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NASA NTRS2011

Energy Finite Element Analysis Developments for Vibration Analysis of Composite Aircraft Structures

The Energy Finite Element Analysis (EFEA) has been utilized successfully for modeling complex structural-acoustic systems with isotropic structural material properties. In this paper, a formulation for modeling structures made out of composite materials is presented. An approach based on spectral finite element analysis is utilized first for developing the equivalent material properties for the composite material. These equivalent properties are employed in the EFEA governing differential equations for representing the composite materials and deriving the element level matrices. The power transmission characteristics at connections between members made out of non-isotropic composite material are considered for deriving suitable power transmission coefficients at junctions of interconnected members. These coefficients are utilized for computing the joint matrix that is needed to assemble the global system of EFEA equations. The global system of EFEA equations is solved numerically and the vibration levels within the entire system can be computed. The new EFEA formulation for modeling composite laminate structures is validated through comparison to test data collected from a representative composite aircraft fuselage that is made out of a composite outer shell and composite frames and stiffeners. NASA Langley constructed the composite cylinder and conducted the test measurements utilized in this work.

Vlahopoulos, Nickolas↗

NASA NTRS2018

Tandem LA-ICP-MS & LIBS; A New Micro-Analytical Technique for the Measurement of Every Element in the Periodic Table

Laser Ablation ICP-MS (LA-ICP-MS) has been widely accepted as a microanalytical technique for in-situ trace (ppb) elemental analysis on the micron scale in a variety of geologic materials. LA-ICP-MS (single or multi-collector) provides both elemental and isotopic measurements critical for a wide range of geological research by generating a fine grained aerosol (nm scale) during the laser ablation event and delivering that aerosol to the ICP ion source of the mass spectrometer via an inert carrier gas. LA-ICP-MS, however, suffers from limitations in analyzing high ionization potential elements as well as elements subject to atmospheric and argon based interferences. LA-ICP-MS also has limitations in analyzing major elements due to detector saturation. An alternative laser ablation technique, Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS), employs an optical spectrometer integrated into the laser ablation system that analyzes the laser induced plasma at the sample surface across the entire optical spectrum for emission lines of every element in the periodic table. Elements that are difficult or impossible to measure with LA-ICP-MS are now possible to analyze with LIBS down to low ppm levels with CCD and/or ICCD detection. We introduce a new laser based technique, “Tandem LA-LIBS”, that combines LA for ICP-MS and LIBS into one integrated laser ablation system. This system has the effect of expanding the elemental coverage and the dynamic range of the laser ablation experiment as measurements from ppb to % level matrix elements can now be analyzed in a single ablation experiment. We present both femtosecond and nanosecond Tandem LA-LIBS quantitative and qualitative data on wide range of geological materials for those elements that are difficult or impossible by traditional LA-ICP-MS techniques such as F, H, O, N, C, S, halogens, etc. We also demonstrate that the simultaneous measurement of trace, minor and major elements are now possible in a single laser ablation experiment with Tandem LA-LIBS technology.

LA-ICP-MS↗

NASA NTRS2021

Post-Landing Major Element Quantification Using SuperCam Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy

The SuperCam instrument on the PerseveranceMars 2020 rover uses a pulsed 1064 nm laser to ablate targets at a distance and conduct laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) by analyzing the light from the resulting plasma. SuperCam LIBS spectra are preprocessed to remove ambient light, noise, and the continuum signal present in LIBS observations. Prior to quantification, spectra are masked to remove noisier spectrometer regions andspectra are normalized to minimize signal fluctuations and effectsof target distance.In some cases, the spectra are also standardized or binned prior to quantification. To determine quantitative elemental compositionsof diverse geologic materials at Jezero crater, Mars, we use a suite of 1198 laboratory spectra of 334 well-characterized reference samples. The samples were selected to span a wide range of compositions and include typical silicate rocks, pure minerals (e.g.,silicates, sulfates, carbonates, oxides),more unusual compositions (e.g.,Mn oreand sodalite), andreplicates of the sintered SuperCam calibration targets (SCCTs) onboardthe rover. For each major element (SiO2, TiO2, Al2O3, FeOT, MgO, CaO, Na2O, K2O), the database was subdivided into five“folds” with similar distributions of the element of interest. One fold was held out as an independent test set, and the remaining fourfolds were used to optimize multivariate regression models relating the spectrum to the composition. We considered a variety of models, and selected several for further investigation for each element, based primarily on the root mean squared error of prediction (RMSEP) on the test set, when analyzed at 3m. In cases with several models of comparable performance at 3 m, we incorporated the SCCT performance at different distances to choose the preferred model. Shortly after landing on Mars and collecting initial spectra of geologic targets, we selected one model per element. Subsequently, with additional data from geologic targets, some models were revised to ensure results that are more consistent with geochemical constraints. The calibration discussed here is a snapshot of an ongoing effort to deliver the most accurate chemical compositions with SuperCam LIBS.

