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At least 127 records · Page 7

Stochastic multiscale modeling for quantifying statistical and model errors with application to composite materials

This paper provides a coherent and efficient computational framework for stochastic multiscale analysis of material systems in the presence of parametric uncertainties and modeling errors. Uncertainty in those model parameters that are not deduced as upscaled quantities is attributed to an uncertainty “germ”. While such parameters can appear at any scale, they are predominant at the finest analysis scale. Additional uncertainties stemming from statistical estimation, attributed to lack of data and model error, are associated with each submodel contributing to the multiscale system. Here, a robust and efficient framework based on a generalized extended polynomial chaos expansion (gEPCE) is proposed to simultaneously propagate all these uncertainties in order to provide a probabilistic representation of specific quantities of interest (QoI). We characterize the full probability distribution of the QoI and the uncertainty in the failure probability pertaining to its tails. By combining gEPCE with kernel density estimation (KDE) and directional derivatives, we construct sensitivity measures that connect these statistical metrics of QoI to the various sources of uncertainty to assess their individual and combined impacts. An illustrative problem featuring three-point bending of a composite beam is investigated to demonstrate the presented approach.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Improved accuracy in quantitative laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy using sub-models

We report that accurate quantitative analysis of diverse geologic materials is one of the primary challenges faced by the Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS)-based ChemCam instrument on the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) rover. The SuperCam instrument on the Mars 2020 rover, as well as other LIBS instruments developed for geochemical analysis on Earth or other planets, will face the same challenge. Consequently, part of the ChemCam science team has focused on the development of improved multivariate analysis calibrations methods. Developing a single regression model capable of accurately determining the composition of very different target materials is difficult because the response of an element’s emission lines in LIBS spectra can vary with the concentration of other elements. We demonstrate a conceptually simple “submodel” method for improving the accuracy of quantitative LIBS analysis of diverse target materials. The method is based on training several regression models on sets of targets with limited composition ranges and then “blending” these “sub-models” into a single final result. Tests of the sub-model method show improvement in test set root mean squared error of prediction (RMSEP) for almost all cases. Lastly, the sub-model method, using partial least squares regression (PLS), is being used as part of the current ChemCam quantitative calibration, but the sub-model method is applicable to any multivariate regression method and may yield similar improvements.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

Evaluation of the risk of perchlorate exposure in a population of late-gestation pregnant women in the United States: Application of probabilistic biologically-based dose response modeling

The risk of ubiquitous perchlorate exposure and the dose-response on thyroid hormone levels in pregnant women in the United States (U.S.) have yet to be characterized. In the current work, we integrated a previously developed perchlorate submodel into a recently developed population-based pregnancy model to predict reductions in maternal serum free thyroxine (fT4) levels for late-gestation pregnant women in the U.S. Our findings indicated no significant difference in geometric mean estimates of fT4 when perchlorate exposure from food only was compared to no perchlorate exposure. The reduction in maternal fT4 levels reached statistical significance when an added contribution from drinking water (i.e., 15 μg/L, 20 μg/L, or 24.5 μg/L) was assumed in addition to the 90th percentile of food intake for pregnant women (0.198 μg/kg/day). We determined that a daily intake of 0.45 to 0.50 μg/kg/day of perchlorate was necessary to produce results that were significantly different than those obtained from no perchlorate exposure. Adjusting for this food intake dose, the relative source contribution of perchlorate from drinking water (or other non-dietary sources) was estimated to range from 0.25–0.3 μg/kg/day. Assuming a drinking water intake rate of 0.033 L/kg/day, the drinking water concentration allowance for perchlorate equates to 7.6–9.2 μg/L. In summary, we have demonstrated the utility of a probabilistic biologically-based dose-response model for perchlorate risk assessment in a sensitive life-stage at a population level; however, there is a need for continued monitoring in regions of the U.S. where perchlorate exposure may be higher. - Highlights: • Probabilistic risk assessment for perchlorate in U.S. pregnant women was conducted. • No significant change in maternal fT4 predicted due to perchlorate from food alone. • Drinking water concentration allowance for perchlorate estimated as 7.6–9.2 μg/L.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

Optimal Design and Techno-Economic Analysis of 3D-Printed, Intensified Packings for Absorbers and Strippers in Solvent-Based CO 2 Capture

