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At least 55 records · Page 3

Crack Turning Mechanics of Composite Wing Skin Panels

The safety of future composite wing skin integral stiffener panels requires a full understanding of failure mechanisms of these damage tolerance critical structures under both in-plane and bending loads. Of primary interest is to derive mathematical models using fracture mechanics in anisotropic cracked plate structures, to assess the crack turning mechanisms, and thereby to enhance the residual strength in the integral stiffener composite structures. The use of fracture mechanics to assess the failure behavior in a cracked structure requires the identification of critical fracture parameters which govern the severity of stress and deformation field ahead of the flaw, and which can be evaluated using information obtained from the flaw tip. In the three-year grant, the crack-tip fields under plane deformation, crack-tip fields for anisotropic plates and anisotropic shells have been obtained. In addition, methods for determining the stress intensity factors, energy release rate, and the T-stresses have been proposed and verified. The research accomplishments can be summarized as follows: (1) Under plane deformation in anisotropic solids, the asymptotic crack-tip fields have been obtained using Stroh formalism; (2) The T-stress and the coefficient of the second term for sigma(sub y), g(sub 32), have been obtained using path-independent integral, the J-integral and Betti's reciprocal theorem together with auxiliary fields; (3) With experimental data performed by NASA, analyses indicated that the mode-I critical stress intensity factor K(sub Q) provides a satisfactory characterization of fracture initiation for a given laminate thickness, provided the failure is fiber-dominated and crack extends in a self-similar manner; (4) The high constraint specimens, especially for CT specimens, due to large T-stress and large magnitude of negative g(sub 32) term may be expected to inhibit the crack extension in the same plane and promote crack turning; (5) Crack turning out of crack plane in generally anisotropic solids under plane deformation has been studied; (6) The role of T-stress and the higher-order term of sigma(sub y) on the crack turning and stability of the kinked crack has been quantified; (7) Asymptotic crack-tip fields including the effect of transverse shear deformation (Reissner plate theory) in an anisotropic plate under bending, twisting moments, and transverse shear loads has been presented; (8) The expression of the path-independent J-integral in terms of the generalized stress and strain has been derived; (9) Asymptotic crack-tip fields including the effect of transverse shear deformation (Reissner shallow shell theory) in a general anisotropic shell has been developed; (10) The Stroh formalism was used to characterize the crack tip fields in shells up to the second term and the energy release rate was expressed in a very compact form.

Yuan, F. G.↗

Hardening electronic devices against very high total dose radiation environments

The possibilities and limitations of hardening silicon semiconductor devices to the high neutron and gamma radiation levels and greater than 10 to the eighth power rads required for the NERVA nuclear engine development are discussed. A comparison is made of the high dose neutron and gamma hardening potential of bipolar, metal insulator semiconductors and junction field effect transistors. Experimental data is presented on device degradation for the high neutron and gamma doses. Previous data and comparisons indicate that the JFET is much more immune to the combined neutron displacement and gamma ionizing effects than other transistor types. Experimental evidence is also presented which indicates that p channel MOS devices may be able to meet the requirements.

Buchanan, B.↗

Remote measurements of water pollution with a lidar polarimeter

This paper examines a dual polarization laser backscatter system as a method for remote measurements of certain water quality parameters. Analytical models for describing the backscatter from turbid water and oil on turbid water are presented and compared with experimental data. Laser backscatter field measurements from natural waterways are presented and compared with simultaneous ground observations of the water quality parameters: turbidity, suspended solids, and transmittance. The results of this study show that the analytical models appear valid and that the sensor investigated is applicable to remote measurements of these water quality parameters and oil spills on water.-

Sheives, T. C.↗

Boundary layer integral matrix procedure: Verification of models

The three turbulent models currently available in the JANNAF version of the Aerotherm Boundary Layer Integral Matrix Procedure (BLIMP-J) code were studied. The BLIMP-J program is the standard prediction method for boundary layer effects in liquid rocket engine thrust chambers. Experimental data from flow fields with large edge-to-wall temperature ratios are compared to the predictions of the three turbulence models contained in BLIMP-J. In addition, test conditions necessary to generate additional data on a flat plate or in a nozzle are given. It is concluded that the Cebeci-Smith turbulence model be the recommended model for the prediction of boundary layer effects in liquid rocket engines. In addition, the effects of homogeneous chemical reaction kinetics were examined for a hydrogen/oxygen system. Results show that for most flows, kinetics are probably only significant for stoichiometric mixture ratios.

