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At least 937 records · Page 52

Aeroelastic analysis for helicopter rotors with blade appended pendulum vibration absorbers. Mathematical derivations and program user's manual

Mathematical development is presented for the expanded capabilities of the United Technologies Research Center (UTRC) G400 Rotor Aeroelastic Analysis. This expanded analysis, G400PA, simulates the dynamics of teetered rotors, blade pendulum vibration absorbers and the higher harmonic excitations resulting from prescribed vibratory hub motions and higher harmonic blade pitch control. Formulations are also presented for calculating the rotor impedance matrix appropriate to these higher harmonic blade excitations. This impedance matrix and the associated vibratory hub loads are intended as the rotor blade characteristics elements for use in the Simplified Coupled Rotor/Fuselage Vibration Analysis (SIMVIB). Sections are included presenting updates to the development of the original G400 theory, and material appropriate to the user of the G400PA computer program. This material includes: (1) a general descriptionof the tructuring of the G400PA FORTRAN coding, (2) a detaild description of the required input data and other useful information for successfully running the program, and (3) a detailed description of the output results.

Bielawa, R. L.↗

Accretionary dark rims in unequilibrated chondrites

Textural and qualitative EDX investigations of dark-rimmed particles in six low petrologic type chondrites indicate that the rims accreted on host particles over a wide range of temperatures prior to initial accumulation and lithification of the meteorites in which the rimmed particles are now contained. Many dark rims are enriched in moderately volatile trace elements such as Na, Cl, P, and K, relative to the host particles and matrix. The range of physical/chemical environments associated with hypervelocity impacts may have offered the setting for the formation of dark-rimmed particles early in solar system history.

King, T. V. V.↗

Connection between variations of the atmosphere temperature profile and variations of the meson component intensity

The influence of temperature effects on intensity variations of the cosmic ray meson component were studied. The connection between the temperature variation delta T and the intensity variation delta I was established by using the temperature coefficient density technique. To realize how many devices are needed on the Earth for predicting the temperature variation of the atmosphere profile with a reasonable accuracy, IO isobaric levels and IO were calculated. The set of initial elements of the cosmic ray mesons are varied and it is shown that the matrix of the coefficients B sub ij is rather sensitive to their choice. It is found that if for the calculations of the atmospheric temperature variations the model is used, the number of meson components, essentially exceeding 3, should be considered.

Blokh, Y. L.↗

Preconditioned conjugate residual methods for the solution of spectral equations

Conjugate residual methods for the solution of spectral equations are described. An inexact finite-difference operator is introduced as a preconditioner in the iterative procedures. Application of these techniques is limited to problems for which the symmetric part of the coefficient matrix is positive definite. Although the spectral equation is a very ill-conditioned and full matrix problem, the computational effort of the present iterative methods for solving such a system is comparable to that for the sparse matrix equations obtained from the application of either finite-difference or finite-element methods to the same problems. Numerical experiments are shown for a self-adjoint elliptic partial differential equation with Dirichlet boundary conditions, and comparison with other solution procedures for spectral equations is presented.

Wong, Y. S.↗

Reduced conservatism in stability robustness bounds by state transformation

This note addresses the issue of 'conservatism' in the time domain stability robustness bounds obtained by the Liapunov approach. A state transformation is employed to improve the upper bounds on the linear time-varying perturbation of an asymptotically stable linear time-invariant system for robust stability. This improvement is due to the variance of the conservatism of the Liapunov approach with respect to the basis of the vector space in which the Liapunov function is constructed. Improved bounds are obtained, using a transformation, on elemental and vector norms of perturbations (i.e., structured perturbations) as well as on a matrix norm of perturbations (i.e., unstructured perturbations). For the case of a diagonal transformation, an algorithm is proposed to find the 'optimal' transformation. Several examples are presented to illustrate the proposed analysis.

Yedavalli, R. K.↗

The RP-2 sailplane

The all-composite design and fabrication methodology employed by Rensselaer Polytechnic Intitute's 'CAPGLIDE' program in producing such sailplanes as the RP-2 is discussed. The RP-2's production methods, which furnish hands-on experience for the students enrolled in the program, encompass wet lay-up and vacuum bag procedures, as well as autoclave curing of prepreg parts employing graphite, kevlar, and glass fiber reinforcements. Epoxy resins are the primary matrix materials, and are used in conjunction with polymer foams for the sandwich panel elements of the sailplane structure.

