Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “Lighting Simulation”

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.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 1,459 records · Page 81
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2017

Development and Assessment of CTFFuel

This milestone report documents an approach that seeks to develop a standalone fuel solver to simulate steady-state and transient thermo-mechanical responses of light-water reactor fuel rods and assess its temperature predictions against analytical solutions, and a well-known and validated fuel performance code. This manuscript focuses on five major topics: (1) development of the CTFFuel, (2) discussion of the newly implemented fuel deformation models in dynamic gap conductance model of CTFFuel, (3) enabling the dynamic gap conductance model in VERA-CS, (4) verification of the solid conduction solution and comparison of the CTFFuel with respect to the workhorse code, CTF, and (5) benchmark of the thermal conductivity degradation using the burnup dependent fuel thermal conductivity models and benchmark of the fuel centerline temperature using the dynamic gap conductance model with Halden measurements and FRAPCON-4.0 simulation results. CTFFuel temperature predictions are compared to predictions from FRAPCON-4.0 for UO 2 , UO 2 +Gd 2 O 3 and MOX fuels through reactor’s life. The main motivation is to understand discrepancies between CTFFuel and FRAPCON-4.0’s temperature predictions.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
DOE OSTI2022

Specular reflections (“glint”) of the inner beams in a gas-filled cylindrical hohlraum

Herein we report on the experimental measurement of specular reflection (“glint”) of laser beams off the hohlraum wall in inertial confinement fusion experiments at the National Ignition Facility. In a hohlraum, glinted light can escape the opposite laser entrance hole of the hohlraum and is a potential laser energy loss mechanism. The total measured glint on the inner cones of beams is measured to be less than 8 TW (when using the full National Ignition Facility laser), which is <2% of incident peak power. The simulated x-ray flux exceeds the measurement by 10%–20%, and glinted laser light is unable to account for this discrepancy. Similar inner beam glint was measured for ρ = 0.3 and 0.6 mg/cc gas fill hohlraums, but no glint was detected for 1.2 mg/cc densities. Inner beam glint is dominated by the lowest angle 21.5 beams within a 23.5 quad, and it is at most 30% sensitive to different quad polarization arrangements.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
NASA NTRS2015

Ocean-Atmosphere Coupled Model Simulations of Precipitation in the Central Andes

The meridional extent and complex orography of the South American continent contributes to a wide diversity of climate regimes ranging from hyper-arid deserts to tropical rainforests to sub-polar highland regions. In addition, South American meteorology and climate are also made further complicated by ENSO, a powerful coupled ocean-atmosphere phenomenon. Modelling studies in this region have typically resorted to either atmospheric mesoscale or atmosphere-ocean coupled global climate models. The latter offers full physics and high spatial resolution, but it is computationally inefficient typically lack an interactive ocean, whereas the former offers high computational efficiency and ocean-atmosphere coupling, but it lacks adequate spatial and temporal resolution to adequate resolve the complex orography and explicitly simulate precipitation. Explicit simulation of precipitation is vital in the Central Andes where rainfall rates are light (0.5-5 mm hr-1), there is strong seasonality, and most precipitation is associated with weak mesoscale-organized convection. Recent increases in both computational power and model development have led to the advent of coupled ocean-atmosphere mesoscale models for both weather and climate study applications. These modelling systems, while computationally expensive, include two-way ocean-atmosphere coupling, high resolution, and explicit simulation of precipitation. In this study, we use the Coupled Ocean-Atmosphere-Wave-Sediment Transport (COAWST), a fully-coupled mesoscale atmosphere-ocean modeling system. Previous work has shown COAWST to reasonably simulate the entire 2003-2004 wet season (Dec-Feb) as validated against both satellite and model analysis data when ECMWF interim analysis data were used for boundary conditions on a 27-9-km grid configuration (Outer grid extent: 60.4S to 17.7N and 118.6W to 17.4W).

Regional Climate Model↗
NASA NTRS2004

Advanced Aerospace Materials by Design

The advances in the emerging field of nanophase thermal and structural composite materials; materials with embedded sensors and actuators for morphing structures; light-weight composite materials for energy and power storage; and large surface area materials for in-situ resource generation and waste recycling, are expected to :revolutionize the capabilities of virtually every system comprising of future robotic and :human moon and mars exploration missions. A high-performance multiscale simulation platform, including the computational capabilities and resources of Columbia - the new supercomputer, is being developed to discover, validate, and prototype next generation (of such advanced materials. This exhibit will describe the porting and scaling of multiscale 'physics based core computer simulation codes for discovering and designing carbon nanotube-polymer composite materials for light-weight load bearing structural and 'thermal protection applications.

