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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 1,207 records · Page 67

Accurate and rapid acoustic damage characterization in complex structures using sparse sensor networks and deep learning models

Damage diagnosis in critical components is essential for ensuring the safety and reliability of operations across industries, spanning manufacturing, aerospace, and energy. Traditional acoustic nondestructive testing methods primarily focus on detecting defects through the direct scattering of single-mode incident waves from the damage, which limit their applicability to simple structures and small inspection areas. Our earlier research demonstrated that machine learning algorithms combined with sparse sensor networks can identify critical defect signatures even from multiply scattered, multi-mode acoustic signals, indicating the potential for improved defect inspection in complex, real-world structures. In this work, we demonstrate the successful implementation of this approach in a fixed sensor configuration to rapidly and accurately detect simulated defects in a geometrically complex, real-world structure, a brake rotor hub. Three different types of defects were physically simulated on the surface of the hub, and the collected data were used to train an autoencoder-based deep learning model. Two models were tested, one using single measurements and the other using multiple measurements taking advantage of the spatial distribution of the sensor network. After training, the multi-measurement model achieved 100 % accuracy in identifying, classifying, and locating unseen, unique damages. This work illustrates the potential of the proposed method for a wide range of industrial applications.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Quantification of neural networks uncertainties with applications to SAFARI-1 axial neutron flux profiles

Deep Neural Networks (DNNs) have been widely used as a data-driven modelling tool in nuclear engineering. However, as a Machine Learning model, Artificial Neural Network (ANN) predictions are subjected to uncertainties originating from the noise in training data, incomplete coverage of the domain, and imperfect neural network architectures. In this work, we target at quantifying the prediction/approximation uncertainties of ANNs using Monte Carlo Dropout (MCD), as well as Bayesian Neural Networks (BNNs) which are solved by variational inference. With a demonstration problem in which neural networks are used to predict the assembly axial neutron flux profiles, the results have shown that the three different neural network models (regular DNNs, DNNs solved with MCD and BNNs) can produce results that agree very well among each other and with the measurement data, on cycles that are not used in the training process. Besides the excellent generalization capability, the uncertainty bands produced by MCD and BNN agree very well, and in general, they can fully envelop the noisy measurement data points. (authors)

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗

Emergent Subpopulation Behavior Uncovered with a Community Dynamic Metabolic Model of Escherichia coli Diauxic Growth

ABSTRACT Microbes have adapted to greatly variable environments in order to survive both short-term perturbations and permanent changes. A classical and yet still actively studied example of adaptation to dynamic environments is the diauxic shift of Escherichia coli , in which cells grow on glucose until its exhaustion and then transition to using previously secreted acetate. Here we tested different hypotheses concerning the nature of this transition by using dynamic metabolic modeling. To reach this goal, we developed an open source modeling framework integrating dynamic models (ordinary differential equation systems) with structural models (metabolic networks) which can take into account the behavior of multiple subpopulations and smooth flux transitions between time points. We used this framework to model the diauxic shift, first with a single E. coli model whose metabolic state represents the overall population average and then with a community of two subpopulations, each growing exclusively on one carbon source (glucose or acetate). After introduction of an environment-dependent transition function that determined the balance between subpopulations, our model generated predictions that are in strong agreement with published data. Our results thus support recent experimental evidence that diauxie, rather than a coordinated metabolic shift, would be the emergent pattern of individual cells differentiating for optimal growth on different substrates. This work offers a new perspective on the use of dynamic metabolic modeling to investigate population heterogeneity dynamics. The proposed approach can easily be applied to other biological systems composed of metabolically distinct, interconverting subpopulations and could be extended to include single-cell-level stochasticity. IMPORTANCE Escherichia coli diauxie is a fundamental example of metabolic adaptation, a phenomenon that is not yet completely understood. Further insight into this process can be achieved by integrating experimental and computational modeling methods. We present a dynamic metabolic modeling approach that captures diauxie as an emergent property of subpopulation dynamics in E. coli monocultures. Without fine-tuning the parameters of the E. coli core metabolic model, we achieved good agreement with published data. Our results suggest that single-organism metabolic models can only approximate the average metabolic state of a population, therefore offering a new perspective on the use of such modeling approaches. The open source modeling framework that we provide can be applied to model general subpopulation systems in more-complex environments and can be extended to include single-cell-level stochasticity.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Convolutional Neural Networks for Heat Flux Model Validation on NSTX-U