A potential technology for the CO 2 absorption process is utilizing intensified structured packing with embedded cooling/heating channels for continuous heat exchange, which can overcome limitations of discrete methods, such as discrete intercooling and centralized reboilers, to aid in reducing energy consumption and decreasing costs. This work investigates the modeling of intensified packing (IP) for the stripper tower, extending on previous work for the absorber, which distributes heat internally within the column, improving the thermodynamics for the solvent regeneration process. The model includes submodels for steam turbine extraction to produce steam at various qualities as well as a surrogate model for calculating steam enthalpy. A cost model for a plant-scale absorption capture process was developed, allowing for the design of the plant to be optimized, subject to minimizing capture cost using two different power plant flue gas sources. In this optimization, the placement of IP in both towers is optimized to balance the trade-off between enhanced heat transfer and reduced mass transfer volume. For natural gas combined cycle flue gas, the standard process configuration had a minimum cost of $\$$65.40/tonne CO 2 , and considering IP, the minimum capture cost is reduced to $\$$62.73/tonne, with utilization in the stripper column, which reduces yearly costs by up to $\$$2.67 MM/yr. Cooling the absorber through IP, or intercoolers, was only found to be beneficial at higher capture rates, with IP in both towers having a cost of capture of $\$$68.08/tonne at 99.9% capture, a reduction of $\$$12.64/tonne when using only intercoolers at the same capture rate. When capturing from pulverized-coal power plants, the minimum cost of capture when using IP in both towers is $\$$44.18/tonne (at 97% capture), while the standard configuration with and without intercoolers was $\$$45.69 and $\$$47.22 per tonne, respectively. This results in a reduction in yearly costs of $\$$16.98 MM/yr from the base-case configuration. At this higher CO 2 concentration, cooling in the absorber from the IP becomes extremely beneficial, reducing energy consumption by up to 6%.

20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS↗

Modeling Soot Oxidation and Gasification with Bayesian Statistics

This paper presents a statistical method for model calibration using data collected from literature. The method is used to calibrate parameters for global models of soot consumption in combustion systems. This consumption is broken into two different submodels: first for oxidation where soot particles are attacked by certain oxidizing agents; second for gasification where soot particles are attacked by H 2 O or CO 2 molecules. Rate data were collected from 19 studies in the literature and evaluated using Bayesian statistics to calibrate the model parameters. Bayesian statistics are valued in their ability to quantify uncertainty in modeling. The calibrated consumption model with quantified uncertainty is presented here along with a discussion of associated implications. The oxidation results are found to be consistent with previous studies. Significant variation is found in the CO 2 gasification rates.

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT↗

Multiobjective Dynamic Optimization for Optimal Load-Following of Natural Gas Combined Cycle Power Plants under Stress Constraints

With the increasing penetration of intermittent renewable energy sources into the electric grid, there is an associated need for conventional thermal power plants that are designed to operate at base-load conditions to cycle their load rapidly and frequently and operate under low-load conditions. Fast load-following operations lead to plant efficiency loss and the reduction of equipment life. A high-fidelity dynamic model of a natural gas combined cycle power plant, with rigorous equipment level submodels, is developed to capture the plant transient performance and the thermomechanical stress evolution at the high-pressure drum is computed to assess the drum life consumption. Stress evolution is modeled for the location of the edge at the drum/downcomer junction that experiences high circumferential stress amplitude during the fast load-following operation, leading to higher fatigue damage than locations considered under existing design standards. A dynamic optimization problem is solved for optimal load-following operation. Depending on the value of the stress constraint and the desired ramp rate, satisfying the desired stress constraint may be infeasible without relaxing the ramp rate. A multiobjective dynamic optimization problem is solved using a lexicographic approach that minimizes ramp rate relaxation and maximizes efficiency while satisfying stress constraints, avoiding spraying to saturation, and maintaining main steam and reheat steam temperature within bounds. It was observed that the optimal ramp rate can be highly nonlinear as opposed to the industry-standard linear ramp rate. Nonlinear optimal ramp-rate profiles not only help to avoid stress constraints that may be unavoidable by using the linear profile but also result in higher efficiency than the linear profile. Furthermore, the study shows that there is a strong tradeoff between the relaxation in the plant ramp rate and the time-average thermal efficiency.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Surface Complexation of Neptunium(V) onto Whole Cells and Cell Components of Shewanella alga: Modeling and Experimental Study

