Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “eigenvalues”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 793 records · Page 44

Dynamic modeling of vegetation change in arid lands

A general framework for a digital desertification monitoring system (DDMS) for assessing the worldwide desertification growth rate is presented. The system relies on the development of Landsat derived indicators to identify local processes signalling the growth of arid regions. A study area consisting of the eastern edge of the Niger River delta in Mali was used to characterize three indicators in terms of the covariance of the multispectral scanner (MSS) bands 2 and 4, the correlation of the two bands, and the percent variance expressed by the first eigenvalue. The scenes are imaged multitemporallly in a 400 x 400 pixel array to detect vegetation cover changes. Criteria were defined which characterized the decrease or increase of vegetation. It was determined that the correlation coefficients are the best indicators, and are easily computed.

Robinson, V. B.↗

Uniform asymptotic approximations for duct eigenfunctions in a thin boundary layer flow

Analytical approximations for the acoustic modes in a duct carrying a uniform core flow with a thin shear layer at the walls are developed using the Method of Matched Asymptotic Expansions. Both two-dimensional and cylindrical duct propagation are considered. Numerical results for eigenvalues calculated using the theory are presented for the two dimensional problem and compared with results from earlier analyses. It is found that the new approximations yield a significant increase in accuracy.

Myers, M. K.↗

Direct structural parameter identification by modal test results

A direct identification procedure is proposed to obtain the mass and stiffness matrices based on the test measured eigenvalues and eigenvectors. The method is based on the theory of matrix perturbation in which the correct mass and stiffness matrices are expanded in terms of analytical values plus a modification matrix. The simplicity of the procedure enables real time operation during the structural testing.

Chen, J.-C.↗

Nonlinear structural dynamics analysis using a modified modal method

The procedure for predicting the nonlinear dynamic response of structural components subjected to a step loading is presented. The procedure is a modified modal method that involves a change of dependent variables from the unknown nodal degrees of freedom of the finite element model of the structure to a smaller set of generalized coordinates. This change of dependent variables uses a combination of the nonlinear static solution and some selected vibration mode shapes. The vibration mode shapes correspond to the eigenvectors obtained by solving a standard free vibration eigenvalue problem wherein the stiffness matrix is expanded about the nonlinear static solution. A strategy is also presented for determining which and how many vibration mode shapes to include in the transformation. The effect of inaccurate representation of the spatial distribution of the applied load on the nonlinear dynamic response is discussed for two classes of structural behavior. Application of the procedure to structures which exhibit a stiffening behavior and to those with a softening behavior is presented.

Knight, N. F., Jr.↗

Excitation of an electrostatic wave by a cold electron current sheet of finite thickness

Calculations for the threshold of current-driven instabilities and the growth rates of ion acoustic and electrostatic ion cyclotron instabilities in a magnetized plasma driven a current sheet with a finite width are presented. Maxwellian equations are employed to model the velocity distributions of electrons and ions in a direction perpendicular to the sheet. A dispersion relation is defined for the regions of instability, and boundary conditions are characterized in order to obtain a set of eigenvalue equations. Thresholds are delineated for various regions, including ducted mode solutions where only ion-acoustic waves are excited in areas where the frequency range significantly exceeds the ion cyclotron frequency. When a constant electron drift velocity is present, a thick current sheet is more unstable than a thin one. Fewer modes become unstable with a thinner sheet.

Hwang, K. S.↗

Asymptotic unbounded root loci - Formulas and computation

A new geometric way of computing the asymptotic behavior of unbounded root loci of a strictly proper linear time-invariant control system as loop gain goes to infinity is presented. Properties of certain restricted linear maps and nested restrictions of linear maps are developed, and formulas are obtained for the leading coefficient of the asymptotic values of the unbounded multivariable root loci are obtained in terms of eigenvalues of those maps. Published results and a certain simple null structure assumption are used to relate these asymptotic values to the structure at infinity of the Smith-McMillan form of the open loop transfer function. Explicit matrix formulas for the more abstract derived formulas are given and additional geometric insights are developed with orthogonal projections and singular value decomposition. Formulas for the pivots of the unbounded root loci are calculated and shown to have the same form as the coefficients of the unbounded asymptotic root loci.

Sastry, S. S.↗

Implicit upwind methods for the compressible Navier-Stokes equations

A class of implicit upwind-differencing methods for the compressible Navier-Stokes equations is described and applied. The methods are based on the use of local eigenvalues or wave speeds to control spatial differencing of inviscid terms and are aimed at increasing the level of accuracy and stability achievable in computation. Techniques for accelerating the rate of convergence to a steady-state solution are also used. Applications to inviscid and viscous transonic flows are discussed and compared with other methods and experimental measurements. It is shown that accurate and efficient transonic airfoil calculations can be made on the Cray-1 coomputer in less than 2 min.

