Engineering topics

Williams, J. G.

Publications and source records attributed to Williams, J. G..

At least 91 records · Page 5

NASA NTRS1984

Investigating compression failure mechanisms in composite laminates with a transparent fiberglass-epoxy birefringent materials

The response and failure of a + or - 45s class laminate was studied by transparent fiberglass epoxy composite birefringent material. The birefringency property allows the laminate stress distribution to be observed during the test and also after the test if permanent residual stresses occur. The location of initial laminate failure and of the subsequent failure propagation are observed through its transparency characteristics. Experimental results are presented.

Shuart, M. J.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Concepts for improving the damage tolerance of composite compression panels

The residual strength of specimens with damage and the sensitivity to damage while subjected to an applied inplane compression load were determined for flatplate specimens and blade-stiffened panels. The results suggest that matrix materials that fail by delamination have the lowest damage tolerance capability. Alternate matrix materials or laminates which are transversely reinforced suppress the delamination mode of failure and change the failure mode to transverse shear crippling which occurs at a higher strain value. Several damage-tolerant blade-stiffened panel design concepts are evaluated. Structural efficiency studies conducted show only small mass penalties may result from incorporating these damage-tolerant features in panel design. The implication of test results on the design of aircraft structures was examined with respect to FAR requirements.

Rhodes, M. D.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Effect of impact damage and open holes on the compression strength of tough resin/high strain fiber laminates

Structural damage and design-based inclusions such as cutouts can reduce significantly the strength of graphite-epoxy laminates. One composite mechanics research activity at the Langley Research Center is to assess and improve the performance of composite structures in strength are common to both tension and compression loaded laminates; however, the problem associated with compression performance is the most illusive to solve. Compression failure involves both shear crippling and delamination modes. Several graphite-epoxy material systems proposed for improved damage-tolerance were studied. Material parameters included both tough resin formulations and high strain fibers.

Williams, J. G.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Determining asteroid masses from perturbations on Mars

The orbit of Mars is perturbed more than 5 m, a value compatible with the accuracy of the Viking Lander ranging data, by about three dozen asteroids. In addition to larger asteroids throughout the belt, significant perturbations of long period are generated by smaller objects near commensurabilities with Mars. The largest periodic terms induced by 1 Ceres and 2 Pallas have amplitudes of 0.8 and 0.2 km, respectively, both with 10-year periods. Due to a near commensurability, 4 Vesta causes a 5-km, 52-year term. While the Viking ranges will yield significant mass determinations for the largest three asteroids, and some of the smaller bodies should be detectable, it will be difficult to separate the smaller bodies with useful accuracies. Accurate discrimination must await range data from future missions to Mars or other bodies in the neighborhood of the asteroid belt. The Viking ranges can also yield improved masses for the outer planets (except Pluto), an application which is being exploited by groups analyzing these data. Uncertainties in the asteroid masses limit the ultimate accuracy of the Viking determinations of both the long time scale motion of the system of the inner four planets with respect to an inertial frame and the rate of change of the gravitational constant.

Williams, J. G.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Compression failure characteristics of + or - 45-deg-dominated laminates with a circular hole or impact damage

An investigation of the compression failure characteristics of + or - 45-deg-dominated laminates with a circular hole or impact damage was conducted. Graphite-epoxy laminates consisting of all + or - 45-deg plies and of + or - 45-deg and 90-deg plies were evaluated. Inplane shearing between the fibers and matrix (i.e., matrix shearing) was found to be the primary compression failure mechanism for an all + or - 45-deg laminate with a hole. The failure mechanism for the + or 45-deg-dominated laminates with a hole appeared to be a combination of delamination and matrix shearing. The compression failure stresses and strains for both the all + or - 45-deg laminate and the + or - 45-deg-dominated laminates were unaffected by impact damage at an energy level of 5.5 J when compared to results for undamaged control specimens. The failure stresses and strains for all laminates with impact damage at an energy level of 17.0 J or of 34.3 J were significantly lower than the corresponding data for the undamaged control specimens. The failure stresses and strains for these impact-damaged specimens were independent of the percentage of 90-deg plies in the laminate.