We systematically quantified surface complexation of Np(V) onto whole cells, cell wall, and extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) of Shewanella alga strain BrY. We first performed acid and base titrations and used the mathematical model FITEQL to estimate the concentrations and deprotonation constants of specific surface functional groups. Deprotonation constants most likely corresponded to a carboxyl group not associated with amino acids (pK{sub a} {approx} 5), a phosphoryl site (pK{sub a} {approx} 7.2), and an amine site (pK{sub a} > 10). We then carried out batch sorption experiments with Np(V) and each of the S. alga components as a function of pH. Since significant Np(V) sorption was observed on S. alga whole cells and its components in the pH range 2-5, we assumed the existence of a fourth site: a low-pK{sub a} carboxyl site (pK{sub a} {approx} 2.4) that is associated with amino acids. We used the SPECIATE submodel of the biogeochemical model CCBATCH to compute the stability constants for Np(V) complexation to each surface functional group. The stability constants were similar for each functional group on S. alga bacterial whole cells, cell walls, and EPS, and they explain the complicated sorption patterns when they are combined with the aqueous-phase speciation of Np(V). For pH < 8, the aquo NpO{sub 2}{sup +} species was the dominant form of Np(V), and its log K values for the low-pK{sub a} carboxyl, mid-pK{sub a} carboxyl, and phosphoryl groups were 1.8, 1.8, and 2.5-3.1, respectively. For pH greater than 8, the key surface ligand was amine > XNH{sub 3}{sup +}, which complexed with NpO{sub 2}(CO{sub 3}){sub 3}{sup 5-}. The log K for NpO{sub 2}(CO{sub 3}){sub 3}{sup 5-} complexed onto the amine groups was 3.1-3.9. All of the log K values are similar to those of Np(V) complexes with aqueous carboxyl and N-containing carboxyl ligands. These results help quantify the role of surface complexation in defining actinide-microbiological interactions in the subsurface.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

A scalable, open-source implementation of a large-scale mechanistic model for single cell proliferation and death signaling

Mechanistic models of how single cells respond to different perturbations can help integrate disparate big data sets or predict response to varied drug combinations. However, the construction and simulation of such models have proved challenging. Here, we developed a python-based model creation and simulation pipeline that converts a few structured text files into an SBML standard and is high-performance- and cloud-computing ready. We applied this pipeline to our large-scale, mechanistic pan-cancer signaling model (named SPARCED) and demonstrate it by adding an IFNγ pathway submodel. We then investigated whether a putative crosstalk mechanism could be consistent with experimental observations from the LINCS MCF10A Data Cube that IFNγ acts as an anti-proliferative factor. The analyses suggested this observation can be explained by IFNγ-induced SOCS1 sequestering activated EGF receptors. This work forms a foundational recipe for increased mechanistic model-based data integration on a single-cell level, an important building block for clinically-predictive mechanistic models.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

The spatiotemporal oscillation characteristics of the dielectric wall sheath in stationary plasma thrusters

A two-dimensional particle in cell model is used to simulate the sheath oscillation in stationary plasma thrusters. The embedded secondary electron emission (SEE) submodel is based on that of Morozov but improved by considering the electron elastic reflection effect. The simulation results show that when the SEE coefficient is smaller than one due to the relative low electron temperature, one-dimensional static sheath can be found; as the electron temperature increase, the SEE coefficient approaches to one and temporal oscillation sheath appears; when the electron temperature increases so high that the SEE coefficient is beyond one, the sheath oscillates not only in time but also in space.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Structural Analysis of the US ITER ECH Transmission Line System

The electron cyclotron heating (ECH) and current drive system is one of the main plasma heating systems for ITER. It uses high-power microwave beams with the power deposition location steerable across the plasma cross section. Microwave power is conveyed via transmission lines (TLs) that run from the gyrotrons in the radio frequency building through the assembly hall and tokamak building to the ECH launchers within the tokamak vacuum vessel. The ECH system includes a vast array of interconnected TL waveguides, in-line components, and support structures.Finite element (FE) modeling provides an essential means of simulating the system, applying loads and determining deflections, rotations, forces, moments, and stresses in order to evaluate various structural and microwave transmission performance metrics. A representative FE model of the overall ECH TL system is developed in ANSYS®. This top-level model defines the centerline of the waveguide system. Waveguide segments are represented by line elements (beams and pipes) with equivalent section properties, and support structures are represented by boundary conditions. A systematic approach is used to model each ECH component with lumped masses and structurally equivalent stiffness matrices or ANSYS superelements.The top-level TL FE model is used to evaluate the various loads (thermal, vacuum, seismic, etc.) and operating scenarios. The top-level model directly calculates stresses in the straight aluminum waveguide segments. The model provides the forces and moments acting on the in-line components for detailed submodel assessments. Displacement results from the top-level analysis feed into a separate microwave performance model to help determine operational efficiency. All TL performance and thermal-structural requirements are met, as specified by the applicable codes and standards, and successfully documented in numerous technical reports and demonstrated at the final design review.