Coakley, T. J.↗

A modal analysis of flexible aircraft dynamics with handling qualities implications

A multivariable modal analysis technique is presented for evaluating flexible aircraft dynamics, focusing on meaningful vehicle responses to pilot inputs and atmospheric turbulence. Although modal analysis is the tool, vehicle time response is emphasized, and the analysis is performed on the linear, time-domain vehicle model. In evaluating previously obtained experimental pitch tracking data for a family of vehicle dynamic models, it is shown that flexible aeroelastic effects can significantly affect pitch attitude handling qualities. Consideration of the eigenvalues alone, of both rigid-body and aeroelastic modes, does not explain the simulation results. Modal analysis revealed, however, that although the lowest aeroelastic mode frequency was still three times greater than the short-period frequency, the rigid-body attitude response was dominated by this aeroelastic mode. This dominance was defined in terms of the relative magnitudes of the modal residues in selected vehicle responses.

Schmidt, D. K.↗

Finite element approximations in transient analysis

Alternative techniques for finite element models for transient analyses are explored, using as an example a pinned-pinned beam. Attention is given to the relationships between desired accuracy and the available computer resources. Stiffness, mass, damping, and loading components approximations are examined with note taken of optimization methods. Generation of regular grid results indicates a linear relationship between the number of elements or degrees of freedom and the number of eigenvalues for a given accuracy. Comparisons of the finite element models in terms of accuracy/element or accuracy/degree of freedom were found to be inaccurate for determining model efficiency. Higher accuracies were available from lumped mass and damping models than assumptions of consistent loading, which was preferred to statically equivalent loading.

Melosh, R. J.↗

Reanalysis and design in structural dynamics

A unified efficient formulation for the static and dynamic reanalysis of locally modified structures is presented. The reanalysis problem is to find the structural responses when some of the element properties are adjusted as a result of design modifications or when additional structures are appended to the original system. The reanalysis problem is formulated as a problem of much lower order than the original system. This is achieved by utilizing the linearity property of the structure using the pseudoload concept together with the solution of the original system. The modifications to the structure are treated as displacement-dependent pseudoloads of the system. By expressing the modified system response as linear combinations of the response of the original system and a term depending on the pseudoload, a reduced set of response equations can be obtained. In the static and sinusoidal steady state analysis, this leads to a set of linear algebraic equations. For a free vibration analysis, this results in a reduced eigenvalue problem. Using these reduced equations, a design problem can be solved; that is, the magnitude of a specified local modification for given dynamic response characteristics can be calculated. Several examples are presented to illustrate the general formulations.

Wang, B. P.↗

Vibration control of large linear quadratic symmetric systems

Some unique properties on a class of the second order lambda matrices were found and applied to determine a damping matrix of the decoupled subsystem in such a way that the damped system would have preassigned eigenvalues without disturbing the stiffness matrix. The resulting system was realized as a time invariant velocity only feedback control system with desired poles. Another approach using optimal control theory was also applied to the decoupled system in such a way that the mode spillover problem could be eliminated. The procedures were tested successfully by numerical examples.

Jeon, G. J.↗

Enhancement of the CAVE computer code

The computer code CAVE (Conduction Analysis via Eigenvalues) is a convenient and efficient computer code for predicting two dimensional temperature histories within thermal protection systems for hypersonic vehicles. The capabilities of CAVE were enhanced by incorporation of the following features into the code: real gas effects in the aerodynamic heating predictions, geometry and aerodynamic heating package for analyses of cone shaped bodies, input option to change from laminar to turbulent heating predictions on leading edges, modification to account for reduction in adiabatic wall temperature with increase in leading sweep, geometry package for two dimensional scramjet engine sidewall, with an option for heat transfer to external and internal surfaces, print out modification to provide tables of select temperatures for plotting and storage, and modifications to the radiation calculation procedure to eliminate temperature oscillations induced by high heating rates. These new features are described.

Rathjen, K. A.↗

A NASTRAN DMAP procedure for calculation of base excitation modal participation factors

This paper presents a technique for calculating the modal participation factors for base excitation problems using a DMAP alter to the NASTRAN real eigenvalue analysis Rigid Format. The DMAP program automates the generation of the seismic mass to add to the degrees of freedom representing the shaker input directions and calculates the modal participation factors. These are shown in the paper to be a good measure of the maximum acceleration expected at any point on the structure when the subsequent frequency response analysis is run.