Srivastava, Deepak↗
DOE OSTI2023

Quantum efficiency enhancement in simulated nanostructured negative electron affinity GaAs photocathodes

We report nanostructured negative electron affinity GaAs photocathodes for a polarized electron source are studied using finite difference time domain optical simulation. The structures studied are nanosquare columns, truncated nanocones, and truncated nanopyramids. Mie-type resonances in the 700–800 nm waveband, suitable for generation of polarized electrons, are identified. At resonance wavelengths, the nanostructures can absorb up to 99% of the incident light. For nanosquare columns and truncated nanocones, the maximum quantum efficiency (QE) at 780 nm obtained from simulation is 27%, whereas for simulated nanopyramids, the QE is ~21%. The high photocathode quantum efficiency is due to the shift of Mie resonance toward the longer wavelength, leading to increased light absorption. The field profile distribution shows the excitation of dipole and quadrupole modes within the nanostructures at resonant frequencies. This leads to enhanced photoabsorption and photoelectron generation closer to emission surfaces than for a flat photocathode. The enhanced photoabsorption and reduced electron transport distance for the nanostructured photocathode enhance its QE compared to that for the flat surface wafer.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2021

Terminus: A Versatile Simulator for Space-based Telescopes

Space-based telescopes offer unparalleled opportunities for characterizing exoplanets, solar system bodies, and stellar objects. However, observatories in low-Earth orbits (e.g., Hubble, CHaracterising ExOPlanets Satellite, Twinkle, and an ever-increasing number of cubesats) cannot always be continuously pointed at a target due to Earth obscuration. For exoplanet observations consisting of transit, or eclipse, spectroscopy, this causes gaps in the light curve, which reduces the information content and can diminish the science return of the observation. Terminus, a time-domain simulator, has been developed to model the occurrence of these gaps to predict the potential impact on future observations. The simulator is capable of radiometrically modeling exoplanet observations as well as producing light curves and spectra. Here, Terminus is baselined on the Twinkle mission, but the model can be adapted for any space-based telescope and is especially applicable to those in a low-Earth orbit. Terminus also has the capability to model observations of other targets such as asteroids or brown dwarfs.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
NASA NTRS1975

An interactive driving simulation for driver control and decision-making research

Display techniques and equations of motion for a relatively simple fixed base car simulation are described. The vehicle dynamics include simplified lateral (steering) and longitudinal (speed) degrees of freedom. Several simulator tasks are described which require a combination of operator control and decision making, including response to wind gust inputs, curved roads, traffic signal lights, and obstacles. Logic circuits are used to detect speeding, running red lights, and crashes. A variety of visual and auditory cues are used to give the driver appropriate performance feedback. The simulated equations of motion are reviewed and the technique for generating the line drawing CRT roadway display is discussed. On-line measurement capabilities and experimenter control features are presented, along with previous and current research results demonstrating simulation capabilities and applications.

Allen, R. W.↗
NASA NTRS1998

[Evaluation of super dwarf wheat growth and development in greenhouse "Svet" during cultivation in inhabited pressurized chamber]

Goals of the 3-month experiment GREENHOUSE using the equipment of greenhouse SVET (ECO-PSY-95) were to feature growth and development of wheat through the entire cycle of ontogeny under the maximally mimicked MIR environment, and to try out the procedures and timeline of space experiment GREENHOUSE-2 as a part of the fundamental biology investigations within the MIR/NASA space science program. Irradiation intensity (PAR) was 65 W/m2 and 38 W/m2 in the experiment and laboratory control, respectively. Values of other environmental parameters were MIR average (18-25 degrees C, relative air humidity in the interval between 40% and 75%, total gas pressure of about 660 to 860 mm Hg, partial oxygen pressure within the range from 140 to 200 mm Hg, partial carbon dioxide pressure up to 7 mm Hg). Experimental results showed that wheat cultivation in inhabited chamber under a modified lighting unit providing greater irradiation of the crop area produced more plant mass although seed production dropped. Low grain content in ears could be the aftermath of the gaseous trace contaminants in the chamber atmosphere.

