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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 145 records · Page 8

An algorithm for domain decomposition in finite element analysis

A simple and efficient algorithm is described for automatic decomposition of an arbitrary finite element domain into a specified number of subdomains for finite element and substructuring analysis in a multiprocessor computer environment. The algorithm is designed to balance the work loads, to minimize the communication among processors and to minimize the bandwidths of the resulting system of equations. Small- to large-scale finite element models, which have two-node elements (truss, beam element), three-node elements (triangular element) and four-node elements (quadrilateral element), are solved on the Convex computer to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm. A FORTRAN computer program is also included.

Al-Nasra, M.↗

Two genes with similarity to bacterial response regulators are rapidly and specifically induced by cytokinin in Arabidopsis

Cytokinins are central regulators of plant growth and development, but little is known about their mode of action. By using differential display, we identified a gene, IBC6 (for induced by cytokinin), from etiolated Arabidopsis seedlings, that is induced rapidly by cytokinin. The steady state level of IBC6 mRNA was elevated within 10 min by the exogenous application of cytokinin, and this induction did not require de novo protein synthesis. IBC6 was not induced by other plant hormones or by light. A second Arabidopsis gene with a sequence highly similar to IBC6 was identified. This IBC7 gene also was induced by cytokinin, although with somewhat slower kinetics and to a lesser extent. The pattern of expression of the two genes was similar, with higher expression in leaves, rachises, and flowers and lower transcript levels in roots and siliques. Sequence analysis revealed that IBC6 and IBC7 are similar to the receiver domain of bacterial two-component response regulators. This homology, coupled with previously published work on the CKI1 histidine kinase homolog, suggests that these proteins may play a role in early cytokinin signaling.

Non-NASA Center↗

MVP-CTL Fellowship for Suicide Intervention (CRADA Final Report)

Research conducted with Crisis Text Line (CTL) served as an important stepping stone in the group’s ongoing work of developing natural language processing (NLP) methodologies to discover indicators of suicide factors in the U.S. veteran population. With rising cases of suicide, detecting risk factors among veterans is of growing concern. Socio-economic factors are often under-reported along structured medical variables, and extracting information through NLP methods may improve the sensitivity of suicide prediction models. The research explored through the CTL collaboration provided insights on suicide crisis detection and de-escalation, experience in applying scalable data analysis on real world datasets, contributions to study designs for detecting rare-event and produced transferable methods applicable to the domain of veteran suicide mitigation. Tools developed during this research directly benefits ongoing work on the Million Veteran Project (MVP) collaboration with the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA).

99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS↗

Grain boundary segregation and chemical ordering in CoCrFeMnNi multi-principal element alloy

Owing to their far-from-dilute compositions, multi-principal element alloys (MPEAs) can exhibit unique combinations of engineering properties. As nearly all MPEAs are polycrystalline aggregates, it is necessary to understand the interactions of various elemental species with grain boundaries (GBs). This is of particular importance in extreme environments, such as radiation and elevated temperatures, where such interactions have implications on the properties of MPEAs. Herein, we employ atomistic simulations to generate a series of [001] asymmetric tilt GBs in a model CoCrFeMnNi MPEA and quantify solute interactions and segregation to these boundaries. We employ the Warren-Cowley order parameters to investigate the interplay between GB segregation and chemical short-range order (SRO). At temperatures above 800 K, simulation results reveal the segregation of Cr and Mn to CoCrFeMnNi GBs and show weak dependence of boundary solute excess on GB geometry, at least for the boundaries explored in this work. At temperatures in the range of 673–800 K, formation of domains rich in Cr is observed at GBs in agreement with experimental observations. Quantitative analysis shows that solute excess of various alloying elements decreases rapidly with the increase in temperature in the range of 1000–1200 K. Furthermore, we show that GB regions exhibit SRO characteristics that are distinct from the bulk crystals, leading to spatial variations in SRO. In broad terms, our study highlights the need to account for GB interactions with alloying elements when designing advanced MPEAs with novel chemistries.

Wang, Yitao [Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA (Uni↗

Mind the gap: Bridging the divide between AI aspirations and the reality of autonomous microscopy

What does materials science look like in the “Age of Artificial Intelligence?” Each material’s domain—synthesis, characterization, and modeling—has a different answer to this question, motivated by unique challenges and constraints. This work focuses on the tremendous potential of autonomous characterization within electron microscopy. We present our recent advancements in developing domain-aware, multimodal models for microscopy analysis capable of describing complex atomic systems. We then address the critical gap between the theoretical promise of autonomous microscopy and its current practical limitations, showcasing recent successes while highlighting the necessary developments to achieve robust, real-world autonomy.

