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Incorporating uncertainty in RADTRAN 6.0 input files

Weiner, Ruth F.

Uncertainty may be introduced into RADTRAN analyses by distributing input parameters. The MELCOR Uncertainty Engine (Gauntt and Erickson, 2004) has been adapted for use in RADTRAN to determine the parameter shape and minimum and maximum of the distribution, to sample on the distribution, and to create an appropriate RADTRAN batch file. Coupling input parameters is not possible in this initial application. It is recommended that the analyst be very familiar with RADTRAN and able to edit or create a RADTRAN input file using a text editor before implementing the RADTRAN Uncertainty Analysis Module. Installation of the MELCOR Uncertainty Engine is required for incorporation of uncertainty into RADTRAN. Gauntt and Erickson (2004) provides installation instructions as well as a description and user guide for the uncertainty engine.

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Phase transformation of PZST-86/14-5-2Nb ceramic under quasi-static loading conditions

Broome, Scott T.; Bauer, Stephen J.; Montgomery, Stephen; Scofield, Timothy W.; Hofer, John

Specimens of poled and unpoled PZST ceramic were tested under hydrostatic loading conditions at temperatures of -55, 25, and 75 C. The objective of this experimental study was to obtain the electro-mechanical properties of the ceramic and the criteria of FE (Ferroelectric) to AFE (Antiferroelectric) phase transformations of the PZST ceramic to aid grain-scale modeling efforts in developing and testing realistic response models for use in simulation codes. As seen in previous studies, the poled ceramic from PZST undergoes anisotropic deformation during the transition from a FE to an AFE phase at -55 C. Warmer temperature tests exhibit anisotropic deformation in both the FE and AFE phase. The phase transformation is permanent at -55 C for all ceramics tests, whereas the transformation can be completely reversed at 25 and 75 C. The change in the phase transformation pressures at different temperatures were practically identical for both unpoled and poled PZST specimens. Bulk modulus for both poled and unpoled material was lowest in the FE phase, intermediate in the transition phase, and highest in the AFE phase. Additionally, bulk modulus varies with temperature in that PZST is stiffer as temperature decreases. Results from one poled-biased test for PZST and four poled-biased tests from PNZT 95/5-2Nb are presented. A bias of 1kV did not show noticeable differences in phase transformation pressure for the PZST material. However, with PNZT 95/5-2Nb phase transformation pressure increased with increasing voltage bias up to 4.5kV.

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Revised results for geomechanical testing of MRIG-9 core for the potential SPR siting at the Richton Salt Dome

Bauer, Stephen J.; Broome, Scott T.

This report is a revision of SAND2009-0852. SAND2009-0852 was revised because it was discovered that a gage used in the original testing was mis-calibrated. Following the recalibration, all affected raw data were recalculated and re-presented. Most revised data is similar to, but slightly different than, the original data. Following the data re-analysis, none of the inferences or conclusions about the data or site relative to the SAND2009-0852 data have been changed. A laboratory testing program was developed to examine the mechanical behavior of salt from the Richton salt dome. The resulting information is intended for use in design and evaluation of a proposed Strategic Petroleum Reserve storage facility in that dome. Core obtained from the drill hole MRIG-9 was obtained from the Texas Bureau of Economic Geology. Mechanical properties testing included: (1) acoustic velocity wave measurements; (2) indirect tensile strength tests; (3) unconfined compressive strength tests; (4) ambient temperature quasi-static triaxial compression tests to evaluate dilational stress states at confining pressures of 725, 1450, 2175, and 2900 psi; and (5) confined triaxial creep experiments to evaluate the time-dependent behavior of the salt at axial stress differences of 4000 psi, 3500 psi, 3000 psi, 2175 psi and 2000 psi at 55 C and 4000 psi at 35 C, all at a constant confining pressure of 4000 psi. All comments, inferences, discussions of the Richton characterization and analysis are caveated by the small number of tests. Additional core and testing from a deeper well located at the proposed site is planned. The Richton rock salt is generally inhomogeneous as expressed by the density and velocity measurements with depth. In fact, we treated the salt as two populations, one clean and relatively pure (> 98% halite), the other salt with abundant (at times) anhydrite. The density has been related to the insoluble content. The limited mechanical testing completed has allowed us to conclude that the dilatational criteria are distinct for the halite-rich and other salts, and that the dilation criteria are pressure dependent. The indirect tensile strengths and unconfined compressive strengths determined are consistently lower than other coastal domal salts. The steady-state-only creep model being developed suggests that Richton salt is intermediate in creep resistance when compared to other domal and bedded salts. The results of the study provide only limited information for structural modeling needed to evaluate the integrity and safety of the proposed cavern field. This study should be augmented with more extensive testing. This report documents a series of test methods, philosophies, and empirical relationships, etc., that are used to define and extend our understanding of the mechanical behavior of the Richton salt. This understanding could be used in conjunction with planned further studies or on its own for initial assessments.