To demonstrate the use of embedded thermocouples in new National Spherical Tokamak eXperiment Upgrade (NSTX-U) graphite plasma-facing components (PFCs), a convolutional neural network (CNN) has been trained using the ANSYS simulations to predict the scrape-off layer (SOL) heat flux width, λ q , given various machine operational parameters and diagnostic data as inputs. Here, the proof-of-concept CNN was trained on the thermocouple data generated by the approximated NSTX-U heat loads applied to real PFC designs in ANSYS. Once trained, the CNN is capable of high precision reconstruction of parameterized heat flux profiles expected in NSTX-U. In addition, to test the system's ability to cope with noise and systematic error, pseudonoise was injected into the simulated data. CNN can accurately predict the incident heat flux despite this noise and error.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Comprehensive Material Characterization and Simultaneous Model Calibration for Improved Computational Simulation Credibility

Computational simulation is increasingly relied upon for high-consequence engineering decisions, and a foundational element to solid mechanics simulations is a credible material model. Our ultimate vision is to interlace material characterization and model calibration in a real-time feedback loop, where the current model calibration results will drive the experiment to load regimes that add the most useful information to reduce parameter uncertainty. The current work investigated one key step to this Interlaced Characterization and Calibration (ICC) paradigm, using a finite load-path tree to incorporate history/path dependency of nonlinear material models into a network of surrogate models that replace computationally-expensive finite-element analyses. Our reference simulation was an elastoplastic material point subject to biaxial deformation with a Hill anisotropic yield criterion. Training data was generated using either a space-filling or adaptive sampling method, and surrogates were built using either Gaussian process or polynomial chaos expansion methods. Surrogate error was evaluated to be on the order of 10 ⁻5 and 10 ⁻3 percent for the space-filling and adaptive sampling training data, respectively. Direct Bayesian inference was performed with the surrogate network and with the reference material point simulator, and results agreed to within 3 significant figures for the mean parameter values, with a reduction in computational cost over 5 orders of magnitude. These results bought down risk regarding the surrogate network and facilitated a successful FY22-24 full LDRD proposal to research and develop the complete ICC paradigm.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Thermodynamic Modeling of Complex Solid Solutions in the Lu-H-N System via Graph Neural Network Accelerated Monte Carlo Simulations

Metal hydrides are important across diverse applications, such as hydrogen storage, batteries, gas sensors, nuclear reactions, and high-temperature superconductivity. Previous computational studies of metal hydrides under extreme pressures, e.g., 𝑂⁡(10 2 ) ⁢GPa, usually treat them as stoichiometric compounds without considering interstitial lattice disorder. As pressures become more moderate in the 𝑂⁡(10 0 ) ⁢GPa and below range, hydrogen disorder at interstitial lattice sites becomes prominent, e.g., in the N-doped Lu hydride that was recently claimed superconducting near 1 GPa. Further adding compositional complexity from alloying and/or multielement interstitial occupation makes elucidating pressure- and temperature-dependent observables intractable by first-principles calculations alone. We therefore propose a lattice graph neural-network surrogate modeling approach to predict configuration- and pressure-dependent equation-of-state properties. Their efficiency permits Monte Carlo simulations to calculate Gibbs energies and pressure-dependent phase diagrams, thereby revealing insights into the synthesis conditions required for achieving desired phase equilibria. We demonstrate this concept for the compositionally complex cubic Lu(H,N,Va) 3 system where three constituents (hydrogen, nitrogen and vacancy) have disordered multielement interstitial occupancies and insights into pressure-dependent phase equilibria are critically needed, e.g., N-doping levels can significantly lower dehydrogenation temperatures and provide a new strategy to optimize hydrogen-storage alloys. This work can improve the thermodynamic understanding of the Lu-H-N system and help rational synthesis of N-doped Lu hydrides, but more generally demonstrates an efficient approach to model pressure-dependent thermodynamics of multicomponent solid solutions.

