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At least 685 records · Page 38
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1985

An internal variable assisted formulation of moisture sorption models for polymers and composites

The purpose of the paper is to demonstrate that constitutive equations for moisture sorption and swelling can be obtained with an internal variable method which is rooted in the theory of irreversible thermodynamics. Realism is injected into the model through the concept of free volume. The power of the method is illustrated by the solution of the formidable nonlinear boundary value problem for diffusion with swelling-stress dependent diffusivity.

Hiel, C. C.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Optimal landing of a helicopter in autorotation

The landing of a helicopter in autorotation is formulated as a nonlinear optimal control problem. A unique feature in the present formulation is the addition of path inequality constraints on both the control and the state vectors. The control variable inequality constraint is a reflection of the limitation on the rotor thrust coefficient. The state-variable inequality constraint is an upper bound on the vertical sink-rate of the helicopter during descent. Optimal trajectories are calculated for entry conditions well within the height-velocity (H-V) restriction curve, with the helicopter initially in hover or in forward flight. The optimal solutions exhibited control techniques similar to those used by helicopter pilots in actual autorotational landings. The study indicates that, subject to pilot acceptability, a substantial reduction could be made in the H-V restriction zone using optimal control techniques.

Lee, A. Y.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Application of decomposition techniques to the preliminary design of a transport aircraft

A nonlinear constrained optimization problem describing the preliminary design process for a transport aircraft has been formulated. A multifaceted decomposition of the optimization problem has been made. Flight dynamics, flexible aircraft loads and deformations, and preliminary structural design subproblems appear prominently in the decomposition. The use of design process decomposition for scheduling design projects, a new system integration approach to configuration control, and the application of object-centered programming to a new generation of design tools are discussed.

Rogan, J. E.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Application of decomposition techniques to the preliminary design of a transport aircraft

A multifaceted decomposition of a nonlinear constrained optimization problem describing the preliminary design process for a transport aircraft has been made. Flight dynamics, flexible aircraft loads and deformations, and preliminary structural design subproblems appear prominently in the decomposition. The use of design process decomposition for scheduling design projects, a new system integration approach to configuration control, and the application of object-centered programming to a new generation of design tools are discussed.

Rogan, J. E.↗
NASA NTRS1987

A method for nonlinear optimization with discrete design variables

A numerical method is presented for the solution of nonlinear discrete optimization problems. The applicability of discrete optimization to engineering design is discussed, and several standard structural optimization problems are solved using discrete design variables. The method uses approximation techniques to create subproblems suitable for linear mixed-integer programming methods. The method employs existing software for continuous optimization and integer programming.

Olsen, Gregory R.↗
NASA NTRS1988

The dynamical regime of fluid flow at the core surface

An alternative method for determining the fluid motion immediately beneath the core-mantle boundary is presented which is based on solving the full nonlinear core motions problem. This method is used to examine three dynamical hypotheses about the flow: (1) the steady motions hypothesis; (2) the geostrophic hypothesis; and (3) the toroidal flow hypothesis. Better fits to the field are obtained with the toroidal flows than with geostrophic flows, casting considerable doubt on the validity of the geostrophic hypothesis. Additionally, some indication is found that failure of the frozen-flux approximation, a concomitant assumption, may be a serious obstacle to obtaining reliable maps of the core fluid flow.

Bloxham, Jeremy↗
NASA NTRS1989

Optimizing for minimum weight when two different finite element models and analyses are required

The Finite Element Structural Optimization Program's (FESOP) ability to perform minimum weight optimization using two different finite element analyses and models is discussed. FESOP uses the ADS optimizer developed by Dr. Garret Vanderplaats to solve the nonlinear constrained optimization problem. The design optimization problem requires a response spectrum analysis and model to evaluate the stress and displacement constraints. However, the problem needs a frequency analysis and model to calculate the natural frequencies used to evaluate the frequency range constraints. The results of both the successful and unsuccessful approaches used to solve this difficult weight minimization problem are summarized. The results show that no one ADS optimization algorithm worked in all cases. However, the Sequential Convex Programming and Modified Method of Feasible Directions algorithms were the most successful.