2D materials↗

Comparison of Conservation Behavior in Several Variationally Derived Implementations for Simulating Electromagnetic Plasmas

Variational techniques based on Low's Lagrangian formulation have demonstrated significant improvement in conservation properties as compared to traditional particle-in-cell (PIC) algorithms. Previous work showed that equations derived from a discretized Lagrangian preserve a discretized version of the connection between Lagrangian symmetries and conservation laws, i.e., Noether's theorem. Specifically, a thorough analysis of energy conservation within the new system explained the absence of “grid heating” phenomena. In the present work, variationally derived implementations in a gridded periodic domain were compared to analogous implementations using Fourier bases. Since the Fourier basis allows for exact momentum conservation, this approach enables us to compare the relative merits of exact and approximate momentum conservation. Furthermore, to establish a tangible comparison for numerical methods, we investigate two simple physical examples; (1) the coupling of an electrostatic and electromagnetic plasma wave and (2) an equilibrium supporting Weibel instability.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

New Method Developed for Aeroelastic Stability Analysis

The development of advanced-design ultrahigh bypass ratio engines has led to renewed interest in the study of the flutter of bladed disks. Previously, two fundamental approaches were used in flutter calculations: frequency domain analysis and time-domain analysis. With the development of time-marching computational fluid dynamics (CFD) flow solvers, both approaches have been used with equal ease. In the present work at the NASA Lewis Research Center, substantial computational savings have been achieved by applying a numerical eigensolver to a nonlinear, time-marching fluid-structure interaction system solver for flutter prediction.

Source record↗

Knowledge Based Systems: A Critical Survey of Major Concepts, Issues, and Techniques

This Working Paper Series entry presents a detailed survey of knowledge based systems. After being in a relatively dormant state for many years, only recently is Artificial Intelligence (AI) - that branch of computer science that attempts to have machines emulate intelligent behavior - accomplishing practical results. Most of these results can be attributed to the design and use of Knowledge-Based Systems, KBSs (or ecpert systems) - problem solving computer programs that can reach a level of performance comparable to that of a human expert in some specialized problem domain. These systems can act as a consultant for various requirements like medical diagnosis, military threat analysis, project risk assessment, etc. These systems possess knowledge to enable them to make intelligent desisions. They are, however, not meant to replace the human specialists in any particular domain. A critical survey of recent work in interactive KBSs is reported. A case study (MYCIN) of a KBS, a list of existing KBSs, and an introduction to the Japanese Fifth Generation Computer Project are provided as appendices. Finally, an extensive set of KBS-related references is provided at the end of the report.

Dominick, Wayne D.↗

Slycat™ User Manual

Slycat™ is a web-based system for performing data analysis and visualization of potentially large quantities of remote, high-dimensional data. Slycat™ specializes in working with ensemble data. An ensemble is a group of related data sets, which typically consists of a set of simulation runs exploring the same problem space. An ensemble can be thought of as a set of samples within a multi-variate domain, where each sample is a vector whose value defines a point in high-dimensional space. To understand and describe the underlying problem being modeled in the simulations, ensemble analysis looks for shared behaviors and common features across the group of runs. Additionally, ensemble analysis tries to quantify differences found in any members that deviate from the rest of the group. The Slycat™ system integrates data management, scalable analysis, and visualization. Results are viewed remotely on a user’s desktop via commodity web clients using a multi-tiered hierarchy of computation and data storage, as shown in Figure 1. Our goal is to operate on data as close to the source as possible, thereby reducing time and storage costs associated with data movement. Consequently, we are working to develop parallel analysis capabilities that operate on High Performance Computing (HPC) platforms, to explore approaches for reducing data size, and to implement strategies for staging computation across the Slycat™ hierarchy. Within Slycat™, data and visual analysis are organized around projects, which are shared by a project team. Project members are explicitly added, each with a designated set of permissions. Although users sign-in to access Slycat™, individual accounts are not maintained. Instead, authentication is used to determine project access. Within projects, Slycat™ models capture analysis results and enable data exploration through various visual representations. Although for scientists each simulation run is a model of real-world phenomena given certain conditions, we use the term model to refer to our modeling of the ensemble data, not the physics. Different model types often provide complementary perspectives on data features when analyzing the same data set. Each model visualizes data at several levels of abstraction, allowing the user to range from viewing the ensemble holistically to accessing numeric parameter values for a single run. Bookmarks provide a mechanism for sharing results, enabling interesting model states to be labeled and saved.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

