Quantifying the Environmental Sensitivity of SSTDR Signals for Monitoring PV Strings
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Energy & Fuels↗
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Results for “variational method”
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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Loads Combination Research at Marshall Space Flight Center
This is the result of a study conducted by the Structural Dynamics Division of the Marshall Space Flight Center concerning the combination of low- and high-frequency dynamic loads for spacecraft design. Low-frequency transient loads are combined with high frequency acoustically induced loads to arrive at a limit load, for design purposes. Different methods are used for combining the loads which can lead to considerable variation in limit loads, depending on which NASA Center did the calculation. This study investigates several different combination methods and compares the combination methods with Spacelab 1 flight data. In addition, the relative timing of low- and high-frequency loads is examined.
Ferebee, R.↗
Loads Combination Research at Marshall Space Flight Center
This is the result of a study conducted by the Structural Dynamics Division of the Marshall Space Flight Center concerning the combination of low- and high-frequency dynamic loads for spacecraft design. Low-frequency transient loads are combined with high frequency acoustically induced loads to arrive at a limit load, for design purposes. Different methods are used for combining the loads which can lead to considerable variation in limit loads, depending on which NASA Center did the calculation. This study investigates several different combination methods and compares the combination methods with Spacelab 1 flight data. In addition, the relative timing of low- and high-frequency loads is examined.
Ferebee, R.↗
An efficient design sensitivity analysis of eigenvectors
Subspace iteration has been a major advance in solving large eigen problems when only a subset of eigen-pairs is required. The essence of this method is a transformation from displacement coordinates of an n-th order eigensystem to generalized coordinates of a smaller q-th order. The eigenvalue problem is then solved in the reduced space. The method was first developed by Clint and Jennings for real symmetric systems and was then called 'simultaneous iteration'. The success of the method prompted further research along this line and there have been many improved algorithms developed. This approach has been widely used by structural engineers for extracting the most useful natural frequencies and mode shapes of large-scale dynamic systems. This paper exploits into a new direction which is in the form of iterative process for simultaneously calculating eigenvector derivatives of many eigenvectors with respect to multi-variables. The method fully uses all the available information from preceding eigenvalue solution and, thus, effectively economizes computational efforts. It iterates through two equations derived from the first variation of the two fundamental equations used in subspace iteration method. There is no expensive large matrix decomposition required and the process converges to acceptable solution in a finite number of iterations. Therefore, the procedure increases its efficiency superiority over the others as the system size or the number of interested eigenvectors become larger and larger.
Ting, T.↗
Chemical Fingerprinting of Materials Developed Due to Environmental Issues
Instrumental chemical analysis methods are developed and used to chemically fingerprint new and modified External Tank materials made necessary by changing environmental requirements. Chemical fingerprinting can detect and diagnose variations in material composition. To chemically characterize each material, fingerprint methods are selected from an extensive toolbox based on the material's chemistry and the ability of the specific methods to detect the material's critical ingredients. Fingerprint methods have been developed for a variety of materials including Thermal Protection System foams, adhesives, primers, and composites.
Smith, Doris A.↗
An improved method for direct incident solar radiation calculation from hourly solar insolation data in building energy simulation
Solar radiation considerably influences the energy consumption of buildings and the power production of building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) systems. Hourly solar insolation (Wh/m 2 ), represented as the amount of solar irradiance collected on the ground during a 1-h period, is the most common solar radiation data available and widely used in weather files applied in building energy modeling programs (BEMPs). Because the solar beam and position vary over time, the use of hourly insolation data as the input might result in errors in the estimation of the direct incident solar radiation on a particular surface. In this study, methods used in BEMPs for direct incident solar radiation calculations are first analyzed, and an improved method adopting a new algorithm for estimating the solar irradiance is proposed. Furthermore, the algorithm assumes that the solar irradiance changes linearly within a 1-h period and can be estimated based on the solar irradiance at the half clock and slope. The collected direct normal solar irradiance data of 2016 from eight solar radiation stations in China were used to demonstrate the proposed method and evaluate its performance by comparing the results with those from three conventional methods used in BEMPs along with the ground truth measurements. In addition, in this study, factors affecting the accuracy of the calculation results are explored. The results of the estimated direct incident solar radiation show that the proposed method achieves the best accuracy, followed by the methods used in DOE-2, EnergyPlus, and DeST. The proposed method guarantees that the hourly direct solar insolation will remain the same and reflects the variation in the direct solar irradiance across a 1-h time frame. The proposed method can be adopted in BEMPs to improve the accuracy of the solar radiation calculation, thereby improving the accuracy of the simulated building performance and the BIPV production.
