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Results for “parametric design framework”

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 19 records

A cross-sectional aeroelastic analysis and structural optimization tool for slender composite structures

A fully open-source available framework for the parametric cross-sectional analysis and design optimization of slender composite structures, such as helicopter or wind turbine blades, is presented. The framework—Structural Optimization and Aeroelastic Analysis (SONATA)—incorporates two structural solvers, the commercial tool VABS, and the novel open-source code ANBA4. SONATA also parameterizes the design inputs, postprocesses and visualizes the results, and generates the structural inputs to a variety of aeroelastic analysis tools. It is linked to the optimization library OpenMDAO. This work presents the methodology and explains the fundamental approaches of SONATA. Structural characteristics were successfully verified for both VABS and ANBA4 using box beam examples from literature, thereby verifying the parametric approach to generating the topology and mesh in a cross section as well as the solver integration. The framework was furthermore exercised by analyzing and evaluating a fully resolved highly flexible wind turbine blade. Computed structural characteristics correlated between VABS and ANBA4, including off-diagonal terms. Stresses, strains, and deformations were recovered from loads derived through coupling with aeroelastic analysis. The framework, therefore, proves effective in accurately analyzing and optimizing slender composite structures on a high-fidelity level that is close to a three-dimensional finite element model.

42 ENGINEERING↗

A Framework for Parametric and Predictive Uncertainty Quantification in the E3SM Land Model: Assessing Site and Observable Generalizability

Quantifying parametric uncertainty using observations from individual sites provides a critical foundation for Earth system modeling, serving as a necessary first step before scaling up to regional or global applications. This study introduces a novel computational framework designed to enhance model predictability by reducing parametric uncertainty and assessing site and observable generalizability using various observational constraints. The framework integrates five components: Model Simulation, Statistical Emulation, Global Sensitivity Analysis (GSA), Model Calibration, and Model Prediction. Using the E3SM land model, we simulated site-level land-atmosphere carbon and energy fluxes from 2003 to 2007 across five evergreen needleleaf FLUXNET sites, perturbing 26 vegetation-related model parameters. Gaussian process emulators were employed to expedite GSA and model calibration. Four critical parameters that strongly influence selected land-atmosphere fluxes were identified by GSA. Bayesian approaches were used to infer parameter probability distributions leveraging synthetic data and FLUXNET observations. The results reveal that posterior parameter distributions vary significantly across different sites and observables within the same plant functional type. Probabilistic predictions indicate that parameters calibrated at one site can enhance predictive accuracy at other sites, although site heterogeneity may sometimes outweigh parametric uncertainty. Additionally, the probabilistic predictions demonstrate that calibration for one variable can also improve predictability for other variables, thereby maximizing predictive capabilities with limited observations. This framework provides a powerful approach for reducing parametric uncertainty in Earth system models and deepening our understanding of carbon dynamics and energy cycles. Its adaptability makes it a valuable tool for broader applications in Earth system modeling.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Multi-modality deep learning for pulse prediction in homogeneous nonlinear systems via parametric conversion

In this Letter, we introduce FusionNet, a multi-modality deep learning framework designed to predict and analyze output pulses in high-power rare-earth-doped laser systems driving parametric conversion in homogeneous guided nonlinear media. FusionNet integrates temporal, spectral, and physical experimental conditions to model ultrafast nonlinear phenomena, including parametric nonlinear frequency conversion, self-phase modulation, and cross-phase modulation in homogeneous guided systems such as gas-filled hollow-core fibers. These systems bridge physical models with experimental data, advancing our understanding of light-guiding principles and nonlinear interactions while expediting the design and optimization of on-demand high-power, high-brightness systems. Our results demonstrate a 73% reduction in prediction error and an 83% improvement in computational efficiency compared to conventional neural networks. This work establishes a new paradigm for accelerating parametric simulations and optimizing experimental designs in high-power laser systems, with further implications for high-precision spectroscopy, quantum information science, and distributed entangled interconnects.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

