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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 19 records

An Adaptive Geometry-Free Thermo-Mechanical Model for Directed Energy Deposition Process Modeling

This presentation describes a novel, geometry-free thermo-mechanical model with adaptive subdomain con- struction to accurately predict the thermal conditions, distortions, and residual stresses throughout the directed energy deposition (DED) process. A novel finite element workflow is designed to con- duct the numerical analysis, based on the multi-app and data transfer capabilities in the open-source Multiphysics Object-Oriented Simulation Environment (MOOSE). Unlike with traditional methods, the part geometry in this model is not predefined. Instead, it is a combined effect of the processing parameters and material properties. At each time step, the model utilizes a subdomain construction paradigm to model the material deposition. A specialized mesh adaptivity scheme is incorporated to provide an accurate prediction while reducing the overall computational cost. The results generated by the proposed model show general agreement with the experimental measurements for the single track scan with varying processing parameters and demonstrate reasonable predictions for higher material buildups.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Discrete-event Simulation Process Model for the Pyrochemical Processing of Plutonium at Los Alamos National Laboratory

The pyrochemical metal production operations that occur in the Plutonium Facility at Los Alamos National Laboratory perform plutonium purification with the aim to provide plutonium metal for a variety of defense- and non-defense missions within the National Nuclear Security Administration. The demands and constraints associated with the pyrochemical processing of plutonium are complex, making decision analyses challenging for program managers who require plutonium production for their mission applications. The construction of a discrete-event simulation process model is proposed to measure and report the process capacity, material throughput, equipment requirements, and dose accumulation for operators of the pyrochemical metal production operations. The process model, constructed in the ExtendSim™ software, will represent the cause-and-effect relationships between the pyrochemical processing environment and the process constraints, including criticality limitations, material control and accountability measures, chemical analysis requirements, and equipment availability. An accurate representation of the pyrochemical metal production process capacity through simulation modeling will be helpful to program managers in their efforts to forecast plutonium availability for mission applications. Furthermore, the proposed process model will be vital for future analyses that will measure the interactions between the pyrochemical metal production operations and the aqueous reprocessing operations and their ability to minimize transuranic waste disposal.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

FY2021 Status Report on the Computing Systems for the Yucca Mountain Project TSPA-LA Models and Testing of Selected Process Models

Sandia National Laboratories continued evaluation of the total system performance assessment (TSPA) for License Application (LA) computing systems for the previously considered Yucca Mountain Project (YMP). This was done to maintain the operational readiness of the computing infrastructure (computer hardware and software) and knowledge capability for total system performance assessment) type analysis, as directed by the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), DOE 2010. The FY21 task included continued operation of the cluster; maintenance of the TSPA-LA models (with GoldSim 9.60.300); continued assessment of the status of the Infiltration Model; (a process model that feeds the TSP -LA) and preliminary assessments of the Unsaturated Zone Flow Model and the Saturated Zone Flow and Transport Model Abstraction (process models that feed the TSPA-LA). The 2014 cluster and supporting software systems are currently fully operational to support TSPA-LA type analyses.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

A Generic Modeling Process to Support Functional Fault Model Development

Functional fault models (FFMs) are qualitative representations of a system's failure space that are used to provide a diagnostic of the modeled system. An FFM simulates the failure effect propagation paths within a system between failure modes and observation points. These models contain a significant amount of information about the system including the design, operation and off nominal behavior. The development and verification of the models can be costly in both time and resources. In addition, models depicting similar components can be distinct, both in appearance and function, when created individually, because there are numerous ways of representing the failure space within each component. Generic application of FFMs has the advantages of software code reuse: reduction of time and resources in both development and verification, and a standard set of component models from which future system models can be generated with common appearance and diagnostic performance. This paper outlines the motivation to develop a generic modeling process for FFMs at the component level and the effort to implement that process through modeling conventions and a software tool. The implementation of this generic modeling process within a fault isolation demonstration for NASA's Advanced Ground System Maintenance (AGSM) Integrated Health Management (IHM) project is presented and the impact discussed.

Design Analysis↗

Understanding Uncertainty in Microstructure Evolution and Constitutive Properties in Additive Process Modeling

Coupled process–microstructure–property modeling, and understanding the sources of uncertainty and their propagation toward error in part property prediction, are key steps toward full utilization of additive manufacturing (AM) for predictable quality part development. The OpenFOAM model for process conditions, the ExaCA model for as-solidified grain structure, and the ExaConstit model for constitutive mechanical properties are used as part of the ExaAM modeling framework to examine a few of the various sources of uncertainty in the modeling workflow. In addition to “random” uncertainty (due to random number generation in the orientations and locations of grains present), the heterogeneous nucleation density N 0 and the mean substrate grain spacing S 0 are varied to examine their impact of grain area development as a function of build height in the simulated microstructure. While mean grain area after 1 mm of build is found to be sensitive to N 0 and S 0 , particularly at small N 0 and large S 0 (despite some convergence toward similar values), the resulting grain shapes and overall textures develop in a reasonably similar manner. As a result of these similar textures, ExaConstit simulation using ExaCA representative volume elements (RVEs) from various permutations of N 0 , S 0 , and location within the build resulted in similar yield stress, stress–strain curve shape, and stress triaxiality distributions. It is concluded that for this particular material and scan pattern, 15 layers is sufficient for ExaCA texture and ExaConstit predicted properties to become relatively independent of additional layer simulation, provided that reasonable estimates for N 0 and S 0 are used. However, additional layers of ExaCA will need to be run to obtain mean grain areas independent of build height and baseplate structure.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

