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At least 1,657 records · Page 92

Improving Coastal Ocean Color Validation Capabilities through Application of Inherent Optical Properties (IOPs)

Understanding how the different components of seawater alter the path of incident sunlight through scattering and absorption is essential to using remotely sensed ocean color observations effectively. This is particularly apropos in coastal waters where the different optically significant components (phytoplankton, detrital material, inorganic minerals, etc.) vary widely in concentration, often independently from one another. Inherent Optical Properties (IOPs) form the link between these biogeochemical constituents and the Apparent Optical Properties (AOPs). understanding this interrelationship is at the heart of successfully carrying out inversions of satellite-measured radiance to biogeochemical properties. While sufficient covariation of seawater constituents in case I waters typically allows empirical algorithms connecting AOPs and biogeochemical parameters to behave well, these empirical algorithms normally do not hold for case I1 regimes (Carder et al. 2003). Validation in the context of ocean color remote sensing refers to in-situ measurements used to verify or characterize algorithm products or any assumption used as input to an algorithm. In this project, validation capabilities are considered those measurement capabilities, techniques, methods, models, etc. that allow effective validation. Enhancing current validation capabilities by incorporating state-of-the-art IOP measurements and optical models is the purpose of this work. Involved in this pursuit is improving core IOP measurement capabilities (spectral, angular, spatio-temporal resolutions), improving our understanding of the behavior of analytical AOP-IOP approximations in complex coastal waters, and improving the spatial and temporal resolution of biogeochemical data for validation by applying biogeochemical-IOP inversion models so that these parameters can be computed from real-time IOP sensors with high sampling rates. Research cruises supported by this project provides for collection and processing of seawater samples for biogeochemical (pigments, DOC and POC) and optical (CDOM and POM absorption coefficients) analyses to enhance our understanding of the linkages between in-water optical measurements (IOPs and AOPs) and biogeochemical constituents and to provide a more comprehensive suite of validation products.

Mannino, Antonio↗

Validation of Cardiovascular Parameters during NASA's Functional Task Test

Microgravity exposure causes physiological deconditioning and impairs crewmember task performance. The Functional Task Test (FTT) is designed to correlate these physiological changes to performance in a series of operationally-relevant tasks. One of these, the Recovery from Fall/Stand Test (RFST), tests both the ability to recover from a prone position and cardiovascular responses to orthostasis. PURPOSE: Three minutes were chosen for the duration of this test, yet it is unknown if this is long enough to induce cardiovascular responses similar to the operational 5 min stand test. The purpose of this study was to determine the validity and reliability of heart rate variability (HRV) analysis of a 3 min stand and to examine the effect of spaceflight on these measures. METHODS: To determine the validity of using 3 vs. 5 min of standing to assess HRV, ECG was collected from 7 healthy subjects who participated in a 6 min RFST. Mean R-R interval (RR) and spectral HRV were measured in minutes 0-3 and 0-5 following the heart rate transient due to standing. Significant differences between the segments were determined by a paired t-test. To determine the reliability of the 3-min stand test, 13 healthy subjects completed 3 trials of the FTT on separate days, including the RFST with a 3 min stand. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed on the HRV measures. One crewmember completed the FTT before a 14-day mission, on landing day (R+0) and one (R+1) day after returning to Earth. RESULTS VALIDITY: HRV measures reflecting autonomic activity were not significantly different during the 0-3 and 0-5 min segments. RELIABILITY: The average coefficient of variation for RR, systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressures during the RFST were less than 8% for the 3 sessions. ANOVA results yielded a greater inter-subject variability (p<0.006) than inter-session variability (p>0.05) for HRV in the RFST. SPACEFLIGHT: Lower RR and higher SBP were observed on R+0 in rest and stand. On R+1, both RR and SBP trended towards preflight rest and stand values. Postflight HRV showed higher LF/HF for rest and stand and lower HFnu during rest. CONCLUSION: These studies show that a 3 min stand delivers repeatable HRV data in the context of this larger series of FTT tests. Spaceflight-induced changes in blood pressure, RR and autonomic function (HRV) are evident from the RFST.