LaSDI: Parametric Latent Space Dynamics Identification

Enabling fast and accurate physical simulations with data has become an important area of computational physics to aid in inverse problems, design-optimization, uncertainty quantification, and other various decision-making applications. This paper presents a data-driven framework for parametric latent space dynamics identification procedure that enables fast and accurate simulations. The parametric model is achieved by building a set of local latent space model and designing an interaction among them. An individual local latent space dynamics model achieves accurate solution in a trust region. By letting the set of trust region to cover the whole parameter space, our model shows an increase in accuracy with an increase in training data. Herein we introduce two different types of interaction mechanisms, i.e., point-wise and region-based approach. Both linear and nonlinear data compression techniques are used. We illustrate the framework of Latent Space Dynamics Identification (LaSDI) enable a fast and accurate solution process on various partial differential equations, i.e., Burgers’ equations, radial advection problem, and nonlinear heat conduction problem, achieving 0 (100)x speed-up and 0 (1)% relative error with respect to the corresponding full order models.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Scalable phononic metamaterials: Tunable bandgap design and multi-scale experimental validation

Phononic metamaterials offer unprecedented control over wave propagation, making them essential for applications such as vibration isolation, waveguiding, and acoustic filtering. However, achieving scalable and precisely tunable bandgap properties across different length scales remains challenging. This study presents a user-friendly design framework for phononic metamaterials, enabling ultra-wide bandgap tunability (B/ω c ratios up to 172 %) across multiple frequency ranges and scales. Using finite element simulations of a Yablonovite-inspired unit cell, we establish a comprehensive parametric design space that illustrates how geometric parameters, such as sphere size and beam diameter, controls bandgap width and frequency. The scalability and robustness of the framework are validated through experimental testing on additively manufactured structures at both macro (10 mm) and micro (80 µm) scales, fabricated using Stereolithography and Two-Photon Polymerization. Transmission loss measurements, conducted with piezoelectric transducers and laser vibrometry, closely match simulations in the kHz and MHz frequency ranges, confirming the reliability and consistency of the bandgap behavior across scales. This work bridges theory and experiments at multiple scales, offering a practical methodology for the rapid design of phononic metamaterials and expanding their potential for diverse applications across a broad range of frequencies.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Hybrid Symbolic-Numerical Modeling and Parametric Stability Analysis of DC–AC Power Systems

Hybrid DC-AC power systems integrating diverse inverter-based resources (IBRs) and multi-terminal high-voltage direct current (MTDC) networks represent a promising architecture for future power grids, while introducing challenges for modeling, stability analysis, and control design. This paper develops a hybrid symbolic-numerical modeling framework and tool to characterize the parametric small-signal stability of DC-AC coupled power systems. The proposed approach constructs parametric state-space models to enable efficient representation of system dynamics under varying control parameters and network configurations, with target parameters retained as symbolic variables and the remainder treated numerically. The stability analysis framework covers eigenvalue, sensitivity, and stability boundary and region characterization. Enhanced linear matrix inequality (LMI) techniques are proposed to directly certify small-signal stability over regions of parameter space while also reducing the conservativeness and computational burden. The resulting tools and frameworks enable rapid parametric model construction across diverse grid conditions, thereby facilitating stability-informed control and operation in complex DC–AC power systems.

DC–AC power systems↗

Sensitivity-Driven Experimental Design to Facilitate Control of Dynamical Systems

Control of nonlinear dynamical systems is a complex and multifaceted process. Essential elements of many engineering systems include high-fidelity physics-based modeling, offline trajectory planning, feedback control design, and data acquisition strategies to reduce uncertainties. Here this article proposes an optimization-centric perspective which couples these elements in a cohesive framework. We introduce a novel use of hyper-differential sensitivity analysis to understand the sensitivity of feedback controllers to parametric uncertainty in physics-based models used for trajectory planning. These sensitivities provide a foundation to define an optimal experimental design which seeks to acquire data most relevant in reducing demand on the feedback controller. Our proposed framework is illustrated on the Zermelo navigation problem and a hypersonic trajectory control problem using data from NASA’s X-43 hypersonic flight tests.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Temperature-dependent mechanical properties and crystal plasticity parameters for additively manufactured Haynes-214 alloy: Experiments and numerical modeling

