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At least 325 records · Page 18

Acoustic fatigue life prediction for nonlinear structures with multiple resonant modes

An efficient method is presented for estimating the high-cycle fatigue lives of complex nonlinear structures. The procedure is based on an application of the method of equivalent linearization to construct a time-domain representation of the stress or strain response of a nonlinear structure. Fatigue estimates are obtained by processing the time-domain signal, and it is a simple matter to incorporate any damage accumulation model desired in the procedure. The method may also be applied to a wide range of complex nonlinear systems. Comparisons are presented of estimated fatigue lives for a nonlinear beam with random excitation obtained using the approximate method and using a conventional numerical simulation. The two techniques are found to give nearly identical results regardless of the level of nonlinearity. The number of calculations required in the approximate method is nearly the same as in a linear system and is not significantly affected by the type and level of nonlinearity in the structure.

Sun, J. Q.↗

User document for computer programs for ring-stiffened shells of revolution

A user manual and related program documentation is presented for six compatible computer programs for structural analysis of axisymmetric shell structures. The programs apply to a common structural model but analyze different modes of structural response. In particular, they are: (1) Linear static response under asymmetric loads; (2) Buckling of linear states under asymmetric loads; (3) Nonlinear static response under axisymmetric loads; (4) Buckling nonlinear states under axisymmetric (5) Imperfection sensitivity of buckling modes under axisymmetric loads; and (6) Vibrations about nonlinear states under axisymmetric loads. These programs treat branched shells of revolution with an arbitrary arrangement of a large number of open branches but with at most one closed branch.

Cohen, G. A.↗

The sensitivity of nonradial p mode eigenfrequencies to solar envelope structure

Eigenfrequencies are calculated for nonradial p mode oscillations in the sun. These frequencies are shown to depend on the adiabat of the solar convective envelope. The frequency dependence is greatest for the p2 and p3 modes described by spherical harmonics with l = 500 to 1000. The solar envelope model includes a realistic representation of the chromosphere out to the base of the corona. For the chromospheric model of Vernazza, Avrett, and Loeser (1976) chromospheric modes with a distinct locus of eigenfrequencies exist near an eigenfrequency of 0.026 Hz. The actual frequencies of these eigenmodes depend on the thickness of the chromosphere. Because of the difference in the dependence of eigenfrequency on l for the chromospheric modes as compared with the p modes, the two types of mode can be distinguished observationally. If detected, the chromospheric modes would provide a good way of determining the thickness of the chromosphere.

Ulrich, R. K.↗

Computer analysis of ring stiffened shells of revolution

The equations and method of solution for a series of five compatible computer programs for structural analysis of axisymmetric shell structures are presented. These programs, designated as the SRA programs, apply to a common structural model but analyze different modes of structural response. They are: (1) linear asymmetric static response (SRA 100), (2) buckling of linearized asymmetric equilibrium states (SRA 101), (3) nonlinear axisymmetric static response (SRA 200), (4) buckling of nonlinear axisymmetric equilibrium states(SRA 201), and (5) vibrations about nonlinear axisymmetric equilibrium state (SRA 300).

Cohen, G. A.↗

Modal confidence factor in vibration testing

The modal confidence factor (MCF) is a number calculated for every identified mode for a structure under test. The MCF varies from 0.00 for a distorted nonlinear, or noise mode to 100.0 for a pure structural mode. The theory of the MCF is based on the correlation that exists between the modal deflection at a certain station and the modal deflection at the same station delayed in time. The theory and application of the MCF are illustrated by two experiments. The first experiment deals with simulated responses from a two-degree-of-freedom system with 20%, 40%, and 100% noise added. The second experiment was run on a generalized payload model. The free decay response from the payload model contained 22% noise.

Ibrahim, S. R.↗

Material characterization of structural adhesives in the lap shear mode

A general method for characterizing structural adhesives in the bonded lap shear mode is proposed. Two approaches in the form of semi-empirical and theoretical approaches are used. The semi-empirical approach includes Ludwik's and Zhurkov's equations to describe respectively, the failure stresses in the constant strain rate and constant stress loading modes with the inclusion of the temperature effects. The theoretical approach is used to describe adhesive shear stress-strain behavior with the use of viscoelastic or nonlinear elastic constitutive equations. Three different model adhesives are used in the simple lap shear mode with titanium adherends. These adhesives (one of which was developed at NASA Langley Research Center) are currently considered by NASA for possible aerospace applications. Use of different model adhesives helps in assessment of the generality of the method.