Bonnett, W. S.↗

Effect of surface cooling and roughness on transition for the Shuttle Orbiter

An analysis of roughness-induced boundary-layer transition examines the sensitivity of the Orbiter boundary-layer transition criteria to surface cooling, to surface roughness, and to the assumed flow-field model. The experimental data were obtained using a 0.0175-scale Orbiter with surface roughness represented by misaligned heat-shield tiles for surface temperatures from 0.12 stagnation temperature (a value typical of entry conditions) to 0.42 stagnation temperature (a value typical of continuous-flow wind-tunnels). Tile misalignment had only a slight effect on the heat transfer and on the trasition locations for wall temperature = 0.42 stagnation temperature. Cooling the boundary layer caused the tile-induced disturbances to increase significantly, promoting premature transition. Correlation of the effects of the misalignment height and of surface cooling in promoting transition are presented and predictions are made for typical Orbiter entry conditions.

Bertin, J. J.↗

Some aspects of calculating flows about three-dimensional subsonic inlets

Based on the potential flow model, computations were carried out for various three-dimensional inlet models. Some of these calculated results are presented in the forms of surface static pressure, flow angularity, surface flow pattern, and inlet flow field. Comparisons with experimental data are also made.

Kao, H. C.↗

Gas side heat transfer: 2-D flow

Significant progress was made in advancing the idea of establishing a unified approach for predicting airfoil heat transfer for a wide range of operating conditions and geometries. Preliminary results are encouraging and further mixing length (ml) turbulence modeling ideas will be explored, concentrating on transition behavior. The capability of available modeling techniques to predict airfoil surface heat transfer distributions in a two-dimensional flow field was assessed, experimental data as required for model verification were acquired, and improvements in the analytic models was made and verified.

York, R.↗

Remote sensing of Earth Terrain

The Mueller matrix and polarization covariance matrix for polarimetric radar systems were studied. The clutter is modelled by a layer of random permittivity, described by a three dimensional correlation function, with variance, and horizontal and vertical correlation lengths. This model is applied, using the wave theory with Born approximations carried to the second order, to find the backscattering elements of the polarimetric matrices. It is found that 8 out of 16 elements of the Mueller matrix are identically zero, corresponding to a covariance matrix with four zero elements. Theoretical predictions are matched with experimental data for vegetation fields. A general mixing formula is derived for discrete scatterers immersed in a host medium. The inclusion particles are assumed to be ellipsoidal. The electric field inside the scatterers is determined by quasistatic analysis, assuming the diameter of the inclusion particles to be much smaller than the wavelength. The results are applicable to general multiphase mixtures.

Kong, J. A.↗

Radar scene generation for tactical decision aids

The Mueller matrix and polarization covariance matrix for polarimetric radar systems was studied. The clutter was modeled by a layer of random permittivity, described by a three-dimensional correlation function, with variance, and horizontal and vertical correlation lengths. This model was applied, using the wave theory with Born approximations carried to the second order, to find the backscattering elements of the polarimetric matrices. Theoretical predictions are matched with experimental data for vegetation fields. The strong fluctuation theory was used to derive the backscattering cross sections. A two-layer anisotropic random medium model was developed for the active and passive microwave remote sensing of ice fields. A three-layer random medium model was adopted to study the volume scattering effects for the active and passive microwave remote sensing of snow-covered ice fields.

Kong, J. A.↗

Transport of passive scalars in a turbulent channel flow

A direct numerical simulation of a turbulent channel flow with three passive scalars at different molecular Prandtl numbers is performed. Computed statistics including the turbulent Prandtl numbers are compared with existing experimental data. The computed fields are also examined to investigate the spatial structure of the scalar fields. The scalar fields are highly correlated with the streamwise velocity; the correlation coefficient between the temperature and the streamwise velocity is as high as 0.95 in the wall region. The joint probability distributions between the temperature and velocity fluctuations are also examined; they suggest that it might be possible to model the scalar fluxes in the wall region in a manner similar to the Reynolds stresses.

Kim, John↗

Theoretical models for polarimetric radar clutter

The Mueller matrix and polarization covariance matrix are described for polarimetric radar systems. The clutter is modeled by a layer of random permittivity, described by a three-dimensional correlation function, with variance, and horizontal and vertical correlation lengths. This model is applied, using the wave theory with Born approximations carried to the second order, to find the backscattering elements of the polarimetric matrices. It is found that 8 out of 16 elements of the Mueller matrix are identically zero, corresponding to a covariance matrix with four zero elements. Theoretical predictions are matched with experimental data for vegetation fields.

