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At least 181 records · Page 10

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NASA NTRS1978

Structural efficiency of long lightly loaded truss and isogrid columns for space applications

The general mass characteristics of long lightly loaded columns for space applications are investigated by studying four column concepts. The first is a simple tubular column, the second is a three longeron truss column constructed of tubular members, the third is a three longeron truss column constructed of solid rod members, and the fourth is an open grid work isogrid wall tubular column. Design procedures, which include an initial imperfection in the straightness of the column, are developed for the different concepts and demonstrated numerically. A new set of structural efficiency parameters are developed for lightly loaded columns and are used to show a comparison of the masses of the four column concepts investigated.

Mikulas, M. M., Jr.↗

NASA NTRS1979

Load concentration due to missing members in planar faces of a large space truss

A large space structure with members missing was investigated using a finite element analysis. The particular structural configuration was the tetrahedral truss, with attention restricted to one of its planar faces. Initially the finite element model of a complete face was verified by comparing it with known results for some basic loadings. Then an analysis was made of the structure with members near the center removed. Some calculations were made on the influence of the mesh size of a structure containing a hexagonal hole, and an analysis was also made of a structure with a rigid hexagonal insert. In general, load concentration effects in these trusses were significantly lower than classical stress concentration effects in an infinitely wide isotropic plate with a circular rigid inclusion, although larger effects were obtained when a hole extended over several rings of elements.

Waltz, J. E.↗

NASA NTRS1980

Space fabrication: Graphite composite truss welding and cap forming subsystems

An automated beam builder for the fabrication of space structures is described. The beam builder forms a triangular truss 1.3 meters on a side. Flat strips of preconsolidated graphite fiber fabric in a polysulfone matrix are coiled in a storage canister. Heaters raise the material to forming temperature then the structural cap section is formed by a series of rollers. After cooling, cross members and diagonal tension cords are ultrasonically welded in place to complete the truss. The stability of fabricated structures and composite materials is also examined.

Jenkins, L. M.↗

NASA NTRS1980

Graphite composite truss welding and cap section forming subsystems. Volume 1: Executive summary

A rolltrusion process was developed for forming of a hybrid, single-ply woven graphite and glass fiber cloth, impregnated with a polysulfone resin and coated with TI02 pigmented P-1700 resin into strips for the on-orbit fabrication of triangular truss segments. Ultrasonic welding in vacuum showed no identifiable effects on weld strength or resin flow characteristics. An existing bench model cap roll forming machine was modified and used to roll form caps for the prototype test truss and for column test specimens in order to test local buckling and torsional instability characteristics.

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NASA NTRS1980

Graphite composite truss welding and cap section forming subsystems. Volume 2: Program results

The technology required to develop a beam builder which automatically fabricates long, continuous, lightweight, triangular truss members in space from graphite/thermoplastics composite materials is described. Objectives are: (1) continue the development of forming and welding methods for graphite/thermoplastic (GR/TP) composite material; (2) continue GR/TP materials technology development; and (3) fabricate and structurally test a lightweight truss segment.

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NASA NTRS1981

Preliminary design of tetrahedral truss reflector structure

A baseline structure proposed for the microwave radiometer spacecraft (MRS) reflector is a large graphite-epoxy truss. The truss structure was selected to provide adequate stiffness to minimize control problems and to provide a low-expansion 'strong back' on which to mount and control reflector mesh panels. Details of the structural members, joints and assembly concepts are presented, a concept for the reflector mesh surface is discussed, and preliminary estimates of the mass and structural natural frequencies of the reflector system are presented.

Card, M. F.↗

NASA NTRS1983

Modeling global structural damping in trusses using simple continuum models

Truss beams with members having viscous damping are modeled as continuum Timoshenko beams. Procedures for deriving the equivalent beam stiffnesses and damping are presented. The global damping for the continuum beam is explicitly expressed in terms of the damping coefficients of the individual truss members. The continuum beam model is used to study transient vibration problems and the solutions are compared well with the full scale finite element solutions. The gradient method is used for parameter estimations in conjunction with the Timoshenko beam model. It is shown that the Timoshenko beam model can be easily updated with measured data and the updated model can yield very accurate transient solutions.