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New Mexico cloud super cooled liquid water survey final report 2009

Roskovensky, John K.; Ivey, Mark D.

Los Alamos and Sandia National Laboratories are partners in an effort to survey the super-cooled liquid water in clouds over the state of New Mexico in a project sponsored by the New Mexico Small Business Assistance Program. This report summarizes the scientific work performed at Sandia National Laboratories during the 2009. In this second year of the project a practical methodology for estimating cloud super-cooled liquid water was created. This was accomplished through the analysis of certain MODIS sensor satellite derived cloud products and vetted parameterizations techniques. A software code was developed to analyze multiple cases automatically. The eighty-one storm events identified in the previous year effort from 2006-2007 were again the focus. Six derived MODIS products were obtained first through careful MODIS image evaluation. Both cloud and clear-sky properties from this dataset were determined over New Mexico. Sensitivity studies were performed that identified the parameters which most influenced the estimation of cloud super-cooled liquid water. Limited validation was undertaken to ensure the soundness of the cloud super-cooled estimates. Finally, a path forward was formulized to insure the successful completion of the initial scientific goals which include analyzing different of annual datasets, validation of the developed algorithm, and the creation of a user-friendly and interactive tool for estimating cloud super-cooled liquid water.

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Energy storage for the electricity grid : benefits and market potential assessment guide : a study for the DOE Energy Storage Systems Program

Eyer, James M.; Corey, Garth P.

This guide describes a high-level, technology-neutral framework for assessing potential benefits from and economic market potential for energy storage used for electric-utility-related applications. The overarching theme addressed is the concept of combining applications/benefits into attractive value propositions that include use of energy storage, possibly including distributed and/or modular systems. Other topics addressed include: high-level estimates of application-specific lifecycle benefit (10 years) in $/kW and maximum market potential (10 years) in MW. Combined, these criteria indicate the economic potential (in $Millions) for a given energy storage application/benefit. The benefits and value propositions characterized provide an important indication of storage system cost targets for system and subsystem developers, vendors, and prospective users. Maximum market potential estimates provide developers, vendors, and energy policymakers with an indication of the upper bound of the potential demand for storage. The combination of the value of an individual benefit (in $/kW) and the corresponding maximum market potential estimate (in MW) indicates the possible impact that storage could have on the U.S. economy. The intended audience for this document includes persons or organizations needing a framework for making first-cut or high-level estimates of benefits for a specific storage project and/or those seeking a high-level estimate of viable price points and/or maximum market potential for their products. Thus, the intended audience includes: electric utility planners, electricity end users, non-utility electric energy and electric services providers, electric utility regulators and policymakers, intermittent renewables advocates and developers, Smart Grid advocates and developers, storage technology and project developers, and energy storage advocates.

