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At least 469 records · Page 26

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NASA NTRS1972

Random gust response statistics for coupled torsion-flapping rotor blade vibrations.

An analysis of coupled torsion-flapping rotor blade vibrations in response to atmospheric turbulence revealed that at high rotor advance ratios anticipated for future high speed pure or convertible rotorcraft both flapping and torsional vibrations can be severe. While appropriate feedback systems can alleviate flapping, they have little effect on torsion. Dynamic stability margins have also no substantial influence on dynamic torsion loads. The only effective means found to alleviate turbulence caused torsional vibrations and loads at high advance ratio was a substantial torsional stiffness margin with respect to local static torsional divergence of the retreating blade.

Gaonkar, G. H.↗

NASA NTRS1981

Composite fan exit guide vanes for high bypass ratio gas turbine engines

Various composite materials were identified for reduced weight applications as fan exit guide vanes in high bypass ratio gas turbine engines. Candidate materials, airfoil geometry and ply orientation were evaluated using NASTRAN finite element analysis. A vane core and shell design approach utilizing several different fiber orientation concepts was selected and variations in bending and torsional stiffness were documented. Material suppliers and airfoil fabricators were selected to provide panels and airfoils which were inspected, environmentally conditioned and tested. Static and dynamic airfoil tests established durability characteristics for a range of composite material/design approaches.

Blecherman, S. S.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Automated tuning of airframe vibration by structural optimization

Numerical optimization techniques are used to modify the dynamic response at a specified point(s) of a helicopter airframe structure due to a steady state narrow band excitation. Calculation of steady state vibration amplitude is reduced to the solution of linear equations with complex coefficients. The sensitivity of the dynamic amplitudes with respect to the structural parameter perturbations can be computed with the same technique as the one used in the static displacement sensitivity without requiring eigenvector sensitivity. Approximate models for critical structural responses are created based on the sensitivity data to reduce the amount of computational effort and to enable the design of structures of practical scale and complexity. This approach is general in that it accommodates static, dynamic, and frequency constraints simultaneously as long as their computational models are available. It can be used in optimizing mass distribution as well as stiffness modifications of practical structures.

Miura, H.↗

NASA NTRS2004

Static Testing of an Inflatable/Rigidizable Hexapod Structure

Scientific application of large space antennas and telescopes is fostering the study of ultralightweight and inflatable structures. These so-called gossamer structures are tightly packaged for launch and subsequent deployment. Of particular interest is a hexapod configuration often found in vehicle ride simulators, ground-based telescopes, and antennas. One such configuration was modeled and tested at NASA Langley. Discrepancies between dynamic test data and predictions from a finite element model prompted additional static testing. This paper discusses static tests that were conducted to update stiffness parameters in the finite element model.

Berger, K. T.↗

NASA NTRS2006

Verification of Numerical Solutions for the Deployment of the Highly Nonlinear MARSIS Antenna Boom Lenticular Joints

The MARSIS antenna booms are constructed using lenticular hinges between straight boom segments in a novel design which allows the booms to be extremely lightweight while retaining a high stiffness and well defined structural properties once they are deployed. Lenticular hinges are elegant in form but are complicated to model as they deploy dynamically and require highly specialized nonlinear techniques founded on carefully measured mechanical properties. Results from component level testing were incorporated into a highly specialized ADAMS model which employed an automated damping algorithm to account for the discontinuous boom lengths formed during the deployment. Additional models with more limited capabilities were also developed in both DADS and ABAQUS to verify the ADAMS model computations and to help better define the numerical behavior of the models at the component and system levels. A careful comparison is made between the ADAMS and DADS models in a series of progressive steps in order to verify their numerical results. Different trade studies considered in the model development are outlined to demonstrate a suitable level of model fidelity. Some model sensitivities to various parameters are explored using subscale and full system models. Finally, some full system DADS models are exercised to illustrate the limitations of traditional modeling techniques for variable geometry systems which were overcome in the ADAMS model.

