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Quadratic eigenvalue problems

Walsh, Timothy W.; Day, David M.

In this report we will describe some nonlinear eigenvalue problems that arise in the areas of solid mechanics, acoustics, and coupled structural acoustics. We will focus mostly on quadratic eigenvalue problems, which are a special case of nonlinear eigenvalue problems. Algorithms for solving the quadratic eigenvalue problem will be presented, along with some example calculations.

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TYPE SAND Report YEAR 2007
DOIOSTI

Thermomechanical indentation of shape memory polymers

Shape memory polymers (SMPs) are receiving increasing attention because of their ability to store a temporary shape for a prescribed period of time, and then when subjected to an environmental stimulus, recover an original programmed shape. They are attractive candidates for a wide range of applications in microsystems, biomedical devices, deployable aerospace structures, and morphing structures. In this paper we investigate the thermomechanical behavior of shape memory polymers due to instrumented indentation, a loading/deformation scenario that represents complex multiaxial deformation. The SMP sample is indented using a spherical indenter at a temperature T{sub 1} (>T{sub g}). The temperature is then lowered to T{sub 2} (<T{sub g}) while the indenter is kept in place. After removal of the indenter at T{sub 2}, an indentation impression exists. Shape memory is then activated by increasing the temperature to T{sub 1} (>T{sub g}) during free recovery the indentation impression disappears and the surface of the SMP recovers to its original profile. A recently-developed three-dimensional finite deformation constitutive model for the thermomechanical behavior of SMPs is then used with the finite element method to simulate this process. Measurement and simulation results are compared for cases of free and constrained recovery and good agreement is obtained, suggesting the appropriateness of the simulation approach for complex multiaxial loading/deformations that are likely to occur in applications.

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TYPE Conference YEAR 2007
OSTI

Characterization of thermal-hydraulic and ignition phenomena in prototypic, full-length boiling water reactor spent fuel pool assemblies after a complete loss-of-coolant accident

Lindgren, Eric

The objective of this project was to provide basic thermal-hydraulic data associated with a SFP complete loss-of-coolant accident. The accident conditions of interest for the SFP were simulated in a full-scale prototypic fashion (electrically-heated, prototypic assemblies in a prototypic SFP rack) so that the experimental results closely represent actual fuel assembly responses. A major impetus for this work was to facilitate code validation (primarily MELCOR) and reduce questions associated with interpretation of the experimental results. It was necessary to simulate a cluster of assemblies to represent a higher decay (younger) assembly surrounded by older, lower-power assemblies. Specifically, this program provided data and analysis confirming: (1) MELCOR modeling of inter-assembly radiant heat transfer, (2) flow resistance modeling and the natural convective flow induced in a fuel assembly as it heats up in air, (3) the potential for and nature of thermal transient (i.e., Zircaloy fire) propagation, and (4) mitigation strategies concerning fuel assembly management.

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TYPE SAND Report YEAR 2007
DOIOSTI

Collective systems:physical and information exergies

Robinett, Rush D.; Wilson, David G.

Collective systems are typically defined as a group of agents (physical and/or cyber) that work together to produce a collective behavior with a value greater than the sum of the individual parts. This amplification or synergy can be harnessed by solving an inverse problem via an information-flow/communications grid: given a desired macroscopic/collective behavior find the required microscopic/individual behavior of each agent and the required communications grid. The goal of this report is to describe the fundamental nature of the Hamiltonian function in the design of collective systems (solve the inverse problem) and the connections between and values of physical and information exergies intrinsic to collective systems. In particular, physical and information exergies are shown to be equivalent based on thermodynamics and Hamiltonian mechanics.

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TYPE SAND Report YEAR 2007
DOIOSTI

Autothermal reforming of natural gas to synthesis gas:reference: KBR paper #2031

Mann, David

This Project Final Report serves to document the project structure and technical results achieved during the 3-year project titled Advanced Autothermal Reformer for US Dept of Energy Office of Industrial Technology. The project was initiated in December 2001 and was completed March 2005. It was a joint effort between Sandia National Laboratories (Livermore, CA), Kellogg Brown & Root LLC (KBR) (Houston, TX) and Sued-Chemie (Louisville, KY). The purpose of the project was to develop an experimental capability that could be used to examine the propensity for soot production in an Autothermal Reformer (ATR) during the production of hydrogen-carbon monoxide synthesis gas intended for Gas-to-Liquids (GTL) applications including ammonia, methanol, and higher hydrocarbons. The project consisted of an initial phase that was focused on developing a laboratory-scale ATR capable of reproducing conditions very similar to a plant scale unit. Due to budget constraints this effort was stopped at the advanced design stages, yielding a careful and detailed design for such a system including ATR vessel design, design of ancillary feed and let down units as well as a PI&D for laboratory installation. The experimental effort was then focused on a series of measurements to evaluate rich, high-pressure burner behavior at pressures as high as 500 psi. The soot formation measurements were based on laser attenuation at a view port downstream of the burner. The results of these experiments and accompanying calculations show that soot formation is primarily dependent on oxidation stoichiometry. However, steam to carbon ratio was found to impact soot production as well as burner stability. The data also showed that raising the operating pressure while holding mass flow rates constant results in considerable soot formation at desirable feed ratios. Elementary reaction modeling designed to illuminate the role of CO{sub 2} in the burner feed showed that the conditions in the burner allow for the direct participation of CO{sub 2} in the oxidation chemistry.