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Investigation of radial wire arrays for inertial confinement fusion and radiation effects science

Ampleford, David J.; Jennings, Christopher A.; Cuneo, Michael E.; Mcbride, Ryan; Sinars, Daniel; Jones, Brent M.; Coverdale, Christine A.; Jones, Michael

Radial wire arrays provide an alternative x-ray source for Z-pinch driven Inertial Confinement Fusion. These arrays, where wires are positioned radially outwards from a central cathode to a concentric anode, have the potential to drive a more compact ICF hohlraum. A number of experiments were performed on the 7MA Saturn Generator. These experiments studied a number of potential risks in scaling radial wire arrays up from the 1MA level, where they have been shown to provide similar x-ray outputs to larger diameter cylindrical arrays, to the higher current levels required for ICF. Data indicates that at 7MA radial arrays can obtain higher power densities than cylindrical wire arrays, so may be of use for x-ray driven ICF on future facilities. Even at the 7MA level, data using Saturn's short pulse mode indicates that a radial array should be able to drive a compact hohlraum to temperatures {approx}92eV, which may be of interest for opacity experiments. These arrays are also shown to have applications to jet production for laboratory astrophysics. MHD simulations require additional physics to match the observed behavior.

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Foundational development of an advanced nuclear reactor integrated safety code

Schmidt, Rodney C.; Hooper, Russell; Humphries, Larry L.; Lorber, Alfred; Spotz, William S.

This report describes the activities and results of a Sandia LDRD project whose objective was to develop and demonstrate foundational aspects of a next-generation nuclear reactor safety code that leverages advanced computational technology. The project scope was directed towards the systems-level modeling and simulation of an advanced, sodium cooled fast reactor, but the approach developed has a more general applicability. The major accomplishments of the LDRD are centered around the following two activities. (1) The development and testing of LIME, a Lightweight Integrating Multi-physics Environment for coupling codes that is designed to enable both 'legacy' and 'new' physics codes to be combined and strongly coupled using advanced nonlinear solution methods. (2) The development and initial demonstration of BRISC, a prototype next-generation nuclear reactor integrated safety code. BRISC leverages LIME to tightly couple the physics models in several different codes (written in a variety of languages) into one integrated package for simulating accident scenarios in a liquid sodium cooled 'burner' nuclear reactor. Other activities and accomplishments of the LDRD include (a) further development, application and demonstration of the 'non-linear elimination' strategy to enable physics codes that do not provide residuals to be incorporated into LIME, (b) significant extensions of the RIO CFD code capabilities, (c) complex 3D solid modeling and meshing of major fast reactor components and regions, and (d) an approach for multi-physics coupling across non-conformal mesh interfaces.

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Evaluation of containment failure and cleanup time for Pu shots on the Z machine

Darby, John L.

Between November 30 and December 11, 2009 an evaluation was performed of the probability of containment failure and the time for cleanup of contamination of the Z machine given failure, for plutonium (Pu) experiments on the Z machine at Sandia National Laboratories (SNL). Due to the unique nature of the problem, there is little quantitative information available for the likelihood of failure of containment components or for the time to cleanup. Information for the evaluation was obtained from Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) at the Z machine facility. The SMEs provided the State of Knowledge (SOK) for the evaluation. There is significant epistemic- or state of knowledge- uncertainty associated with the events that comprise both failure of containment and cleanup. To capture epistemic uncertainty and to allow the SMEs to reason at the fidelity of the SOK, we used the belief/plausibility measure of uncertainty for this evaluation. We quantified two variables: the probability that the Pu containment system fails given a shot on the Z machine, and the time to cleanup Pu contamination in the Z machine given failure of containment. We identified dominant contributors for both the time to cleanup and the probability of containment failure. These results will be used by SNL management to decide the course of action for conducting the Pu experiments on the Z machine.

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Sensor integration study for a shallow tunnel detection system

Senglaub, Michael E.; Yee, Mark L.; Elbring, Gregory J.; Abbott, Robert; Bonal, Nedra

During the past several years, there has been a growing recognition of the threats posed by the use of shallow tunnels against both international border security and the integrity of critical facilities. This has led to the development and testing of a variety of geophysical and surveillance techniques for the detection of these clandestine tunnels. The challenges of detection of these tunnels arising from the complexity of the near surface environment, the subtlety of the tunnel signatures themselves, and the frequent siting of these tunnels in urban environments with a high level of cultural noise, have time and again shown that any single technique is not robust enough to solve the tunnel detection problem in all cases. The question then arises as to how to best combine the multiple techniques currently available to create an integrated system that results in the best chance of detecting these tunnels in a variety of clutter environments and geologies. This study utilizes Taguchi analysis with simulated sensor detection performance to address this question. The analysis results show that ambient noise has the most effect on detection performance over the effects of tunnel characteristics and geological factors.