Mars↗

NASA NTRS2011

On Calculation Methods and Results for Straight Cylindrical Roller Bearing Deflection, Stiffness, and Stress

The purpose of this study was to assess some calculation methods for quantifying the relationships of bearing geometry, material properties, load, deflection, stiffness, and stress. The scope of the work was limited to two-dimensional modeling of straight cylindrical roller bearings. Preparations for studies of dynamic response of bearings with damaged surfaces motivated this work. Studies were selected to exercise and build confidence in the numerical tools. Three calculation methods were used in this work. Two of the methods were numerical solutions of the Hertz contact approach. The third method used was a combined finite element surface integral method. Example calculations were done for a single roller loaded between an inner and outer raceway for code verification. Next, a bearing with 13 rollers and all-steel construction was used as an example to do additional code verification, including an assessment of the leading order of accuracy of the finite element and surface integral method. Results from that study show that the method is at least first-order accurate. Those results also show that the contact grid refinement has a more significant influence on precision as compared to the finite element grid refinement. To explore the influence of material properties, the 13-roller bearing was modeled as made from Nitinol 60, a material with very different properties from steel and showing some potential for bearing applications. The codes were exercised to compare contact areas and stress levels for steel and Nitinol 60 bearings operating at equivalent power density. As a step toward modeling the dynamic response of bearings having surface damage, static analyses were completed to simulate a bearing with a spall or similar damage.

Krantz, Timothy L.↗

NASA NTRS2020

Molecular Dynamics Investigation of the Structural and Mechanical Properties of Off-Stoichiometric Epoxy Resins

We carried out molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to measure the mechanical properties of various off-stoichiometric polymers regarding amine to epoxy ratios (r) and to understand the stiffness of the polymers in terms of their structures. The aerospace-grade API-60 epoxy resin is used as an adhesive bond for assembling large-scale composite structures via the co-curing-ply bonding method. This method will produce a reliable and certifiable composite joint without additional fasteners. Calculated Young's modulus was measured from the uniaxial tension simulation with several high strain rates, and the experimental modulus was estimated by extrapolating the simulation results. We found that the stiffness was associated with molecular packing caused by chemical cross-linking. We also found that the number of network clusters gradually decreased as the ratio approached r = 1.0, which made the tighter cluster and the system much stiffer with an increase in the molecular weight and the degree of cross-linking. Structural properties such as Rg, MSD were measured to figure out the degree of stiffness with respect to the r.

Jang, Chang Woon↗

NASA NTRS1997

Dynamic Reconstruction and Multivariable Control for Force-Actuated, Thin Facesheet Adaptive Optics

The Multiple Mirror Telescope (MMT) under development at the University of Arizona takes a new approach in adaptive optics placing a large (0.65 m) force-actuated, thin facesheet deformable mirror at the secondary of an astronomical telescope, thus reducing the effects of emissivity which are important in IR astronomy. However, The large size of the mirror and low stiffness actuators used drive the natural frequencies of the mirror down into the bandwidth of the atmospheric distortion. Conventional adaptive optics takes a quasi-static approach to controlling the, deformable mirror. However, flexibility within the control bandwidth calls for a new approach to adaptive optics. Dynamic influence functions are used to characterize the influence of each actuator on the surface of the deformable mirror. A linearized model of atmospheric distortion is combined with dynamic influence functions to produce a dynamic reconstructor. This dynamic reconstructor is recognized as an optimal control problem. Solving the optimal control problem for a system with hundreds of actuators and sensors is formidable. Exploiting the circularly symmetric geometry of the mirror, and a suitable model of atmospheric distortion, the control problem is divided into a number of smaller decoupled control problems using circulant matrix theory. A hierarchic control scheme which seeks to emulate the quasi-static control approach that is generally used in adaptive optics is compared to the proposed dynamic reconstruction technique. Although dynamic reconstruction requires somewhat more computational power to implement, it achieves better performance with less power usage, and is less sensitive than the hierarchic technique.

Grocott, Simon C. O.↗

NASA NTRS2003

Parameter Estimation of Spacecraft Nutation Growth Model

Modeling fuel slosh effects accurately and completely on spinning spacecraft has been a long standing concern within the aerospace community. Gyroscopic stiffness is obtained by spinning spacecraft as it is launched from one of the upper stages before it is placed in orbit. Unbalances in the spacecraft causes it to precess (wobble). The oscillatory motions are caused in the fuel due to this precession. This phenomenon is called 'fuel slosh' and the dynamic forces induced could adversely affect the stability and control of a spacecraft that spins about one of its minor moments of inertia axes. An equivalent mechanical model of fuel slosh is developed using springs and dampers that are connected to the rigid fuel tank. The stiffness and damping coefficients are the parameters that need to be identified in the fuel slosh mechanical model. This in turn is used in the spacecraft model to estimate the Nutation Time Constant (NTC) for the spacecraft. The experimental values needed for the identification of the model parameters are obtained from experiments conducted at Southwest Research Institute using the Spinning Slosh Test Rig (SSTR). The research focus is on developing models of different complexity and estimating the model parameters that will ultimately provide a more realistic Nutation Time Constant obtained through simulation.