Schenck, S. C.↗

Simulation Study of Impact of Aeroelastic Characteristics on Flying Qualities of a High Speed Civil Transport

A piloted simulation study conducted in NASA Langley Visual Motion Simulator addressed the impact of dynamic aero- servoelastic effects on flying qualities of a High Speed Civil Transport. The intent was to determine effectiveness of measures to reduce the impact of aircraft flexibility on piloting tasks. Potential solutions examined were increasing frequency of elastic modes through structural stiffening, increasing damping of elastic modes through active control, elimination of control effector excitation of the lowest frequency elastic modes, and elimination of visual cues associated with elastic modes. Six test pilots evaluated and performed simulated maneuver tasks, encountering incidents wherein cockpit vibrations due to elastic modes fed back into the control stick through involuntary vibrations of the pilots upper body and arm. Structural stiffening and compensation of the visual display were of little benefit in alleviating this impact, while increased damping and elimination of control effector excitation of the elastic modes both offered great improvements when applied in sufficient degree.

Raney, David L.↗

Ray propagation path analysis of acousto-ultrasonic signals in composites

The most important result was the demonstration that acousto-ultrasonic (AU) energy introduced into a laminated graphite/resin propagates by two modes through the structure. The first mode, along the graphite fibers, is the faster. The second mode, through the resin matrix, besides being slower is also more strongly attenuated at the higher frequencies. This demonstration was accomplished by analyzing the time and frequency domain of the composite AU signal and comparing them to the same for a neat resin specimen of the same chemistry and geometry as the composite matrix. Analysis of the fine structure of AU spectra was accomplished by various geometrical strategies. It was shown that the multitude of narrow peaks associated with AU spectra are the effect of the many pulse arrivals in the signal. The shape and distribution of the peaks is mainly determined by the condition of nonnormal reflections of ray paths. A cepstrum analysis was employed which can be useful in detecting characteristic times. Analysis of propagation modes can be accomplished while ignoring the fine structure.

Kautz, Harold E.↗

Emergence of Complex Modes in Lightly Damped Structural Systems

In this short presentation format, we will provide a set of useful equations, relationships, and physical interpretations direct from the damped two-mode interaction problem. We will demonstrate that the results from the two-mode interaction problem are in direct agreement with observed test data. Practical methods for estimating the parameters driving the relations direct from modal test data are provided. We finalize with two examples demonstrating weak and strong interactions.

spaceflight hardware↗

Calculation of structural dynamic forces and stresses using mode acceleration

While the standard mode acceleration formulation in structural dynamics has often been interpreted to suggest that the reason for improved convergence obtainable is that the dynamic correction factor is divided by the modal frequencies-squared, an alternative formulation is presented which clearly indicates that the only difference between mode acceleration and mode displacement data recovery is the addition of a static correction term. Attention is given to the advantages in numerical implementation associated with this alternative, as well as to an illustrative example.

Blelloch, Paul↗

Recent Advances to Estimation of Fixed-Interface Modal Models Using Dynamic Substructuring

In 2010, Allen & Mayes proposed to estimate the fixed-interface modes of a structure by measuring the modes of the structure bolted to a fixture and then applying constraints to the fixture using the transmission simulator method. While the method proved useful, and has indeed been used in studies since that point, a few peculiarities were noted. First, in some cases the estimated fixed-base natural frequencies were observed to converge very slowly to the true values (in simulated experiments) as the number of constraints was increased. To formulate these constraints, prior studies used only the free-interface modes of the fixture or the measured modes of the assembly. This work extends that to consider other sets of constraints, showing improved results. Furthermore, in some prior studies it has been observed that there were errors of more than 10% in the natural frequencies even when the fixture motion was hundreds of times smaller than the motion of the structure of interest (and so it had presumably been removed). This work explores this phenomenon, seeking to use the strain energy in the fixture, to the extent that it can be estimated using a test-analysis model for the fixture, as a metric to predict frequency error. The proposed methods are explored by applying them to simulated measurements from a beam and from the NASA Space Launch System coupled to the Mobile Launcher.