Arzeno, N. M.↗

A GPS-Based Pitot-Static Calibration Method Using Global Output-Error Optimization

Pressure-based airspeed and altitude measurements for aircraft typically require calibration of the installed system to account for pressure sensing errors such as those due to local flow field effects. In some cases, calibration is used to meet requirements such as those specified in Federal Aviation Regulation Part 25. Several methods are used for in-flight pitot-static calibration including tower fly-by, pacer aircraft, and trailing cone methods. In the 1990 s, the introduction of satellite-based positioning systems to the civilian market enabled new inflight calibration methods based on accurate ground speed measurements provided by Global Positioning Systems (GPS). Use of GPS for airspeed calibration has many advantages such as accuracy, ease of portability (e.g. hand-held) and the flexibility of operating in airspace without the limitations of test range boundaries or ground telemetry support. The current research was motivated by the need for a rapid and statistically accurate method for in-flight calibration of pitot-static systems for remotely piloted, dynamically-scaled research aircraft. Current calibration methods were deemed not practical for this application because of confined test range size and limited flight time available for each sortie. A method was developed that uses high data rate measurements of static and total pressure, and GPSbased ground speed measurements to compute the pressure errors over a range of airspeed. The novel application of this approach is the use of system identification methods that rapidly compute optimal pressure error models with defined confidence intervals in nearreal time. This method has been demonstrated in flight tests and has shown 2- bounds of approximately 0.2 kts with an order of magnitude reduction in test time over other methods. As part of this experiment, a unique database of wind measurements was acquired concurrently with the flight experiments, for the purpose of experimental validation of the optimization method. This paper describes the GPS-based pitot-static calibration method developed for the AirSTAR research test-bed operated as part of the Integrated Resilient Aircraft Controls (IRAC) project in the NASA Aviation Safety Program (AvSP). A description of the method will be provided and results from recent flight tests will be shown to illustrate the performance and advantages of this approach. Discussion of maneuver requirements and data reduction will be included as well as potential applications.

Foster, John V.↗

Dynamic Phasor Modeling of Multi-Converter Systems

Generalized form of Dynamic Phasor (DP)-based modeling of multi-converter systems containing high order harmonics has not been proposed in the literature yet due to the complexity and large number of variables that should be included in the model. In this work a generalized form of a system-level model comprising high number of single-phase converters is presented. The proposed method can be applied to any number of single-phase voltage source converters (VSIs). Test cases of this modeling method containing 5 to 100 parallel connected single-phase voltage source inverters are modeled and simulation times are recorded. The results of the proposed method are compared and validated with conventional average models as well as detailed switching models. A systematic approach for comparing the accuracy and timestep between dynamic phasor modeling method and detailed switching model is illustrated. Advantage of DP models over conventional average models for stability assessment are also discussed at the end of the paper.

Xue, Yaosuo↗

On the novel 3-D neutron transport kinetic tRAPID algorithm and its validation

The Real-time Analysis for Particle-transport and In-situ Detection (RAPID) Code System, based on the Multi-stage Response-function Transport (MRT) methodology, allows for real-time simulation of nuclear systems based on 3-D continuous-energy particle transport. RAPID's steady-state (criticality) neutron transport algorithm is based on the Fission Matrix (FM) method, and has been extensively verified and validated against computational benchmarks and experiments. This paper introduces the novel 3-D time-dependent transport algorithm that has been implemented into the code, tRAPID, and its validation using the JSI TRIGA Mark-II reactor. tRAPID accurately and efficiently calculates neutron kinetics parameters (such as β{sub eff}, l{sub eff} , Λ, α{sub Rossi}) and 3-D time-dependent neutron fission source distribution and neutron importances for both prompt and delayed neutrons. tRAPID is used to simulate a rod insertion experiment performed at the JSI TRIGA Mark-II reactor, during which signals from four fission chambers at four different locations in the core were collected. The results demonstrate how tRAPID is capable of calculating detailed and accurate results with only a minimal use computational resources and time.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗

Steady and Unsteady Nozzle Simulations Using the Conservation Element and Solution Element Method

