Engineering topics

Williams, J. G.

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

At least 127 records · Page 7

NASA NTRS1978

Buckling and structural efficiency of sandwich-blade stiffened composite compression panels

The minimum mass structural efficiency curve was determined for sandwich blade stiffened composite compression panels subjected to buckling and strength constraints. High structural efficiencies are attainable for this type of construction. A method of analysis is presented for the buckling of panels of this configuration which shows that buckling of such panels is strongly dependent on the through-the-thickness transverse shearing of the stiffener. Experimental results are presented and compared with theory.

Stein, M.↗

NASA NTRS1978

Establishing a celestial VLBI reference frame. 1: Searching for VLBI sources

The Deep Space Network is currently engaged in establishing a new high-accuracy VLBI celestial reference frame. The present status of the task of finding suitable celestial radio sources for constructing this reference frame is discussed. To date, 564 VLBI sources were detected, with 166 of these lying within 10 deg of the ecliptic plane. The variation of the sky distribution of these sources with source strength is examined.

Preston, R. A.↗

NASA NTRS1978

The asteroids

The asteroids are small rocky bodies that orbit in modestly eccentric and inclined orbits, mainly between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. With the comets, they are the only known population of residual planetesimals from the earliest epochs of solar system history. The observational characteristics of asteroids are discussed, taking into account aspects of photometry, rotations, masses and densities, spectrophotometry and surface compositions, surface textures and regoliths, size distribution, and erosion and fragmentation occurring as a result of interasteroidal collisions. Questions of dynamics and orbital evolution are investigated and ramifications for planetary evolution are explored. Attention is given to asteroids as planetesimals, aspects of early orbital evolution, the geochemical evolution of asteroids, commensurabilities and Kirkwood gaps, secular resonances, the material transport from the asteroid belt, Poisson's theorem, planetary masses, catalogs and selection effects, families, and Apollo, Amor, and Mars-crossing asteroids.

Chapman, C. R.↗

NASA NTRS1978

Effect of impact damage on the compression strength of filamentary-composite hat-stiffened panels

An experimental investigation was conducted to evaluate the effect of low-velocity impact damage on the compression strength of filamentary-composite hat-stiffened panels. Twenty-four specimens of three design configurations fabricated from graphite-epoxy and boron-epoxy materials were tested. All three design configurations met the design buckling requirements in the undamaged condition. The impact damage was caused by firing aluminum spheres at the panels to simulate impact on aircraft from runway stones. Panels were damaged by impact in the hat cap or in the skin beneath the hat cap (regions of high axial stiffness) and in the skin between stiffeners (region of low axial stiffness). The panels were relatively insensitive to impact damage in the regions of low axial stiffness but were very sensitive to impact damage in the regions of high axial stiffness. Test results suggest that impact damage may be more dependent on the matrix properties than on the fiber properties of the composite materials considered.

Rhodes, M. D.↗

NASA NTRS1977

Effect of end-ring stiffness on buckling of pressure-loaded stiffened conical shells

Buckling studies were conducted on truncated 120 deg conical shells having large end rings and many interior reinforcing rings that are typical of aeroshells used as spacecraft decelerators. Changes in base-end-ring stiffness were accomplished by simply machining away a portion of the base ring between successive buckling tests. Initial imperfection measurements from the test cones were included in the analytical model.

Davis, R. C.↗

NASA NTRS1977

The E asteroids and the origin of the enstatite achondrites

Color, polarization, and albedo data are summarized for the three known minor planets of optical type E: 44 Nysa, 64 Angelina, and 434 Hungaria. The inventory of E asteroids with dimensions in excess of 50 km is shown to be essentially complete. The surfaces of the E objects evidently consist of colorless translucent iron-free silicates such as plagioclase, forsterite, or enstatite. Their possible identification as the source of enstatite achondrites is consistent with laboratory polarimetry of the Norton County aubrite. Both Nysa and Hungaria seem to be rather favorably situated for the production of meteorites. Nysa has a highly aspherical shape and is dynamically associated with the metal-rich asteroid 135 Hertha and several small objects also apparently of the metal-depleted E type. The configuration is suggestive of the fragments of a differentiated parent body, in which Hertha originated as the iron core and Nysa as the largest surviving mantle fragment. The relative volumes, however, are not consistent with simple igneous differentiation from a chondritic composition.

Zellner, B.↗

NASA NTRS1977

Orbit of 1976 AA

The orbit of Asteroid 1976 AA is described, with attention given to calculations of its period and its distance from earth, both of which could be accurately and quickly determined by measuring the minor planet's position over wide ranges of hour angle on one to three nights. The geometry of the asteroid's orbit is compared to that of earth's orbit, and the periodicity of the minor planet's approaches to earth is projected. The motion of 1976 AA over an interval of seven centuries into both past and future is also studied; the possibility of its libration with respect to earth or to Venus is examined. Some data on closest approaches of the asteroid to Mars and Venus, as well as to earth, are given.