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Initial exploration of growth of InN by electrochemical solution growth

Waldrip, Karen E.

This report summarizes a brief and unsuccessful attempt to grow indium nitride via the electrochemical solution growth method and a modification thereof. Described in this report is a brief effort using a $50,000 LDRD award to explore the possibilities of applying the Electrochemical Solution Growth (ESG) technique to the growth of indium nitride (InN). The ability to grow bulk InN would be exciting from a scientific perspective, and a commercial incentive lies in the potential of extending the ESG technique to grow homogeneous, bulk alloys of In{sub x}Ga{sub 1-x}N for light emitting diodes (LEDs) operating in the green region of the spectrum. Indium nitride is the most difficult of the III-nitrides to grow due to its very high equilibrium vapor pressure of nitrogen1. It is several orders of magnitude higher than for gallium nitride or aluminum nitride. InN has a bandgap energy of 0.7eV, and achieving its growth in bulk for large area, high quality substrates would permit the fabrication of LEDs operating in the infrared. By alloying with GaN and AlN, the bulk material used as substrates would enable high efficiency emission wavelengths that could be tailored all the way through the deep ultraviolet. In addition, InN has been shown to have very high electronic mobilities (2700 cm{sup 2}/V s), making it a promising material for transistors and even terahertz emitters. Several attempts at synthesizing InN have been made by several groups. It was shown that metallic indium does not interact with unactivated nitrogen even at very high temperatures. Thus sets up an incompatibility between the precursors in all growth methods: a tradeoff between thermally activating the nitrogen-containing precursor and the low decomposition temperature of solid InN. We have been working to develop a novel growth technique that circumvents the difficulties of other bulk growth techniques by precipitating the column III nitrides from a solvent, such as a molten chloride salt, that provides an excellent host environment for the gallium nitride and indium nitride precursors. In particular, we have found that molten halide salts can solubilize both gallium (Ga{sup 3+}) and nitride (N{sup 3-}) ions without reacting with them to the extent that they are no longer available for reaction with each other. Literature reports indicate measured nitride ion concentrations in LiCl at 650 C as high as 10 mol% - a sufficient concentration to yield growth rates on the order of 0.1 to {approx}1 mm/hr under diffusion-limited growth conditions. Also, molten salts are compatible with the 400-1200 C temperatures likely to be necessary for growth of high-quality single-crystal III-nitrides. Since they can be worked with at (or close to) atmospheric pressure, scalability is not a problem and manufacturability issues are thus minimized, including capital equipment costs. Although the III-nitrides cannot be float-zone refined to remove impurities due to their high melting temperatures and vapor pressures, the salts can be, thus reducing sources of impurities before growth begins. Finally, the molten salts offer a number of pathways to improve the solubility and control the growth of the III-nitrides by functioning as an electrolyte in electrochemical processes. We have already demonstrated growth of wurtzite GaN particles ranging from 0.2 to 0.9 mm in two hours in our laboratory using these techniques. It was the goal of this work to extend this ESG approach to the growth of indium nitride. The hope was that the abundance of the activated form of nitrogen, namely the triply-charged nitride ion (N{sup -3}) would enable the facile growth of InN in solution at low temperatures.

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Final report : multicomponent forensic signature development : interactions with common textiles; mustard precursors and simulants

Van Benthem, Mark H.; Borek, Theodore T.; Mowry, Curtis D.; Kotula, Paul G.

2-Chloroethyl phenyl sulfide (CEPS), a surrogate compound of the chemical warfare agent sulfur mustard, was examined using thermal desorption coupled gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (TD/GC-MS) and multivariate analysis. This work describes a novel method of producing multiway data using a stepped thermal desorption. Various multivariate analysis schemes were employed to analyze the data. These methods may be able to discern different sources of CEPS. In addition, CEPS was applied to cotton, nylon, polyester, and silk swatches. These swatches were placed in controlled humidity chambers maintained at 23%, 56%, and 85% relative humidity. At regular intervals, samples were removed from each test swatch, and the samples analyzed using TD/GC-MS. The results were compared across fabric substrate and humidity.