Winckler, Steven↗

Global dynamic modeling of a transmission system

The work performed on global dynamic simulation and noise correlation of gear transmission systems at the University of Akron is outlined. The objective is to develop a comprehensive procedure to simulate the dynamics of the gear transmission system coupled with the effects of gear box vibrations. The developed numerical model is benchmarked with results from experimental tests at NASA Lewis Research Center. The modal synthesis approach is used to develop the global transient vibration analysis procedure used in the model. Modal dynamic characteristics of the rotor-gear-bearing system are calculated by the matrix transfer method while those of the gear box are evaluated by the finite element method (NASTRAN). A three-dimensional, axial-lateral coupled bearing model is used to couple the rotor vibrations with the gear box motion. The vibrations between the individual rotor systems are coupled through the nonlinear gear mesh interactions. The global equations of motion are solved in modal coordinates and the transient vibration of the system is evaluated by a variable time-stepping integration scheme. The relationship between housing vibration and resulting noise of the gear transmission system is generated by linear transfer functions using experimental data. A nonlinear relationship of the noise components to the fundamental mesh frequency is developed using the hypercoherence function. The numerically simulated vibrations and predicted noise of the gear transmission system are compared with the experimental results from the gear noise test rig at NASA Lewis Research Center. Results of the comparison indicate that the global dynamic model developed can accurately simulate the dynamics of a gear transmission system.

Choy, F. K.↗

Accelerated panel methods using the fast multipole method

Panel methods are commonly used in computational fluid dynamics for the solution of potential flow problems. The methods are a numerical technique based on the surface distribution of singularity elements. The solution is the process of finding the strength of the singularity elements distributed over the body's surface. This process involves the solution of the matrix problem Pq = p' for a set of unknowns q. The Fast Multipole Method is used to directly compute q without using matrix solvers. The algorithm works in O(N) time for N points, a great improvement over standard matrix solvers. In panel methods, the surface of a body is divided into a series of quadrilateral panels. The methods involve the computation of the influence of all other panels on each individual panel. The influence is based on the surface distribution, though this can be approximated by the area for distant panels. An alternative approximation, though with arbitrary accuracy, is to develop a multipole expansion about the center of the panel to describe the effect of a given panel on distant points in space. The expansion is based on the moments of the panel, thus allow the use of various surface distributions without changing the basic algorithm, just the computation of the various moments. The expansions are then manipulated in a tree walk to develop Taylor series expansions about a point in space which describe the effect of all distant panels on any point within a volume of convergence. The effect of near panels then needs to be computed directly, but the effect of all distant panels can be computed by simply evaluating the resulting expansion. The Fast Multipole Method has been applied to panel methods for the solution of source and doublet distributions. A major feature of the algorithm is that the algorithm does not change to derive the potential and velocity for sources and doublets. The same expansions can be used for both sources and doublets. Since the velocity is related to the potential, and the doublet potential is related to the z-component of the source velocity, all values can be derived from the same expansion by taking a series of partial derivatives. This requires more expansion terms to be kept since terms are lost in the process of taking partial derivatives. Thus to maintain accuracy for the doublet computation, more terms are required than if just evaluating for sources. The resulting Fast Multipole code should then parallelize better than classical panel methods due to the locality of data dependencies found in the Fast Multipole Method. Theoretically the parallelized code should execute in O(log N) time with O(N) processors, though this is not practical. Ongoing work includes implementing the parallel accelerated panel method, including methods to improve the load balancing of the problem by taking advantage of the known geometry of panels, and to encorporate sensitivity analysis into the algorithm.

