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At least 109 records · Page 6

In-plane, flexural, twisting and thickness-shear coefficients for stiffness and damping of a monolayer filamentary composite, part 1

Elastic and damping analyses resulting in determinations of the various stiffnesses and associated loss tangents for the complete characterization of the elastic and damping behavior of a monofilament composite layer are presented. For the determination of the various stiffnesses, either an elementary mechanics-of-materials formulation or a more rigorous mixed-boundary-value elasticity formulation is used. The solution for the latter formulation is obtained by means of the boundary-point least-square error technique. Kimball-Lovell type damping is assumed for each of the constituent materials. For determining the loss tangents associated with the various stiffnesses, either the viscoelastic correspondence principle or an energy analysis based on the appropriate elastic stress distribution is used.

Bert, C. W.↗

Vibration and damping of laminated, composite-material plates including thickness-shear effects

An analytical investigation of sinusoidally forced vibration of laminated, anisotropic plates including bending-stretching coupling, thickness-shear flexibility, all three types of inertia effects, and material damping is presented. In the analysis the effects of thickness-shear deformation are considered by the use of a shear correction factor K, analogous to that used by Mindlin for homogeneous plates. Two entirely different approaches for calculating the thickness-shear factor for a laminate are presented. Numerical examples indicate that the value of K depends on the layer properties and the stacking sequence of the laminate.

Bert, C. W.↗

Sinusoidal response of composite-material plates with material damping.

A general forced-vibration analysis is presented for laminated anisotropic rectangular plates including material damping. The theory used is the laminated version of the Mindlin plate theory and includes thickness-shear flexibility and rotatory and coupling inertia. A solution is obtained by the Rayleigh-Ritz method, extended to include the energy dissipated and the work done by the excitation. The analysis is applied to prediction of the resonant frequencies and associated nodal patterns and damping ratios of the first five modes for a series of rectangular plates with free edges. The plates considered consist of unidirectional boron-fiber/epoxy composite material with respective fiber orientations of 0, 10, 30, 45, 60, and 90 deg.

Siu, C. C.↗

Evaluation of experimental methods for determining dynamic stiffness and damping of composite materials

Various methods potentially usable for determining dynamic stiffness and damping of composite materials are reviewed. Of these, the following most widely used techniques are singled out for more detailed discussion: free vibration, pulse propagation, and forced vibration response. To illustrate the usefulness and validity of dynamic property data, their application in dynamic analyses and comparison with measured structural response are described for the following composite-material structures: free-free sandwich beam with glass-epoxy facings, clamped-edge sandwich plate with similar facings, free-end sandwich conical shell with similar facings, and boron-epoxy free plate with layers arranged at various orientations.

Bert, C. W.↗

Analysis of longitudinal thickness-shear stiffness of a monolayer filamentary composite

The longitudinal thickness-shear behavior of a rectangular cross-section prism containing circular cross-section fibers embedded in a matrix is analyzed. The problem is formulated as a Saint-Venant flexure problem modeled by a tip-loaded cantilever composite beam and solution is obtained by the boundary-point least-squares method. It is shown that the longitudinal thickness-shear modulus is much greater than the in-plane shear modulus for a monofilament composite and therefore an independent analysis is necessary to predict the longitudinal thickness-shear behavior of the composite. Numerical results are presented in graphical form for various values of fiber volume fraction and material parameters typical of modern advanced composites.

Chang, S.↗

Analysis of twisting stiffness for a multifiber composite layer

The twisting stiffness of a rectangular cross section consisting of a single row of solid circular cross-section fibers embedded in a matrix is analyzed. The problem is formulated as a Dirichlet torsion problem of a multielement region and solved by the boundary-point least-squares method. Numerical results for a single-fiber square cross section compare favorably with previous relaxation-method results. New numerical results for three and five-fiber composites suggest that the torsional rigidity of a multifiber composite can be approximated from the torsional rigidities of single and three-fiber models.

Bert, C. W.↗

Experimental characterization of composites

The experimental characterization for composite materials is generally more complicated than for ordinary homogeneous, isotropic materials because composites behave in a much more complex fashion, due to macroscopic anisotropic effects and lamination effects. Problems concerning the static uniaxial tension test for composite materials are considered along with approaches for conducting static uniaxial compression tests and static uniaxial bending tests. Studies of static shear properties are discussed, taking into account in-plane shear, twisting shear, and thickness shear. Attention is given to static multiaxial loading, systematized experimental programs for the complete characterization of static properties, and dynamic properties.