Sun, C. T.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Structural performance of orthogonal tetrahedral truss Space-Station configurations

Two 150 kW space station configurations constructed with the orthogonal tetrahedral truss concept are described. One space station consists of a large central platform and two rotating solar wing arrays and the other consists of a long central keel with two rotating arrays. The dynamic characteristics of each configuration are obtained with and without nonstructural components present. The variation in frequencies and mass moments of inertia due to rotation of the two solar wing arrays are given for the long keel space station configuration. The structural performance of the solar wing array is assessed for cases where individual critical struts fail in the array support truss.

Dorsey, J. T.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Conceptual design for scaled truss antenna flight experiment

The conceptual design for a scaled truss antenna structures experiment program (STASEP) is presented. The hardware analysis of the scaled truss antenna structure (STAS) was performed by interactive design and evaluation of advanced spacecraft (IDEAS) computer aided, interactive, design and analysis program. Four STAS's were designed to be launched by the Shuttle, tested by using the space technology experiments platform (STEP) and space transportation system (STS), and then free flown in short lifetime orbits. Data were gathered on deployment, structural characteristics, geometric accuracies, thermal performance, and drag and lifetime as an orbiting spacecraft. Structural and thermal properties were determined for the STAS, including mass properties, thermal loading, structural natural frequencies, and mode shapes. The necessary analysis, scaling, and ground testing are discussed.

Lee, W. H.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Box truss analysis and technology development. Task 1: Mesh analysis and control

An analytical tool was developed to model, analyze and predict RF performance of box truss antennas with reflective mesh surfaces. The analysis system is unique in that it integrates custom written programs for cord tied mesh surfaces, thereby drastically reducing the cost of analysis. The analysis system is capable of determining the RF performance of antennas under any type of manufacturing or operating environment by integrating together the various disciplines of design, finite element analysis, surface best fit analysis and RF analysis. The Integrated Mesh Analysis System consists of six separate programs: The Mesh Tie System Model Generator, The Loadcase Generator, The Model Optimizer, The Model Solver, The Surface Topography Solver and The RF Performance Solver. Additionally, a study using the mesh analysis system was performed to determine the effect of on orbit calibration, i.e., surface adjustment, on a typical box truss antenna.

Bachtell, E. E.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Development of Deployable Truss Concept for Space Station

A single-fold, automatically deployable and retractable, square-shaped truss concept that is a candidate for the strongback of NASA's Space Station was developed. Compact stowage within a square-shaped housing is achieved by using folded longerons and telescoping diagonal members. Deployment or retraction is accomplished, bay by bay, in a controlled manner with root strength maintained at all times. Control is accomplished by motor-driven jack-screws operated by a controller. Power, data, and fluid utility lines can be integrated onto trays that unfold with the truss. To verify performance a kinematically representative ground test article version is used.

Greenberg, H. S.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Modeling of joints for the dynamic analysis of truss structures

An experimentally-based method for determining the stiffness and damping of truss joints is described. The analytical models use springs and both viscous and friction dampers to simulate joint load-deflection behavior. A least-squares algorithm is developed to identify the stiffness and damping coefficients of the analytical joint models from test data. The effects of nonlinear joint stiffness such as joint dead band are also studied. Equations for predicting the sensitivity of beam deformations to changes in joint stiffness are derived and used to show the level of joint stiffness required for nearly rigid joint behavior. Finally, the global frequency sensitivity of a truss structure to random perturbations in joint stiffness is discussed.

