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At least 1,027 records · Page 57

Local-global analysis of crack growth in continuously reinforced ceramic matrix composites

The development is described of a mathematical model for predicting the strength and micromechanical failure characteristics of continuously reinforced ceramic matrix composites. The local-globe analysis models the vicinity of a propagating crack tip as a local heterogeneous region (LHR) consisting of spring like representation of the matrix, fibers and interfaces. This region is embedded in an anisotropic continuum (representing the bulk composite) which is modeled by conventional finite elements. Parametric studies are conducted to investigate the effects of LHR size, component properties, interface conditions, etc. on the strength and sequence of the failure processes in the unidirectional composite system. The results are compared with those predicted by the models developed by Marshall et al. (1985) and by Budiansky et al. (1986).

Ballarini, Roberto↗

The CSM testbed matrix processors internal logic and dataflow descriptions

This report constitutes the final report for subtask 1 of Task 5 of NASA Contract NAS1-18444, Computational Structural Mechanics (CSM) Research. This report contains a detailed description of the coded workings of selected CSM Testbed matrix processors (i.e., TOPO, K, INV, SSOL) and of the arithmetic utility processor AUS. These processors and the current sparse matrix data structures are studied and documented. Items examined include: details of the data structures, interdependence of data structures, data-blocking logic in the data structures, processor data flow and architecture, and processor algorithmic logic flow.

Regelbrugge, Marc E.↗

The viscoplastic behavior of SCS6/Ti-15-3 metal matrix composite materials at elevated temperatures

Titanium-based metal matrix composite materials (MMC'S) are being considered for use in the National Aerospace Plane. It is expected that these materials will be subjected to temperatures ranging up to about 820 C (1500 F). The present study was a preliminary investigation intended to quantify the level of viscoplastic behavior exhibited by SCS6/Ti-15-3 MMC's at elevated temperatures. The study consisted of a series of uniaxial creep/creep recovery tests. These tests were conducted in air at a temperature of 535 C (1000 F). Three distinct types of specimens were tested: Ti-15-3 heat matrix specimens (O2/plus or minus 45) sub s composite specimens, and (90 sub 2/plus or minus 45) sub s composite specimens. Tensile loads were applied to the specimens using a lever-arm creep frame equipped with a high temperature furnace. Specimen creep stains were monitored using an LVDT-based extensometer.

Tuttle, Mark E.↗

Parallel Gaussian elimination of a block tridiagonal matrix using multiple microcomputers

The solution of a block tridiagonal matrix using parallel processing is demonstrated. The multiprocessor system on which results were obtained and the software environment used to program that system are described. Theoretical partitioning and resource allocation for the Gaussian elimination method used to solve the matrix are discussed. The results obtained from running 1, 2 and 3 processor versions of the block tridiagonal solver are presented. The PASCAL source code for these solvers is given in the appendix, and may be transportable to other shared memory parallel processors provided that the synchronization outlines are reproduced on the target system.

Blech, Richard A.↗

Sparse matrix methods research using the CSM testbed software system

Research is described on sparse matrix techniques for the Computational Structural Mechanics (CSM) Testbed. The primary objective was to compare the performance of state-of-the-art techniques for solving sparse systems with those that are currently available in the CSM Testbed. Thus, one of the first tasks was to become familiar with the structure of the testbed, and to install some or all of the SPARSPAK package in the testbed. A suite of subroutines to extract from the data base the relevant structural and numerical information about the matrix equations was written, and all the demonstration problems distributed with the testbed were successfully solved. These codes were documented, and performance studies comparing the SPARSPAK technology to the methods currently in the testbed were completed. In addition, some preliminary studies were done comparing some recently developed out-of-core techniques with the performance of the testbed processor INV.

Chu, Eleanor↗

Energy in elastic fiber embedded in elastic matrix containing incident SH wave

A single elastic fiber embedded in an infinite elastic matrix is considered. An incident plane SH wave is assumed in the infinite matrix, and an expression is derived for the total energy in the fiber due to the incident SH wave. A nondimensional form of the fiber energy is plotted as a function of the nondimensional wavenumber of the SH wave. It is shown that the fiber energy attains maximum values at specific values of the wavenumber of the incident wave. The results obtained here are interpreted in the context of phenomena observed in acousto-ultrasonic experiments on fiber reinforced composite materials.

