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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 1,261 records · Page 70

Estimating the Bias of Local Polynomial Approximation Methods Using the Peano Kernel

The determination of uncertainty of an estimate requires both the variance and the bias of the estimate. Calculating the variance of local polynomial approximation (LPA) estimates is straightforward. We present a method, using the Peano Kernel Theorem, to estimate the bias of LPA estimates and show how this can be used to optimize the LPA parameters in terms of the bias-variance tradeoff. Figures of merit are derived and values calculated for several common methods. The results in the literature are expanded by giving bias error bounds that are valid for all lengths of the smoothing interval, generalizing the currently available asymptotic results that are only valid in the limit as the length of this interval goes to zero.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Seismic waves in medium with poroelastic/elastic interfaces: a two-dimensional P-SV finite-difference modelling

SUMMARY We present a new methodology of the finite-difference (FD) modelling of seismic wave propagation in a strongly heterogeneous medium composed of poroelastic (P) and (strictly) elastic (E) parts. The medium can include P/P, P/E and E/E material interfaces of arbitrary shapes. The poroelastic part can be with (i) zero resistive friction, (ii) non-zero constant resistive friction or (iii) JKD model of the frequency-dependent permeability and resistive friction. Our FD scheme is capable of subcell resolution: a material interface can have an arbitrary position in the spatial grid. The scheme keeps computational efficiency of the scheme for a smoothly and weakly heterogeneous medium (medium without material interfaces). Numerical tests against independent analytical, semi-analytical and spectral-element methods prove the efficiency and accuracy of our FD modelling. In numerical examples, we indicate effect of the P/E interfaces for the poroelastic medium with a constant resistive friction and medium with the JKD model of the frequency-dependent permeability and resistive friction. We address the 2-D P-SV problem. The approach can be readily extended to the 3-D problem.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗

Microwave-based arbitrary cphase gates for transmon qubits

Superconducting transmon qubits are of great interest for quantum computing and quantum simulation. A key component of quantum chemistry simulation algorithms is breaking up the evolution into small steps, which naturally leads to the need for nonmaximally entangling, arbitrary CPHASE gates. Here we design such microwave-based gates using an analytically solvable approach leading to smooth, simple pulses. In this work, we use the local invariants of the evolution operator in SU(4) to develop a method of constructing pulse protocols, which allows for the continuous tuning of the phase. We find CPHASE fidelities of more than 0.999 and gate times as low as 100 ns.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Lightweight Composite Materials for Heavy Duty Vehicles

The main objective of this project is to develop, analyze and validate data, methodologies and tools that support widespread applications of automotive lightweighting technologies. Two underlying principles are guiding the research efforts towards this objective: • Seamless integration between the lightweight materials selected for certain vehicle systems, cost-effective methods for their design and manufacturing, and practical means to enhance their durability while reducing their Life-Cycle-Costs (LCC). • Smooth migration of the experience and findings accumulated so far at WVU in the areas of designing with lightweight materials, innovative joining concepts and durability predictions, from applications to the area of weight savings for heavy vehicle systems and hydrogen storage tanks, to lightweighting applications of selected systems or assemblies in light–duty vehicles.

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗

ML Enhancements via the Calculation of Rigid Body Modes (RBMs) for Mechanics Problems Implemented within the Albany Code Base

The algebraic multigrid approach known as smoothed aggregation is very efficient at solving systems that arise from elasticity problems. In order to construct an efficient algebraic multilevel method, a multigrid solver should be provided with a small set of vectors that represent the error components that are difficult to resolve. It is well-known that for linear elasticity problems, these components correspond to the the so-called rigid body modes (RBMs). The present document summarizes some new development within the Albany code base that has enabled the application of algebraic multigrid preconditioners from the ML package of Trilinos to mechanics problems implemented within Albany via a new function that calculates the RBMs using information about the problem's underlying mesh. The performance of these preconditioners is evaluated on four problems: a 3D static elasticity problem, a 3D non-linear elasticity problem, a 3D thermo-elasticity problem, and a 3D thermo-poro-plasticity problem. The tests reveal the superiority of the ML preconditioners over ILU preconditioners from the Trilinos Ifpack package for mechanics problems in Albany.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Efficient matrix partitioning for optical computing

Techniques for partitioning optical linear algebra problems to make them amenable to solution using optical processors programmed with simple algorithms are explored. Generalized methods for splitting a linear algebra matrix into a series of submatrices are reviewed, showing that simple forms can be pipelined smoothly and that parallel accumulation can be achieved by beam combining on detectors or by summing electronically. The techniques offer simplified bookkeeping, algorithmic independence, and high efficiency. The computational speed will depend on the number of multiplier-accumulators devoted to the task.

