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At least 541 records · Page 30

Nonlinear vibrations of thin-walled composite frames

A reduced basis technique and a computational procedure are presented for generating the nonlinear vibrational response, and evaluating the first-order sensitivity coefficients of thin-walled composite frames. The sensitivity coefficients are the derivatives of the nonlinear frequency with respect to the material and lamination parameters of the frame. A mixed formulation is used with the fundamental unknowns consisting of both the generalized displacements and stress resultants in the frame. The flanges and webs of the frames are modeled by using geometrically nonlinear two-dimensional shell and plate finite elements. The computational procedure can be conveniently divided into three distinct steps. The first step involves the generation of various-order perturbation vectors, and their derivatives with respect to the material and lamination parameters of the frame, using the Linstedt-Poincare perturbation technique. The second step consists of using the perturbation vectors as basis vectors, computing the amplitudes of these vectors and the nonlinear frequency of vibration, via a direct variational procedure. The third step consists of using the perturbation vectors, and their derivatives, as basis vectors and computing the sensitivity coefficients of the nonlinear frequency via a second application of the direct variational procedure. Numerical results are presented for semicircular thin-walled frames with I and J section, showing the convergence of the nonlinear frequency and the sensitivity coefficients obtained by both the reduced-basis and perturbation techniques.

Noor, Ahmed K.↗

Better Finite-Element Analysis of Composite Shell Structures

A computer program implements a finite-element-based method of predicting the deformations of thin aerospace structures made of isotropic materials or anisotropic fiber-reinforced composite materials. The technique and corresponding software are applicable to thin shell structures in general and are particularly useful for analysis of thin beamlike members having open cross-sections (e.g. I-beams and C-channels) in which significant warping can occur.

Clarke, Gregory↗

Pressure Distribution over Thick Airfoils - Model Tests

This investigation was undertaken to study the distribution of loading over thick wings of various types. The unloading on the wing was determined by taking the pressure at a number of holes on both the upper and lower surfaces of a model wing in the wind tunnel. The results from these tests show, first, that the distribution of pressure over a thick wing of uniform section is very little different from that over a thin wing; second, that wings tapering either in chord or thickness have the lateral center of pressure, as would be expected, slightly nearer the center of the wings; and, third, that wings tapering in plan form and with a section everywhere proportional to the center section may be considered to have a loading at any point which is proportional to the chord when compared to a wing with a similar constant section. These tests confirm the belief that wings tapering both in thickness and plan form are of considerable structural value because the lateral center of pressure is thereby moved toward the center of the span.

Norton, F H↗

Thin Film Physical Sensors for High Temperature Applications

For the advanced engines in the future, knowledge of the physical parameters of aerospace components is necessary on the test stand and in flight. NASA GRC is leveraging expertise in thin films and high temperature materials to measure hot section gas and surface temperature, heat flux and static and dynamic strain. The current challenges of instrumentation technology are to further develop systems packaging and component testing of specialized sensors, further develop instrumentation techniques on complex surfaces, improve sensor durability, and to address needs for extreme temperature applications. Applications of thin film ceramic sensors as replacement for noble metals are being investigated. Technologies demonstrated in aeronautics and space applications are outlined.

thin films↗

Ultrasonic Nondestructive Evaluation Techniques Applied to the Quantitative Characterization of Textile Composite Materials

In this Progress Report, we describe our recent developments of advanced ultrasonic nondestructive evaluation methods applied to the characterization of anisotropic materials. We present images obtained from experimental measurements of ultrasonic diffraction patterns for a thin woven composite in an immersion setup. In addition, we compare apparent signal loss measurements of the thin woven composite for phase-sensitive and phase-insensitive detection methods. All images of diffraction patterns have been included on the accompanying CD-ROM in the Adobe(Trademark) Portable Document Format (PDF). Due to the extensive amount of data, however, hardcopies of only a small representative selection of the images are included within the printed report. This Progress Report presents experimental results that support successful implementation of single element as well as one and two-dimensional ultrasonic array technologies for the inspection of textile composite structures. In our previous reports, we have addressed issues regarding beam profiles of ultrasonic pressure fields transmitted through a water reference path and transmitted through a thin woven composite sample path. Furthermore, we presented experimental results of the effect of a thin woven composite on the magnitude of an insonifying ultrasonic pressure field. In addition to the study of ultrasonic beam profiles, we consider issues relevant to the application of single-element, one-dimensional, and two-dimensional array technologies towards probing the mechanical properties of advanced engineering composites and structures. We provide comparisons between phase-sensitive and phase-insensitive detection methods for determination of textile composite structure parameters. We also compare phase-sensitive and phase-insensitive - - ---- ----- apparent signal loss measurements in an effort to study the phenomenon of phase cancellation at the face of a finite-aperture single-element receiver. Furthermore, in this Progress Report we extend our work on ultrasonic beam profile issues through investigation of the phase fronts of the pressure field. In Section H of this Progress Report we briefly describe the experimental arrangement and methods for data acquisition of the ultrasonic diffraction patterns upon transmission through a thin woven composite. Section III details the analysis of the experimental data followed by the experimental results in Section IV. Finally, a discussion of the observations and conclusions is found in Section V.