Williams, James H., Jr.↗

A Chebyshev matrix method for spatial modes of the Orr-Sommerfeld equation

The Chebyshev matrix collocation method is applied to obtain the spatial modes of the Orr-Sommerfeld equation for Poiseuille flow and the Blausius boundary layer. The problem is linearized by the companion matrix technique for semi-infinite domain using a mapping transformation. The method can be easily adapted to problems with different boundary conditions requiring different transformations.

Danabasoglu, G.↗

Parallel matrix multiplication on the Connection Machine

Matrix multiplication is a computation and communication intensive problem. Six parallel algorithms for matrix multiplication on the Connection Machine are presented and compared with respect to their performance and processor usage. For n by n matrices, the algorithms have theoretical running times of O(n to the 2nd power log n), O(n log n), O(n), and O(log n), and require n, n to the 2nd power, n to the 2nd power, and n to the 3rd power processors, respectively. With careful attention to communication patterns, the theoretically predicted runtimes can indeed be achieved in practice. The parallel algorithms illustrate the tradeoffs between performance, communication cost, and processor usage.

Tichy, Walter F.↗

Computational simulation of high temperature metal matrix composites cyclic behavior

A procedure was developed and is described which can be used to computationally simulate the cyclic behavior of high temperature metal matrix composites (HTMMC) and its degradation effects on the structural response. This procedure consists of HTMMC mechanics coupled with a multifactor interaction constituent material relationship and with an incremental iterative nonlinear analysis. The procedure is implemented in a computer code that can be used to computationally simulate the thermomechanical behavior of HTMMC starting from the fabrication process and proceeding through thermomechanical cycling, accounting for the interface/interphase region. Results show that combined thermal/mechanical cycling, the interphase, and in situ matrix properties have significant effects on the structural integrity of HTMMC.

Chamis, C. C.↗

An integrating matrix formulation for buckling of rotating beams including the effects of concentrated masses

The integrating matrix technique of computational mechanics is extended to include the effects of concentrated masses. The stability of a flexible rotating beam with discrete masses is analyzed to determine the critical rotational speeds for buckling in the inplane and out-of-plane directions. In this problem, the beam is subjected to compressive centrifugal forces arising from steady rotation about an axis which does not pass through the clamped end of the beam. To determine the eigenvalues from which stability is assessed, the differential equations of motion are solved numerically by combining the extended integrating matrix method with an eigenanalysis. Stability boundaries for a discrete mass representation of a uniform beam are shown to asymptotically approach the stability boundaries for the corresponding continuous mass beam as the number of concentrated masses is increased. An error in the literature is also noted for the discrete mass problem concerning the behavior of the critical rotational speed for inplane buckling as the radius of rotation of the clamped end of the beam is reduced.

Lakin, William D.↗

Intermetallic and ceramic matrix composites for 815 to 1370 C (1500 to 2500 F) gas turbine engine applications

Light weight and potential high temperature capability of intermetallic compounds, such as the aluminides, and structural ceramics, such as the carbides and nitrides, make these materials attractive for gas turbine engine applications. In terms of specific fuel consumption and specific thrust, revolutionary improvements over current technology are being sought by realizing the potential of these materials through their use as matrices combined with high strength, high temperature fibers. The U.S. along with other countries throughout the world have major research and development programs underway to characterize these composites materials; improve their reliability; identify and develop new processing techniques, new matrix compositions, and new fiber compositions; and to predict their life and failure mechanisms under engine operating conditions. The status is summarized of NASA's Advanced High Temperature Engine Materials Technology Program (HITEMP) and the potential benefits are described to be gained in 21st century transport aircraft by utilizing intermetallic and ceramic matrix composite materials.