This paper presents results from computational fluid dynamic (CFD) simulations of a three-stream plug nozzle. Time-accurate, Euler, quasi-1D and 2D-axisymmetric simulations were performed as part of an effort to provide a CFD-based approach to modeling nozzle dynamics. The CFD code used for the simulations is based on the space-time Conservation Element and Solution Element (CESE) method. Steady-state results were validated using the Wind-US code and a code utilizing the MacCormack method while the unsteady results were partially validated via an aeroacoustic benchmark problem. The CESE steady-state flow field solutions showed excellent agreement with solutions derived from the other methods and codes while preliminary unsteady results for the three-stream plug nozzle are also shown. Additionally, a study was performed to explore the sensitivity of gross thrust computations to the control surface definition. The results showed that most of the sensitivity while computing the gross thrust is attributed to the control surface stencil resolution and choice of stencil end points and not to the control surface definition itself.Finally, comparisons between the quasi-1D and 2D-axisymetric solutions were performed in order to gain insight on whether a quasi-1D solution can capture the steady and unsteady nozzle phenomena without the cost of a 2D-axisymmetric simulation. Initial results show that while the quasi-1D solutions are similar to the 2D-axisymmetric solutions, the inability of the quasi-1D simulations to predict two dimensional phenomena limits its accuracy.

Nozzle gross thrust calculations↗

Hierarchical Simulation to Assess Hardware and Software Dependability

This thesis presents a method for conducting hierarchical simulations to assess system hardware and software dependability. The method is intended to model embedded microprocessor systems. A key contribution of the thesis is the idea of using fault dictionaries to propagate fault effects upward from the level of abstraction where a fault model is assumed to the system level where the ultimate impact of the fault is observed. A second important contribution is the analysis of the software behavior under faults as well as the hardware behavior. The simulation method is demonstrated and validated in four case studies analyzing Myrinet, a commercial, high-speed networking system. One key result from the case studies shows that the simulation method predicts the same fault impact 87.5% of the time as is obtained by similar fault injections into a real Myrinet system. Reasons for the remaining discrepancy are examined in the thesis. A second key result shows the reduction in the number of simulations needed due to the fault dictionary method. In one case study, 500 faults were injected at the chip level, but only 255 propagated to the system level. Of these 255 faults, 110 shared identical fault dictionary entries at the system level and so did not need to be resimulated. The necessary number of system-level simulations was therefore reduced from 500 to 145. Finally, the case studies show how the simulation method can be used to improve the dependability of the target system. The simulation analysis was used to add recovery to the target software for the most common fault propagation mechanisms that would cause the software to hang. After the modification, the number of hangs was reduced by 60% for fault injections into the real system.

Ries, Gregory Lawrence↗

Numerical modeling of spray combustion with an advanced VOF method

This paper summarizes the technical development and validation of a multiphase computational fluid dynamics (CFD) numerical method using the volume-of-fluid (VOF) model and a Lagrangian tracking model which can be employed to analyze general multiphase flow problems with free surface mechanism. The gas-liquid interface mass, momentum and energy conservation relationships are modeled by continuum surface mechanisms. A new solution method is developed such that the present VOF model can be applied for all-speed flow regimes. The objectives of the present study are to develop and verify the fractional volume-of-fluid cell partitioning approach into a predictor-corrector algorithm and to demonstrate the effectiveness of the present approach by simulating benchmark problems including laminar impinging jets, shear coaxial jet atomization and shear coaxial spray combustion flows.

Chen, Yen-Sen↗

Atomization simulations using an Eulerian-VOF-Lagrangian method

This paper summarizes the technical development and validation of a multiphase computational fluid dynamics (CFD) numerical method using the volume-of-fluid (VOF) model and a Lagrangian tracking model which can be employed to analyze general multiphase flow problems with free surface mechanism. The gas-liquid interface mass, momentum and energy conservations are modeled by continuum surface mechanisms. A new solution method is developed such that the present VOF model can be applied for all-speed flow regimes. The objectives of the present study are to develop and verify the fractional volume-of-fluid cell partitioning approach into a predictor-corrector algorithm and to demonstrate the effectiveness of the present innovative approach by simulating benchmark problems including the coaxial jet atomization.