Caulfield, H. J.↗

Proceedings of the Third Annual Symposium on Mathematical Pattern Recognition and Image Analysis

Topics addressed include: multivariate spline method; normal mixture analysis applied to remote sensing; image data analysis; classifications in spatially correlated environments; probability density functions; graphical nonparametric methods; subpixel registration analysis; hypothesis integration in image understanding systems; rectification of satellite scanner imagery; spatial variation in remotely sensed images; smooth multidimensional interpolation; and optimal frequency domain textural edge detection filters.

Guseman, L. F., Jr.↗

Comparison of predicted and measured drag for a single-engine airplane

Renewed interest in natural laminar flow (NLF) has rekindled designers' concerns that manufacturing deviations, (loss of surface contours or other surface imperfections) may destroy the effectiveness of NLF for an operational airplane. This paper reports on experimental research that compares predicted and measured boundary layer transition, total drag, and two-dimensional drag coefficients for three different wing surface conditions on an airplane typical of general aviation manufacturing technology. The three flight test phases included: (1) assessment of an unpainted airframe, (2) flight tests of the same airplane after painstakingly filling and sanding the wings to design contours, and (3) similar measurements after this airplane was painted. In each flight phase, transition locations were monitored using either sublimating chemicals or pigmented oil. As expected, total drag changes were difficult to measure. Two-dimensional drag coefficients were estimated using the Eppler-Somers code and measured with a wake rake in a method very similar to Jones' pitot traverse method. The net change in two-dimensional drag was approximately 20 counts between the unpainted airplane and the 'hand-smoothed' airplane for typical cruise flight conditions.

Ward, D. T.↗

Microgravity robotics technology program

A research program to develop technology for robots operating in the microgravity environment of the space station laboratory is described. These robots must be capable of manipulating payloads without causing them to experience harmful levels of acceleration, and the motion of these robots must not disturb adjacent experiments and operations by transmitting reactions that translate into damaging effects throughout the laboratory. Solutions to these problems, based on both mechanism technology and control strategies, are discussed. Methods are presented for reduction of robot base reactions through the use of redundant degrees of freedom, and the development of smoothly operating roller-driven robot joints for microgravity manipulators is discussed.

Rohn, Douglas A.↗

Solution of the hydrodynamic device model using high-order non-oscillatory shock capturing algorithms

A micron n+ - n - n+ silicon diode is simulated via the hydrodynamic model for carrier transport. The numerical algorithms employed are for the non-steady case, and a limiting process is used to reach steady state. The simulation employs shock capturing algorithms, and indeed shocks, or very rapid transition regimes, are observed in the transient case for the coupled system, consisting of the potential equation and the conservation equations describing charge, momentum, and energy transfer for the electron carriers. These algorithms, termed essentially non-oscillatory, were successfully applied in other contexts to model the flow in gas dynamics, magnetohydrodynamics, and other physical situations involving the conservation laws in fluid mechanics. The method here is first order in time, but the use of small time steps allows for good accuracy. Runge-Kutta methods allow one to achieve higher accuracy in time if desired. The spatial accuracy is of high order in regions of smoothness.

Fatemi, Emad↗

Recent developments in shock-capturing schemes

The development of the shock capturing methodology is reviewed, paying special attention to the increasing nonlinearity in its design and its relation to interpolation. It is well-known that higher-order approximations to a discontinuous function generate spurious oscillations near the discontinuity (Gibbs phenomenon). Unlike standard finite-difference methods which use a fixed stencil, modern shock capturing schemes use an adaptive stencil which is selected according to the local smoothness of the solution. Near discontinuities this technique automatically switches to one-sided approximations, thus avoiding the use of discontinuous data which brings about spurious oscillations.

Harten, Ami↗

A multiple-block multigrid method for the solution of the three-dimensional Euler and Navier-Stokes equations

A multiple block multigrid method for the solution of the three dimensional Euler and Navier-Stokes equations is presented. The basic flow solver is a cell vertex method which employs central difference spatial approximations and Runge-Kutta time stepping. The use of local time stepping, implicit residual smoothing, multigrid techniques and variable coefficient numerical dissipation results in an efficient and robust scheme is discussed. The multiblock strategy places the block loop within the Runge-Kutta Loop such that accuracy and convergence are not affected by block boundaries. This has been verified by comparing the results of one and two block calculations in which the two block grid is generated by splitting the one block grid. Results are presented for both Euler and Navier-Stokes computations of wing/fuselage combinations.