Gangadharan, Sathya N.↗

NASA NTRS2023

Compliant Behaviors for Supervised and Autonomous Robotic Operations

The demands of traditional industrial robotics differ significantly from those of remote, supervised operations in hostile environments, such as operations in space. While industry requires robots that can perform repetitive tasks with precision and speed, the space environment needs robots to cope with uncertainties, dynamics, and communication delays or interruptions, similar to human astronauts. These demands make a well-suited application for compliant robotics and behavior-based programming. Pose Target Wrench Limiting (PTWL) is a compliant behavior paradigm developed specifically to meet these demands. PTWL controls a robot by moving a virtual attractor to a target pose. The attractor applies virtual forces, based on stiffness and damping presets, to an underlying admittance controller. Guided by virtual forces, the robot will follow the attractor until safety conditions are violated or success criteria are met. PTWL was tested on a variety of quasi-static and dynamic tasks that may be useful for future space operations. Results demonstrate that PTWL is a powerful tool. It makes teleoperation easy and safe for a wide range of quasi-static tasks. It also facilitates the creation of semi-autonomous state machines that can reliably complete complex tasks with minimal human intervention.

Joseph D. Cressman↗

NASA NTRS1975

A method for the dynamic and thermal stress analysis of space shuttle surface insulation

The thermal protection system of the space shuttle consists of thousands of separate insulation tiles bonded to the orbiter's surface through a soft strain-isolation layer. The individual tiles are relatively thick and possess nonuniform properties. Therefore, each is idealized by finite-element assemblages containing up to 2500 degrees of freedom. Since the tiles affixed to a given structural panel will, in general, interact with one another, application of the standard direct-stiffness method would require equation systems involving excessive numbers of unknowns. This paper presents a method which overcomes this problem through an efficient iterative procedure which requires treatment of only a single tile at any given time. Results of associated static, dynamic, and thermal stress analyses and sufficient conditions for convergence of the iterative solution method are given.

Ojalvo, I. U.↗

NASA NTRS1972

Elastic plate spallation

The dynamic finite element method was used to investigate elastic stress waves in a plate. Strain displacement and stress strain relations are discussed along with the stiffness and mass matrix. The results of studying point load, and distributed load over small, intermediate, and large radii are reported. The derivation of finite element matrices, and the derivation of lumped and consistent matrices for one dimensional problems with Laplace transfer solutions are included. The computer program JMMSPALL is also included.

Oline, L.↗

NASA NTRS1975

Studies on the dynamic characteristics of gas film bearings and dampers

The dynamic characteristics of inherently compensated gas film bearings have been investigated for small excursion ratios. Both circular and rectangular cases have been solved for the stiffness and damping as a function of supply pressure, restrictor coefficient, and squeeze number. The effect of disturbance amplitude has been studied for the inherently compensated strip. Analytical solutions for the simple gas film damper problem have established the effect of disturbance amplitude at low squeeze numbers. These results are applicable to pressurized bearings as limiting case of the restrictor coefficient.

Stiffler, A. K.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Convergent-tapered annular seals - Analysis and testing for rotordynamic coefficients

A combined analytical-computational method has been developed to calculate the pressure field and dynamic coefficients for tapered high-pressure annular seals. Completely developed turbulent flow is assumed in both the circumferential and axial directions, according to Hirs' (1973) bulk-flow turbulent-lubrication equations. In a numerical experiment with the method, a short bearing approximation is used to derive an analytical expression for the first-order (dynamic) pressure gradient. This expression is integrated numerically to define dynamic coefficients of the seal. Numerical results of the integration are compared with previous results for straight and tapered seals. It is found that direct stiffness and leakage coefficients increase in the present seal, while the remaining coefficients decrease. An optimal taper angle is shown to exist with respect to: (1) the direct stiffness and (2) the ratio of direct stiffness to leakage. On the basis of the optimal taper angle calculations, stiffness increases on the order of 40 to 50 percent are predicted. Experimental results for three taper angles are presented, and are found to be in good agreement with the theoretical predictions.