Chen, Yen-Sen↗

Scalable Programming Workflows for Validation of Quantum Computers

Hybrid quantum-classical workflows have become standard methods for executing variational algorithms and other quantum simulation techniques, which are key applications for noisy intermediate scale quantum (NISQ) computers. Validating these simulations is an important task which helps gauge the progress of quantum computer development, and classical simulation can serve as a tool to this end. Both exact and more scalable approximate methods with quantifiable error bounds can be used in validation tasks where the applicable metrics include the distance from a calculable ground truth, the quality of an error model fit to data, etc. Here we present a library extension that includes methods for validation of quantum simulations based on scalable hybrid workflows executable on high performance computers. We provide examples that use approximate methods based on tensor networks and stabilizer simulators to bound the error of quantum simulations on NISQ hardware.

Nguyen, Thien↗

Methods for Assessing Honeycomb Sandwich Panel Wrinkling Failures

Efficient closed-form methods for predicting the facesheet wrinkling failure mode in sandwich panels are assessed. Comparisons were made with finite element model predictions for facesheet wrinkling, and a validated closed-form method was implemented in the HyperSizer structure sizing software.

Zalewski, Bart F.↗

Additional Findings from the Common Research Model Natural Laminar Flow Wind Tunnel Test

An experimental investigation of the Common Research Model with Natural Laminar Flow (CRM-NLF) took place in the National Transonic Facility (NTF) at the NASA Langley Research Center in 2018. The 5.2% scale semispan model was designed using a new natural laminar flow design method, Crossflow Attenuated NLF (CATNLF). CATNLF enables laminar flow on typical transport wings with high sweep and Reynolds number by reshaping the wing airfoils to obtain specific pressure distribution characteristics that control the crossflow growth near the leading edge. The CATNLF method also addresses Tollmien- Schlichting transition, attachment line transition, and Görtler vortices. During the wind tunnel test, data were acquired to address three primary test objectives: validate the CATNLF design method, characterize the NTF laminar flow testing capabilities, and establish best practices for laminar flow wind tunnel testing. The present paper provides both experimental and computational data to understand the CRM-NLF laminar flow characteristics, as well as address the three primary test objectives. The effects of angle of attack and Reynolds number on the CRM-NLF laminar flow extent are studied, and the dominant transition mechanism is evaluated at a variety of test conditions. Critical N-factors are calculated for the NTF environment, and a discussion on best practices for laminar flow wind tunnel testing is provided. The CRM-NLF in the NTF provided initial confirmation of the ability of the CATNLF method to suppress crossflow growth and enable significant extents of laminar flow on transport wings with high sweep and Reynolds numbers.

Lynde, Michelle N.↗

Investigation on Vibration Response of Aluminum Foam Beams Using Speckle Interferometry

This paper firstly presents a brief review on the representations of speckle fringe pattern in vibration measurement using time-averaged electronic speckle pattern interference (ESPI) method. Based on laser phase noise, a new representation of speckle fringe intensity generated by real-time subtraction ESPI method for vibrating measurement is then proposed. In the experimental performance, the real-time subtraction ESPI method is employed to inspect the vibrating response of a closed-cell aluminum foam cantilever beam. In contract with the results of the finite elemental method simulation, the vibration mode shapes obtained by the ESPI method are well agreed with numerical prediction. The optical vibration analysis is also carried out to determine the effective Young’s modulus of aluminum foam, and the results verify the validation of the ESPI method for investigation on mechanical properties of metal foam materials.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Characterization of Space Shuttle Ascent Debris Aerodynamics Using CFD Methods

An automated Computational Fluid Dynamics process for determining the aerodynamic Characteristics of debris shedding from the Space Shuttle Launch Vehicle during ascent is presented. This process uses Cartesian fully-coupled, six-degree-of-freedom simulations of isolated debris pieces in a Monte Carlo fashion to produce models for the drag and crossrange behavior over a range of debris shapes and shedding scenarios. A validation of the Cartesian methods against ballistic range data for insulating foam debris shapes at flight conditions, as well as validation of the resulting models, are both contained. These models are integrated with the existing shuttle debris transport analysis software to provide an accurate and efficient engineering tool for analyzing debris sources and their potential for damage.