Leathrum, James F., Jr.↗

Development of GENOA Progressive Failure Parallel Processing Software Systems

A capability consisting of software development and experimental techniques has been developed and is described. The capability is integrated into GENOA-PFA to model polymer matrix composite (PMC) structures. The capability considers the physics and mechanics of composite materials and structure by integration of a hierarchical multilevel macro-scale (lamina, laminate, and structure) and micro scale (fiber, matrix, and interface) simulation analyses. The modeling involves (1) ply layering methodology utilizing FEM elements with through-the-thickness representation, (2) simulation of effects of material defects and conditions (e.g., voids, fiber waviness, and residual stress) on global static and cyclic fatigue strengths, (3) including material nonlinearities (by updating properties periodically) and geometrical nonlinearities (by Lagrangian updating), (4) simulating crack initiation. and growth to failure under static, cyclic, creep, and impact loads. (5) progressive fracture analysis to determine durability and damage tolerance. (6) identifying the percent contribution of various possible composite failure modes involved in critical damage events. and (7) determining sensitivities of failure modes to design parameters (e.g., fiber volume fraction, ply thickness, fiber orientation. and adhesive-bond thickness). GENOA-PFA progressive failure analysis is now ready for use to investigate the effects on structural responses to PMC material degradation from damage induced by static, cyclic (fatigue). creep, and impact loading in 2D/3D PMC structures subjected to hygrothermal environments. Its use will significantly facilitate targeting design parameter changes that will be most effective in reducing the probability of a given failure mode occurring.

Abdi, Frank↗

Validated Feasibility Study of Integrally Stiffened Metallic Fuselage Panels for Reducing Manufacturing Costs: Cost Assessment of Manufacturing/Design Concepts

The objective of the Integral Airframe Structures (IAS) program was to demonstrate, for an integrally stiffened structural concept, performance and weight equal to "built-up" structure with lower manufacturing cost. This report presents results of the cost assessment for several design configuration/manufacturing method combinations. The attributes of various cost analysis models were evaluated and COSTRAN selected for this study. A process/design cost evaluation matrix was developed based on material, forming, machining, and assembly of structural sub-elements and assembled structure. A hybrid design, made from high-speed machined extruded frames that are mechanically fastened to high-speed machined plate skin/stringer panels, was identified as the most cost-effective manufacturing solution. Recurring labor and material costs of the hybrid design are up to 61 percent less than the current built-up technology baseline. This would correspond to a total cost reduction of $1.7 million per ship set for a 777-sized airplane. However, there are important outstanding issues with regard to the cost of capacity of high technology machinery, and the ability to cost-effectively provide surface finish acceptable to the commercial aircraft industry. The projected high raw material cost of large extrusions also played an important role in the trade-off between plate and extruded concepts.

Metschan, S.↗

Pixelized Device Control Actuators for Large Adaptive Optics

A fully integrated, compact, adaptive space optic mirror assembly has been developed, incorporating new advances in ultralight, high-performance composite mirrors. The composite mirrors use Q-switch matrix architecture-based pixelized control (PMN-PT) actuators, which achieve high-performance, large adaptive optic capability, while reducing the weight of present adaptive optic systems. The self-contained, fully assembled, 11x11x4-in. (approx.= 28x28x10-cm) unit integrates a very-high-performance 8-in. (approx.=20-cm) optic, and has 8-kHz true bandwidth. The assembled unit weighs less than 15 pounds (=6.8 kg), including all mechanical assemblies, power electronics, control electronics, drive electronics, face sheet, wiring, and cabling. It requires just three wires to be attached (power, ground, and signal) for full-function systems integration, and uses a steel-frame and epoxied electronics. The three main innovations are: 1. Ultralightweight composite optics: A new replication method for fabrication of very thin composite 20-cm-diameter laminate face sheets with good as-fabricated optical figure was developed. The approach is a new mandrel resin surface deposition onto previously fabricated thin composite laminates. 2. Matrix (regenerative) power topology: Waveform correction can be achieved across an entire face sheet at 6 kHz, even for large actuator counts. In practice, it was found to be better to develop a quadrant drive, that is, four quadrants of 169 actuators behind the face sheet. Each quadrant has a single, small, regenerative power supply driving all 169 actuators at 8 kHz in effective parallel. 3. Q-switch drive architecture: The Q-switch innovation is at the heart of the matrix architecture, and allows for a very fast current draw into a desired actuator element in 120 counts of a MHz clock without any actuator coupling.