Atkins, Harold↗

Solution of the hydrodynamic device model using high-order non-oscillatory shock capturing algorithms

A micron n+ - n - n+ silicon diode is simulated via the hydrodynamic model for carrier transport. The numerical algorithms employed are for the non-steady case, and a limiting process is used to reach steady state. The simulation employs shock capturing algorithms, and indeed shocks, or very rapid transition regimes, are observed in the transient case for the coupled system, consisting of the potential equation and the conservation equations describing charge, momentum, and energy transfer for the electron carriers. These algorithms, termed essentially nonoscillatory, were successfully applied in other contexts to model the flow in gas dynamics, magnetohydrodynamics, and other physical situations involving the conservation laws in fluid mechanics. The method here is first order in time, but the use of small time steps allows for good accuracy. Runge-Kutta methods allow one to achieve higher accuracy in time if desired. The spatial accuracy is of high order in regions of smoothness.

Fatemi, Emad↗

A nonconforming multigrid method using conforming subspaces

For second-order elliptic boundary value problems, we develop a nonconforming multigrid method using the coarser-grid correction on the conforming finite element subspaces. The convergence proof with an arbitrary number of smoothing steps for nu-cycle is presented.

Lee, Chang Ock↗

Continuum Fitting HST QSO Spectra

The Principal Component Analysis (PCA) method which we are using to fit and describe QSO spectra relies upon the fact that QSO continuum are generally very smooth and simple except for emission and absorption lines. To see this we need high signal-to-noise (S/N) spectra of QSOs at low redshift which have relatively few absorption lines in the Lyman-a forest. We need a large number of such spectra to use as the basis set for the PCA analysis which will find the set of principal component spectra which describe the QSO family as a whole. We have found that too few HST spectra have the required S/N and hence we need to supplement them with ground based spectra of QSOs at higher redshift. We have many such spectra and we have been working to make them suitable for this analysis. We have concentrated on this topic since 12/15/01.

Tytler, David↗

Metal deposition using seed layers

Methods of forming a conductive metal layers on substrates are disclosed which employ a seed layer to enhance bonding, especially to smooth, low-roughness or hydrophobic substrates. In one aspect of the invention, the seed layer can be formed by applying nanoparticles onto a surface of the substrate; and the metallization is achieved by electroplating an electrically conducting metal onto the seed layer, whereby the nanoparticles serve as nucleation sites for metal deposition. In another approach, the seed layer can be formed by a self-assembling linker material, such as a sulfur-containing silane material.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Analysis of Niobium Electropolishing Using a Generalized Distribution of Relaxation Times Method

Using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, we have devised a method of sensing the microscopic surface conditions on the surface of niobium as it is undergoing an electrochemical polishing (EP) treatment. The method uses electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) to gather information on the surface state of the electrode without disrupting the polishing reaction. The EIS data is analyzed using a so-called distribution of relaxation times (DRT) method. Using DRT, the EIS data can be deconvolved into discrete relaxation time peaks without any a priori knowledge of the electrode dynamics. By analyzing the relaxation time peaks, we are able to distinguish two distinct modes of the EP reaction. As the polishing voltage is increased, the electrode transitions from the low voltage EP mode, characterized by a single relaxation time peaks, to the high voltage EP mode, characterized by two relaxation time peaks. We theorize that this second peak is caused by the formation of an oxide layer on the electrode. We also find that this oxide induced peak transitions from to a negative relaxation time, which is indicative of a blocking electrode process. By analyzing EPed samples, we show that samples polished in the low voltage mode have significantly higher surface roughness due to grain etching and faceting. We find that the surface roughness of the samples only improves when the oxide film peak is present and in the negative relaxation time region. This shows that EIS combined with DRT analysis can be used to predict etching on EPed Nb. This method can also be performed before or during the EP, which could allow for adjustment of polishing parameters to guarantee a smooth cavity surface finish.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

Photometric geodesy of main-belt asteroids. IV - An updated analysis of lightcurves for poles, periods, and shapes

The Drummond et al. (1988) analysis of main-belt asteroids is presently extended, using three independent methods to derive poles, periods, phase functions, and triaxial ellipsoid shapes from lightcurve maxima and minima. This group of 26 asteroids is also reinvestigated with a view to the distributions of triaxial shapes and obliquity distributions. Poles weakly tend to avoid asteroid orbital planes; a rough-smooth dichotomization appears to be justified by the persistence of two solar phase angle-amplitude relations. Seven of the objects may be Jacobi ellipsoids if axial ratios are slightly exaggerated by a systematic effect of the analytical method employed.

Drummond, J. D.↗