Allen, Mathew S.↗

Calculation of AGARD Wing 445.6 Flutter Using Navier-Stokes Aerodynamics

The flutter characteristics of the first AGARD standard aeroelastic configuration for dynamic response, Wing 445.6, are studied using an unsteady Navier-Stokes algorithm in order to investigate a previously noted discrepancy between Euler flutter characteristics and the experimental data. The algorithm, which is a three-dimensional, implicit, upwind Euler/Navier-Stokes code (CFL3D Version 2.1), was previously modified for the time-marching, aeroelastic analysis of wings using the unsteady Euler equations. These modifications include the incorporation of a deforming mesh algorithm and the addition of the structural equations of motion for their simultaneous time integration with the governing flow equations. In this paper, the aeroelastic method is extended and evaluated for applications that use the Navier- Stokes aerodynamics. The paper presents a brief description of the aeroelastic method and presents unsteady calculations which verify this method for Navier-Stokes calculations. A linear stability analysis and a time-marching aeroelastic analysis are used to determine the flutter characteristics of the isolated 45 deg. swept-back wing. Effects of fluid viscosity, structural damping, and number of modes in the structural model are investigated. For the linear stability analysis, the unsteady generalized aerodynamic forces of the wing are computed for a range of reduced frequencies using the pulse transfer-function approach. The flutter characteristics of the wing are determined using these unsteady generalized aerodynamic forces in a traditional V-g analysis. This stability analysis is used to determine the flutter characteristics of the wing at free-stream Mach numbers of 0.96 and 1.141 using the generalized aerodynamic forces generated by solving the Euler equations and the Navier-Stokes equations. Time-marching aeroelastic calculations are performed at a free-stream Mach number of 1.141 using the Euler and Navier-Stokes equations to compare with the linear V-g flutter analysis method. The V-g analysis, which is used in conjunction with the time-marching analysis, indicates that the fluid viscosity has a significant effect on the supersonic flutter boundary for this wing while the structural damping and number of modes in the structural model have a lesser effect.

Lee-Rausch, Elizabeth M.↗

Structure of a slow mode shock observed in the plasma sheet boundary layer

A detailed study of the plasma parameters and magnetic field measured using instrumentation aboard ISEE 2 during the recovery phase of a substorm on Apr. 24, 1979, is presented. The purpose of this study was to determine the nature and structure of the lobe-plasma sheet boundary layer. The analysis shows that the lobeward edge of the boundary is consistent with a freestanding slow mode shock. This shock is followed by a slow compression wave containing a trailing ion cyclotron wave which also stands in the flow. Measurement of the cross-tail current in the shock and the current system within the wave gives a shock thickness and wavelength comparable to but larger than both the upstream ion inertial length and the downstream proton gyroradius. Equality of the shock thickness with the standing ion cyclotron wavelength suggests that the steepness of the front is limited by dispersion rather than current-driven anomalous resistivity.

Feldman, W. C.↗

Fast modal extraction in NASTRAN via the FEER computer program

A new eigensolution routine, FEER (Fast Eigensolution Extraction Routine), used in conjunction with NASTRAN at Israel Aircraft Industries is described. The FEER program is based on an automatic matrix reduction scheme whereby the lower modes of structures with many degrees of freedom can be accurately extracted from a tridiagonal eigenvalue problem whose size is of the same order of magnitude as the number of required modes. The process is effected without arbitrary lumping of masses at selected node points or selection of nodes to be retained in the analysis set. The results of computational efficiency studies are presented, showing major arithmetic operation counts and actual computer run times of FEER as compared to other methods of eigenvalue extraction, including those available in the NASTRAN READ module. It is concluded that the tridiagonal reduction method used in FEER would serve as a valuable addition to NASTRAN for highly increased efficiency in obtaining structural vibration modes.

Newman, M. B.↗

State-variable models of structures having rigid-body modes

In cases where the equations of motion of a structure having rigid-body freedom are cast in state-variable form, generalized state rigid-body modes may be needed. It is possible to find a linearly-independent set of generalized vectors which transform an n x n matrix into the almost-diagonal Jordan form. Attention is presently given to equations governing these generalized eigenvectors, together with illustrative examples of the damped and undamped structure cases.

Craig, Roy R., Jr.↗

The Vertical Structure of Global Rotational Normal Modes

In a recent study, Lindzen et al. (1984) examined the amplitude and phase evolution of Hough mode projections at 500 mb. The Hough modes represent the simplest normal mode approximation available, and correspond to the neutral eigenfunctions of a shallow water fluid with no mean zonal flow. It was found that when the observed amplitude of a rotational Hough mode was large, it tended to propagate at the phase speed of a normal mode in the presence of mean 500 mb winds, giving a strong indication that normal modes are of relevance to the atmosphere. The vertical structure of the approximately defined rotational normal modes were explored by projecting observed data onto Hough functions at levels other than 500 mb. The stationary and eastward propagating components were filtered out at each level. The evolution of the amplitude in time throughout the troposphere is given for several modes during summer and winter.

Straus, D. M.↗