- Ferromagnetic device modeling
- Soft ferrites, as well as other ferromagnetic materials, have
applications where their nonlinearities, both static and dynamic,
are significant factors in design. Mathematical models have been
developed to represent these nonlinearities in circuit design simulations.
Experiments have been conducted to verify the models and to obtain
parameters needed by them.
Enhancements are needed for the models to cover wider bandwidths
of excitation, and measurements are needed on a wider variety of
materials.
- High temperature superconductor simulations
- High temperature superconductors (HTSC) can be used, as can conventional
superconductors, for shielding, levitation, and lossless conduction.
However, the ceramic nature of the HTSC's poses many new problems.
Computer simulations, using finite element solution of partial
differential equations, have been carried out to examine effectiveness
of shields fabricated in different ways from these materials.
Previous work has assumed magnetostatic conditions. Dynamic simulations
are needed to include the effects of eddy currents in the non-superconducting
parts of shields.
- Pulsed power circuit design
- Both nonlinear resistive elements and pulse transformers have
been simulated, using special purpose codes and using specially modified
Spice codes, to aid system designers.
Problems remain in development of general purpose circuit simulation
software and better device modeling.
- Dynamic current distribution in conductors
- Full, three-dimensional calculations for current distribution
in conductors under pulsed excitation are being carried out.
Approximations via circuit models, and various numerical methods
are to be explored.
- Software package development for system simulations
- Coupled electrical and hydrodynamic behaviors of ignition systems
have been modeled and simulation software developed and modified.
Additional work on equations-of-state and unified electrical and
mechanical modeling of fuze conductors is needed, along with 2 and 3
dimensional simulations.
- Fusion energy
- In the past, work was done
with Oak Ridge National Laboratory on the Elmo Bumpy
Torus magnetic confinement fusion device, and other projects related
to fusion. The work involved experimental magnetic field measurements
for diamagnetic diagnostics, MHD calculations, eddy current calculations,
and general data analysis.
No work has been done in this area in recent years, but it is still an
interest that will be pursued when the opportunity arises.