Monte Carlo methods↗

Development of Upscaling Techniques and Construction of Calibrated Models for Fractured Rocks Using Discrete Fracture Network Approaches

The Pahute Mesa Corrective Action Unit on the Nevada National Security Site (NNSS) contains several fractured aquifers that can potentially provide high-permeability pathways for radionuclides to migrate away from underground nuclear testing locations. Although the geometric properties of fractures, such as length and orientation, can be found using geophysical methods and borehole image analyses, the hydraulic property of fractures (which are primarily influenced by apertures) are often unknown or have a high degree of uncertainty attached to their values. The aperture values have a profound impact on groundwater velocity and are critical to understanding transport scales at Pahute Mesa. Fracture aperture values and their distributions also have dominant control over radionuclide transport with potential for long-range correlations or scale-invariant dynamics. Understanding of the small-scale transport variability in fractures could lead to identification of distinct characteristics on larger scales. Furthermore, upscaling techniques need to be developed to adequately predict transport behavior at field scales by capturing the transport trends of smaller scale networks. This report explores these vital modeling needs to understand the role of fractures in Pahute Mesa. Discrete fracture network (DFN) models are the basis for constructing a well-calibrated model to ascertain aperture values of fractures in lava-flow aquifers. These models are also used to develop and compare the usefulness of several random-walk-based models to perform transport upscaling.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Fault detection and diagnosis using neural network approaches

Neural networks can be used to detect and identify abnormalities in real-time process data. Two basic approaches can be used, the first based on training networks using data representing both normal and abnormal modes of process behavior, and the second based on statistical characterization of the normal mode only. Given data representative of process faults, radial basis function networks can effectively identify failures. This approach is often limited by the lack of fault data, but can be facilitated by process simulation. The second approach employs elliptical and radial basis function neural networks and other models to learn the statistical distributions of process observables under normal conditions. Analytical models of failure modes can then be applied in combination with the neural network models to identify faults. Special methods can be applied to compensate for sensor failures, to produce real-time estimation of missing or failed sensors based on the correlations codified in the neural network.

Kramer, Mark A.↗

Modelling the Value of Networked, Small-Hydro Generators for Storage and Dispatch Capability on the Grid

Natel Energy, Inc. (Natel), Alameda, California, has developed a new type of fish-friendly, low-head hydropower turbine, the hydroEngine (R), that is designed to provide reliable, dispatchable power and ancillary services at significantly reduced civil works costs. For the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Small Business Voucher for Hydropower, Third Round, Natel and NREL will model and evaluate the potential value streams of a portfolio of networked small hydropower generators. The project is designed to advance the understanding of the value of small hydro generation to the grid of the future. It will help support dialog with potential customers and stakeholders regarding the value of the Natel's technologies and inform future R&D efforts in this area.

13 HYDRO ENERGY↗

Solar Transposition Modeling via Deep Neural Networks With Sky Images

This article presents a notable advance toward the development of a new method of increasing the single-axis tracking photovoltaic (PV) system power output by improving the determination and near-term prediction of the optimum module tilt angle. The tilt angle of the plane receiving the greatest total irradiance changes with Sun position and atmospheric conditions including cloud formation and movement, aerosols, and particulate loading, as well as varying albedo within a module's field of view. In this article, we present a multi-input convolutional neural network that can create a profile of plane-of-array irradiance versus surface tilt angle over a full 180° arc from horizon to horizon. As input, the neural network uses the calculated solar position and clear-sky irradiance values, along with sky images. The target irradiance values are provided by the multiplanar irradiance sensor (MPIS). In order to account for varying irradiance conditions, the MPIS signal is normalized by the theoretical clear-sky global horizontal irradiance. Using this information, the neural network outputs an N -dimensional vector, where N is the number of points to approximate the MPIS curve via Fourier resampling. The output vector of the model is smoothed with a Gaussian kernel to account for error in the downsamping and subsequent upsampling steps, as well as to smooth the unconstrained output of the model. Furthermore, these profiles may be used to perform near-term prediction of angular irradiance, which can then inform the movement of a PV tracker.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Data-driven analysis of dipole strength functions using artificial neural networks