[Challenges and Opportunities in] Process Modeling of Intensified Chemical Processes

Before the benefits of process intensification can be fully realized, a multitude of advances in process modeling will be necessary. Process intensification (PI) has the potential to speed development of chemical engineering innovations. Among its many benefits, PI can increase the driving forces (physical and/or chemical) for transport phenomena, separations, and/or reactions in chemical processes, and inspire novel process configurations with major technical and economic benefits. Examples of PI applications include integrated process units such as heat exchange networks, sorption- or membrane-enhanced reactors, and dividing-wall distillation columns, among others [AIChE(2017)].

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

The ongoing need for high-resolution regional climate models: Process understanding and stakeholder information

Regional climate modeling addresses our need to understand and simulate climatic processes and phenomena unresolved in global models. High resolution models are generally more skillful in simulating extremes, such as heavy precipitation, strong winds, and severe storms. In addition, research has shown that fine-scale features such as mountains, coastlines, lakes, irrigation, land use, and urban heat islands can substantially influence a region’s climate and its response to changing forcings. Regional climate simulations explicitly simulating convection are now being performed, providing an opportunity to illuminate new physical behavior that previously was represented by parameterizations with large uncertainties. Regional and global models are both advancing toward higher resolution, as computational capacity increases. However, the resolution and ensemble size necessary to produce a sufficient statistical sample of these processes in global models has proven too costly for contemporary supercomputing systems. Regional climate models are thus indispensable tools that complement global models for understanding regional climate variability and change, and are critical for supporting societal responses to changing climate.

Gutowski, William↗

The enhanced Software Life Cyle Support Environment (ProSLCSE): Automation for enterprise and process modeling

In this paper, we have introduced a comprehensive method for enterprise modeling that addresses the three important aspects of how an organization goes about its business. FirstEP includes infrastructure modeling, information modeling, and process modeling notations that are intended to be easy to learn and use. The notations stress the use of straightforward visual languages that are intuitive, syntactically simple, and semantically rich. ProSLCSE will be developed with automated tools and services to facilitate enterprise modeling and process enactment. In the spirit of FirstEP, ProSLCSE tools will also be seductively easy to use. Achieving fully managed, optimized software development and support processes will be long and arduous for most software organizations, and many serious problems will have to be solved along the way. ProSLCSE will provide the ability to document, communicate, and modify existing processes, which is the necessary first step.

Milligan, James R.↗

Integration of genome-scale metabolic model with biorefinery process model reveals market-competitive carbon-negative sustainable aviation fuel utilizing microbial cell mass lipids and biogenic CO 2

Producing scalable, economically viable, low-carbon biofuels or biochemicals hinges on more efficient bioconversion processes. While microbial conversion can offer robust solutions, the native microbial growth process often redirects a large fraction of carbon to CO 2 and cell mass. By integrating genome-scale metabolic models with techno-economic and life cycle assessment models, this study analyzes the effects of converting cell mass lipids to hydrocarbon fuels, and CO 2 to methanol on the facility’s costs and life-cycle carbon footprint. Results show that upgrading microbial lipids or both microbial lipids and CO 2 using renewable hydrogen produces carbon-negative bisabolene. Additionally, on-site electrolytic hydrogen production offers a supply of pure oxygen to use in place of air for bioconversion and fuel combustion in the boiler. To reach cost parity with conventional jet fuel, renewable hydrogen needs to be produced at less than $\$2.2$ to $\$3.1$/kg, with a bisabolene yield of 80% of the theoretical yield, along with cell mass and CO 2 yields of 22 wt% and 54 wt%, respectively. The economic combination of cell mass, CO 2 , and bisabolene yields demonstrated in this study provides practical insights for prioritizing research, selecting suitable hosts, and determining necessary engineered production levels.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗

Towards a Comparative Assessment of Data-Driven Process Models in Health Information Technology

Process mining for conformance analysis focuses on comparing a reference process model against a data-driven process model that is generated via log files from information technology systems. While this approach is helpful when there is an existing process model in an organization, it leaves the question of what to do in the absence of a complete reference process model unanswered. In this paper, we present a comparative assessment approach that combines process mining, process mapping for dimensionality reduction, and statistical analysis. Our goal is to find similarities and dissimilarities in data-driven process models among U.S. Veterans Health Administration (VHA) facilities to assess process conformance among different healthcare facilities, which can help assess the standardization of care. We illustrate our approach by applying it to two clinical radiology order process models generated by two similar facilities. Our results demonstrate statistical similarities in the standardization of care among those two facilities.