The Impact of Streaming Data on Sensemaking with Mixed-Initative Visual Analytics

Visual data analysis helps people gain insights into data via interactive visualizations. People generate and test hypotheses and questions about data in context of the domain. This process can generally be referred to as sensemaking. Much of the work on studying sensemaking (and creating visual analytic techniques in support of it) has been focused on static datasets. However, how do the cognitive processes of sensemaking change when data are changing? Further, what implication for design does this create for mixed-initiative visual analytics systems? This paper presents the results of a user study analyzing the impact of streaming data on sensemaking. To perform this study, we developed a mixed-initiative visual analytic prototype, the Streaming Canvas, that affords the analysis of streaming text data. We compare the sensemaking process of people using this tool for a static and streaming dataset. We present the results of this study and discuss the implications on future visual analytic systems that combine machine learning and interactive visualization to help people make sense of streaming data.

visualization↗

The analysis of reactively loaded microstrip antennas by finite difference time domain modelling

In recent years, much interest has been shown in the use of printed circuit antennas in mobile satellite and communications terminals at microwave frequencies. Although such antennas have many advantages in weight and profile size over more conventional reflector/horn configurations, they do, however, suffer from an inherently narrow bandwidth. A way of optimizing the bandwidth of such antennas by an electronic tuning technique using a loaded probe mounted within the antenna structure is examined, and the resulting far-field radiation patterns are shown. Simulation results from a 2D finite difference time domain (FDTD) model for a rectangular microstrip antenna loaded with shorting pins are given and compared to results obtained with an actual antenna. It is hoped that this work will result in a design package for the analysis of microstrip patch antenna elements.

Hilton, G. S.↗

Electromagnetic resonances of cylinders and aircraft model with resistive wires

Laboratory experiments were done to determine the natural frequencies of the electromagnetic resonances of conducting bodies with attached wires. The bodies include two cylinders and an approximate scale model of the NASA F-106B aircraft. All are three feet in length. Time-domain waveforms of B-dot and D-dot were obtained from a sampling oscilloscope, and Prony analysis was used to extract the natural frequencies. This work is an extension of previous work, but smaller, more resistive wires have been used. The first four natural frequencies of the cylinders (and wires) were determined, and a comparison with calculated results of other investigators show reasonable agreement. Seven natural frequencies were determined for the F-106B model (wire wires), and these have been compared with results obtained by NASA in 1982 during direct lightning strikes to the aircraft. The agreement between the corresponding natural frequencies of the model and the aircraft is fairly good and is better than that obtained in the previous work using wires with less resistance. The frequencies lie between 6.5 MHz and 41 MHz, and all of the normalized damping rates are between 0.14 and 0.27.

Wood, G. W.↗

Identification of structural-borne noise components by the use of time-frequency filtering

In this paper it is shown that a time-frequency analysis of a structural impulse response may be used to identify the wave types carrying significant energy through a structure. The identification of various wave types is possible since each is characterized by its own dispersion relation, with the result that each wave type may be associated with characteristic features in the time-frequency domain representation of an impulse response. In the work described here, the Wigner Distribution has been used to obtain appropriate time-frequency representations of impulse responses. Practical aspects of the calculation of the Wigner Distribution are discussed briefly and examples of its application to the analysis of structural impulse responses are given. Additionally, filtering techniques are described that can be used both to detect the presence of and to quantify the energy carried by both nondispersive and dispersive waves.

Wahl, T. J.↗

The application of the Wigner Distribution to the identification of structure-borne noise components

In this paper it is shown that time-frequency analysis of a transient structural response may be used to identify the wave types carrying significant energy through a structure. The identification of various wave types is possible since each is characterized by its own dispersion relation, with the result that each wave type may be associated with characteristic features in the time-frequency domain representation of a structural response. In the work described here, the Wigner Distribution has been used to obtain time-frequency representations of structural transient responses. Practical aspects of the calculation of the Wigner Distribution are discussed briefly, and examples of its application to the analysis of transient structural responses are given. Additionally, time-frequency filtering techniques are described that can be used both to detect the presence of and to quantify the energy carried by both non-dispersive and dispersive waves.