Knowles, Gareth J.↗

Effect of fiber-matrix debonding on notched strength of titanium metal matrix composites

Two specimen configuration of a (0/90)2s SCS-6/Ti-15-3 laminate were tested and analyzed: a center hole (CH) specimen and a double edge notch (DEN) specimen. The two specimen configurations failed at similar stress levels. Two analytical techniques, a 3-D finite-element analysis and a macro-micromechanical analysis were used to predict the overall stress-deformation behavior and the notch-tip fiber-matrix interface stresses in both configurations.

Bigelow, C. A.↗

Elastic-plastic stress concentrations around crack-like notches in continuous fiber reinforced metal matrix composites

Continuous fiber silicon-carbide/aluminum composite laminates with slits were tested statically to failure. Five different layups were examined: (0) sub 8, (0 sub 2/ + or - 45) sub s, (0/90) sub 2s), (0/ + or - 45/90 sub s), and (+ or - 45) sub 2s. Either a 9.5 or a 19 mm slit was machined in the center of each specimen. The strain distribution ahead of the slit tip was found experimentally with a series of strain gages bonded ahead of the slit tip. A three-dimensional finite element program (PAFAC) was used to predict the strain distribution ahead of the slit tip for several layups. For all layups, except the (0) sub 8, the yielding of the metal matrix caused the fiber stress concentration factor to increase with increasing load. This is contrary to the behavior seen in homogeneous materials where yielding causes the stress concentration to drop. For the (0) sub 8 laminate, yielding of the matrix caused a decrease in the fiber stress concentration. The finite element analysis predicted these trends correctly.

Johnson, W. S.↗

Elastic-plastic stress concentrations around crack-like notches in continuous fiber reinforced metal matrix composites

Continuous fiber silicon-carbide/aluminum composite laminates with slits were tested statically to failure. Five different layups were examined: (0) sub 8, (0 sub 2/ + or - 45) sub s, (0/90) sub 2s), (0/ + or - 45/90 sub s), and (+ or - 45) sub 2s. Either a 9.5 or a 19 mm slit was machined in the center of each specimen. The strain distribution ahead of the slit tip was found experimentally with a series of strain gages bonded ahead of the slit tip. A three-dimensional finite element program (PAFAC) was used to predict the strain distribution ahead of the slit tip for several layups. For all layups, except the (0) sub 8, the yielding of the metal matrix caused the fiber stress concentration factor to increase with increasing load. This is contrary to the behavior seen in homogeneous materials where yielding causes the stress concentration to drop. For the (0) sub 8 laminate, yielding of the matrix caused a decrease in the fiber stress concentration. The finite element analysis predicted these trends correctly.

Johnson, W. S.↗

Crack Development in Cross-Ply Laminates Under Uniaxial Tension

This study addresses matrix-dominated failures in carbon fiber/polymer matrix composite laminates in a cross-ply lay-up. The events of interest are interlaminar fracture in the form of transverse cracks in the 90' plies and longitudinal splitting in the 0 deg plies and interlaminar fracture in the form of 0/90 delamination. These events were observed using various nondestructive evaluation (NDE) techniques during static tensile tests. Acoustic emission (AE) x radiography, and edge view microscopy were the principal ones utilized in a real-time environment. A comparison of the NDE results with an analytical model based on the classical linear fracture mechanics concept of strain energy release rate as a criterion for crack growth was performed. The virtual crack closure theory was incorporated with a finite element model to generate strain energy release rate curves for the analytical case. Celion carbon fiber/polyimide matrix (G30-500/PMR-15) was the material tested with cross-ply lay-ups of (0(2)/90(6))s and (0(4)/90(4))s. The test specimens contained thermally induced cracks caused by the high-temperature processing. The analytical model was updated to compensate for the initial damage and to study further accumulation by taking into account the crack interactions. By correlating the experimental and analytical data, the critical energy release rates were found for the observable events of interest.