14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
James Webb Space Telescope Initial Mid-Course Correction Monte Carlo Implementation using Task Parallelism
The James Webb Space Telescope will be launched into a highly elliptical orbit that does not possess sufficient energy to achieve a proper Sun-Earth/Moon L2 libration point orbit. Three mid-course correction (MCC) maneuvers are planned to rectify the energy deficit: MCC-1a, MCC-1b, and MCC-2. To validate the propellant budget and trajectory design methods, a set of Monte Carlo analyses that incorporate MCC maneuver modeling and execution are employed. The first analysis focuses on the effects of launch vehicle injection errors on the magnitude of MCC-1a. The second on the spread of potential V based on the performance of the propulsion system as applied to all three MCC maneuvers. The final highlights the slight, but notable, contribution of the attitude thrusters during each MCC maneuver. Given the possible variations in these three scenarios, the trajectory design methods are determined to be robust to errors in the modeling of the flight system.
James Webb Space Telescope↗
James Webb Space Telescope Initial Mid-Course Correction Monte Carlo Implementation using Task Parallelism
The James Webb Space Telescope will be launched into a highly elliptical orbit that does not possess sufficient energy to achieve a proper Sun-Earth L2 libration point orbit. Three mid-course correction (MCC) maneuvers are planned to rectify the energy deficit: MCC-1a, MCC-1b, and MCC-2. To validate the propellant budget and trajectory design methods, a set of Monte Carlo analyses that incorporate MCC maneuver modeling and execution are employed. The first analysis focuses on the effects of launch vehicle injection errors on the magnitude of MCC-1a. The second on the spread of potential V based on the performance of the propulsion system as applied to all three MCC maneuvers. The final highlights the slight, but notable, contribution of the attitude thrusters during each MCC maneuver. Given the possible variations in these three scenarios, the trajectory design methods are determined to be robust to errors in the modeling of the flight system.
Libration Point Orbit↗
Definitive Assessment of the Accuracy, Variationality, and Convergence of Relativistic Coupled Cluster and Density Matrix Renormalization Group in 100-Orbital Space
Accuracy, variationality, and convergence underpin the reliability of modern electronic structure methods, yet definitive benchmarks in the relativistic regime remain elusive due to the absence of numerically exact full configuration interaction (CI) references. Recent algorithmic advances in the CI framework, enabled by the small-tensor-product (STP) decomposition approach, have dramatically extended the tractable size of the configuration space, making numerically exact CI calculations feasible in large active spaces previously beyond reach. In this paper, we employ the recently developed STP-CI framework to perform large-scale numerically exact CI calculations and directly benchmark relativistic coupled cluster and density matrix renormalization group methods. Definitive benchmarking of approximate relativistic electronic structure methods is ensured through the application of the gap theorem, which provides rigorous error bounds on the CI reference and establishes a controlled standard for assessing accuracy, variationality, and convergence.
Chemical calculations↗
Design and fabrication of a four-rod radio frequency quadrupole with a variable aperture
Radiofrequency quadrupole (RFQ) linear accelerators with variable aperture cell parameters offer an effective means of accelerating high-intensity ion beams exceeding 100 mA and have been implemented in various RFQ designs. However, in a four-rod RFQ, the use of dielectric perturbation methods to measure the voltage distribution behind the rod electrodes is not applicable when implementing variable aperture geometries, because changes in the rod shape influence the electric field at the location of the perturbation element. Therefore, it was necessary to design the rod profile for each cell such that the electric field distribution behind the rods remains unaffected by changes in the aperture. In this study, we present a method to adjust the voltage distribution by modifying the geometry of the rod electrodes according to each cell's aperture parameters. This design approach enables the integration of variable aperture cells into a four-rod RFQ linac, significantly enhancing the achievable beam current. To ensure uniform capacitance and maintain a constant rod-electrode voltage despite variations in the average aperture radius, we developed a systematic method for shaping the rod electrodes. This method was refined using two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) electromagnetic field simulations to optimize the electrode cross-sectional profiles. The fabricated rod electrodes were then installed in a four-rod RFQ, and the electric field distribution was measured using the perturbation method and tuned by adjusting the base plates. As a result, the measured variation of ±1.1 % confirms that this design methodology can produce a sufficiently uniform voltage distribution for high-current beam acceleration. These results demonstrate the practical feasibility of a variable-aperture four-rod RFQ linac.