Murman, Scott M.↗

Coarse-Grained Simulations for the Characterization and Optimization of Hybrid Protein–DNA Nanostructures

We present here the combination of experimental and computational modeling tools for the design and characterization of protein–DNA hybrid nanostructures. Our work incorporates several features in the design of these nanostructures: (1) modeling of the protein–DNA linker identity and length; (2) optimizing the design of protein–DNA cages to account for mechanical stresses; (3) probing the incorporation efficiency of protein–DNA conjugates into DNA nanostructures. The modeling tools were experimentally validated using structural characterization methods like cryo-TEM and AFM. Our method can be used for fitting low-resolution electron density maps when structural insights cannot be deciphered from experiments, as well as enable in-silico validation of nanostructured systems before their experimental realization. Finally, these tools will facilitate the design of complex hybrid protein–DNA nanostructures that seamlessly integrate the two different biomolecules.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Digital image correlation and infrared thermography data for seven unique geometries of 304L stainless steel

Material Testing 2.0 (MT2.0) is a paradigm that advocates for the use of rich, full-field data, such as from digital image correlation and infrared thermography, for material identification. By employing heterogeneous, multi-axial data in conjunction with sophisticated inverse calibration techniques such as finite element model updating and the virtual fields method, MT2.0 aims to reduce the number of specimens needed for material identification and to increase confidence in the calibration results. To support continued development, improvement, and validation of such inverse methods—specifically for rate-dependent, temperature-dependent, and anisotropic metal plasticity models—we provide here a thorough experimental data set for 304L stainless steel sheet metal. The data set includes full-field displacement, strain, and temperature data for seven unique specimen geometries tested at different strain rates and in different material orientations. Commensurate extensometer strain data from tensile dog bones is provided as well for comparison. We believe this complete data set will be a valuable contribution to the experimental and computational mechanics communities, supporting continued advances in material identification methods.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Acidities of MgO surface sites: implications for the formation mechanism of Mg(OH) 2

The hydroxylation of periclase (MgO) to brucite (Mg(OH) 2 ) is thought to be an important intermediate step when using MgO to capture CO 2 from the atmosphere. However, the mechanism of hydroxylation of MgO to form Mg(OH) 2 is poorly understood. In this work, we used atomic-scale density functional tight binding simulations coupled with the metadynamics rare event method to analyze the surface chemistry of MgO and the acid dissociation equilibrium constants (pK a ) of its surface sites. The method and parameters were validated by calculating the pK a for hydroxylation of the first shell water bound to aqueous Mg 2+ ion. The pK a value derived using a probabilistic method was 12.3, which is in fair agreement with the accepted value of 11.4, with the difference between them equal to a ∼5 kJ mol −1 error in the calculations. We then extended these pK a calculations to probe the hydroxylation reactions of the surface sites of the MgO(100)–water interface, arriving at pK a s of 5.4 to deprotonate terminal water molecules bound to the surface magnesium sites (η-OH 2 or 〉MgOH 2 ), and 13.9 to deprotonate hydroxylated bridging oxygen sites (μ 5 -oxo or 〉O). Hydroxide (OH − ) adsorption on the surface was also probed and found to be less thermodynamically favorable than deprotonation of the terminal water molecule. The plausibility of the computed pK a s was verified using an activity-based speciation model and compared to pH measurements of water equilibrated with MgO nanoparticles and single crystals. The model predicted a solution pH of 7.1 when surface sites buffered and the pH of 12.0 when MgO dissolution dominated. These are close to the experimental initial solution pHs of 7–7.5 and the long term pHs of ∼10.5. The similarity suggests that the calculated pK a values from the DFTB+/metadynamics simulations are plausible and that these methods can be a useful tool to probe reaction mechanisms involving covalent bonds.

Adapa, Sai Krishna Reddy [Oak Ridge National Labor↗