Shanmugasundaram, Aravind↗

Electromagnetic Analysis of ITER Electron Cyclotron Emission Components and Support Structures for the Preliminary Design Review

The ITER electron cyclotron emission (ECE) diagnostic system is located at Design Shield Module (DSM) 2, Equatorial Port (EP) 9 to measure electron temperature profile and electron temperature fluctuations and also to assess nonthermal electron distributions via the oblique view. Therefore, ECE has both radial and oblique views with two couples of mirrors for two different optical views. This ECE diagnostic system shall be exposed to significant power due to unabsorbed electron cyclotron heating power in the plasma. It shall also receive large electromagnetic (EM) loads up to 100 MN/m 3 force density due to the eddy currents generated by the short 16-ms transient plasma disruption. The global EM models of EP12 and EP11 with the worst case of plasma disruption Major Disruption Downward Exponential 16 ms Category III (MD_DW_EXP16MS_CATIII) have been provided by ITER. However, the support structure for these critical components, including four mirrors, is still under the design and development phase, especially during the period of preliminary design reviews (PDRs). For those small in-vessel components that are not modeled explicitly for the PDRs, we can extract the magnetic field (B) data and flux variations (dB/dt) at those locations from the global model and then use the B and dB/dt method to calculate the eddy currents, EM forces, and torques on those components in the local submodels. In conclusion, this paper will present the detailed PDR EM analysis results of the ECE components and support structures.

Electromagnetic↗

Multi-scale nonlinear stress analysis of Nb 3 Sn superconducting accelerator magnets

A multi-scale nonlinear procedure to analyze the stress in Nb 3 Sn superconducting accelerator magnets is presented to address one of the most challenging obstacles currently facing the successful development of high-field superconducting magnets—the issue of stress management. The study demonstrates that gaskets (special nonlinear materials) are capable of modeling the complex nonlinear deformation behavior of insulation layers within the Nb 3 Sn coil block and that Hill materials (orthotropic materials utilizing the Hill yield criterion) are suitable to enable homogenization of the filamentary regions and the resin-impregnated Nb 3 Sn Rutherford cables. With the whole magnet under preload, cool-down, and Lorentz forces, the nonlinear behavior of the Nb 3 Sn coil was simulated, in three orthongonal axes, by the combined properties of the gaskets (insulation layers) and Hill materials (resin-impreganted cable). The procedure entailes minimal material assumptions because it incorporated measured stress-strain curves in the analysis. The coil was simulated to a high level of detail consisting of the insulation layers and resin-impregnated cables. The computed compressive azimuthal stresses of the cables were used to assess the stress-induced performance degradation. Through submodeling, the area-weighted average axial strains of the strands were computed and employed to evaluate the strain-induced performance degradation. The overall performance degradation of the Nb 3 Sn coil was thus obtained, and this information was subsequently used to guide the design of the overall magnet. Besides Nb 3 Sn magnets, this procedure can also be employed in the design of LTS, HTS, and room temperature magnets or in any composite structures.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

A Generic Biokinetic Model for C-14

The generic biokinetic model currently recommended by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) for the treatment of systemic radiocarbon assumes uniform distribution of activity in tissues and a biological half-time of 40 d. This model is intended to generate cautiously high estimates of dose per unit intake of C-14 and, in fact, generally predicts a much higher effective dose than systemic models that have been developed on the basis of biokinetic studies of specific carbon compounds. The simplistic model formulation precludes its application as a bioassay model or adjustment to fit case-specific bioassay data. This paper proposes a new generic biokinetic model for systemic radiocarbon that is less conservative than the current ICRP model but maintains sufficient conservatism to overestimate the effective dose coefficients generated by most radiocarbon-compound-specific models. The proposed model includes two systemic pools with different biological half-times representing an initial systemic form of absorbed radiocarbon, a submodel describing the behaviour of labelled carbon dioxide produced in vivo, and three excretion pathways: breath, urine and faeces. Generic excretion rates along each path are based on multi-phase excretion curves observed in experimental studies of radiocarbons. The generic model structure is designed so that the user may adjust the level of dosimetric conservatism to fit the information at hand and may adjust parameter values for consistency with subject-specific or site-specific bioassay data.