Miller, James G.↗

Numerical simulation of fluid flow and heat transfer in a thin liquid film over a stationary and rotating disk and comparison with experimental data

In the first section, improvements in the theoretical model and computational procedure for the prediction of film height and heat-transfer coefficient of the free surface flow of a radially-spreading thin liquid film adjacent to a flat horizontal surface of finite extent are presented. Flows in the presence and absence of gravity are considered. Theoretical results are compared to available experimental data with good agreement. In the presence of gravity, a hydraulic jump is present, isolating the flow into two regimes: supercritical upstream from the jump and subcritical downstream of it. In this situation, the effects of surface tension are important near the outer edge of the disk where the fluid experiences a free fall. A region of flow separation is present just downstream of the jump. In the absence of gravity, no hydraulic jump or separated flow region is present. The variation of the heat-transfer coefficient for flows in the presence and absence of gravity are also presented. In the second section, the results of a numerical simulation of the flow field and associated heat transfer coefficients are presented for the free surface flow of a thin liquid film adjacent to a horizontal rotating disk. The computation was performed for different flow rates and rotational velocities using a 3-D boundary-fitted coordinate system. Since the geometry of the free surface is unknown and dependent on flow rate, rate of rotation, and other parameters, an iterative procedure had to be used to ascertain its location. The computed film height agreed well with existing experimental measurements. The flow is found to be dominated by inertia near the entrance and close to the free surface and dominated by centrifugal force at larger radii and adjacent to the disk. The rotation enhances the heat transfer coefficient by a significant amount.

Faghri, Amir↗

Producing gapped-ferrite transformer cores

Improved manufacturing techniques make reproducible gaps and minimize cracking. Molded, unfired transformer cores are cut with thin saw and then fired. Hardened semicircular core sections are bonded together, placed in aluminum core box, and fluidized-coated. After winding is run over box, core is potted. Economical method significantly reduces number of rejects.

Mclyman, W. T.↗

Study of foldable elastic tubes for large space structure applications, phase 1

Structural members that might be suitable for strain energy deployable structures, are discussed with emphasis on a thin-walled cylindrical tube with a cross-section that is called 'bi-convex'. The design of bi-convex tube test specimens and their fabrication are described as well as the design and construction of a special purpose testing machine to determine the deployment characteristics. The results of the first series of tests were quite mixed, but clearly revealed that since most of the specimens failed to deploy completely, due to a buckling problem, this type of tube requires some modification in order to be viable.

Jones, I. W.↗

A numerical study of hypersonic propulsion/airframe integration problem

A numerical analysis procedure useful in the propulsion-airframe integration problem has been established. Flow around a generic hypersonic vehicle forebody is solved using Parabolized Navier-Stokes equations and Thin Layer Navier-Stokes equations. Forebody cross sectional geometry corresponds to a two-ellipse configuration. Effect of forebody geometry on the flow structure, especially at the engine inlet location, is analyzed.

Narayan, J. R.↗

A hybrid method for prediction of propeller performance

An analytical/computational code has been developed to predict the performance of advanced turboprop propellers. The method of solution is based on strip theory and conservation of linear and angular momenta applied to a control volume enclosing the propeller and its far wake. An iterative procedure is used to account for the induced axial and rotational velocities. Sectional aerodynamic coefficients are explicitly accounted for by thin airfoil theory and refinement of the results is obtained using a two-dimensional vortex panel method and Euler equations. The results obtained compare well with wind-tunnel data obtained for advanced propellers, such as the Hamilton Standard SR-2 and SR-7.

Takallu, M. A.↗

The Influence of Notches Under Static Stress

From the described experiments it is seen that notches are a potential source of strength decrease even under static stress, which the designer must take into consideration. Section I is a general treatment of notch influence under the various types of stresses. Section II treats the influence of notches in thin sheet as is used in airplane construction.