NASA Discipline Life Support Systems↗
DOE OSTI2025

Enhancing traffic safety analysis with digital twin technology: integrating vehicle dynamics and environmental factors into microscopic traffic simulation

Traffic safety is a critical concern in transportation engineering and urban planning. Traditional traffic safety analysis requires trained observers to collect data in the field, which is time-consuming, labor-intensive, and sometimes inaccurate. In recent years, microscopic traffic simulation, which simulates individual vehicles’ movements within a transportation network, have been utilized to study traffic safety. However, microscopic traffic simulation only focuses on traffic-related factors, such as traffic volume, traffic signals, and lane configurations, neglecting vehicle dynamics and environment-related factors like weather and lighting conditions, which can significantly impact traffic safety. In light of this, this paper explores the application of digital twin technology in traffic safety analysis, integrating vehicle simulators, which consider vehicle dynamics and environmental factors, and microscopic traffic simulators, which simulate the operations of traffic flow, for enhanced safety evaluations. Various scenarios, including different weather conditions and visibility levels, are simulated using a digital twin of a road segment in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The simulations employ Surrogate Safety Measures (SSMs) like Time to Collision (TTC) and Deceleration Rate to Avoid a Crash (DRAC) to assess safety under varying conditions. The results demonstrate that traffic digital twin can identify potential safety issues that traditional microscopic simulation cannot, providing insights for improving traffic control strategies and transportation infrastructure to enhance traffic safety.

Civil engineering↗
DOE OSTI2020

Developing and Evaluating Metrics for Demand Flexibility in Buildings: Comparing Simulations and Field Data

Building demand flexibility (DF) has attracted significant attention in recent years among researchers, technology developers and control companies, aggregators, utilities, and many others. There are numerous challenges with today’s electricity systems such as managing peak demand capacity and integrating variable renewables into the grid. Flexible building loads can provide various grid services to help reduce electricity costs, smooth out renewables intermittency and balance supply and demand. Recognizing this, the US DOE is leading the Grid-interactive Efficient Buildings (GEB) initiative which includes research to evaluate the potential, availability and timing of flexible loads. In this paper we present load shed metrics for three building types – medium office, large office and retail store – and compare prototype simulation results with measured data from 12 actual buildings that participated in hot summertime utility demand response (DR) events. The DR strategies included varying zone temperature and reducing light levels. The magnitude of a key DF metric, “demand decrease intensity” (or “shed intensity”) (W/ft2), between the simulation results and field data are similar (14-32% differences) for both mean and median values, though the field data show much larger variation among DR events. The coefficient p-values from linear regression model tests showed that outside air temperature is a significant variable for the whole building shed intensity when the resetting zone temperature strategy is deployed. These findings support the concept of using prototype building simulation to estimate building DF and expanding future simulation research to additional building types and climate zones.

Liu, Jingjing↗
NASA NTRS1980

The contribution of the diffuse light component to the topographic effect on remotely sensed data

The topographic effect is measured by the difference between the global radiance from inclined surfaces as a function of their orientation relative to the sensor position and light source. The short wave radiant energy incident on a surface is composed of direct sunlight, scattered skylight, and light reflected from surrounding terrain. The latter two components are commonly known as the diffuse component. The contribution of the diffuse light component to the topographic effect was examined and the significance of this diffuse component with respect to two direct radiance models was assessed. Diffuse and global spectral radiances were measured for a series of slopes and aspects of a uniform and surface in the red and photographic infrared parts of the spectrum, using a nadir pointing two channel handheld radiometer. The diffuse light was found to produce a topographic effect which varied from the topographic effect for direct light. The topographic effect caused by diffuse light was found to increase slightly with solar elevation and wavelength for the channels examined. The correlations between data derived from two simple direct radiance simulation models and the field data were not significantly affected when the diffuse component was removed from the radiances. Radiances from a 60 percent reflective surface, assuming no atmospheric path radiance, the diffuse light topographic effect contributed a maximum range of 3 pixel values in simulated LANDSAT data from all aspects with slopes up to 30 degrees.