Mars 2020↗

NASA NTRS1979

Development and demonstration of manufacturing processes for fabricating graphite/PMR-15 polyimide structural elements

The processing requirements for graphite/PMR-15 polyimide composites developed to demonstrate the structural integrity of polyimide composite structural elements at temperatures up to 589K (600 F) are described. Major tasks included: quality assurance development; materials and process development; specification verification; flat panel fabrication; stiffened panel fabrication; honeycomb panel fabrication; chopped fiber moldings; and demonstration component fabrication. Materials, processing, and quality assurance documents were prepared from experimentally derived data. Structural elements consisting of flat panels, corrugated stiffeners, I-beams, hat stiffeners, honeycomb panels, and chopped fiber moldings were made and tested. Property data from 219K (-65 F) to 589K (600 F) were obtained. All elements were made in a production environment. The size of each element was sufficient to insure production capability and structural component applicability. Problems associated with adhesive bonding, laminate and structural element analysis, material variability, and test methods were addressed.

Sheppard, C. H.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Development of an advanced photovoltaic concentrator system for space applications

Recent studies indicate that significant increases in system performance (increased efficiency and reduced system mass) are possible for high power space based systems by incorporating technological developments with photovoltaic power systems. The Advanced Photovoltaic Concentrator Program is an effort to take advantage of recent advancements in refractive optical elements. By using a domed Fresnel lens concentrator and a prismatic cell cover, to eliminate metallization losses, dramatic reductions in the required area and mass over current space photovoltaic systems are possible. The advanced concentrator concept also has significant advantages when compared to solar dynamic Organic Rankine Cycle power systems in Low Earth Orbit applications where energy storage is required. The program is currently involved in the selection of a material for the optical element that will survive the space environment and a demonstration of the system performance of the panel design.

Piszczor, Michael F., Jr.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Development of an advanced photovoltaic concentrator system for space applications

Piszczor, Michael F., Jr.↗

NASA NTRS1997

Analytical, Experimental, and Modelling Studies of Lunar and Terrestrial Rocks

The goal of our research has been to understand the paths and the processes of planetary evolution that produced planetary surface materials as we find them. Most of our work has been on lunar materials and processes. We have done studies that obtain geological knowledge from detailed examination of regolith materials and we have reported implications for future sample-collecting and on-surface robotic sensing missions. Our approach has been to study a suite of materials that we have chosen in order to answer specific geologic questions. We continue this work under NAG5-4172. The foundation of our work has been the study of materials with precise chemical and petrographic analyses, emphasizing analysis for trace chemical elements. We have used quantitative models as tests to account for the chemical compositions and mineralogical properties of the materials in terms of regolith processes and igneous processes. We have done experiments as needed to provide values for geochemical parameters used in the models. Our models take explicitly into account the physical as well as the chemical processes that produced or modified the materials. Our approach to planetary geoscience owes much to our experience in terrestrial geoscience, where samples can be collected in field context and sampling sites revisited if necessary. Through studies of terrestrial analog materials, we have tested our ideas about the origins of lunar materials. We have been mainly concerned with the materials of the lunar highland regolith, their properties, their modes of origin, their provenance, and how to extrapolate from their characteristics to learn about the origin and evolution of the Moon's early igneous crust. From this work a modified model for the Moon's structure and evolution is emerging, one of globally asymmetric differentiation of the crust and mantle to produce a crust consisting mainly of ferroan and magnesian igneous rocks containing on average 70-80% plagioclase, with a large, mafic, trace-element-rich geochemical province, and a regolith that globally contains trace-element-rich material distributed from this province by the Imbrium basin-forming impact. This contrasts with earlier models of a concentrically zoned Moon with a crust of ferroan anorthosite overlying a layer of urKREEP overlying ultramafic cumulates. From this work, we have learned lessons useful for developing strategies for studying regolith materials that help to maximize the information available about both the evolution of the regolith and the igneous differentiation of the planet. We believe these lessons are useful in developing strategies for on-surface geological, mineralogical, and geochemical studies, as well. The main results of our work are given in the following brief summaries of major tasks. Detailed accounts of these results have been submitted in the annual progress reports.