Bert, C. W.↗

Effect of immobilization on the EEG of the baboon. Comparison with telemetry results from unrestricted animals

The EEG of the baboon was studied under two very different sets of conditions: 37 were totally immobolized while 12 were studied in their free movements with 4 channel telemetry. For the immobilzed, 3 stages were described: (1) activation, record desynchronized; (2) rest with 13-15 cm/sec rhythm, like the human alpha rhythm stage but with eyes open or closed; (3)relaxation with a decrease in 13-15 rhythm and the appearance of 5-7 cm/sec theta waves, eyelids closed, animal apparently sleeping. For the free animals the rest stage appeared when the animal's attention was not directed anywhere and there was no relaxation stage. It is concluded that the EEG pattern of the immobilized animal that was described as the "relaxation" stage really represents a special functional state which one must distinguish clearly from the physiological stages of sleep.

Bert, J.↗

Piloted simulator study of allowable time delays in large-airplane response

A piloted simulation was performed to determine the permissible time delay and phase shift in the flight control system of a specific large transport-type airplane. The study was conducted with a six degree of freedom ground-based simulator and a math model similar to an advanced wide-body jet transport. Time delays in discrete and lagged form were incorporated into the longitudinal, lateral, and directional control systems of the airplane. Three experienced pilots flew simulated approaches and landings with random localizer and glide slope offsets during instrument tracking as their principal evaluation task. Results of the present study suggest a level 1 (satisfactory) handling qualities limit for the effective time delay of 0.15 sec in both the pitch and roll axes, as opposed to a 0.10-sec limit of the present specification (MIL-F-8785C) for both axes. Also, the present results suggest a level 2 (acceptable but unsatisfactory) handling qualities limit for an effective time delay of 0.82 sec and 0.57 sec for the pitch and roll axes, respectively, as opposed to 0.20 sec of the present specifications for both axes. In the area of phase shift between cockpit input and control surface deflection,the results of this study, flown in turbulent air, suggest less severe phase shift limitations for the approach and landing task-approximately 50 deg. in pitch and 40 deg. in roll - as opposed to 15 deg. of the present specifications for both axes.

Grantham, William D.↗

Rain measurement results derived from a two-polarization frequency-diversity S-band radar at Wallops Island, Virginia

A dual polarization meteorological radar is described. It operates with a slow switch having a cycle time of 0.7 sec and incorporates a frequency diversity technique to achieve independent sampling over short intervals of time. Rain rate measurements derived from the dual polarization radar and low and high resolution rain gages located at a remote site are compared. Average percent differences in rainfall of less than 5 percent and 16 percent are demonstrated when comparing the dual polarization radar measurements with the low and high resolution rain gages, respectively. Striking correlations of the rain rates are present during one rain day. The rain measurement cases examined were limited to only light rain rates (less than 7 mm/hr).

Goldhirsh, Julius↗

Use of satellite radiometric imagery data for improvement in the analysis of divergent wind in the tropics

A scheme is proposed to incorporate satellite radiometric imagery data into the specification of initial conditions for the National Meteorological Center (NMC) operational global prediction model in order to improve the analysis of the divergent wind field in the tropics. The basic assumptions are that outgoing longwave radiation (OLR) data can provide 1) the division between convective (upward motion) and clear sky (downward motion) areas, and 2) the height of convection cells. The intensity of ascending motion in the convective areas is estimated based on OLR data. The intensity of descending motion is evaluated from the thermodynamic energy balance between radiative cooling and adiabatic warming, since the local time change of temperature is small in the tropics. Once the vertical motion field is determined, the horizontal divergence field can be calculated from the mass continuity equation. Then a divergent wind field is determined. The total wind is the sum of the new divergent wind and the rotational part, which is assumed to be unchanged. The proposed scheme is tested using the NMC analysis dataset of 21 January 1985 with satisfactory results.