Our experimental mechanical testing data demonstrated that the additively manufactured (AM) laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF) Haynes-214 alloy exhibits non-linear mechanical properties as the temperature rises from ambient to 870 °C. Crystal plasticity (CP) simulations provide an effective approach to gaining deeper insights into microstructure-property linkages under thermomechanical loading. This method can reduce the need for costly high-temperature mechanical testing while accounting for the effects of crystallographic texture and grain morphology on the mechanical behavior of AM materials. However, calibrating a CP model is time-consuming because individual simulations are computationally expensive and hundreds (or more) of iterations over parameter sets may be required. To address this issue, we have designed a machine learning-differential evolution (ML-DE) CP framework that can accurately interpolate the tensile properties of AM L-PBF Haynes-214 alloy across a wide temperature range from ambient to 870 °C, with minimal reliance on experimental data. The framework uses electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) measurements to generate statistically equivalent microstructural volume elements to serve as inputs to the CP modeling framework. Stress–strain curves were generated from 1000 CP simulations, which serve as the training data set for the three ML regression algorithms explored: linear, extra-trees, and multi-layer perceptron. These three regression models were independently evaluated to compare their efficiency and identify the most suitable algorithm for the given problem. Results revealed that the extra-trees ML regressor outperforms the other models in both qualitative and quantitative aspects with an R 2 of 0.98. Subsequently, the differential evolution optimization approach is employed to calibrate the ML-based CP material parameters with experimental results obtained at various temperatures. Finally, temperature-dependent CP material parameters are formulated. The effectiveness and efficiency of the designed framework are validated through comparison with experimental results, demonstrating a high degree of agreement. These calibrated parametric constitutive equations enable further use of the CP model to study the deformation behavior of this alloy under a wide range of thermo-mechanical loading conditions.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Machine learning–assisted prediction of heat fluxes through thermally anisotropic building envelopes

Thermally anisotropic building envelope (TABE) is a novel active building envelope that can save energy use to maintain thermal comfort in buildings by redirecting heat and coolness from building envelopes to thermal loops. Finite element models (FEMs) can be used to compute the heat fluxes through TABEs, but the high computational cost of finite element simulations has prevented parametric studies and design optimizations. This paper proposes a domain knowledge–informed, finite element–based machine learning framework to reduce the computation cost for the energy management of buildings installed with TABE that uses a ground thermal loop. First, the training heat flux data set was generated by FEM simulations with different thermal loop schedules. Then, both shallow learning models (i.e., multivariate linear regression and eXtreme Gradient Boost, or XGBoost) and a deep learning model (i.e., deep neural network, or DNN) were trained to predict the heat fluxes. Domain knowledge was used for data preprocessing and feature selection. Finally, the suitability of the selected machine learning model was tested under different thermal loop schedules. Herein, the case study results showed that: (1) XGBoost can be as accurate as DNN (coefficient of determination equal to 0.81) with much less training time; (2) the annual energy cost savings for different thermal loop schedules obtained by the XGBoost-predicted and FEM-calculated heat fluxes are consistent, having a difference of only 4%; and (3) XGBoost can reduce the computation time for the annual energy analysis of the case study building with a given thermal loop schedule from around 12 h by using FEM to less than 1 min.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗

A mechanistic interpretation of Nelson curves for PVP failures under high temperature hydrogen attack

As an empirically established design criterion, Nelson curves that relate the service temperature and the allowable hydrogen partial pressure have been developed and utilized for more than sixty years in pressure vessels and piping (PVP) safety design. Despite a relatively clear thermodynamic understanding of the high-temperature-hydrogen-attack (HTHA) problem, the detailed fracture process on the microstructural length scales, however, remains elusive, and a quantitative assessment of the PVP lifetime under HTHA from the available creep fracture dataset is still not possible. This work develops a microstructure-informed and micromechanics-based model by incorporating a synergy between hydrogen transport and intergranular-cavity-based fracture process. Based on the available creep lifetime data of C-0.5Mo steels, we are able to calibrate material constitutive parameters, and then conduct nonlinear finite element simulations that reveal a real-time stress-induced hydrogen diffusional transport along grain boundaries, coupled with a microstructure-explicit failure process, from which Nelson curves can be computed. Such failure analyses allow us to delineate two distinct regimes on the Nelson curves, i.e., dislocation-creep-controlled or grain boundary diffusion-assisted cavity growth. More importantly, we found that a small change of the pipe thickness and applied stresses can significantly shift these lifetime curves. However, these two parameters are usually not provided in Nelson curves, thus limiting their usage in material selection and safety design. In conclusion, this discrepancy can clearly be mitigated by extensive parametric studies from our micromechanical modeling/simulation framework.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