Haskin, Larry A.↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Simulating High Energy Dynamic Impact of IM7/PEKK Continuous Fiber Laminated Thermoplastic Composite using Open Hole Coupon Experiments

The use of advanced thermoplastic composites (TPC) for structural applications in the aerospace and automotive industries has grown increasingly popular due to their high performance, high manufactured part output, and sustainability. Enhancing verification simulations of the progressive failure in TPCs at the coupon scale is needed to better validate advanced composite material models at larger length scales, such as element level panels. MAT_213, a tabulated composite material model, has been applied to simulate high velocity dynamic impact (HEDI) and is integrated in the LS-DYNA explicit finite element (FE) software. Previous efforts using MAT_213 have calibrated HEDI simulated failures with experimental data. Traditionally simulations have relied on a structured mesh to represent quasi-isotropic panels. For this study, a continuous fiber unidirectional tape, IM7/PEKK, was analyzed through a series of verification studies of notched laminate coupons, then validation analyses of quasi-isotropic panels under HEDI were compared with experimental data. Experiments using unidirectional TPC were performed to obtain tabulated stress vs strain curves using Digital Image Correlation (DIC) for input into MAT_213. Next, notched coupon experiments were used as an intermediate step to calibrate the damage and failure behavior in MAT_213. Lastly, investigations into differences between HEDI simulations using a fiber aligned mesh were compared with experimental failure patterns and damage sizes. The use of experimentally generated material behavior along with selective mesh layout improved HEDI predictions with minimal material parameter calibration.

Polymer matrix composites↗

NASA NTRS2001

Alumina Encapsulated Strain Gage Not Mechanically Attached To The Substrate, Used to Temperature Compensate an Active High Temperature Gage In A Half-Bridge Configuration

A temperature compensation element for a high-temperature strain gage and the method of fabricating the same. Preferably, the element is a "dummy" strain gage not mechanically attached to the substrate. The element is encapsulated in an insulative material and used to compensate an active high-temperature strain gage and wired in a half-bridge configuration. The temperature compensation element and high-temperature strain gage are fabricated using the method of the present invention. This method includes temporarily adhering the element to a heat sink, encapsulated in an insulative material and then removed from the heat sink. Next, the element is either stacked or placed near the active gage. Ideally, the element and the active gage have substantially similar heat transfer and electrical properties.

Anthony Piazza↗

NASA NTRS1988

Unsteady heat transfer in turbine blade ducts: Focus on combustor sources

Thermal waves generated by either turbine rotor blades cutting through nonuniform combustor temperature fields or unsteady burning could lead to thermal fatigue cracking in the blades. To determine the magnitude of the thermal oscillation in blades with complex shapes and material compositions, a finite element Galerkin formulation has been developed to study combustor generated thermal wave propagation in a model two-dimensional duct with a uniform plug flow profile. The reflection and transmission of the thermal waves at the entrance and exit boundaries are determined by coupling the finite element solutions at the entrance and exit to the eigenfunctions of an infinitely long adiabatic duct. Example solutions are presented. In general, thermal wave propagation from an air passage into a metallic blade wall is small and not a problem. However, if a thermal barrier coating is applied to a metallic surface under conditions of a high heat transfer, a good impedance match is obtained and a significant portion of the thermal wave can pass into the blade material.

Baumeister, Kenneth J.↗

NASA NTRS1988

Unsteady heat transfer in turbine blade ducts - Focus on combustor sources

Baumeister, K. J.↗

NASA NTRS2006

Variable Stiffness Panel Structural Analyses With Material Nonlinearity and Correlation With Tests

Results from structural analyses of three tow-placed AS4/977-3 composite panels with both geometric and material nonlinearities are presented. Two of the panels have variable stiffness layups where the fiber orientation angle varies as a continuous function of location on the panel planform. One variable stiffness panel has overlapping tow bands of varying thickness, while the other has a theoretically uniform thickness. The third panel has a conventional uniform-thickness [plus or minus 45](sub 5s) layup with straight fibers, providing a baseline for comparing the performance of the variable stiffness panels. Parametric finite element analyses including nonlinear material shear are first compared with material characterization test results for two orthotropic layups. This nonlinear material model is incorporated into structural analysis models of the variable stiffness and baseline panels with applied end shortenings. Measured geometric imperfections and mechanical prestresses, generated by forcing the variable stiffness panels from their cured anticlastic shapes into their flatter test configurations, are also modeled. Results of these structural analyses are then compared to the measured panel structural response. Good correlation is observed between the analysis results and displacement test data throughout deep postbuckling up to global failure, suggesting that nonlinear material behavior is an important component of the actual panel structural response.

Wu, K. Chauncey↗

NASA NTRS1993

A comparison of viscoelastic damping models

Modern finite element methods (FEM's) enable the precise modeling of mass and stiffness properties in what were in the past overwhelmingly large and complex structures. These models allow the accurate determination of natural frequencies and mode shapes. However, adequate methods for modeling highly damped and high frequency dependent structures did not exist until recently. The most commonly used method, Modal Strain Energy, does not correctly predict complex mode shapes since it is based on the assumption that the mode shapes of a structure are real. Recently, many techniques have been developed which allow the modeling of frequency dependent damping properties of materials in a finite element compatible form. Two of these methods, the Golla-Hughes-McTavish method and the Lesieutre-Mingori method, model the frequency dependent effects by adding coordinates to the existing system thus maintaining the linearity of the model. The third model, proposed by Bagley and Torvik, is based on the Fractional Calculus method and requires fewer empirical parameters to model the frequency dependence at the expense of linearity of the governing equations. This work examines the Modal Strain Energy, Golla-Hughes-McTavish and Bagley and Torvik models and compares them to determine the plausibility of using them for modeling viscoelastic damping in large structures.

