based on existing experimental measurements in the open literature. The numerical coupling methodology between multiphase CFD and MCNP is successfully demonstrated, and the detailed coupling procedure is documented. In addition, improved coupling methods capturing realistic physics in the solution vessel thermal-neutronic dynamics are proposed and tested further (i.e. dynamic height adjustment, mull-cell approach). As a key outcome of the current study, a multi-physics coupling methodology between MCFD and MCNP is demonstrated and tested for four different operating conditions. Those different operating conditions are determined based on the neutron source strength at a fixed geometry condition. The steady state powers for the generic solution vessel at various operating conditions are reported, and a generalized correlation of the heat transfer coefficient for the current application is discussed. The assessment of multi-physics methodology and preliminary results from various coupled calculations (power prediction and heat transfer coefficient) can be further utilized for the system code validation and generic solution vessel design improvement.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗

Current Status of SAMMY [Slides]

SAMMY is used to analyze experimental data mainly in the resolved range to generate evaluated data files for use in transport codes. The code base in SAMMY is still mostly F77, i.e., fixed line length and almost no use of modules. SAMMY is used in production environments, so during the modernization its functionality cannot be lost. That means we cannot simply rewrite it from scratch. Modernization is needed to allow us to add new features (for example new and improved algorithms in the resolved range). SAMMY has a large suite of regression tests that can be run and whose outputs can be checked automatically. During the modernization process, we will not change the results of these regression tests, except if errors in the original coding are found and corrected. Future plans for SAMMY include converting all container array access to Fortran allocate (or use C++ storage) and finishing the conversion to use C++ storage for all resonance parameters. We have an initial C++ implementation of the cross section reconstruction from R-Matrix parameters, used in AMPX. We will update this code, add reconstruction of angular data and derivatives and will use it in AMPX and SAMMY. Once this is done, we can start to add new features to the R-Matrix algorithm, like complex channel radii or relativistic effects. We also intend to modularize SAMMY to separate cross section reconstruction, experimental effect etc. from the Bayes fitting routines.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

microbasekaplus.c1

This microbasekaplus datastream is produced by re-writed micorbaseka vap (microbasekaplus) in python under ADI framewrok, and added uncertainties for the microphysics. The original Microbase VAP was developed in 2002. The primary purpose of producing this VAP was to provide the required microphysical values for input to the Broad Band Heating Rate Profiles (BBHRP) VAP in order to generate estimations of radiative heating rates. It served the Radiatively Important Parameters Best Estimate (RIBPE) VAP in the capacity of providing baseline cloud microphysical values as input. Microbase produces cloud microphysical properties based on cloud radar measurements taken at all fixed ARM sites.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Improved laser ranging accuracy through dynamic threshold compensation

During a polar motion experiment (in which two laser ranging systems on a north-south line simultaneously tracked a satellite to determine motion of the pole), techniques for improving both the range noise and range bias were demonstrated. The corrections to the measured ranges (based on received signal levels relative to a fixed correction that would have been applied if pulse height information was not available) are given. It was shown that even existing long pulse systems (20 to 40 nsec duration) can be improved to the 20 to 30 cm level of precision without major or expensive changes to the system.

Johnson, T. S.↗

Effect of Reynolds number and engine nacelles on the stalling characteristics of a model of a twin-engine light airplane

The investigation was made on a 1/18-scale model of a twin-engine light airplane. Static longitudinal, lateral, and directional characteristics were obtained at 0 deg and plus or minus 5 deg sideslip at a Mach number of about 0.2. The angle of attack varied from about 20 deg at a Reynolds number of 0.39 times one million to 13 deg at a Reynolds number of 3.7 times one million, based on the reference chord. The effect of fixed transition, vertical and horizontal tails, and nacelle fillets was studied.

Lockwood, V. E.↗

An approximate analysis of delay for fixed and variable length packets in an unslotted ALOHA channel

In this paper we compute the mean delay for an unslotted ALOHA random access channel for both fixed and variable length packets. The analysis is based on the concept of a user cycle and obtains steady state results. When the channel is 'stable', the results seem quite accurate. The input parameters to the model are the number of users, the mean think time, and mean retransmission time. The model yields total traffic, throughput and delay but only the latter is emphasized here. Because of the steady state nature of the analysis, no information is obtained on stability. The results are verified by simulation.