43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
Computation of solar perturbations with Poisson series
Description of a project for computing first-order perturbations of natural or artificial satellites by integrating the equations of motion on a computer with automatic Poisson series expansions. A basic feature of the method of solution is that the classical variation-of-parameters formulation is used rather than rectangular coordinates. However, the variation-of-parameters formulation uses the three rectangular components of the disturbing force rather than the classical disturbing function, so that there is no problem in expanding the disturbing function in series. Another characteristic of the variation-of-parameters formulation employed is that six rather unusual variables are used in order to avoid singularities at the zero eccentricity and zero (or 90 deg) inclination. The integration process starts by assuming that all the orbit elements present on the right-hand sides of the equations of motion are constants. These right-hand sides are then simple Poisson series which can be obtained with the use of the Bessel expansions of the two-body problem in conjunction with certain interation methods. These Poisson series can then be integrated term by term, and a first-order solution is obtained.
Broucke, R.↗
Comparison of stratocumulus cloud properties derived from simultaneous satellite and surface-based instrumentation
Data from the First ISCCP Regional Experiment Marine Stratocumulus Intensive Field Observation period are used here to evaluate the cloud properties derived from the GOES in the vicinity of San Nicolas Island. Comparisons of island observations with satellite cloud parameter retrievals show that the hybrid bispectral threshold method provides a reliable and relatively accurate depiction of the diurnal variations of cloud amount, height, albedo, and thickness over this region. The level of agreement obtained here is very encouraging for simple method of extracting cloud parameters from operational meteorological satellite data. It is found that dissipating stratocumulus clouds tend to become thin enough to become nonblack in the infrared spectrum. The decrease in emissivity corresponds to 100 m or more in satellite-retrieved cloud-top height.
Minnis, Patrick↗
Simulation of Reverse Osmosis Membrane Compaction Using Material Point Method
Reverse Osmosis (RO) is a promising technology to address the impending water-crisis in the upcoming decades. RO at high salinities and high pressures is challenging due to membrane compaction that changes its porosity and permeability. In this study, we present a simulation methodology for membrane structural mechanics to understand pore size distribution and permeability variations under high pressure. We use the material point method (MPM), that solves the solid mechanics equations in a Lagrangian framework. MPM provides many features that make it well-suited for simulating mesoporous membranes. The Lagrangian framework allows for large deformations, easy integration of constitutive models and direct import of complex geometries as particles. The spatial discretization in our MPM solver is achieved using linear or cubic-spline shape functions while the time integration is carried out using the explicit Euler method. A series of images containing detailed pore structures obtained from X-ray tomography is first converted to a collection of material points. Compressive loads are applied to the top layer of the membrane to simulate the application of pressure. The membrane deformation and pore size distribution before and after load application are reported and compared with the experimental measurements. The presentation discusses the numerical methods used, the performance of the solver on high-performance computing machines, and the results of membrane compact in detail.
compaction↗
The inversion of aureole measurements to derive aerosol size distributions
An iterative method to invert size distributions from simulated scattered radiance measurements at small angles from the sun has been investigated. The inferred size distributions were represented by piecewise linear and cubic spline functions. Various relevant characteristics were investigated and it was found that: (1) the inverted size distribution was insensitive to the number of knots in the piecewise linear spline; (2) within the range of sensitivity, the choice of initial guess had little effect on the inverted size distribution; (3) five per cent random noise in the simulated radiances appreciably deteriorated the result but variations are still tolerable when compared with other methods for determining size distributions; (4) the inverted distribution was insensitive to the index of refraction used in the kernel for particle radii greater than 1 micron; (5) the choice of wavelength between 0.40 and 0.70 microns has a negligible effect on the inverted distribution; (6) a range of tropospheric aerosol size distributions gives acceptable inverted results; and (7) the cubic spline representation can give reasonable inverted distributions, but may become unstable.