Shuart, M. J.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Tidal dissipation in the Earth and Moon from lunar laser ranging

The evolution of the Moon's orbit which is governed by tidal dissipation in the Earth while the evolution of its spin is controlled by its own internal dissipation is discussed. Lunar laser ranging data from August 1969 through May 1982 yields the values of both of these parameters. It is suggested that if the Moon was orbited the Earth since its formation, this must be an anomalously high value presumably due to changes in dissipation in the oceans due to continental drift. The explanation that the dissipation occurs at the interface between the mantle and a liquid core of shell is preferred.

Yoder, C. F.↗

NASA NTRS1983

Earth rotation from lunar laser ranging

The rotational orientation (Universal Time and the variation of latitude at McDonald Observatory, Texas) of the earth has been determined between mid 1970 and mid 1982 from McDonald Observatory lunar laser ranging (LLR) data. Universal Time, UT1, is calculated and supplied in three forms, the raw daily decomposition values, the Gaussian filtered values and the Fourier smoothed values. Formal error estimates are available for all three types. LLR can calculate corrections to one component of polar motion, the variation of latitude at McDonald Observatory. Modelling improvements have been applied here and a significant drop is seen in the residuals. The rms weighted residual for the entire thirteen year data span (3,326 'normal' points acquired between August 1969 and May 1982) is 18.7 cm.

Dickey, J. O.↗

NASA NTRS1983

Failure Analysis and Mechanisms of Failure of Fibrous Composite Structures

The state of the art of failure analysis and current design practices, especially as applied to the use of fibrous composite materials in aircraft structures is discussed. Deficiencies in these technologies are identified, as are directions for future research.

Noor, A. K.↗

NASA NTRS1983

Secular variation of earth's gravitational harmonic J2 coefficient from Lageos and nontidal acceleration of earth rotation

Analysis of 5.5 years of Lageos satellite range data reveal significant residual nodal signatures: an acceleration and annual and semiannual periods. These signatures primarily reflect variations in the zonal gravitational harmonic J2 coefficient and hence the polar moment of inertia. The implied decrease of J2 = -3 x 10 to the -11th/yr is consistent with both historical observations of the nontidal acceleration of the earth's rotation and models of viscous rebound of the solid earth from the decrease in load due to the last deglaciation.

Yoder, C. F.↗

NASA NTRS1983

Failure characteristics of graphite-epoxy structural components loaded in compression

Failure characteristics of compressively loaded graphite-epoxy components are described. Experimental results for both strength-critical laminates and structural components with postbuckling strength are presented. Effects of low speed impact damage and circular holes on compressive strength are discussed. Delamination and shear crippling failure mechanisms that limit the performance of strength-critical laminates are described. Transverse shear and skin-stiffener separation failure mechanisms that limit the performance of components with postbuckling strength are also described. The influence of matrix properties on compressive strength improvements for impact damaged laminates is discussed. Experimental data and results from a failure analysis for strength-critical laminates with cutouts are discussed and compared with impact damage results. Typical postbuckling test results are compared with analytical predictions. Previously announced in STAR as N83-12174

Starnes, J. H., Jr.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Lacquer Reveals Impact Damage in Composites

Brittle lacquer unveils effects normally visible only by ultrasonic inspection. Laquer coating measures spread of cracking and delamination in graphite/epoxy panels subjected to cyclic compression loads after impact damage. Test specimen is coated with lacquer on side opposite surface at which projectile will be fired. Spalled area shows effect of impact without removing specimen from test fixture.

Rhodes, M. D.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Failure characteristics of graphite-epoxy structural components loaded in compression

Starnes, J. H., Jr.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Intercomparison of lunar laser and traditional determinations of earth rotation

Since August, 1969, ranges to one or more retroreflector arrays on the lunar surface have been measured by means of a laser procedure. Analysis of these measurements improves determination, not only of the orbit and librations of the moon, but also of the rotational parameters of the earth, including the X and Y coordinates of the terrestrial pole, and the true rotational angle of the earth with respect to atomic or to broadcast time. The considered approach for deriving the Universal Time 1 (UT1) involves two steps. During the first step the parameters of the lunar orbit and librations are solved along with the coordinates of the retroreflectors on the moon and of the observatory. Improved values of the Universal Time 0 (UT0) and range corrections at the observatory are obtained in the second step. Attention is given to lunar laser ranging (LLR), raw data in UT1, an harmonic analysis of the LLR UT1 data, and data obtained in 1980. The results provide UT1 with an accuracy of a factor of 2 or more better than was previously available from conventional astrometric data.