Ferguson, M. J.↗

Numerical analysis of Weyl's method for integrating boundary layer equations

A fast method for accurate numerical integration of Blasius equation is proposed. It is based on the limit interchange in Weyl's fixed point method formulated as an iterated limit process. Each inner limit represents convergence to a discrete solution. It is shown that the error in a discrete solution admits asymptotic expansion in even powers of step size. An extrapolation process is set up to operate on a sequence of discrete solutions to reach the outer limit. Finally, this method is extended to related boundary layer equations.

Najfeld, I.↗

Formation of polar stratospheric clouds simulated in a two dimensional model of the atmosphere

A microphysics code has been implemented in a two dimensional model of the atmosphere to study formation of polar stratospheric clouds containing HCl or HNO3. The model range is from pole to pole in latitude and from the ground to about 20 km in altitude. Resolution in latitude is 10 deg and about 0.8 km in altitude. This is an Eulerian model with prescribed eddy diffusion coefficients and the circulation obtained from observations. The chemistry of the model follows the family approach for NO(x), Cl(x) and HO(x) while the ozone is fixed and changed seasonally. The aerosol code is based on an assigned population of condensation, coagulation and sedimentation. Aerosol growth is simulated in nine different size bins ranging between 0.01u and 2.56u. The model has been built to study aerosol layers formation in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere and has been validated for sulfate aerosol resulting from a rather complex sulfur chemistry.

Visconti, Guido↗

Computational analysis of vented supersonic exhaust nozzles using a multiblock/multizone strategy

NASA-Langley's PAB3D-v3 multiblock/multizone Navier Stokes code is presently used to study the behavior of the longitudinally-slotted nozzle configuration for fixed-geometry operation in supersonic cruise on the bases of high nozzle pressure ratios. The range of flow conditions encompassed nozzle pressure ratio values from 5 to 20, and freestream Mach numbers from 0 to 2.5. A large recirculation region was detected near the concave base of the nozzle, while smaller regions were located near and around the slots. In general, the discharge coefficient was predicted within 0.5 percent, and the thrust ratio within 1.5 percent, of measured values.

Abdol-Hamid, Khaled S.↗

Extensibility in local sensor based planning for hyper-redundant manipulators (robot snakes)

Partial Shape Modification (PSM) is a local sensor feedback method used for hyper-redundant robot manipulators, in which the redundancy is very large or infinite such as that of a robot snake. This aspect of redundancy enables local obstacle avoidance and end-effector placement in real time. Due to the large number of joints or actuators in a hyper-redundant manipulator, small displacement errors of such easily accumulate to large errors in the position of the tip relative to the base. The accuracy could be improved by a local sensor based planning method in which sensors are distributed along the length of the hyper-redundant robot. This paper extends the local sensor based planning strategy beyond the limitations of the fixed length of such a manipulator when its joint limits are met. This is achieved with an algorithm where the length of the deforming part of the robot is variable. Thus , the robot's local avoidance of obstacles is improved through the enhancement of its extensibility.

Choset, Howie↗

Evolutionary Optimization of Yagi-Uda Antennas

Yagi-Uda antennas are known to be difficult to design and optimize due to their sensitivity at high gain, and the inclusion of numerous parasitic elements. We present a genetic algorithm-based automated antenna optimization system that uses a fixed Yagi-Uda topology and a byte-encoded antenna representation. The fitness calculation allows the implicit relationship between power gain and sidelobe/backlobe loss to emerge naturally, a technique that is less complex than previous approaches. The genetic operators used are also simpler. Our results include Yagi-Uda antennas that have excellent bandwidth and gain properties with very good impedance characteristics. Results exceeded previous Yagi-Uda antennas produced via evolutionary algorithms by at least 7.8% in mainlobe gain. We also present encouraging preliminary results where a coevolutionary genetic algorithm is used.

Lohn, Jason D.↗