Twitty, J. T.↗
A theoretical interpretation of Forbush decreases
An analysis is presented of the intensity variations of relativistic cosmic rays, at 1 AU, which are associated with the passage of a flare shock wave. The magnitude and time profile obtained is similar to that observed in flare-induced Forbush decreases, and the principal cause of the energy reduction is an increase in adiabatic cooling of the arriving particles due to prolonged containment behind the compressed field of the flare shock wave. The large decreases calculated for the smaller diffusion coefficients are inconsistent with observation, implying larger mean free paths than those traditionally assumed at these rigidities. The method presented may be used to study intensity variations associated with other large-scale structures of the interplanetary field, such as corotating interaction regions.
Gall, R.↗
A Generalized Variational Principle with Applications to Excited State Mean Field Theory
We present a generalization of the variational principle that is compatible with any Hamiltonian eigenstate that can be specified uniquely by a list of properties. This variational principle appears to be compatible with a wide range of electronic structure methods, including mean field theory, density functional theory, multireference theory, and quantum Monte Carlo. Like the standard variational principle, this generalized variational principle amounts to the optimization of a nonlinear function that, in the limit of an arbitrarily flexible wave function, has the desired Hamiltonian eigenstate as its global minimum. Unlike the standard variational principle, it can target excited states and select individual states in cases of degeneracy or near-degeneracy. As an initial demonstration of how this approach can be useful in practice, we employ it to improve the optimization efficiency of excited state mean field theory by an order of magnitude. With this improved optimization, we are able to demonstrate that the accuracy of the corresponding second-order perturbation theory rivals that of singles-and-doubles equation-of-motion coupled cluster in a substantially broader set of molecules than could be explored by our previous optimization methodology.
37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
Projective Hedging Algorithms for Multistage Stochastic Programming, Supporting Distributed and Asynchronous Implementation
Here we propose a decomposition algorithm for multistage stochastic programming that resembles the progressive hedging method of Rockafellar and Wets but is provably capable of several forms of asynchronous operation. We derive the method from a class of projective operator splitting methods fairly recently proposed by Combettes and Eckstein, significantly expanding the known applications of those methods. Our derivation assures convergence for convex problems whose feasible set is compact, subject to some standard regularity conditions and a mild “fairness” condition on subproblem selection. The method’s convergence guarantees are deterministic and do not require randomization, in contrast to other proposed asynchronous variations of progressive hedging. Computational experiments described in an online appendix show the method to outperform progressive hedging on large-scale problems in a highly parallel computing environment.
97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗
En route noise levels from propfan test assessment airplane
The en route noise test was designed to characterize propagation of propfan noise from cruise altitudes to the ground. In-flight measurements of propfan source levels and directional patterns were made by a chase plane flying in formation with the propfan test assessment (PTA) airplane. Ground noise measurements were taken during repeated flights over a distributed microphone array. The microphone array on the ground was used to provide ensemble-averaged estimates of mean flyover noise levels, establish confidence limits for those means, and measure propagation-induced noise variability. Even for identical nominal cruise conditions, peak sound levels for individual overflights varied substantially about the average, particularly when overflights were performed on different days. Large day-to-day variations in peak level measurements appeared to be caused by large day-to-day differences in propagation conditions and tended to obscure small variations arising from operating conditions. A parametric evaluation of the sensitivity of this prediction method to weather measurement and source level uncertainties was also performed. In general, predictions showed good agreement with measurements. However, the method was unable to predict short-term variability of ensemble-averaged data within individual overflights. Although variations in absorption appear to be the dominant factor in variations of peak sound levels recorded on the ground, accurate predictions of those levels require that a complete description of operational conditions be taken into account. The comprehensive and integrated methods presented in this paper have adequately predicted ground-measured sound levels. On average, peak sound levels were predicted within 3 dB for each of the three different cruise conditions.
Garber, Donald P.↗