Justice, C.↗
NASA NTRS2014

Evaluating the Uncertainties in the Electron Temperature and Radial Speed Measurements Using White Light Corona Eclipse Observations

We examine the uncertainties in two plasma parameters from their true values in a simulated asymmetric corona. We use the Corona Heliosphere (CORHEL) and Magnetohydrodynamics Around the Sphere (MAS) models in the Community Coordinated Modeling Center (CCMC) to investigate the differences between an assumed symmetric corona and a more realistic, asymmetric one. We were able to predict the electron temperatures and electron bulk flow speeds to within +/-0.5 MK and +/-100 km s(exp−1), respectively, over coronal heights up to 5.0 R from Sun center.We believe that this technique could be incorporated in next-generation white-light coronagraphs to determine these electron plasma parameters in the low solar corona. We have conducted experiments in the past during total solar eclipses to measure the thermal electron temperature and the electron bulk flow speed in the radial direction in the low solar corona. These measurements were made at different altitudes and latitudes in the low solar corona by measuring the shape of the K-coronal spectra between 350 nm and 450 nm and two brightness ratios through filters centered at 385.0 nm/410.0 nm and 398.7 nm/423.3 nm with a bandwidth of is approximately equal to 4 nm. Based on symmetric coronal models used for these measurements, the two measured plasma parameters were expected to represent those values at the points where the lines of sight intersected the plane of the solar limb.

corona↗
DOE OSTI2017

Light flavor-singlet scalars and walking signals in N f = 8 QCD on the lattice

Based on the highly improved staggered quark action, we perform in this paper lattice simulations of N f = 8 QCD and confirm our previous observations, both of a flavor-singlet scalar meson (denoted as σ) as light as the pion and of various “walking signals” through the low-lying spectra, with higher statistics, smaller fermion masses m f , and larger volumes. We measure M π , F π , M ρ , M a 0 , M a 1 , M b 1 , M N , M σ , F σ , (φφ) (both directly and through the Gell-Mann-Oakes-Renner relation), and the string tension. The data are consistent with the spontaneously broken phase of the chiral symmetry, in agreement with the previous results: Ratios of the quantities to M π monotonically increase in the smaller m f region towards the chiral limit similarly to N f = 4 QCD, in sharp contrast to N f = 12 QCD where the ratios become flattened. We perform fits to chiral perturbation theory, with the value of F π found in the chiral limit extrapolation reduced dramatically to roughly 2/3 of the previous result, suggesting the theory is much closer to the conformal window. In fact, each quantity obeys the respective hyperscaling relation throughout a more extensive m f region compared with earlier works. The hyperscaling relation holds with roughly a universal value of the anomalous dimension, γ m ≃ 1, with the notable exception of M π with γ m ≃ 0.6 as in the previous results, which reflects the above growing up of the ratios towards the chiral limit. This is a salient feature (walking signal) of N f = 8, unlike either N f = 4, which has no hyperscaling relation at all, or N f = 12 QCD, which exhibits universal hyperscaling. The effective γ m Ξ γ m (m f ) of M π defined for each m f region has a tendency to grow towards unity near the chiral limit, in conformity with the Nambu-Goldstone boson nature, as opposed to the case of N f = 12 QCD where it is almost constant. We further confirm the previous observation of the light σ with mass comparable to the pion in the studied m f region. In a chiral limit extrapolation of the σ mass using the dilaton chiral perturbation theory and also using the simple linear fit, we find the value consistent with the 125 GeV Higgs boson within errors. Finally, our results suggest that the theory could be a good candidate for walking technicolor model, having anomalous dimension γ m ≃ 1 and a light flavor-singlet scalar meson as a technidilaton, which can be identified with the 125 GeV composite Higgs in the N f = 8 one-family model.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2019

Report for 2.2.1 Task 4: Software-Based Tools to Support Human-System Evaluation Studies

INL contracted IFE to develop custom software functionality to support INL’s control room simulator data collections. The tool described in this report provides functionality for authoring, managing and executing so-called micro task data collections (Hildebrandt and Eitrheim, 2015), where operators receive a long list of operational tasks, and the speed and accuracy of their response is measured. The tool consists of an editor, player and observer module. This report contains methodological background and a user guide.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2024

A Eulerian three-fluid flow framework for the study of fuel dispersal behavior under loss-of-coolant accident conditions