Matthaes, K↗

Flutter analysis of composite box beams

The dynamic aeroelastic instability of flutter is an important factor in the design of modern high-speed, flexible aircraft. The current trend is toward the creative use of composites to delay flutter. To obtain an optimum design, we need an accurate as well as efficient model. As a first step towards this goal, flutter analysis is carried out for an unswept composite box beam using a linear structural model and Theodorsen's unsteady aerodynamic theory. Structurally, the wing was modeled as a thin-walled box-beam of rectangular cross section. Theodorsen's theory was used to get 2-D unsteady aerodynamic forces, which were integrated over the span. A free-vibration analysis is carried out. These fundamental modes are used to get the flutter solution using the V-g method. Future work is intended to build on this foundation.

Hodges, Dewey H.↗

Thermal barrier coatings for aircraft engines: History and directions

Thin thermal barrier coatings for protecting aircraft turbine section airfoils are examined. The discussion focuses on those advances that led first to their use for component life extension and more recently as an integral part of airfoil design. It is noted that development has been driven by laboratory rig and furnace testing corroborated by engine testing and engine field experience. The technology has also been supported by performance modeling to demonstrate benefits and life modeling for mission analysis. Factors which have led to the selection of the current state-of-the-art plasma sprayed and physical vapor deposited zirconia-yttria/MCrAlY TBC's is emphasized in addition to observations fundamentally related to their behavior. Current directions in research into thermal barrier coatings and recent progress at NASA is also noted.

Miller, R. A.↗

Thermal barrier coatings for aircraft engines: History and directions

Thin thermal barrier coatings for protecting aircraft turbine section airfoils are examined in this paper. The discussion focuses on those advances that led first to their use for component life extension, and more recently as an integral part of airfoil design. Development has been driven by laboratory rig and furnace testing corroborated by engine testing and engine field experience. The technology has also been supported by performance modeling to demonstrate benefits and life modeling for mission analysis. Factors which have led to the selection of the current state-of-the-art plasma sprayed and physical vapor deposited zirconia-yttria/MCrAlX TBC's are emphasized, as are observations fundamentally related to the their behavior. Current directions in research into thermal barrier coatings and recent progress at NASA are also noted.

Miller, Robert A.↗

Bending Tests of Metal Monocoque Fuselage Construction

This thesis presents a study of the bending stress in smooth skin, aluminum alloy, true monocoque fuselage sections of varying ratio of diameters to thickness. The test specimens - circular, thin-walled cylinder were loaded to give a large bending stress in proportion to the shearing stress, in order to represent the critical section of a fuselage.

Mossman, Ralph W↗

Characterization of Meteorites by Focused Ion Beam Sectioning: Recent Applications to CAIs and Primitive Meteorite Matrices

Focused ion beam (FIB) sectioning has revolutionized preparation of meteorite samples for characterization by analytical transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and other techniques. Although FIB is not "non-destructive" in the purest sense, each extracted section amounts to no more than nanograms (approximately 500 cubic microns) removed intact from locations precisely controlled by SEM imaging and analysis. Physical alteration of surrounding material by ion damage, fracture or sputter contamination effects is localized to within a few micrometers around the lift-out point. This leaves adjacent material intact for coordinate geochemical analysis by SIMS, microdrill extraction/TIMS and other techniques. After lift out, FIB sections can be quantitatively analyzed by electron microprobe prior to final thinning, synchrotron x-ray techniques, and by the full range of state-of-the-art analytical field-emission scanning transmission electron microscope (FE-STEM) techniques once thinning is complete. Multiple meteorite studies supported by FIB/FE-STEM are currently underway at NASA-JSC, including coordinated analysis of refractory phase assemblages in CAIs and fine-grained matrices in carbonaceous chondrites. FIB sectioning of CAIs has uncovered epitaxial and other overgrowth relations between corundum-hibonite-spinel consistent with hibonite preceding corundum and/or spinel in non-equilibrium condensation sequences at combinations of higher gas pressures, dust-gas enrichments or significant nebular transport. For all of these cases, the ability of FIB to allow for coordination with spatially-associated isotopic data by SIMS provides immense value for constraining the formation scenarios of the particular CAI assemblage. For carbonaceous chondrites matrix material, FIB has allowed us to obtain intact continuous sections of the immediate outer surface of Murchison (CM2) after it has been experimentally ion processed to simulate solar wind space weathering. The surface amorphization and loss of OH produced by the irradiation provides important clues regarding space weathering on primitive asteroids such as the OSIRIS-Rex target 101955 Bennu.

Christoffersen, Roy↗

Arc research, section III

Spectroscopic methods to measure ion and electron temperatures of thermally thin plasma in local thermal equilibrium, spectral distribution of zirconium lamp, and vortex stabilized arc

SPECTRAL ENERGY DISTRIBUTION↗