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Sandia National Laboratories, California Waste Management Program annual report

Brynildson, Mark E.

The annual program report provides detailed information about all aspects of the Sandia National Laboratories, California (SNL/CA) Waste Management Program. It functions as supporting documentation to the SNL/CA Environmental Management System Program Manual. This annual program report describes the activities undertaken during the past year, and activities planned in future years to implement the Waste Management (WM) Program, one of six programs that supports environmental management at SNL/CA.

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Dynamic load test of Arquin-designed CMU wall

Jensen, Richard P.

The Arquin Corporation has developed a new method of constructing CMU (concrete masonry unit) walls. This new method uses polymer spacers connected to steel wires that serve as reinforcing as well as a means of accurately placing the spacers so that the concrete block can be dry stacked. The hollows of the concrete block are then filled with grout. As part of a New Mexico Small Business Assistance Program (NMSBA), Sandia National Laboratories conducted a series of tests that dynamically loaded wall segments to compare the performance of walls constructed using the Arquin method to a more traditional method of constructing CMU walls. A total of four walls were built, two with traditional methods and two with the Arquin method. Two of the walls, one traditional and one Arquin, had every third cell filled with grout. The remaining two walls, one traditional and one Arquin, had every cell filled with grout. The walls were dynamically loaded with explosive forces. No significant difference was noted between the performance of the walls constructed by the Arquin method when compared to the walls constructed by the traditional method.

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On the response of rubbers at high strain rates

Niemczura, Johnathan G.

In this report, we examine the propagation of tensile waves of finite deformation in rubbers through experiments and analysis. Attention is focused on the propagation of one-dimensional dispersive and shock waves in strips of latex and nitrile rubber. Tensile wave propagation experiments were conducted at high strain-rates by holding one end fixed and displacing the other end at a constant velocity. A high-speed video camera was used to monitor the motion and to determine the evolution of strain and particle velocity in the rubber strips. Analysis of the response through the theory of finite waves and quantitative matching between the experimental observations and analytical predictions was used to determine an appropriate instantaneous elastic response for the rubbers. This analysis also yields the tensile shock adiabat for rubber. Dispersive waves as well as shock waves are also observed in free-retraction experiments; these are used to quantify hysteretic effects in rubber.

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Coagulation chemistries for silica removal from cooling tower water

Nyman, May D.; Altman, Susan J.

The formation of silica scale is a problem for thermoelectric power generating facilities, and this study investigated the potential for removal of silica by means of chemical coagulation from source water before it is subjected to mineral concentration in cooling towers. In Phase I, a screening of many typical as well as novel coagulants was carried out using concentrated cooling tower water, with and without flocculation aids, at concentrations typical for water purification with limited results. In Phase II, it was decided that treatment of source or make up water was more appropriate, and that higher dosing with coagulants delivered promising results. In fact, the less exotic coagulants proved to be more efficacious for reasons not yet fully determined. Some analysis was made of the molecular nature of the precipitated floc, which may aid in process improvements. In Phase III, more detailed study of process conditions for aluminum chloride coagulation was undertaken. Lime-soda water softening and the precipitation of magnesium hydroxide were shown to be too limited in terms of effectiveness, speed, and energy consumption to be considered further for the present application. In Phase IV, sodium aluminate emerged as an effective coagulant for silica, and the most attractive of those tested to date because of its availability, ease of use, and low requirement for additional chemicals. Some process optimization was performed for coagulant concentration and operational pH. It is concluded that silica coagulation with simple aluminum-based agents is effective, simple, and compatible with other industrial processes.

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Seismic assessment of Technical Area V (TA-V)

Medrano, Carlos S.