Klasky, Hilda↗

Accounting for erroneous model structures in biokinetic process models

In engineering practice, model-based design requires not only a good process-based model, but also a good description of stochastic disturbances and measurement errors to learn credible parameter values from observations. However, typical methods use Gaussian error models, which often cannot describe the complex temporal patterns of residuals. Consequently, this results in overconfidence in the identified parameters and, in turn, optimistic reactor designs. Here, we assess the strengths and weaknesses of a method to statistically describe these patterns with autocorrelated error models. This method produces increased widths of the credible prediction intervals following the inclusion of the bias term, in turn leading to more conservative design choices. However, we also show that the augmented error model is not a universal tool, as its application cannot guarantee the desired reliability of the resulting wastewater reactor design.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Comparative Assessment of Data-driven Process Models in Health Information Technology

Process mining for conformance analysis consists of comparing a reference process model against a data-driven process model generated via log files from information technology systems. However, in the absence of a complete reference process model, we found no suggested approaches in the literature to address the need for evaluating process conformance among different healthcare facilities to assess standardization of care. Our goal is to find similarities and dissimilarities in data-driven process models among US Veterans Health Administration (VHA) facilities that can be indicative of patient safety issues. Our hypothesis was that the analysis would not produce statistically significant differences in outcome. We present a unique implementation of conformance analysis in process mining that consists of combining process mining, process mapping and statistical metrics. We illustrate our approach by applying it to the analysis of two clinical radiology order process models generated from healthcare data provided by two similar facilities in the VHA. The comparative assessment showed that about 70% of the orders completed successfully and 30% were not completed due to policy and duplications. Our analysis found a good statistical correlation between both facilities, as the Spearman’s correlation coefficient between facilities for the frequency of cases per total hours was 0.87879, for the frequency of cases by state transition was 0.79702 and for the throughput time per state transition was 0.63582. Additional statistical analyses using the Mann-Whitney U test and the root mean square error both produced values that were not significant. The foregoing approach validated our hypothesis by demonstrating a good statistical correlation of data describing the flow of clinical radiology orders absent a credible reference model. Finding good agreement between both facilities was important in confirming that the clinical orders flow in a similar manner, suggesting standardization of care.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

A fully coupled thermal–microstructural–mechanical finite element process model for directed energy deposition additive manufacturing of Ti–6Al–4V

A fully coupled thermal–microstructural–mechanical finite element modelling framework is developed to investigate the distortion and residual stresses during directed energy deposition (DED) of multi-phase Ti–6Al–4V alloy. The Johnson–Cook constitutive model is used to predict the yield strength of each phase as a function of strain, strain rate and temperature where the flow stress is calculated by a linear mixing rule based on the volumetric phase fractions. A thin-walled rectangular sample is chosen as the reference geometry and the results are compared with experimentally measured in situ thermal history and distortion data, where a reasonable agreement is achieved. The proposed modelling framework with physics-based material constitutive model provides useful information for a better understanding of process–microstructure–property relations in additive manufacturing by DED.

Tunay, Merve↗

Space - A unique environment for process modeling R&D

Process modeling, the application of advanced computational techniques to simulate real processes as they occur in regular use, e.g., welding, casting and semiconductor crystal growth, is discussed. Using the low-gravity environment of space will accelerate the technical validation of the procedures and enable extremely accurate determinations of the many necessary thermophysical properties. Attention is given to NASA's centers for the commercial development of space; joint ventures of universities, industries, and goverment agencies to study the unique attributes of space that offer potential for applied R&D and eventual commercial exploitation.

Overfelt, Tony↗

FY19 Status Report on the Computing Systems for the Yucca Mountain Project TSPA-LA Models and Preliminary Testing of a Selected Process Model

Sandia National Laboratories continued evaluation of total system performance assessment (TSPA) computing systems for the previously considered Yucca Mountain Project. This was done to maintain the operational readiness of the computing infrastructure (computer hardware and software) and knowledge capability for total system performance assessment) type analysis, as directed by the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), DOE 2010. The FY19 task included continued operation of the cluster; maintenance of the TSPA-LA models (with Gold Sim 9.60.300); preliminary assessment of the status of the Infiltration Model (a process model that feeds the TSPA-LA). In addition, precautionary actions were needed to extend the life of the cluster hardware. To do that, three new nodes were added to the cluster. In the event any of the original nodes fail they will be replaced with the new nodes, thereby maintaining the core capability. The 2014 cluster and supporting software systems are currently fully operational to support TSPA-LA type analysis.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