A Bottom-Up Cost Estimation Tool for Nuclear Microreactors

The rising interest in nuclear microreactors has highlighted the need for comprehensive technoeconomic assessments. However, the scarcity of publicly available designs and cost data has posed significant challenges. To address this issue, the Microreactor Optimization Using Simulation and Economics (MOUSE) tool is developed. MOUSE is a tool that integrates nuclear microreactor design with reactor economics. The design calculations encompass core simulations using the OpenMC Monte Carlo Particle Transport Code [romano2015], along with simplified balance of plant calculations. On the economic side, MOUSE provides detailed bottom-up cost estimates, calculating both the total capital cost and the levelized cost of energy for first-of-a-kind and nth-of-a-kind microreactors. The cost estimation correlations are developed using data from the MARVEL project and additional literature sources. MOUSE has released as an open-source tool on GitHub (MOUSE Tool). By combining design calculations with cost equations, MOUSE enables users to evaluate the impact of various technological consideration, advanced moderators, design changes, material/fuel changes, and geometry modifications—as well as economic parameters like interest rates and construction duration. This comprehensive framework can guide stakeholders towards technological solutions that enhance microreactor competitiveness. Additionally, powered by the WATTS toolkit [romano2022], MOUSE supports optimization studies, parametric analyses, and uncertainty calculations/propagation. Currently, preconceptual designs of three microreactor types are included in MOUSE: a liquid metal thermal microreactor (LTMR), gas cooled TRISO-fueled microreactor (GCMR) and heat-pipe TRISO fueled microreactor (HPMR). To showcase its ability, MOUSE was used to conduct detailed bottom-up cost estimates for the first of a kind (FOAK) and Nth of a kind (NOAK) of the following microreactors • A 20MWt LTMR that is built on the ongoing MARVEL demonstration at Idaho National Laboratory (INL) • A 15 MWt GCMR that was designed to be more representative of the typical commercial microreactor • A 7 MWt HPMR that was built on previous work (Choi 2024) The The reader should note that these three designs and corresponding cost estimates are examples to demonstrate the MOUSE capability. The designs are pre-conceptual, the reactor designs were not optimized, and the cost estimates were developed with incomplete information. Additionally, stakeholders might be interested in a variety of designs that may differ from the examples provided in this report. The MOUSE tool can also be used to study how design choices affect economics. To demonstrate its capability, MOUSE was used conduct parametric studies such as examining the economic impact of the reflector's material and thickness, the moderator's booster material and dimensions, fuel composition and enrichment, core size, and power level. Several insights were gained from these parametric studies.

Hanna, Botros↗

Control Design of Series-connected PV-powered Grid-forming Converters via Singular Perturbation

We report modular architectures that consist of several series-connected dc-ac converters have been a focal point of recent innovations in transformerless medium-voltage applications. In this paper, we consider an architecture consisting of dc-ac modules containing a quadruple active bridge dc-dc converter, which generates three floating dc links that feed grid-side dc-ac inverters. Practical implementation of such a converter module in PV systems requires a variety of controllers that collectively achieve maximum power point tracking, dc-link regulation, and ac-side power control. Design of such multi-loop systems is generally quite challenging due to the potential for destabilizing interactions among loops. Here we propose a design approach where singular perturbation theory is used to decompose the timescales at which each control loop operates and provides a systematic framework for parametric selection. Our approach also ensures system stability of multiple modules with identical controls connected in series across a grid. The paper concludes with experimental results of three 1000 W series-connected converter modules across a stiff grid.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

A Co-design Framework for Online Data Analysis and Reduction

Science applications preparing for the exascale era are increasingly exploring in situ computations comprising of simulation-analysis-reduction pipelines coupled in-memory. Efficient composition and execution of such complex pipelines for a target platform is a codesign process that evaluates the impact and tradeoffs of various application- and system-specific parameters. In this article, we describe a toolset for automating performance studies of composed HPC applications that perform online data reduction and analysis. We describe Cheetah, a new framework for composing parametric studies on coupled applications, and Savanna, a runtime engine for orchestrating and executing campaigns of codesign experiments. Furthermore, this toolset facilitates understanding the impact of various factors such as process placement, synchronicity of algorithms, and storage versus compute requirements for online analysis of large data. Ultimately, we aim to create a catalog of performance results that can help scientists understand tradeoffs when designing next-generation simulations that make use of online processing techniques. We illustrate the design of Cheetah and Savanna, and present application examples that use this framework to conduct codesign studies on small clusters as well as leadership class supercomputers.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