As the nuclear industry explores new fuel designs to accommodate increased burnup, studying fuel behavior during loss-of-coolant accidents is essential for ensuring the safe operation of light-water reactors. Here, this study presents a computational model to simulate the intricate three-phase flow dynamics of fuel dispersal following cladding breach, where solid fuel particles and carrier fission gases interact with the surrounding liquid or gas medium. The model utilizes a Eulerian three-fluid framework to depict the phase interaction within interpenetrating continua, treating fragmented fuel as granular material. Closure relationships for bulk-flow properties of the solid phase and detailed interfacial exchange terms in high-temperature, high-speed gas-solid-liquid flow scenarios are proposed. The model was validated using adiabatic experimental results in the literature, focusing on characterizing fuel dispersal behavior during loss-of-coolant accidents conditions. Settlement characteristics of the solids, quantified by the probability distribution of equivalent particles, closely matched probability density functions reported in experimental studies. Key highlights of this study include the theoretical description of a coupled three-phase flow with phase change, interpretation of the high-pressure boundary conditions and insights into the transient behavior of gas-solid-liquid phase dynamics during a simulated high-speed dispersal event.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗
DOE OSTI2016

An analysis of key characteristics of the Frank-Read source process in FCC metals

A well-known intragranular dislocation source, the Frank-Read (FR) source plays an important role in size-dependent dislocation multiplication in crystalline materials. Despite a number of studies in this topic, a systematic investigation of multiple aspects of the FR source in different materials is lacking. Here, in this paper, we employ large scale quasistatic concurrent atomistic-continuum (CAC) simulations to model an edge dislocation bowing out from an FR source in Cu, Ni, and Al. First, a number of quantities that are important for the FR source process are quantified in the coarse-grained domain. Then, two key characteristics of the FR source, including the critical shear stress and critical dislocation configuration, are investigated. In all crystalline materials, the critical stresses and the aspect ratio of the dislocation half-loop height to the FR source length scale well with respect to the FR source length. In Al, the critical stress calculated by CAC simulations for a given FR source length agrees reasonably well with a continuum model that explicitly includes the dislocation core energy. Nevertheless, the predictions of the isotropic elastic theory do not accurately capture the FR source responses in Cu and Ni, which have a relatively large stacking fault width and elastic anisotropy. Our results highlight the significance of directly simulating the FR source activities using fully 3D models and shed light on developing more accurate continuum models.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2023

Computational model development and validation of fuel dispersal phenomena

As the US nuclear industry is renewing efforts to extend the rod average burnup limits in existing pressurized water reactors, it becomes imperative to investigate the safety implications associated with high burnup fuel fragmentation and the potential dispersal of fragmented fuel into the reactor coolant system. Additionally, as there is a growing interest in transitioning to new nuclear fuel designs to accommodate higher fuel burnup levels, it becomes essential to conduct studies on fuel behavior during design basis accident scenarios, particularly during a postulated loss-of-coolant accident, in order to ensure the safe operation of light-water reactors. The present study develops a computational model to simulate the complex three-phase flow of the fuel dispersal phenomena that occur following a breach in the cladding, when the stream of solid fuel particles and carrier fission gas stream may interact with the surrounding liquid medium. Furthermore, the proposed framework considers the solid phase as discrete Lagrangian particles while the interpenetrating gas–liquid continuum is modeled using a Eulerian framework. The developed simulation framework is validated with experimental results performed in a separate-effect test facility by comparing predicted particle settlement locations with the experimental observations reported in the literature. Key highlights of this study include the interpretation of the high-pressure boundary conditions and the three-phase flow coupling strategy. Also discussed are the gas–liquid hydrodynamics and the behavior of particles as they are transported through the gas and liquid phases.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗
DOE OSTI2016

Trends in Thermoresponsive Behavior of Lipophilic Polymers

In an effort to look for correlations between viscosity index trends of polymers in oils and size changes of polymers in solution with temperature, the determination of the size of thermo-responsive polymers of various architectures (linear, comb, star, and hyperbranched) using two experimental techniques – dynamic light scattering and small angle neutron scattering, and predictive molecular dynamics simulations is described herein. The aim of this work was to predict their behavior as viscosity index improvers (VIIs) using these tools which require minimal amounts of material, as opposed to measuring kinematic viscosities, which require multi-gram quantities. Conflicting trends were obtained using the different aforementioned techniques due to the inherent physics of the measurements. While we provide potential explanations for the trends observed, the focus of this work remains the assessment of any of these techniques as a predictive tool for polymer behavior in an oil matrix. It was concluded that none of the aforementioned techniques can entirely predict the polymer behavior as VIIs, at least in the temperature range studied (40 °C to 100 °C).

Bhattacharya, Priyanka↗