Borgeaud, M.↗

Optical measurements pertaining to Space Station solar dynamic power systems

The Space Station solar dynamic power system is a hybrid of solar photovoltaic and solar dynamic systems, the latter of which uses a parabolic reflector to collect solar energy. This paper describes analytical results of an off-axis solar illumination on the intensity distribution in arbitrary target planes perpendicular to the axis of a parabolic reflector. Such computational capability would make it possible to predict optical intensity distributions resulting from off-axis angles of incident radiation on such target planes. To validate the computer code, experimental optical measurements were performed on the multifaceted paraboloidal collecor at the Solar Dynamic Test Facility at Rockedyne's Santa Susana Field Laboratory. The experimental data compared reasonably well with the calculated values.

Holly, S.↗

Transport of passive scalars in a turbulent channel flow

A direct numerical simulation of a turbulent channel flow with three passive scalars at different molecular Prandtl numbers is performed. Computed statistics including the turbulent Prandtl numbers are compared with existing experimental data. The computed fields are also examined to investigate the spatial structure of the scalar fields. The scalar fields are highly correlated with the streamwise velocity; the correlation coefficient between the temperature and the streamwise velocity is as high as 0.95 in the wall region. The joint probability distributions between the temperature and velocity fluctuations are also examined; they suggest that it might be possible to model the scalar fluxes in the wall region in a manner similar to the Reynolds stresses.

Kim, John↗

Mixing and combustion of an underexpanded H2 jet in supersonic flow

Theoretical calculations are compared with experimental data in an investigation of the injection, mixing, and combustion of an underexpanded hydrogen jet in a supersonic test stream. The experimental tests in reacting and nonreacting flows were conducted by use of air and nitrogen as test media. Tests were conducted in a free jet and a ducted mode. Theoretical calculations were performed with a modified viscous characteristics analysis. The computer program employs finite rate chemistry and a turbulent viscosity model which varies radially and axially; it handles exit shock waves, expansion fans, and thermal compressions generated in the reacting flow fields. Comparison of the theory and experimental data indicates good agreement for the near flow field; this agreement is directly related to the explicit handling of the near-field shock and expansion waves. Less satisfactory agreement at downstream locations for both free jet and ducted flows is attributed to the lack of continued computation of the shocks and expansions in the far field.

Jenkins, R. V.↗

Flow Field Around a Hovering Rotor

A lifting surface hover code developed by the Analytical Method Inc. (AMI) was used to compute the average and unsteady velocity flow field of an isolated rotor without ground effect. The predicted velocity field compares well with experimental data obtained by hot-wire anemometry and by Laser Doppler Velocimetry. A subroutine 'DOWNWASH' was written to predict the velocity field at any given point in the wake for a given blade position.

Tung, C.↗

Noise characteristics of upper surface blown configurations: Analytical Studies

Noise and flow results of upper surface blown configurations were analyzed. The dominant noise source mechanisms were identified from experimental data. From far-field noise data for various geometric and operational parameters, an empirical noise prediction program was developed and evaluated by comparing predicted results with experimental data from other tests. USB aircraft compatibility studies were conducted using the described noise prediction and a cruise performance data base. A final design aircraft was selected and theory was developed for the noise from the trailing edge wake assuming it as a highly sheared layer.

Reddy, N. N.↗

Strong fluctuation theory for electromagnetic wave scattering by a layer of random discrete scatterers

The strong fluctuation theory is applied to the study of electromagnetic wave scattering from a layer of random discrete scatterers. The singularity of the dyadic Green's function is taken into account in the calculation of the effective permittivity functions. The correlation functions for the random medium with different scatterer constituents and size distributions are derived. Applying the dyadic Green's function for a two-layer medium and using the bilocal and distorted Born approximations, the first and the second moments of the fields are then calculated. Both the backscattering and bistatic scattering coefficients are obtained, and the former is shown to match favorably with experimental data obtained from snow fields.

Jin, Y. Q.↗

Blade Row Interaction Effects on the Performance of a Moderately Loaded NASA Transonic Compressor Stage

Blade row interaction effects on loss generation in compressors have received increased attention as compressor work-per-stage and blade loading have increased. Two dimensional Laser Doppler Velocimeter measurements of the velocity field in a NASA transonic compressor stage show the magnitude of interactions in the velocity field at the peak efficiency and near stall operating conditions. The experimental data are presented along with an assessment of the velocity field interactions. In the present study the experimental data are used to confirm the fidelity of a three-dimensional, time-accurate, Navier Stokes calculation of the stage using the MSU-TURBO code at the peak efficiency and near stall operating conditions. The simulations are used to quantify the loss generation associated with interaction phenomena. At the design point the stator pressure field has minimal effect on the rotor performance. The rotor wakes do have an impact on loss production in the stator passage at both operating conditions. A method for determining the potential importance of blade row interactions on performance is presented.

VanZante, Dale E.↗