Fliegel, H. F.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Comparison of polar motion results using lunar laser ranging

A comparison of polar motion results from three sources (Bureau International de l'Heure (BIH), Defense Mapping Agency Hydrographic/Topographic Center (DMAHTC-Doppler), the International Polar Motion Service (IPMS)) was performed using lunar laser ranging (LLR) data. The rms errors, both of the LLR data and of the determinations of polar motion by the three services, decreased in recent times. The BIH and Doppler polar motion are comparable in quality (12 + or - 6 cm for BIH values taken from August 1976 through May 1980, 14 + or - 7 cm for Doppler results taken from June 1977 through May 1980). The IPMS errors were substantially larger (33 + or - 7 cm for data taken from August 1976 through May 1980). All three analyses give 13 + or - 3 cm as an estimate for the combined LLR modeling, fitting, and instrumental error (noise) for the last four years.

Dickey, J. O.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Results from lunar laser ranging data analysis

The lunar laser range data taken at McDonald Observatory between Aug. 1969 and May 1980 has been analyzed. The simple rms residual for the 2954 ranges is 31 cm. Results of the analysis include GM(earth) = 398600.45 cu km/sec sq within 0.02 cu km/sec sq and a secular acceleration of the lunar orbital mean longitude of -23.8 arcsec/sq century within 1.5 arcsec, which yields a Q of 12.3 at semidiurnal frequencies. The lunar harmonic C30 is -8.7/1,000,000 within 0.000001 and the lunar rotational dissipation of 0.0047 within 0.0005 day. Also resulting from the solution are geocentric coordinates of McDonald accurate to 30 cm, including the first value for the longitude with the new IAU constants and a dynamical equinox.

Dickey, J. O.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Comments on the effect of adopting new precession and equinox corrections

It is shown that the derived terrestrial longitude zero point and UT1 rate will be different when determined by classical optical and space techniques so long as the precession constant and equinox offset and drift are imperfectly known. For the uncertainty of the new IAU precession constant, this inconsistency is expected to be nearly 0.04 arcsec in longitude and 0.1 ms/yr in UT1 rate. The consistency of constants does not guarantee consistent results. The classical practice of defining Greenwich Mean Sidereal Time (GMST) as invariant with respect to a fixed equinox if the longitude and UT1 results from the inertial techniques are to be stable against changes in the precession constant. One form for GMST is given.

Williams, J. G.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Effect of resin on impact damage tolerance of graphite/epoxy laminates

Twenty-four different epoxy resin systems were evaluated by a variety of test techniques to identify materials that exhibited improved impact damage tolerance in graphite/epoxy composite laminates. Forty-eight-ply composite panels of five of the material systems were able to sustain 100 m/s impact by a 1.27-cm-diameter aluminum projectile while statically loaded to strains of 0.005. Of the five materials with the highest tolerance to impact, two had elastomeric additives, two had thermoplastic additives, and one had a vinyl modifier; all the five systems used bisphenol A as the base resin. An evaluation of test results shows that the laminate damage tolerance is largely determined by the resin tensile properties, and that improvements in laminate damage tolerance are not necessarily made at the expense of room-temperature mechanical properties. The results also suggest that a resin volume fraction of 40 percent or greater may be required to permit the plastic flow between fibers necessary for improved damage tolerance.

Williams, J. G.↗

NASA NTRS1981

The effect of resin on the impact damage tolerance of graphite-epoxy laminates

The effect of the matrix resin on the impact damage tolerance of graphite-epoxy composite laminates was investigated. The materials were evaluated on the basis of the damage incurred due to local impact and on their ability to retain compression strength in the presence of impact damage. Twenty-four different resin systems were evaluated. Five of the systems demonstrated substantial improvements compared to the baseline system including retention of compression strength in the presence of impact damage. Examination of the neat resin mechanical properties indicates the resin tensile properties influence significantly the laminate damage tolerance and that improvements in laminate damage tolerance are not necessarily made at the expense of room temperature mechanical properties. Preliminary results indicate a resin volume fraction on the order of 40 percent or greater may be required to permit the plastic flow between fibers necessary for improved damage tolerance.

Williams, J. G.↗