Hall, Jeffrey C.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Generic element processor (application to nonlinear analysis)

The focus here is on one aspect of the Computational Structural Mechanics (CSM) Testbed: finite element technology. The approach involves a Generic Element Processor: a command-driven, database-oriented software shell that facilitates introduction of new elements into the testbed. This shell features an element-independent corotational capability that upgrades linear elements to geometrically nonlinear analysis, and corrects the rigid-body errors that plague many contemporary plate and shell elements. Specific elements that have been implemented in the Testbed via this mechanism include the Assumed Natural-Coordinate Strain (ANS) shell elements, developed with Professor K. C. Park (University of Colorado, Boulder), a new class of curved hybrid shell elements, developed by Dr. David Kang of LPARL (formerly a student of Professor T. Pian), other shell and solid hybrid elements developed by NASA personnel, and recently a repackaged version of the workhorse shell element used in the traditional STAGS nonlinear shell analysis code. The presentation covers: (1) user and developer interfaces to the generic element processor, (2) an explanation of the built-in corotational option, (3) a description of some of the shell-elements currently implemented, and (4) application to sample nonlinear shell postbuckling problems.

Stanley, Gary↗
NASA NTRS1988

A forward method for optimal stochastic nonlinear and adaptive control

A computational approach is taken to solve the optimal nonlinear stochastic control problem. The approach is to systematically solve the stochastic dynamic programming equations forward in time, using a nested stochastic approximation technique. Although computationally intensive, this provides a straightforward numerical solution for this class of problems and provides an alternative to the usual dimensionality problem associated with solving the dynamic programming equations backward in time. It is shown that the cost degrades monotonically as the complexity of the algorithm is reduced. This provides a strategy for suboptimal control with clear performance/computation tradeoffs. A numerical study focusing on a generic optimal stochastic adaptive control example is included to demonstrate the feasibility of the method.

Bayard, David S.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Optimal fabrication processes for unidirectional metal-matrix composites - A computational simulation

A method is proposed for optimizing the fabrication process of unidirectional metal matrix composites. The temperature and pressure histories are optimized such that the residual microstresses of the composite at the end of the fabrication process are minimized and the material integrity throughout the process is ensured. The response of the composite during the fabrication is simulated based on a nonlinear micromechanics theory. The optimal fabrication problem is formulated and solved with nonlinear programming. Application cases regarding the optimization of the fabrication cool-down phases of unidirectional ultra-high modulus graphite/copper and silicon carbide/titanium composites are presented.

Saravanos, D. A.↗
NASA NTRS1991

A locally refined rectangular grid finite element method - Application to computational fluid dynamics and computational physics

The present FEM technique addresses both linear and nonlinear boundary value problems encountered in computational physics by handling general three-dimensional regions, boundary conditions, and material properties. The box finite elements used are defined by a Cartesian grid independent of the boundary definition, and local refinements proceed by dividing a given box element into eight subelements. Discretization employs trilinear approximations on the box elements; special element stiffness matrices are included for boxes cut by any boundary surface. Illustrative results are presented for representative aerodynamics problems involving up to 400,000 elements.

Young, David P.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Nonlinear mechanical behavior of thermoplastic matrix materials for advanced composites

Two recent theories of nonlinear mechanical response are quantitatively compared and related to experimental data. Computer techniques are formulated to handle the numerical integration and iterative procedures needed to solve the associated sets of coupled nonlinear differential equations. Problems encountered during these formulations are discussed and some open questions described. Bearing in mind these cautions, the consequences of changing parameters that appear in the formulations on the resulting engineering properties are discussed. Hence, engineering approaches to the analysis of thermoplastic matrix material can be suggested.

Arenz, R. J.↗
NASA NTRS1990

A contact stress model for multifingered grasps of rough objects

The model developed utilizes a contact-stress analysis of an arbitrarily shaped object in a multifingered grasp. The fingers and the object are all treated as elastic bodies, and the region of contact is modeled as a deformable surface patch. The relationship between the friction and normal forces is nonlocal and nonlinear in nature and departs from the Coulomb approximation. The nature of the constraints arising out of conditions for compatibility and static equilibrium motivated the formulation of the model as a nonlinear constrained minimization problem. The model is able to predict the magnitude of the inwardly directed normal forces and both the magnitude and direction of the tangential (friction) forces at each finger-object interface for grasped objects in static equilibrium.