61 RADIATION PROTECTION AND DOSIMETRY↗

Towards Ultra-high-resolution E3SM Land Modeling on Exascale Computers

Here we present an ultra-high-resolution E3SM land model (uELM) for high-fidelity land simulations targeting new Exascale computers. After considering modeling infrastructure compatibility and ELM software features, we designed a parallel model for the uELM development targeting hybrid architectures of new US Exascale computers. We also described a function unit test framework to expedite the piece-wise code porting (with compiler directives), verification, and global variable management. Furthermore, in this study, we report an early uELM model development using OpenACC within a function unit test framework on a pre-Exascale computer, demonstrate the performance of a uLEM submodel with a 3.0-time speedup, and summarize the code porting experience regarding global variable handling, deepcopy, memory reduction, and parallel loop reconstruction.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Improvements to PVWatts for Fixed and One-Axis Tracking Systems

This work presents improvements to the widely used NREL PVWatts photovoltaic system energy model to improve modeling accuracy for typical fixed and one axis system designs. The aim is to calculate losses in the PV system assuming typical modern system design practices, while maintaining simplicity by keeping the required set of input parameters small. These improvements allow users to more credibly and quickly evaluate competing system designs in early stage feasibility. Common submodels for module cover, spectral, snow, tracker, transformer, plant controller, and self-shading losses, in addition to a bifacial gain option, are incorporated into the PVWatts model, and are shown to improve PVWatts' system performance prediction capabilities without major impact to ease of use. We anticipate including these improvements in a future release of NREL's open source PVWatts code, and some of the features may become available in the System Advisor Model (SAM) desktop software as well as the popular PVWatts web application.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

Fracture Failure Analysis for MQXFA Magnet Aluminum Shells

The High-Luminosity LHC Accelerator Upgrade Project (HL-LHC AUP) is approaching the production phase of the US-contributed Q1 and Q3 Interaction Region Quadrupoles (MQXFA). The structures for the MQXFA prototypes were design and inspected by the US-LARP (LHC Accelerator Research Program), AUP developed criteria, which will be used for the pre-series structures. As the first two full-length prototypes with 4.2 m magnetic length, MQXFAP1 and MQXFAP2, were designed and assembled at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), and tested at Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL). The end aluminum short shell of MQXFAP2 was fractured along the shell length during the test, and tests were stopped. Analytical and Finite Element analysis were performed in light of the graded procedure defined in the Structure Design Criteria to investigate the fracture failure for MQXFAP2. In this paper, we report the fracture analysis of the current shell design, including the elasto-plastic simulations with submodel technique, and calculations with Linear Elastic Fracture Mechanics (LEFM). Test material properties are also presented. The results of this analysis explain why the end shell of MQXFAP2 failed, and suggest fillets on the end shell notches to meet the margin specified in the Structural Design Criteria.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

Combined Normal and Disruption, Electromagnetic Transient, Thermal, and Structural Analysis of COMPASS Upgrade

We report that COMPASS Upgrade is a replacement for the COMPASS device at the Institute of Plasma Physics (IPP) of the Czech Academy of Sciences. It is a cryogenic copper machine with a major radius of 0.89 m, with 5 T at the plasma centerline and 2-MA plasma current. It is intended to develop ITER relevant plasma densities and high power fluxes in the divertor region. The entire vacuum vessel is planned to reach 500 °C. The COMPASS-U TF coil is a bitter plate-like design with radial conductor plates that extend the width of the TF inner leg. Currents redistribute radially based on resistive and inductive effects. This necessitates an electromagnetic (EM) transient analysis of the coil current distribution. For copper coils like COMPASS Upgrade, the solution must be coupled with a thermal solution to properly include the temperature-dependent resistive effects. The EM transient solution includes the TF magnetic loads, and a stress pass on the results produces in-plane loads. The EM solution chosen requires inclusion of all the conducting and nonconducting regions surrounding the TF coil. With the TF current distribution solved, the addition of the poloidal coils and resulting background fields allows the determination of the out-of-plane loads. Integration of the Joule heating produced from the EM solution produces temperature distributions throughout the shot, which can be read in to a structural pass to include thermal stresses in the evaluation. This is true of both TF and PF temperature prediction with appropriate packing fractions. Currents in the PF coils, with computed background fields, produce Lorentz loads. Time transients of the PF currents produce startup eddy currents in the structures included in the model; inclusion of the vessel and other passive structures allows these to be included in a stress pass. The EM transient solution includes all the elements needed for a disruption analysis with prescribed motions and quench of the plasma. From a model originally intended to simulate current diffusion in the TF coil, the analysis can be refined to be used to predict the performance of most of the components of the tokamak or provide boundary conditions for more detailed submodels. In this article, the use of the current diffusion model for bounding assessments of the COMPASS Upgrade TF, PF, vessel, external structure, and disruption analyses will be presented.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