Childs, D. W.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Computational methods for the identification of spatially varying stiffness and damping in beams

A numerical approximation scheme for the estimation of functional parameters in Euler-Bernoulli models for the transverse vibration of flexible beams with tip bodies is developed. The method permits the identification of spatially varying flexural stiffness and Voigt-Kelvin viscoelastic damping coefficients which appear in the hybrid system of ordinary and partial differential equations and boundary conditions describing the dynamics of such structures. An inverse problem is formulated as a least squares fit to data subject to constraints in the form of a vector system of abstract first order evolution equations. Spline-based finite element approximations are used to finite dimensionalize the problem. Theoretical convergence results are given and numerical studies carried out on both conventional (serial) and vector computers are discussed.

Banks, H. T.↗

NASA NTRS1987

DYCAST: A finite element program for the crash analysis of structures

DYCAST is a nonlinear structural dynamic finite element computer code developed for crash simulation. The element library contains stringers, beams, membrane skin triangles, plate bending triangles and spring elements. Changing stiffnesses in the structure are accounted for by plasticity and very large deflections. Material nonlinearities are accommodated by one of three options: elastic-perfectly plastic, elastic-linear hardening plastic, or elastic-nonlinear hardening plastic of the Ramberg-Osgood type. Geometric nonlinearities are handled in an updated Lagrangian formulation by reforming the structure into its deformed shape after small time increments while accumulating deformations, strains, and forces. The nonlinearities due to combined loadings are maintained, and stiffness variation due to structural failures are computed. Numerical time integrators available are fixed-step central difference, modified Adams, Newmark-beta, and Wilson-theta. The last three have a variable time step capability, which is controlled internally by a solution convergence error measure. Other features include: multiple time-load history tables to subject the structure to time dependent loading; gravity loading; initial pitch, roll, yaw, and translation of the structural model with respect to the global system; a bandwidth optimizer as a pre-processor; and deformed plots and graphics as post-processors.

Pifko, A. B.↗

NASA NTRS2012

Probabilistic Sensitivity Analysis for Launch Vehicles with Varying Payloads and Adapters for Structural Dynamics and Loads

This paper examines Probabilistic Sensitivity Analysis (PSA) methods and tools in an effort to understand their utility in vehicle loads and dynamic analysis. Specifically, this study addresses how these methods may be used to establish limits on payload mass and cg location and requirements on adaptor stiffnesses while maintaining vehicle loads and frequencies within established bounds. To this end, PSA methods and tools are applied to a realistic, but manageable, integrated launch vehicle analysis where payload and payload adaptor parameters are modeled as random variables. This analysis is used to study both Regional Response PSA (RRPSA) and Global Response PSA (GRPSA) methods, with a primary focus on sampling based techniques. For contrast, some MPP based approaches are also examined.

McGhee, David S.↗

NASA NTRS1989

Design of a flexure mount for optics in dynamic and cryogenic environments

The design of a flexure mount for a mirror operating in a cryogenic environment is presented. This structure represents a design effort recently submitted to NASA Ames for the support of the primary mirror of the Space Infrared Telescope Facility (SIRTF). The support structure must passively accommodate the differential thermal contraction between the glass mirror and the aluminium structure of the telescope during cryogenic cooldown. Further, it must support the one meter diameter, 116 kilogram (258 pound) primary mirror during a severe launch to orbit without exceeding the micro-yield of the material anywhere in the flexure mount. Procedures used to establish the maximum allowable radial stiffness of the flexural mount, based on the finite element program NASTRAN and the optical program FRINGE, are discussed. Early design concepts were evaluated using a parametric design program, and the development of that program is presented. Dynamic loading analyses performed with NASTRAN are discussed. Methods of combining modal responses resulting from a displacement response spectrum analysis are discussed, and a combination scheme called MRSS, modified root of sum of squares, is presented. Model combination schemes using MRSS, SRSS, and ABS are compared to the results of the modal frequency response analysis performed with NASTRAN.

Pollard, Lloyd Wayne↗