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TYPE SAND Report YEAR 2007
DOIOSTI

Sandia National Laboratories California Pollution Prevention Program Annual Report

Farren, Laurie J.

The annual program report provides detailed information about all aspects of the SNL/CA Pollution Prevention Program for a given calendar year. It functions as supporting documentation to the SNL/CA Environmental Management System Program Manual. The program report describes the activities undertaken during the past year, and activities planned in future years to implement the Pollution Prevention Program, one of six programs that supports environmental management at SNL/CA.

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TYPE SAND Report YEAR 2007
DOIOSTI

Macro- to nanoscale wear prevention via molecular adsorption

Proposed for publication in Science.

Dugger, Michael T.; Ohlhausen, J.A.

As the size of mechanical systems shrinks from macro- to nanoscales, surface phenomena such as adhesion, friction, and wear become increasingly significant. This paper demonstrates the use of alcohol adsorption as a means of continuously replenishing the lubricating layer on the working device surfaces and elucidates the tribochemical reaction products formed in the sliding contact region. Friction and wear of native silicon oxide were studied over a wide range of length scales from macro- to nanoscales using a ball-on-flat tribometer (millimeter scale), sidewall microelectromechanical system (MEMS) tribometer (micrometer scale), and atomic force microscopy (nanometer scale). In all cases, the alcohol vapor adsorption successfully lubricated and prevented wear. Imaging time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry analysis of the sliding contact region revealed that high molecular weight oligomeric species were formed via tribochemical reactions of the adsorbed linear alcohol molecules. These tribochemical products seemed to enhance the lubrication and wear prevention. In the case of sidewall MEMS tests, the lifetime of the MEMS device was radically increased via vapor-phase lubrication with alcohol.

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TYPE Journal Article YEAR 2007
OSTI

Estimating Z-Pinch computing resources

Brunner, Thomas A.

The Z facility at Sandia National Laboratories produces high energy density environments. Computer simulations of the experiments provide key insights and help make the most efficient use of the facility. This document estimates the computer resources needed in order to support the experimental program. The resource estimate is what we would like to have in about five years and assumes that we will have a robust, scalable simulation capability as well as enough physicists to run the simulations.

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TYPE SAND Report YEAR 2007
DOIOSTI

Model for resonant plasma probe

Johnson, William A.; Coats, Rebecca S.; Jorgenson, Roy E.; Hebner, Gregory A.

This report constructs simple circuit models for a hairpin shaped resonant plasma probe. Effects of the plasma sheath region surrounding the wires making up the probe are determined. Electromagnetic simulations of the probe are compared to the circuit model results. The perturbing effects of the disc cavity in which the probe operates are also found.

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TYPE SAND Report YEAR 2007
DOIOSTI

Asynchronous parallel generating set search for linearly-constrained optimization

Kolda, Tamara G.; Griffin, Joshua D.

We describe an asynchronous parallel derivative-free algorithm for linearly-constrained optimization. Generating set search (GSS) is the basis of ourmethod. At each iteration, a GSS algorithm computes a set of search directionsand corresponding trial points and then evaluates the objective function valueat each trial point. Asynchronous versions of the algorithm have been developedin the unconstrained and bound-constrained cases which allow the iterations tocontinue (and new trial points to be generated and evaluated) as soon as anyother trial point completes. This enables better utilization of parallel resourcesand a reduction in overall runtime, especially for problems where the objec-tive function takes minutes or hours to compute. For linearly-constrained GSS,the convergence theory requires that the set of search directions conform to the3 nearby boundary. The complexity of developing the asynchronous algorithm forthe linearly-constrained case has to do with maintaining a suitable set of searchdirections as the search progresses and is the focus of this research. We describeour implementation in detail, including how to avoid function evaluations bycaching function values and using approximate look-ups. We test our imple-mentation on every CUTEr test problem with general linear constraints and upto 1000 variables. Without tuning to individual problems, our implementationwas able to solve 95% of the test problems with 10 or fewer variables, 75%of the problems with 11-100 variables, and nearly half of the problems with100-1000 variables. To the best of our knowledge, these are the best resultsthat have ever been achieved with a derivative-free method. Our asynchronousparallel implementation is freely available as part of the APPSPACK software.4

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TYPE SAND Report YEAR 2007
DOIOSTI
Results 82001–82200 of 99,299
Results 82001–82200 of 99,299