Belvin, W. Keith↗

NASA NTRS1987

Experimental evaluation of small-scale erectable truss hardware

To aid in the prediction of the dynamic behavior of the space station, a one-tenth scale dynamic test model is to be constructed of commercially available, small scale truss hardware. Tests have been performed to determine the axial stiffness characteristics and failure loads of the truss joint. A parametric study has shown that the stiffness of the joint increases as the attachment bolt torque value is increased. Furthermore, at torque values equal to or higher than 250 in-lbs, hysteresis in the load-deflection curve is essentially eliminated. Also, the joint stiffness remained relatively constant between specimens. The effective stiffness of a joint subassembly tested is 76 percent that of the strut. Tensile and compressive failure occurred in the region of the bonded plug, with lower failure loads corresponding to compressive loadings.

Mcgowan, David M.↗

NASA NTRS1987

The design and development of a two-dimensional adaptive truss structure

The functional model of a two dimensional adaptive truss structure which can purposefully change its geometrical configuration is introduced. The details of design and fabrication such as kinematic analysis, dynamic characteristics analysis and some test results are presented for the demonstration of this two dimensional truss concept.

Kuwao, Fumihiro↗

NASA NTRS1987

Dynamics and control of a planar truss actuator

The concept of using an active truss actuator to control the vibration of a flexible (space) structure has been investigated. The actuator with a generic beam continuum cantilevered from it has been modeled using energy methods. A time-invariant optimal state feedback scheme was utilized for the control method. A digital simulation of the system dynamic response demonstrated the good vibration control possibilities for the (planar) truss actuator on a large flexible space structure.

Lovejoy, V. D.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Experimental study of damping of graphite epoxy composite material of the Space Telescope truss system

The truss system of the Hubble Space Telescope is made of graphite epoxy tubes and beams that have very low material damping. This paper describes a systematic experimental evaluation of the damping capacity of the graphite epoxy material used in the telescope truss system. The damping capacity of the composite material was measured both under normal and elevated temperatures in atmospheric conditions and in vacuum. Both free decay and steady state methods were used to measure the damping ratio of different specimens under different boundary conditions. A method that involves an iterative least-squares curve-fitting technique for the measured frequency response data has been developed to improve the accuracy of the damping ratio estimation. A unique experimental setup was developed to measure the damping of the material in a vacuum chamber. It was found that outgassing (moisture desorption) has little effect on the damping of the specimen. On the other hand, it was observed that temperature has a significant effect on both the damping and resonance frequencies of the specimen.

Rao, M. D.↗

NASA NTRS1988

Passive damping for space truss structures

Theoretical and experimental studies of passive damping techniques in truss-type structures are presented, with emphasis on the use of viscoelastic damping in the parallel load path. The constraining member length is shown to be a convenient design variable for enhancing damping performance. Results are presented for integral damping members made of thin-wall aluminum tubes, concentric constraining members, and viscoelastic materials in a six-bay truss structure at low frequency and low dynamic strain conditions. Integral members with graphite/epoxy constraining members exhibited relatively low damping values due to the possible polymer interaction during the cocure stage.

Chen, Gun-Shing↗

NASA NTRS1988

Evaluation of chromic acid anodized aluminum foil coated composite tubes for the Space Station truss structure

This paper describes the development and evaluation of chromic acid anodized (CAA) Al foil as a protective and thermal control coating for graphite/epoxy tubes designed for the Space Station truss structure. Special consideration is given to the development of solar-absorptance and thermal-emittance properties required of Al foil, the development of CAA parameters necessary to achieve these optical properties, and the atomic oxygen and UV testing of CAA Al foil. Results showed that 0.003-in CAA Al foil cocured or secondary bonded to graphite/epoxy tubes with thin epoxy film adhesive retains excellent bond strength and provides a superior protective and thermal control coating to the LEO environment. Processes were developed for CAA Al foils long enough to continuously wrap the 23-ft-long diagonal struts of the Space Station truss structure. Specifications are presented for the processes of chromic acid anodizing of Al foil and for the bonding of anodized Al foil to graphite/epoxy tubes.

Dursch, Harry W.↗