Stephens, Joseph R.↗

Thermal-mechanical fatigue test apparatus for metal matrix composites and joint attachments

Two thermal-mechanical fatigue (TMF) test facilities were designed and developed, one to test tungsten fiber reinforced metal matrix composite specimens at temperature up to 1430C (2600F) and another to test composite/metal attachment bond joints at temperatures up to 760F (1400F). The TMF facility designed for testing tungsten fiber reinforced metal matrix composites permits test specimen temperature excursions from room temperature to 1430C (2600F) with controlled heating and loading rates. A strain-measuring device measures the strain in the test section of the specimen during each heating and cooling cycle with superimposed loads. Data is collected and recorded by a computer. The second facility is designed to test composite/metal attachment bond joints and to permit heating to a maximum temperature of 760C (1400F) within 10 min and cooling to 150C (300F) within 3 min. A computer controls specimen temperature and load cycling.

Westfall, Leonard J.↗

A viscoplastic constitutive theory for metal matrix composites at high temperature

A viscoplastic theory is presented for representing the high-temperature deformation behavior of metal matrix composites. The point of view taken is a continuum one where the composite is considered a material in its own right, with its own properties that can be determined for the composite as a whole. It is presumed that a single preferential (fiber) direction is identifiable at each material point (continuum element) admitting the idealization of local transverse isotropy. A key ingredient in this work is the specification of an experimental program for the complete determination of the material functions and parameters for characterizing a particular metal matrix composite. The parameters relating to the strength of anisotropy can be determined through tension/torsion tests on longitudinally and circumferentially reinforced thin-walled tubes. Fundamental aspects of the theory are explored through a geometric interpretation of some basic features analogous to those of the classical theory of plasticity.

Robinson, D. N.↗

Primitive material surviving in chondrites - Matrix

A logical place to search for surviving pristine nebular material is in the fine-grained matrices of ordinary and carbonaceous chondrites of petrographic type 3. Unfortunately, many of these chondrites have experienced brecciation, thermal metamorphism, and aqueous alteration, so that interpreting individual features in terms of specific nebular conditions and/or processes is difficult. It follows that the origin and evolutionary history of such matrix phases are controversial, and a consensus is difficult to define. In this chapter, therefore, after summarizing the salient mineralogical, petrographic, chemical, and isotopic features of matrix in apparently primitive chondrites, an attempt is made to provide an overview both of areas of agreement and of topics that are currently in dispute.

Scott, E. R. D.↗

A thermally modified polymer matrix composite material with structural integrity to 371 C

The potential for utilizing surface coatings to inhibit the thermal oxidation of polymer matrix composites was studied. Isothermal, inert gas exposures of graphite/PMR-15 composites indicated that after an initial loss of weight, no significant amounts of thermal degradation products are given off during high temperature exposures in the absence of oxygen. As long as a coating remains effective, the composite material should remain stable. It was also found that the glass transition temperature T sub g of the matrix resin could be increased to values in excess of 400 C. This resulted in measured short beam shear strengths of 75.9 MPa (11 Ksi), flexural strengths of 1172 MPa (170 Ksi) and flexural moduli of 141 GPa (20.5 Msi) for the material at a test temperature of 371 C. The treatment that was used caused a decrease in the PMR-15 resin density from 1.31 to 1.29 gm/cc. It was concluded that state-of-the-art composites, protected by oxygen-impervious coatings, can be used as materials of construction with structural integrity to at least 371 C and possibly above.

Bowles, Kenneth J.↗

Toughening of a thermoplastic matrix composite - Processing issues

The use of a rubber modified thermoplastic resin has been investigated as a method to improve the impact damage and the Mode I interlaminar fracture toughness of a unidirectional continuous carbon fiber composite. Test results show that the improvement in the fracture toughness is less than expected due to rubber particle agglomeration, poor fiber/matrix adhesion and the induced crystallization of the matrix. These restrictions must be eliminated in order to evaluate the maximum potential of a rubber toughened thermoplastic matrix on a composite's fracture toughness.

Parker, D. S.↗

Mesh-matrix analysis method for electromagnetic launchers

The mesh-matrix method is a procedure for calculating the current distribution in the conductors of electromagnetic launchers with coil or flat-plate geometry. Once the current distribution is known the launcher performance can be calculated. The method divides the conductors into parallel current paths, or meshes, and finds the current in each mesh by matrix inversion. The author presents procedures for writing equations for the current and voltage relations for a few meshes to serve as a pattern for writing the computer code. An available subroutine package provides routines for field and flux coefficients and equation solution.

Elliott, David G.↗

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.↗