An economics-by-design approach to a radiant integrated thermophotovoltaic microreactor system

This paper presents an application of the economics-by-design approach to the Radiant Integrated Thermo-photovoltaic Microreactor System (RITMS). The RITMS design is unique in that it directly couples a critical fission reactor with thermo-photovoltaic (TPV) panels for high efficiency energy conversion. This significant shift from electric conversion using traditional dynamic heat pumps leads to a simpler and more reliable system without turbomachinery and high pressurization. In working towards wrapping up the early design work, the economics-by-design approach, which centers economic competitiveness as the optimization parameter, is well suited in making a final determination on viability. This paper describes the computational sequence that was developed to couple the radiative and conductive heat transfer and feed operational performance to cost estimation. The framework was applied to maximize the power of the system, while minimizing the fuel enrichment. This method is applied to a reference RITMS design as part of a parametric sensitivity study, which revealed that the system is under moderated and that single unit plants could produce power as low as 300 dollar/MWh. This price point supports the notion that early in the RITMS design implementation, adoption into niche markets as a first-of-a-kind technology is possible. (authors)

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗

In-situ magnetic alignment model for additive manufacturing of anisotropic bonded magnets

In this work, we report a mathematical framework which predicts the degree of alignment (DoA) in an in-situ aligned additively manufactured 3D printed bonded magnets. A multiphysics model is developed which couples the harmonious interactions of magnetic particles in a viscous flowing polymer under the presence of an external magnetic field. The hydrodynamic fluid-particle interaction is paired with the magnetophoretic force to predict the particle trajectory and distribution during extrusion through a 3D printer nozzle. Succeeding the force balance, a magnetohydrodynamic torque equilibrium analysis is performed to predict the net-orientation of the magnetic particles as a function of the applied field strength, viscous forces, and particle-to-particle interactions (P2P). Experimental validation of the DoA predictions is performed using 65 vol% Nd-Fe-B+Sm-Fe-N in Nylon12 (DoA exp = 0.620 and DoA theory = 0.686) and 15 vol% Sm-Co in PLA (DoA exp = 0.830 and DoA theory = 0.863). A parametric analysis is performed to analyze the effect of operating and design parameters like alignment field strength, magnetic loading fraction, extrusion load, and particle size. The model predicts a competing behavior between particle-fluid and particle-particle interactions under the presence of an applied field. Lastly, the model provides a framework to efficiently predict the DoA in tandem with a functionalized-magnetic 3D printer and allows the user to adjust the operating parameters according to the desired DoA.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

3D high-fidelity automated neutronics guided optimization of fusion blanket designs

The compact Fusion Pilot Plant (FPP) is defined in the recent National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine report as the next step of fusion energy demonstration with a $50$ MWe peak net electricity production, $Q_e$ greater than $1$, and at least $3$ hours of continuous operation. This fusion pilot plant will be a test bed enabling materials, designs, and fuel management assessment, and it will represent an engineering challenge because of its high-fusion power and compact design targets. Previous reactor data is limited to experiments operating in different design space ranges. Therefore, design iterations and assessments should rely on high-fidelity first-principle theoretical and computational models. The high-fidelity integrated modeling of the plasma is a fundamental part of fusion energy research. However, the whole device modeling is often neglected, utilizing low-fidelity, system-level analysis. Recently, the need for high-fidelity multi-physics modeling was recognized, resulting in a selection of integrated tools. Further, autonomous design optimization requires a streamlined framework that perturbs the design point, reruns the analysis, and examines the outputs. However, high-fidelity analysis requires complex geometry specification that is difficult to perturb. This work presents the parametric CAD generation tool TRACER and a new neutronic workflow. TRACER allows the perturbation of the geometry representation, creating geometry files ready for further analysis. The streamlined neutronic workflow allows efficient and accurate calculations. The two new tools coupled together were used to perform a 3D high-fidelity multi-objective, multi-input optimization of an "ARC Class" compact tokamak design. The workflow was driven by an optimization driver for full automation.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