Sinha, Pramath Raj↗
NASA NTRS1992

Probabilistic finite elements for fatigue and fracture analysis

Attenuation is focused on the development of Probabilistic Finite Element Method (PFEM), which combines the finite element method with statistics and reliability methods, and its application to linear, nonlinear structural mechanics problems and fracture mechanics problems. The computational tool based on the Stochastic Boundary Element Method is also given for the reliability analysis of a curvilinear fatigue crack growth. The existing PFEM's have been applied to solve for two types of problems: (1) determination of the response uncertainty in terms of the means, variance and correlation coefficients; and (2) determination the probability of failure associated with prescribed limit states.

Belytschko, Ted↗
NASA NTRS1992

Two neural network algorithms for designing optimal terminal controllers with open final time

Multilayer neural networks, trained by the backpropagation through time algorithm (BPTT), have been used successfully as state-feedback controllers for nonlinear terminal control problems. Current BPTT techniques, however, are not able to deal systematically with open final-time situations such as minimum-time problems. Two approaches which extend BPTT to open final-time problems are presented. In the first, a neural network learns a mapping from initial-state to time-to-go. In the second, the optimal number of steps for each trial run is found using a line-search. Both methods are derived using Lagrange multiplier techniques. This theoretical framework is used to demonstrate that the derived algorithms are direct extensions of forward/backward sweep methods used in N-stage optimal control. The two algorithms are tested on a Zermelo problem and the resulting trajectories compare favorably to optimal control results.

Plumer, Edward S.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Model of a rotating magnetic cloud

The possibility that magnetic clouds rotate while they propagate antisunward was investigated. Magnetic clouds are modeled as magnetic flux ropes which rotate rigidly about the axis of symmetry. An ideal magnetohydrodynamic model, in which the evolution of the magnetic structure is related to the time evolution of the angular frequency, is developed. A class of 'separable' magnetic fields is employed to reduce the problem to a nonlinear ordinary differential equation for the evolution function, and it is solved numerically. The corresponding effective potential gives rise to two modes of evolution--expansion and oscillation--depending on the energy and on the value of a dimensionless parameter, k. Parameter k depends on the gas pressure, the ratio of the magnetic field components, and the frequency of rotation. There is a critical value of k, k(sub c), above which the oscillatory regime disappears and the flux rope invariably expands, regardless of the energy. Below k(sub c) the energy determines whether the configuration is confined or unbounded. Rotation always helps expansion by lowering the potential barrier. A data example was studied and features which are interpreted as signatures of rotation are presented. The angular speed is comparable to the Alfven speed, and the core of the rotating cloud completes on average one full revolution every three days at 1 AU. The parameter k is calculated from observations, and it is found to be close to, but below, critical. Only three out of the nine clouds examined showed signatures of rotation. Theoretical analysis suggests that close to the Sun rotation effects may play a more important role in the evolution of magnetic clouds than 1 AU.

Farrugia, C. J.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Applications of singular value analysis and partial-step algorithm for nonlinear orbit determination

An adaptive method in which cruise and nonlinear orbit determination problems can be solved using a single program is presented. It involves singular value decomposition augmented with an extended partial step algorithm. The extended partial step algorithm constrains the size of the correction to the spacecraft state and other solve-for parameters. The correction is controlled by an a priori covariance and a user-supplied bounds parameter. The extended partial step method is an extension of the update portion of the singular value decomposition algorithm. It thus preserves the numerical stability of the singular value decomposition method, while extending the region over which it converges. In linear cases, this method reduces to the singular value decomposition algorithm with the full rank solution. Two examples are presented to illustrate the method's utility.

Ryne, Mark S.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Nonlinear functional approximation with networks using adaptive neurons

A novel mathematical framework for the rapid learning of nonlinear mappings and topological transformations is presented. It is based on allowing the neuron's parameters to adapt as a function of learning. This fully recurrent adaptive neuron model (ANM) has been successfully applied to complex nonlinear function approximation problems such as the highly degenerate inverse kinematics problem in robotics.

Tawel, Raoul↗