The Technical Area V (TA-V) Seismic Assessment Report was commissioned as part of Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) Self Assessment Requirement per DOE O 414.1, Quality Assurance, for seismic impact on existing facilities at Technical Area-V (TA-V). SNL TA-V facilities are located on an existing Uniform Building Code (UBC) Seismic Zone IIB Site within the physical boundary of the Kirtland Air Force Base (KAFB). The document delineates a summary of the existing facilities with their safety-significant structure, system and components, identifies DOE Guidance, conceptual framework, past assessments and the present Geological and Seismic conditions. Building upon the past information and the evolution of the new seismic design criteria, the document discusses the potential impact of the new standards and provides recommendations based upon the current International Building Code (IBC) per DOE O 420.1B, Facility Safety and DOE G 420.1-2, Guide for the Mitigation of Natural Phenomena Hazards for DOE Nuclear Facilities and Non-Nuclear Facilities.

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Adaptive three-dimensional Monte Carlo functional-expansion tallies

Nuclear Science and Engineering

Franke, Brian C.; Kensek, Ronald P.

We describe a method that enables Monte Carlo calculations to automatically achieve a user-prescribed error of representation for numerical results. Our approach is to iteratively adapt Monte Carlo functional-expansion tallies (FETs). The adaptivity is based on assessing the cellwise 2-norm of error due to both functional-expansion truncation and statistical uncertainty. These error metrics have been detailed by others for one-dimensional distributions. We extend their previous work to threedimensional distributions and demonstrate the use of these error metrics for adaptivity. The method examines Monte Carlo FET results, estimates truncation and uncertainty error, and suggests a minimumrequired expansion order and run time to achieve the desired level of error. Iteration is required for results to converge to the desired error. Our implementation of adaptive FETs is observed to converge to reasonable levels of desired error for the representation of four distributions. In practice, some distributions and desired error levels may require prohibitively large expansion orders and/or Monte Carlo run times.

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Synergistic behavior between silica and alginate: Novel approach for removing silica scale from RO membranes

Desalination

Higgin, Roslyn; Howe, Kerry J.; Mayer, Thomas M.

The formation of mineral scale deposits on membranes is a pervasive and expensive problem for the water treatment industry. A series of experiments run on a laboratory-scale reverse osmosis membrane system examined the fouling of membranes when the feed water was spiked with organic and inorganic foulants. Alginic acid was used as the organic foulant and silica was used as the inorganic foulant. Studies involving interactions of these two foulants have not previously been reported in literature. Experiments were run with each foulant individually to characterize fouling at different velocities and pressures. Experiments were then run using both foulants together to characterize the synergistic effects on membrane fouling. One set of experiments with both foulants demonstrated that alginic acid inhibits silica fouling on reverse osmosis membranes. Further experiments indicated that alginic acid added after silica fouling had already occurred was able to remove silica scale from the membrane and restore permeate flux. © 2009 Elsevier B.V.

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Adaptive three-dimensional Monte Carlo functional-expansion tallies

Nuclear Science and Engineering

Franke, Brian C.; Kensek, Ronald P.

We describe a method that enables Monte Carlo calculations to automatically achieve a user-prescribed error of representation for numerical results. Our approach is to iteratively adapt Monte Carlo functional-expansion tallies (FETs). The adaptivity is based on assessing the cellwise 2-norm of error due to both functional-expansion truncation and statistical uncertainty. These error metrics have been detailed by others for one-dimensional distributions. We extend their previous work to threedimensional distributions and demonstrate the use of these error metrics for adaptivity. The method examines Monte Carlo FET results, estimates truncation and uncertainty error, and suggests a minimumrequired expansion order and run time to achieve the desired level of error. Iteration is required for results to converge to the desired error. Our implementation of adaptive FETs is observed to converge to reasonable levels of desired error for the representation of four distributions. In practice, some distributions and desired error levels may require prohibitively large expansion orders and/or Monte Carlo run times.

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A framework for reduced order modeling with mixed moment matching and peak error objectives

SIAM Journal on Scientific Computing

Santarelli, Keith R.