Wahl, T. J.↗

Utilizing the SACADA system to collect simulator training data to inform human reliability analyses - 169

Lack of appropriate human performance data for the development of human reliability analysis (HRA) methods has been identified as a key issue contributing to the method-to-method variability among the HRA methods. The United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) worked with domain experts to develop the Scenario Authoring, Characterization, and Debriefing Application (SACADA) system to collect nuclear power plants' licensed operator simulator training and examination data to inform HRA. In the past two decades, significant improvements in understanding and modelling human performance in HRA have affected the perspectives of the types of data to be collected for HRA. A significant change is that human performance is strongly dependent on the context of the tasks to be performed. To incorporate this understanding, the SACADA data taxonomy collects the context and actual performance information of the training objective elements (TOEs) in nuclear plant operator simulator training. This provides a framework consistent with HRA to use context to estimate human error probabilities. It is recognized that measuring crew performance is equally important as improving operator training. SACADA is designed to support the nuclear trainers in capturing this important information that is used to identify training weaknesses and drive continuous improvement. This paper discusses the SACADA taxonomy, the SACADA system's functions, and the supporting software design to enable the SACADA system to be practically implemented in the nuclear power plants' operator simulator training program to collect data for tracking operator performance and HRA analysis. (authors)

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗

Self-consistent feedback mechanism for the sudden viscous dissipation of finite-Mach-number compressing turbulence

Previous work [Davidovits and Fisch, Phys. Rev. Lett. 116, 105004 (2016)] demonstrated that the compression of a turbulent field can lead to a sudden viscous dissipation of turbulent kinetic energy (TKE), and that paper suggested this mechanism could potentially be used to design new fast-ignition schemes for inertial confinement fusion (ICF). We expand on previous work here by accounting for finite Mach numbers, rather than relying on a zero-Mach-limit assumption as previously done. The finite-Mach-number formulation is necessary to capture a self-consistent feedback mechanism in which dissipated TKE increases the temperature of the system, which in turn modifies the viscosity and thus the TKE dissipation itself. Direct numerical simulations with a tenth-order accurate Padé scheme were carried out to analyze this self-consistent feedback loop for compressing turbulence. Results show that, for finite Mach numbers, the sudden viscous dissipation of TKE still occurs, for both the solenoidal and dilatational turbulent fields. As the domain is compressed, oscillations in dilatational TKE are encountered due to the highly oscillatory nature of the pressure dilatation. An analysis of the source terms for the internal energy shows that the mechanical-work term dominates the viscous turbulent dissipation. As a result, the effect of the suddenly dissipated TKE on temperature is minimal for the Mach numbers tested. Moreover, an analytical expression is derived that confirms the dissipated TKE does not significantly alter the temperature evolution for low Mach numbers, regardless of compression speed. The self-consistent feedback mechanism is thus quite weak for subsonic turbulence, which could limit its applicability for ICF.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Increased charge transfer state separation via reduced mixed phase interface in polymer solar cells

Investigations into bulk heterojunction organic solar cells have demonstrated that molecular mixing within domains and at interfaces significantly impacts device performance. However, these studies often use broad performance metrics that blur fundamental structure–function mechanisms – in particular the role of the mixed phase in charge generation versus charge extraction. In this work, we present a new analysis based on time-delayed collection field that separately quantifies each fundamental step in the charge generation process. Additionally, we present a novel resonant X-ray scattering analysis to quantify the state of the three-phase nanostructure (phase volumes and their compositions) as it exists in the devices. We find that in a model semicrystalline system, decreasing the mixed phase interface between pure donor and pure acceptor domains has little effect on the efficiency of charge transfer (CT) state formation but instead dramatically increases the efficiency of CT state separation. While charge extraction efficiencies are affected as well, this has only a minor impact on device performance. With both structure and properties quantitatively resolved for the first time on the exact same devices, we determine a simultaneous >99% (anti)correlation between (mixed)pure phase volume and charge separation efficiency, with values fitting well to an exponential saturation model. This result plus our ability to eliminate other possible contributing factors provides strong evidence of a causal relationship that reducing interfacial mixed phases to establish a steep energy gradient between pure phases aids in charge generation and extraction in organic solar cells.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