Here, we present a data-driven analysis of dipole strength functions across the nuclear chart, employing an artificial neural network to model nuclear dipole responses. We train the network on a dataset of experimentally measured dipole strength functions for 216 different nuclei. To assess its predictive capability, we test the trained model on an additional set of 10 new nuclei, where experimental data exist. We demonstrate that the artificial neural network not only accurately reproduces known data but also identifies potential inconsistencies in experimental datasets, indicating which results may warrant further review or possible rejection. For nuclei where experimental data are sparse or unavailable, the network confirms theoretical calculations, reinforcing its utility as a predictive tool in nuclear physics. Finally, utilizing the predicted electric dipole polarizability, we extract the value of the symmetry energy at saturation density and find it consistent with results from the literature.

artificial neural networks↗

Probabilistic Modeling of Microbial Metabolic Networks for Integrating Partial Quantitative Knowledge Within the Nitrogen Cycle

Understanding the interactions between microbial communities and their environment sufficiently to predict diversity on the basis of physicochemical parameters is a fundamental pursuit of microbial ecology that still eludes us. However, modeling microbial communities is problematic, because (i) communities are complex, (ii) most descriptions are qualitative, and (iii) quantitative understanding of the way communities interact with their surroundings remains incomplete. One approach to overcoming such complications is the integration of partial qualitative and quantitative descriptions into more complex networks. Here we outline the development of a probabilistic framework, based on Event Transition Graph (ETG) theory, to predict microbial community structure across observed chemical data. Using reverse engineering, we derive probabilities from the ETG that accurately represent observations from experiments and predict putative constraints on communities within dynamic environments. These predictions can feedback into the future development of field experiments by emphasizing the most important functional reactions, and associated microbial strains, required to characterize microbial ecosystems.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

A hierarchical analysis of the impact of methodological decisions on statistical downscaling of daily precipitation and air temperatures

Despite the widespread application of statistical downscaling tools, uncertainty remains regarding the role of model formulation in determining model skill for daily maximum and minimum temperature (Tmax and Tmin), and precipitation occurrence and intensity. Impacts of several key aspects of statistical transfer function form on model skill are evaluated using a framework resistant to model overspecification. We focus on: (a) model structure: simple (generalized linear models, GLMs) versus complex (artificial neural networks, ANNs) models. (b) Predictor selection: Fixed number of predictors chosen a priori versus stepwise selection of predictors and inclusion of grid point values versus predictors derived from application of principal components analysis (PCA) to spatial fields. We also examine the influence of domain size on model performance. For precipitation downscaling, we consider the role of the threshold used to characterize a wet day and apply three approaches (Poisson and Gamma distributions in GLM and ANN) to downscale wet-day precipitation amounts. While no downscaling formulation is optimal for all predictands and at 10 locations representing diverse U.S. climates, and due to the exclusion of variance inflation all of the downscaling formulations fail to reproduce the range of observed variability, models with larger suites of prospective predictors generally have higher skill. For temperature downscaling, ANNs generally outperform GLM, with greater improvements for T min than T max . Furthermore, use of PCA-derived predictors does not systematically improve model skill, but does improve skill for temperature extremes. Model skill for precipitation occurrence generally increases as the wet-day threshold increases and models using PCA-derived predictors tend to outperform those based on grid cell predictors. Each model for wet-day precipitation intensity overestimates annual total precipitation and underestimates the proportion derived from extreme precipitation events, but ANN-based models and those with larger predictor suites tend to have the smallest bias.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Harnessing distributed GPU computing for generalizable graph convolutional networks in power grid reliability assessments

Although machine learning (ML) has emerged as a powerful tool for rapidly assessing grid contingencies, prior studies have largely considered a static grid topology in their analyses. This limits their application, since they need to be re-trained for every new topology. Here, this paper explores the development of generalizable graph convolutional network (GCN) models by pre-training them across a range of grid topologies and contingency types. We found that a GCN model with auto-regressive moving average (ARMA) layers with a line graph representation of the grid offered the best predictive performance in predicting voltage magnitudes (VM) and voltage angles (VA). We introduced the concept of phantom nodes to consider disparate grid topologies with a varying number of nodes and lines. For pre-training the GCN ARMA model across a variety of topologies, distributed graphics processing unit (GPU) computing afforded us significant training scalability. The predictive performance of this model on grid topologies that were part of the training data is substantially better than the direct current (DC) approximation. Although direct application of the pre-trained model to topologies that are not part of the grid is not particularly satisfactory, fine-tuning with small amounts of data from a specific topology of interest significantly improves predictive performance. In general, this paper highlights the feasibility of training large-scale GNN models to assess the reliability of power grids by considering a wide variety of grid topologies and contingency types. With the advent of foundational models in ML and the exponential increase in GPU computing clusters, generalizable ML models will significantly enhance how utilities manage power systems and make decisions in real-time or near-real-time.