Gyekenyesi, Andrew L.↗

Convection equation modeling: A non-iterative direct matrix solution algorithm for use with SINDA

The determination of the boundary conditions for a component-level analysis, applying discrete finite element and finite difference modeling techniques often requires an analysis of complex coupled phenomenon that cannot be described algebraically. For example, an analysis of the temperature field of a coldplate surface with an integral fluid loop requires a solution to the parabolic heat equation and also requires the boundary conditions that describe the local fluid temperature. However, the local fluid temperature is described by a convection equation that can only be solved with the knowledge of the locally-coupled coldplate temperatures. Generally speaking, it is not computationally efficient, and sometimes, not even possible to perform a direct, coupled phenomenon analysis of the component-level and boundary condition models within a single analysis code. An alternative is to perform a disjoint analysis, but transmit the necessary information between models during the simulation to provide an indirect coupling. For this approach to be effective, the component-level model retains full detail while the boundary condition model is simplified to provide a fast, first-order prediction of the phenomenon in question. Specifically for the present study, the coldplate structure is analyzed with a discrete, numerical model (SINDA) while the fluid loop convection equation is analyzed with a discrete, analytical model (direct matrix solution). This indirect coupling allows a satisfactory prediction of the boundary condition, while not subjugating the overall computational efficiency of the component-level analysis. In the present study a discussion of the complete analysis of the derivation and direct matrix solution algorithm of the convection equation is presented. Discretization is analyzed and discussed to extend of solution accuracy, stability and computation speed. Case studies considering a pulsed and harmonic inlet disturbance to the fluid loop are analyzed to assist in the discussion of numerical dissipation and accuracy. In addition, the issues of code melding or integration with standard class solvers such as SINDA are discussed to advise the user of the potential problems to be encountered.

Schrage, Dean S.↗

Residual Stresses Induced due to Curing of the Bulk Matrix in a Simplified Three-Dimensional (3D) Woven Repeating Unit Cell

It has been observed that 3D woven materials are highly susceptible to processes induced defects including tow misalignment, intratow and intertow cracking and/or voids. Adequate process modeling of 3D woven Polymer Matrix Composites (PMCs) is necessary to predict and estimate the effects of the manufacturing process on these defects. A preliminary step towards this is achieved with the commercial Finite Element Analysis (FEA) tool Abaqus complemented with written user subroutines to account for the effect of shrinkage and thermoelastic properties evolution as a function of the degree of cure of the bulk matrix phase in a 3D woven composite repeating unit cell (RUC). As a pathfinder, the process modeling framework is demonstrated on a simplified 3D woven RUC of an AS4/RIMR 135 system. Curing simulations are performed on the 3D woven RUC to observe the processing induced residual stresses. The results of the analysis show that high stress concentrations, present within the 3D intertow matrix bordering the binder tow, coincide with X-Ray computed tomography (X-Ray-CT) scan data depicting cracking in the same location

3D Woven↗

Development and Characterization of a Rate-Dependent Three-Dimensional Macroscopic Plasticity Model Suitable for Use in Composite Impact Problems

Several key capabilities have been identified by the aerospace community as lacking in the material/models for composite materials currently available within commercial transient dynamic finite element codes such as LS-DYNA. Some of the specific desired features that have been identified include the incorporation of both plasticity and damage within the material model, the capability of using the material model to analyze the response of both three-dimensional solid elements and two dimensional shell elements, and the ability to simulate the response of composites composed with a variety of composite architectures, including laminates, weaves and braids. In addition, a need has been expressed to have a material model that utilizes tabulated experimentally based input to define the evolution of plasticity and damage as opposed to utilizing discrete input parameters (such as modulus and strength) and analytical functions based on curve fitting. To begin to address these needs, an orthotropic macroscopic plasticity based model suitable for implementation within LS-DYNA has been developed. Specifically, the Tsai-Wu composite failure model has been generalized and extended to a strain-hardening based orthotropic plasticity model with a non-associative flow rule. The coefficients in the yield function are determined based on tabulated stress-strain curves in the various normal and shear directions, along with selected off-axis curves. Incorporating rate dependence into the yield function is achieved by using a series of tabluated input curves, each at a different constant strain rate. The non-associative flow-rule is used to compute the evolution of the effective plastic strain. Systematic procedures have been developed to determine the values of the various coefficients in the yield function and the flow rule based on the tabulated input data. An algorithm based on the radial return method has been developed to facilitate the numerical implementation of the material model. The presented paper will present in detail the development of the orthotropic plasticity model and the procedures used to obtain the required material parameters. Methods in which a combination of actual testing and selective numerical testing can be combined to yield the appropriate input data for the model will be described. A specific laminated polymer matrix composite will be examined to demonstrate the application of the model.

Impact↗