We examine a new method of producing reduced order models for LTI systems which attempts to minimize a bound on the peak error between t he original and reduced order models subject to a bound on the peak value of the input. The method, which can be implemented by solving a set of linear programming problems that are parameterized v ia a single scalar quantity, is able to minimize an error bound subject to a number of moment matc hing constraints. Moreover, because all optimization is performed in the time domain, the method can also be used to perform model reduction for infinite dimensional systems, rather than being restricted to finite order state space descriptions. We begin by contrasting the method we present her e with two classes of standard model reduction algorithms, namely, moment matching algorithms and singular value-based methods. After motivating the class of reduction tools we propose, we describe the algorithm (which minimizes the Ll norm of the difference between the original and reduced order impulse responses) and formulate the corresponding linear programming problem that is solved during each iteration of the algorithm. We then prove that, for a certain class of LTI systems, the metho d we propose can be used to produce reduced order models of arbitrary accuracy even when the original system is infinite dimensional. We then show how to incorporate moment matching constraints into the basic error bound minimization algorithm, and present three examples which utilize the techni ques described herein. We conclude with some comments on extensions to multi-input, multi-output systems, as well as some general comments for future work. © 2010 Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics.

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Resonant coupling to a dipole absorber inside a metamaterial: Anticrossing of the negative index response

Journal of Vacuum Science and Technology B

Smolev, Svyatoslav; Ku, Zahyun; Brueck, S.R.J.; Brener, Igal; Sinclair, Michael B.; Ten Eyck, Gregory A.; Langston, William L.; Basilio, Lorena I.

The authors experimentally demonstrate a resonant hybridization between the magnetic dipole structural resonance in the permeability of a fishnet metamaterial and an electric dipole material resonance in the permittivity of the dielectric spacer layer. The hybrid resonances in the permeability and the negative index response exhibit an anticrossing behavior. A simple analytic model and numerical simulations using a rigorous coupled-wave analysis are in excellent qualitative agreement with the experiment. © 2010 American Vacuum Society.

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A framework for reduced order modeling with mixed moment matching and peak error objectives

Proceedings of the 2010 American Control Conference, ACC 2010

Santarelli, Keith R.

We examine a new method of producing reduced order models for LTI systems which attempts to minimize a bound on the peak error between the original and reduced order models subject to a bound on the peak value of the input. The method, which can be implemented by solving a set of linear programming problems that are parameterized via a single scalar quantity, is able to minimize an error bound subject to a number of moment matching constraints.Moreover, because all optimization is performed in the time-domain, the method can also be used to perform model reduction for infinite dimensional systems, rather than being restricted to finite order state space descriptions. We begin by contrasting the method we present here to two classes of standard model reduction algorithms, namely moment matching algorithms and singularvalue- based methods. After motivating the class of reduction tools we propose, we describe the algorithm (which minimizes the L1 norm of the difference between the original and reduced order impulse responses) and formulate the corresponding linear programming problem that is solved during each iteration of the algorithm. We then show how to incorporate moment matching constraints into the basic error bound minimization algorithm, and present an example which utilizes the techniques described herein. We conclude with some general comments for future work, including a nonlinear programming formulation with potential implementation benefits. © 2010 AACC.

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Compression stress-strain behavior of Sn-Ag-Cu solders

Journal of Electronic Materials

Vianco, Paul T.; Rejent, Jerome A.; George, Carly S.; Kilgo, Alice C.

New Pb-free alloys that are variations of the Sn-Ag-Cu (SAC) ternary system, having reduced Ag content, are being developed to address the poor shock load survivability of current SAC305, SAC396, and SAC405 compositions. However, the thermal mechanical fatigue properties must be determined for the new alloys in order to develop constitutive models for predicting solder joint fatigue. A long-term study was initiated to investigate the time-independent (stress-strain) and time-dependent (creep) deformation properties of the alloy 98.5Sn-1.0Ag-0.5Cu (wt.% SAC105). The compression stress-strain properties, which are reported herein, were obtained for the solder in as-cast and aged conditions. The test temperatures were -25°C, 25°C, 75°C, 125°C, and 160°C and the strain rates were 4.2 × 10 -5 s -1 and 8.3 × 10 -4s -1. The SAC105 performance was compared with that of the 95.5Sn-3.9Ag-0.6Cu (SAC396) solder. Like the SAC396 solder, the SAC105 microstructure exhibited only small microstructural changes after deformation. The stress-strain curves showed work-hardening behavior that diminished with increased temperature to a degree that indicated dynamic recrystallization activity. The aging treatment had a small effect on the stress-strain curves, increasing the degree of work hardening. The yield stresses of SAC105 were significantly less than those of SAC396. The aging treatment caused a small drop in yield stress, as is observed with the SAC396 material. The static modulus values of SAC105 were lower than those of SAC396 and exhibited both temperature and aging treatment dependencies that differed from those of the SAC396 material. These trends clearly show that the stress-strain behavior of Sn-Ag-Cu solders is sensitive to the specific, individual composition. © 2009 U.S. Department of Energy.