24 - POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

Cost of a potential hydrogen-refueling network for heavy-duty vehicles with long-haul application in Germany 2050

Long-distance road-freight transport emits a large share of Germany's greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. A potential solution for reducing GHG emissions in this sector is to use green hydrogen in fuel cell electric vehicles (FC-HDV) and establish an accompanying hydrogen refueling station (HRS) network. In this paper, we apply an existing refueling network design model to a HDV-HRS network for Germany until 2050 based on German traffic data for heavy-duty trucks and estimate its costs. Comparing different fuel supply scenarios (pipeline vs. on-site), the on-site scenario results show a network consisting of 137 stations at a cost of 8.38 billion € per year in 2050 (0.40 € per vehicle km), while the centralized scenario with the same amount of stations shows a cheaper cost with 7.25 billion euros per year (0.35 € per vehicle km). Finally, the hydrogen cost (LCOH) varies from 5.59 €/kg (pipeline) to 6.47 €/kg (on-site) in 2050.

08 HYDROGEN↗

Present and Future Changes in Land‐Atmosphere Coupling of Water and Energy Over Extratropical Forest Regions

Abstract Couplings between land and the near surface atmosphere are modulated by interactions between soil conditions, vegetation dynamics, turbulent fluxes, and atmospheric properties. How the land‐atmosphere coupling responds to warming and elevated CO 2 are important for understanding the land surface carbon, energy, and water cycles. In this work, we documented this coupled land‐atmosphere network based on observations and the Energy Exascale Earth System Model (E3SM) simulations over extratropical forest ecosystems. We employed a transfer entropy approach and novel network metrics to reveal patterns and strength of the land‐atmosphere coupling under historical conditions and a future high emission scenario (SSP585). We found that, in observations, the present‐day extratropical forest coupling network has high network connectivity (72%–88% of the targeted processes are coupled). E3SM reasonably captured the extratropical forest coupling network (modeled network connectivity was 81%–96%) and predicted that the coupling strength would significantly increase by 28% (±3%) under warming and elevated CO 2 conditions. Furthermore, E3SM factorial coupled experiments suggested that warming enhanced soil nitrogen mineralization favoring plant nitrogen uptake and vegetation growth were responsible for the strengthening future land‐atmosphere coupling. This work provides new metrics to analyze and document complex couplings for coupled earth system processes and highlights the important roles soil nutrient availability and biogeochemistry have on land‐atmosphere coupling.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Applications of CCSDS recommendations to Integrated Ground Data Systems (IGDS)

This paper describes an application of the CCSDS Principle Network (CPH) service model to communications network elements of a postulated Integrated Ground Data System (IGDS). Functions are drawn principally from COSMICS (Cosmic Information and Control System), an integrated space control infrastructure, and the Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOSDIS) Core System (ECS). From functional requirements, this paper derives a set of five communications network partitions which, taken together, support proposed space control infrastructures and data distribution systems. Our functional analysis indicates that the five network partitions derived in this paper should effectively interconnect the users, centers, processors, and other architectural elements of an IGDS. This paper illustrates a useful application of the CCSDS (Consultive Committee for Space Data Systems) Recommendations to ground data system development.

Mizuta, Hiroshi↗

Analysis of space network loading

The NASA Space Network (SN) consists of several geosynchronous communications satellites, in addition to ground support facilities. Space Network management must predict years in advance what network resources are necessary to adequately satisfy all SN users. Similarly, users of the Space Network must know throughout all stages of mission planning and operations to what extent their communication support requirements can be met. NASA, at the Goddard Space Flight Center, performs Space Network and Mission Modeling using The Network Planning and Analysis System (NPAS), to determine the answers to these questions.

Simons, Mark↗