Case, W. R.↗

Linear and Nonlinear Aspects of Rotordynamics

Excessive vibrations of the liquid oxygen pump in the Space Shuttle's Main Engine have been recorded during hot firing ground testing. In order to determine mathematical explanations of this possibility, destructive phenomenon differential equations have been examined which describe the rotordynamics of the pump. Modeling the rotor as a random eigenvalue problem was considered. Analytical expressions were derived for the solution in the case of symmetric damping and stiffness. This enables one to determine accuracy estimates when testing numerical techniques to solve both asymmetric and nonlinear problems. Finally, the rotor model has had nonlinear elements incorporated to improve its simulation of the pump and to expand the corresponding mathematical theory.

Day, W. B.↗

Population Control of Self-Replicating Systems: Option C

From the conception and development of the theory of self-replicating automata by John von Neumann, others have expanded on his theories. In 1980, Georg von Tiesenhausen and Wesley A. Darbro developed a report which is a "first' in presenting the theories in a conceptualized engineering setting. In that report several options involving self-replicating systems are presented. One of the options allows each primary to generate n replicas, one in each sequential time frame after its own generation. Each replica is limited to a maximum of m ancestors. This study involves determining the state vector of the replicas in an efficient manner. The problem is cast in matrix notation, where F = fij is a non-diagonalizable matrix. Any element fij represents the number of elements of type j = (c,d) in time frame k+1 generated from type i = (a,b) in time frame k. It is then shown that the state vector is: bar F(k)=bar F (non-zero) X F sub K = bar F (non-zero) xmx J sub kx m sub-1 where J is a matrix in Jordan form having the same eigenvalues as F. M is a matrix composed of the eigenvectors and the generalized eigenvectors of F.

Mccord, R. L.↗

Optimal mistuning for enhanced aeroelastic stability of transonic fans

An inverse design procedure was developed for the design of a mistuned rotor. The design requirements are that the stability margin of the eigenvalues of the aeroelastic system be greater than or equal to some minimum stability margin, and that the mass added to each blade be positive. The objective was to achieve these requirements with a minimal amount of mistuning. Hence, the problem was posed as a constrained optimization problem. The constrained minimization problem was solved by the technique of mathematical programming via augmented Lagrangians. The unconstrained minimization phase of this technique was solved by the variable metric method. The bladed disk was modelled as being composed of a rigid disk mounted on a rigid shaft. Each of the blades were modelled with a single tosional degree of freedom.

Hall, K. C.↗

AESOP: An interactive computer program for the design of linear quadratic regulators and Kalman filters

AESOP is a computer program for use in designing feedback controls and state estimators for linear multivariable systems. AESOP is meant to be used in an interactive manner. Each design task that the program performs is assigned a "function" number. The user accesses these functions either (1) by inputting a list of desired function numbers or (2) by inputting a single function number. In the latter case the choice of the function will in general depend on the results obtained by the previously executed function. The most important of the AESOP functions are those that design,linear quadratic regulators and Kalman filters. The user interacts with the program when using these design functions by inputting design weighting parameters and by viewing graphic displays of designed system responses. Supporting functions are provided that obtain system transient and frequency responses, transfer functions, and covariance matrices. The program can also compute open-loop system information such as stability (eigenvalues), eigenvectors, controllability, and observability. The program is written in ANSI-66 FORTRAN for use on an IBM 3033 using TSS 370. Descriptions of all subroutines and results of two test cases are included in the appendixes.

Lehtinen, B.↗

Eigenspace design techniques for active flutter suppression

The application of eigenspace design techniques to an active flutter suppression system for the DAST ARW-2 research drone is examined. Eigenspace design techniques allow the control system designer to determine feedback gains which place controllable eigenvalues in specified configurations and which shape eigenvectors to achieve desired dynamic response. Eigenspace techniques were applied to the control of lateral and longitudinal dynamic response of aircraft. However, little was published on the application of eigenspace techniques to aeroelastic control problems. This discussion will focus primarily on methodology for design of full-state and limited-state (output) feedback controllers. Most of the states in aeroelastic control problems are not directly measurable, and some type of dynamic compensator is necessary to convert sensor outputs to control inputs. Compensator design are accomplished by use of a Kalman filter modified if necessary by the Doyle-Stein procedure for full-state loop transfer function recovery, by some other type of observer, or by transfer function matching.

Garrard, W. L.↗