Kasahara, Akira↗

Low-Dielectric Polyimides

New process developed to produce aromatic condensation polyimide films and coatings having dielectric constants in range of 2.4 to 3.2. Materials better electrical insulators than state-of-the-art commercial polyimides. Several low-dielectric-constant polyimides have excellent resistance to moisture. Useful as film and coating materials for both industrial and aerospace applications where high electrical insulation, resistance to moisture, mechanical strength, and thermal stability required. Applicable to production of high-temperature and moisture-resistance adhesives, films, photoresists, and coatings. Electronic applications include printed-circuit boards, both of composite and flexible-film types and potential use in automotive, aerospace, and electronic industries.

St. Clair, Anne K.↗

Development of a two axis motion simulation system for thermal/vacuum satellite testing

A two-axis motion simulation system for thermal vacuum testing of large satellites in a space simulation chamber was developed. Satellites as large as 3000 kilograms with a 4-meter diameter and a 5-meter length can be tested. This motion simulator (MS) incorporates several unique features which result in a less complicated design with improved performance when compared to previous satellite motion simulators. The design of the simulator is discussed in detail.

Henderson, David↗

Rain core structure statistics derived from radar and disdrometer measurements in the mid-Atlantic coast of the US

During a period spanning more than 5 years, low elevation radar measurements of rain were systematically obtained in the mid-Atlantic coast of the U.S. Drop size distribution measurements with a disdrometer were also acquired on the same rain days. The drop size data were utilized to convert the radar reflectivity factors to estimated rain rates for the respective rain days of operation. Applying high level algorithms to the rain data, core values of rain intensities were identified (peak rain rates), and families of rain rate isopleths analyzed. In particular, equicircle diameters of the family of isopleths enveloping peak rain intensities were statistically characterized. The presented results represents the analysis of two rain days, 12 radar scans, corresponding to 430 culled rain rate isopleths from an available data base of 22,000 contours, approximately 100 scans encompassing 17 rain days. The results presented show trends of the average rain rate vs. contour scale dimensions, and cumulative distributions of rain cell dimensions which belong to core families of precipitation.

Goldhirsh, Julius↗

Evolution and advanced technology

The NASREM architecture with its standard interfaces permits development and evolution of the Flight Telerobotic Servicer to greater autonomy. Technologies in control strategies for an arm with seven DOF, including a safety system containing skin sensors for obstacle avoidance, are being developed. Planning and robotic execution software includes symbolic task planning, world model data bases, and path planning algorithms. Research over the last five years has led to the development of laser scanning and ranging systems, which use coherent semiconductor laser diodes for short range sensing. The possibility of using a robot to autonomously assemble space structures is being investigated. A control framework compatible with NASREM is being developed that allows direct global control of the manipulator. Researchers are developing systems that permit an operator to quickly reconfigure the telerobot to do new tasks safely.

Ollendorf, Stanford↗

Progress toward a 30 percent-efficient, monolithic, three-junction, two-terminal concentrator solar cell for space applications

Component efficiencies of 0.2/sq cm cells at approximately 100x AMO light concentration and 80 C temperatures are not at 15.3 percent for a 1.9 eV AlGaAs top cell, 9.9 percent for a 1.4 eV GaAs middle cell under a 1.9 eV AlGaAs filter, and 2.4 percent for a bottom 1.0 eV InGaAs cell under a GaAs substrate. The goal is to continue improvement in these performance levels and to sequentially grow these devices on a single substrate to give 30 percent efficient, monolithic, two-terminal, three-junction space concentrator cells. The broad objective is a 30 percent efficient monolithic two-terminal cell that can operate under 25 to 100x AMO light concentrations and at 75 to 100 C cell temperatures. Detailed modeling predicts that this requires three junctions. Two options are being pursued, and both use a 1.9 eV AlGaAs top junction and a 1.4 eV GaAs middle junction grown by a 1 atm OMVPE on a lattice matched substrate. Option 1 uses a low-doped GaAs substrate with a lattice mismatched 1.0 eV InGaAs cell formed on the back of the substrate. Option 2 uses a Ge substrate to which the AlGaAs and GaAs top junctions are lattice matched, with a bottom 0.7 eV Ge junction formed near the substrate interface with the GaAs growth. The projected efficiency contributions are near 16, 11, and 3 percent, respectively, from the top, middle, and bottom junctions.

Partain, L. D.↗