Marsden, B. G.↗

NASA NTRS1977

Imperfection surveys on a 10-ft-diameter shell structure

The results of an extensive imperfection survey on a 10-ft-diameter integrally stiffened cylindrical shell are presented. The shape of the measured initial imperfections is clearly influenced by details of the shell construction. The modal components of the measured imperfection surface as a function of the circumferential and of the axial wave numbers are calculated. The discrete axial power spectral density functions and the corresponding root-mean-square values of the imperfections are also determined for given circumferential wave numbers. Using the Fourier coefficients of the measured initial imperfections, buckling loads are calculated by solving the nonlinear Donnell-type imperfect shell equations iteratively. The calculated lowest buckling load compares favorably with the values usually recommended for similar shell structures.

Arbocz, J.↗

NASA NTRS1976

Effect of Low Velocity Impact Damage on the Compressive Strength of Graphite/Epoxy Hat-Stiffened Panels

Low velocity impact damage on the compressive strength of graphite/epoxy hat stiffened panels is studied. Fourteen panels, representative of minimum-mass designs for two compression load levels were tested. Eight panels were damaged by impact and the effect on compressive strength was evaluated by comparing the results with data for undamaged panels. The impact tests consisted of firing 1.27 cm diameter aluminum projectiles normal to the plane of the panel at a velocity of approximately 55 m/sec to simulate impact from runway debris. The results of this investigation indicate that impact damage in the panels designed for 0.53 MN/m was contained locally and the damaged panels were capable of carrying the design load. The panels designed for 1.58 MN/m failed between 50 and 58 percent of the design load due to impact damage in the high axial stiffness region. The extent of damage in the high axial stiffness region of both panel designs increased with the magnitude of applied axial load. Damage in this region was the most significant factor in reducing panel strength. Limited damage that was not visually detectable reduced ultimate strength as much as extensive visible damage.

Rhodes, M. D.↗

NASA NTRS1976

Earth rotation measured by lunar laser ranging

The estimated median accuracy of 194 single-day determinations of the earth's angular position in space is 0.7 millisecond (0.01 arc second). Comparison with classical astronomical results gives agreement to about the expected 2-millisecond uncertainty of the 5-day averages obtained by the Bureau International de l'Heure. Little evidence for very rapid variations in the earth's rotation is present in the data.

Stolz, A.↗

NASA NTRS1976

Buckling behavior and structural efficiency of open-section stiffened composite compression panels

Several experiments with J- and blade-stiffened graphite/epoxy panels were conducted to obtain insight into how well experimental data could be correlated with analysis for the buckling behavior of open-section stiffened composite compression panels. Although some nonlinear behavior was observed during the experiments, adequate correlation with analysis was obtained to justify the use of linear, thin-plate buckling analysis in a minimum-weight design synthesis program for J- and blade-configurations. Results from two design studies using this program are presented. In the first study the minimum weights of Jand blade-configurations for two different material systems (graphite/epoxy and aluminum) are determined subject to buckling and strength constraints for a wide range of the compressive load index. In the second study the minimum weights required for graphite/epoxy blade-stiffened panels to satisfy additional stiffness constraints typical of medium-size commercial aircraft wing structures are determined. Both minimum-weight studies indicate that graphite/epoxy open-section stiffened panels can be designed so that weight savings of 30 to 50% are possible compared with the most efficient aluminum designs.

Williams, J. G.↗

NASA NTRS1976

New test of the equivalence principle from lunar laser ranging

An analysis of six years of lunar-laser-ranging data gives a zero amplitude for the Nordtvedt term in the earth-moon distance yielding the Nordtvedt parameter eta = 0.00 plus or minus 0.03. Thus, earth's gravitational self-energy contributes equally, plus or minus 3%, to its inertial mass and passive gravitational mass. At the 70% confidence level this result is only consistent with the Brans-Dicke theory for omega greater than 29. We obtain the absolute value of beta - 1 less than about 0.02 to 0.05 for five-parameter parametrized post-Newtonian theories of gravitation with energy-momentum conservation.