Slater, Joseph C.↗

NASA NTRS1992

Thermal mechanical analysis of sprag clutches

Work done at Case Western Reserve University on the Thermal Mechanical analysis of sprag helicopter clutches is reported. The report is presented in two parts. The first part is a description of a test rig for the measurement of the heat generated by high speed sprag clutch assemblies during cyclic torsional loading. The second part describes a finite element modeling procedure for sliding contact. The test rig provides a cyclic torsional load of 756 inch-pounds at 5000 rpm using a four-square arrangement. The sprag clutch test unit was placed between the high speed pinions of the circulating power loop. The test unit was designed to have replaceable inner ad outer races, which contain the instrumentation to monitor the sprag clutch. The torque loading device was chosen to be a water cooled magnetic clutch, which is controlled either manually or through a computer. In the second part, a Generalized Eulerian-Lagrangian formulation for non-linear dynamic problems is developed for solid materials. This formulation is derived from the basic laws and axioms of continuum mechanics. The novel aspect of this method is that we are able to investigate the physics in the spatial region of interest as material flows through it without having to follow material points. A finite element approximation to the governing equations is developed. Iterative Methods for the solution of the discrete finite element equations are explored. A FORTRAN program to implement this formulation is developed and a number of solutions to problems of sliding contact are presented.

Mullen, Robert L.↗

NASA NTRS1994

Probabilistic Simulation of Stress Concentration in Composite Laminates

A computational methodology is described to probabilistically simulate the stress concentration factors (SCF's) in composite laminates. This new approach consists of coupling probabilistic composite mechanics with probabilistic finite element structural analysis. The composite mechanics is used to probabilistically describe all the uncertainties inherent in composite material properties, whereas the finite element is used to probabilistically describe the uncertainties associated with methods to experimentally evaluate SCF's, such as loads, geometry, and supports. The effectiveness of the methodology is demonstrated by using is to simulate the SCF's in three different composite laminates. Simulated results match experimental data for probability density and for cumulative distribution functions. The sensitivity factors indicate that the SCF's are influenced by local stiffness variables, by load eccentricities, and by initial stress fields.

Chamis, C. C.↗

NASA NTRS1996

Computing Fiber/Matrix Interfacial Effects In SiC/RBSN

Computational study conducted to demonstrate use of boundary-element method in analyzing effects of fiber/matrix interface on elastic and thermal behaviors of representative laminated composite materials. In study, boundary-element method implemented by Boundary Element Solution Technology - Composite Modeling System (BEST-CMS) computer program.

Goldberg, Robert K.↗

NASA NTRS2003

Finite-Element Methods for Real-Time Simulation of Surgery

Two finite-element methods have been developed for mathematical modeling of the time-dependent behaviors of deformable objects and, more specifically, the mechanical responses of soft tissues and organs in contact with surgical tools. These methods may afford the computational efficiency needed to satisfy the requirement to obtain computational results in real time for simulating surgical procedures as described in Simulation System for Training in Laparoscopic Surgery (NPO-21192) on page 31 in this issue of NASA Tech Briefs. Simulation of the behavior of soft tissue in real time is a challenging problem because of the complexity of soft-tissue mechanics. The responses of soft tissues are characterized by nonlinearities and by spatial inhomogeneities and rate and time dependences of material properties. Finite-element methods seem promising for integrating these characteristics of tissues into computational models of organs, but they demand much central-processing-unit (CPU) time and memory, and the demand increases with the number of nodes and degrees of freedom in a given finite-element model. Hence, as finite-element models become more realistic, it becomes more difficult to compute solutions in real time. In both of the present methods, one uses approximate mathematical models trading some accuracy for computational efficiency and thereby increasing the feasibility of attaining real-time up36 NASA Tech Briefs, October 2003 date rates. The first of these methods is based on modal analysis. In this method, one reduces the number of differential equations by selecting only the most significant vibration modes of an object (typically, a suitable number of the lowest-frequency modes) for computing deformations of the object in response to applied forces.

Basdogan, Cagatay↗

NASA NTRS1980

An evaluation of the land and material requirements for the satellite power system

Current research and evaluation of the physical resources requirements for the Satellite Power System (SPS) concentrates on three topics: land requirements and the siting of rectennas; the environmental impacts of the rectenna siting; and the materials requirements. The first two focus exclusively on the Earth based element of the SPS while the materials assessment considered requirements for both the space and Earth systems.

Ankerbrandt, S. D.↗