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A switched state feedback law for the stabilization of LTI systems

Proceedings of the 2010 American Control Conference, ACC 2010

Santarelli, Keith R.

Inspired by prior work in the design of switched feedback controllers for second order systems, we develop a switched state feedback control law for the stabilization of LTI systems of arbitrary dimension. The control law operates by switching between two static gain vectors in such a way that the state trajectory is driven onto a stable n - 1 dimensional hyperplane (where n represents the system dimension). We begin by briefly examining relevant geometric properties of the phase portraits in the case of two-dimensional systems and show how these geometric properties can be expressed as algebraic constraints on the switched vector fields that are applicable to LTI systems of arbitrary dimension. We then describe an explicit procedure for designing stabilizing controllers and illustrate the closed-loop transient performance via two examples. © 2010 AACC.

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Measurement of fluctuating wall pressures beneath a supersonic turbulent boundary layer

48th AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting Including the New Horizons Forum and Aerospace Exposition

Beresh, Steven J.; Henfling, John F.; Spillers, Russell

Wind tunnel experiments up to Mach 3 have provided fluctuating wall pressure spectra beneath a supersonic turbulent boundary layer to frequencies reaching 400 kHz to help reconcile conflicts in the historical data. Data were acquired using piezoresistive silicon pressure transducers effective at low- and mid-range frequencies, supplemented by piezoelectric quartz sensors to detect high frequency events, and combined into a single curve describing the wall pressure spectrum. Attenuation at high frequencies due to limited spatial resolution was a dominant problem, but the well-known Corcos correction successfully recovered the true amplitude within its range of applicability, revealing the ω-1 dependence for fluctuations within the logarithmic region of the boundary layer. Wind tunnel noise and vibration were removed by a noise cancellation algorithm based upon adaptive filtering, showing the power spectra are essentially flat at low frequency and do not exhibit the theorized ω2 dependence. The integrated pressure fluctuation intensities are appreciably greater than the historical supersonic database when data corrections are applied, but consistent when neglected, suggesting that past experiments may be biased low.

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Computationally optimized multi-group cross section data collapsing using the YGROUP code

International Conference on the Physics of Reactors 2010, PHYSOR 2010

Yi, C.; Sjoden, G.; Mattingly, John K.; Courau, T.

A multi-group cross section collapsing code, YGROUP, has been developed to speed up deterministic particle transport simulations by reducing the number of discrete energy groups while maintaining computational transport accuracy. The YGROUP code leverages previous studies based on the "contributon" approach to automate group selection. First, forward and adjoint deterministic transport calculations are performed on a smaller problem model, or on one section of a large problem model representative of problem physics using a fine group structure. Then, the calculated forward flux and adjoint function moments are used by YGROUP to collapse the fine group cross section library and generate a problem-dependent broad group cross section library. Finally, the broad group library is used for new transport calculations on the full scale/refined problem model. YGROUP provides several weighting options to collapse the cross section library, including flat, flux, and contributon (the product of forward flux and scalar adjoint moments). Users can also specify fine groups in specific energy ranges of interest to be reserved after collapsing. YGROUP also can be used to evaluate the Feynman-Y asymptote characterizing neutron multiplicity.

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Results 74301–74400 of 99,299
Results 74301–74400 of 99,299