Williams, J. G.↗

NASA NTRS1976

Analytical and experimental study of structurally efficient composite hat-stiffened panels loaded in axial compression

Structural efficiency studies were made to determine the weight saving potential of graphite/epoxy composite structures for compression panel applications. Minimum weight hat-stiffened and open corrugation configurations were synthesized using a nonlinear mathematical programming technique. Selected configurations were built and tested to study local and Euler buckling characteristics. Test results for 23 panels critical in local buckling and six panels critical in Euler buckling are compared with analytical results obtained using the BUCLASP-2 branched plate buckling program. A weight efficiency comparison is made between composite and aluminum compression panels using metal test data generated by the NACA. Theoretical studies indicate that potential weight savings of up to 50% are possible for composite hat-stiffened panels when compared with similar aluminum designs. Weight savings of 32% to 42% were experimentally achieved. Experience suggests that most of the theoretical weight saving potential is available if design deficiencies are eliminated and strict fabrication control is exercised.

Williams, J. G.↗

NASA NTRS1975

Minor planets and comets in libration about the 2:1 resonance with Jupiter

We examine the orbits of minor planets in a search for objects librating about the 2:1 mean-motion resonance with Jupiter. Some 30 candidates are found among the Palomar-Leiden Survey and other unnumbered minor planets. Although almost all the orbits are very uncertain, there does seem to be an indication that librators of low orbital eccentricity do exist, contrary to the hypothesis by Giffen. We also tabulate data describing 12 comets that are temporarily librating about the 2:1 resonance. Finally, we present a discussion of what are apparently 'apocentric' librations. This type of libration, of which we find seven representatives among the numbered minor planets, can occur only for sufficiently small eccentricity. For such bodies, the role of Jupiter's eccentricity is vital; it is associated with a continuing alternation between apocentric libration and an oscillation of the line of apsides.

Franklin, F. A.↗

NASA NTRS1975

The resonant orbit of the Lost City meteorite

An integration of the long-period perturbations of Jupiter and Saturn on the orbit of the Lost City meteorite shows that the average nodal rate of the meteorite was nearly the same as the nodal rates of Jupiter and Saturn. This near equality of rates led to a large resonant variation in the inclination of the meteorite's orbit with a period on the order of 1 million years. The resonance makes the orbital evolution too sensitive to the deficiencies of the perturbation calculations and to the values of the elements at impact to allow definitive calculations. It is shown that an orbit similar to the meteorite's orbit can spend approximately 88% of its time with an eccentricity too small to allow for intersections with the earth's orbit. The ordinary cosmic ray exposure age of the Lost City meteorite does not suggest that its collisional lifetime was unusual, but the role of resonances in determining the lifetime of typical meteorites is unknown.

Williams, J. G.↗

NASA NTRS1975

Analytical and experimental study of structurally efficient composite hat-stiffened panels loaded in axial compression

Structural efficiency studies were made to determine the weight-saving potential of graphite/epoxy composite structures for compression panel applications. Minimum-weight hat-stiffened and open-corrugation configurations were synthesized using a nonlinear mathematical programing technique. Selected configurations were built and tested to study local and Euler buckling characteristics. Test results for 23 panels critical in local buckling and six panels critical in Euler buckling are compared with analytical results obtained using the BUCLASP-2 branched plate buckling program. A weight efficiency comparison is made between composite and aluminum compression panels using metal test data generated by the NACA. Theoretical studies indicate that potential weight savings of up to 50% are possible for composite hat-stiffened panels when compared with similar aluminum designs. Weight savings of 32% to 42% were experimentally achieved. Experience to date suggests that most of the theoretical weight-saving potential is available if design deficiencies are eliminated and strict fabrication control is exercised.

Williams, J. G.↗

NASA NTRS1973

Experiments on stiffened conical shell structures using cast epoxy models

Description of a casting technique for fabricating high-quality plastic structural models, and review of results regarding the use of such specimens to parametrically study the effect of base ring stiffness on the critical buckling pressure of a ring-stiffened conical shell. The fabrication technique involves machining a metal mold to the desired configuration and vacuum-drawing the plastic material into the mold. A room-temperature curing translucent thermoset epoxy was the casting material selected. A shell of revolution computer program which employs a nonlinear axisymmetric prebuckling strain field to obtain a bifurcation buckling solution was used to guide the selection of congifurations tested. The shell experimentally exhibited asymmetric collapse behavior, and the ultimate load was considerably higher than the analytical bifurcation prediction. The asymmetric buckling mode shape, however, initially appeared at a pressure near the analysis bifurcation solution.

Williams, J. G.↗

NASA NTRS1973

Lunar physical librations and laser ranging

The analysis of lunar laser ranging data requires very accurate calculations of the lunar physical librations. Libration terms are given which arise from the additive and planetary terms in the lunar theory. The large size of the recently discovered terms due to third degree gravitational harmonics will allow some of these harmonics to be measured by laser ranging to the moon. Numerical integration promises to be an effective method of calculating librations. Comparison of numerical integrations with analytic series indicates that the calculation of the series due to third and fourth degree harmonics is not yet as accurate as the more extensively developed second degree terms.-

Williams, J. G.↗