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At least 1,099 records · Page 61

Failure Predictions of Out-of-Autoclave Sandwich Joints with Delaminations Under Flexure Loads

An analysis and a test program was conducted to investigate the damage tolerance of composite sandwich joints. The joints contained a single circular delamination between the face-sheet and the doubler. The coupons were fabricated through out-of-autoclave (OOA) processes, a technology NASA is investigating for joining large composite sections. The four-point bend flexure test was used to induce compression loading into the side of the joint where the delamination was placed. The compression side was chosen since it tends to be one of the most critical loads in launch vehicles. Autoclave cure was used to manufacture the composite sandwich sections, while the doubler was co-bonded onto the sandwich face-sheet using an OOA process after sandwich panels were cured. A building block approach was adopted to characterize the mechanical properties of the joint material, including the fracture toughness between the doubler and face-sheet. Twelve four-point-bend samples were tested, six in the sandwich core ribbon orientation and six in sandwich core cross-ribbon direction. Analysis predicted failure initiation and propagation at the pre-delaminated location, consistent with experimental observations. A building block approach using fracture analyses methods predicted failure loads in close agreement with tests. This investigation demonstrated a small strength reduction due to a flaw of significant size compared to the width of the sample. Therefore, concerns of bonding an OOA material to an in-autoclave material was mitigated for the geometries, materials, and load configurations considered.

Tolerance↗

Material Model Testing in the DYNA3D Code: Material Models 1 through 5

This report is the first volume in an effort to study the material model implementations in DYNA3D, using the latest developmental version of the code. Input files were derived from a template supplied by Jerry Lin to perform an equation-of-state study. Most of the simulations use 10 cubes, each 1 cm on a side with a density of 8.03 (steel). Each of the cubes tests a different aspect of the material model. The first three cubes are testing normal stresses and normal strains (uniaxial stresses and strains) placed on the cube parallel to the x-axis, y-axis and z-axis, respectively. The x (or y or z) = 1 face of the cube is moved along the x-axis (or y-axis or z-axis) to test the model, while the opposite side remains in the x (or y or z) = 0 plane. For some of the tests, the nodes are free to move perpendicular to the applied strain to allow the cross-sectional area of the cube to change in response to being placed under pressure or tension (to test Poisson’s Ratio), while in others the nodes are frozen to eliminate dynamic effects resulting from the code. The cube is placed in tension along the axis being tested and then released, followed by a cycle of compression and release. This tension/compression cycle is repeated 3 more times. The additional cycles allow for the model to be tested under different loads. For these calculations, the amount by which the cube is stretched and compressed is varied from cycle to cycle to allow testing of model features. Cubes number 4 and 5 are intended to test xy shear stresses/strains. This is done by sliding one face of the cube in its plane parallel to the axis of interest. For example, for cube 4, the upper face of the cube is slid in the y=1 plane in a direction parallel to the x-axis (so there are no changes in the y and z coordinates of the points in the plane) and then returned to its starting position. This preserves the volume of the cube, so there is no change in density or pressure. The cycle is repeated 8 times. For cube 5, the plane of the cube satisfying x=1 is slid in this plane in a direction parallel to the y-axis and then returned to its starting position. This preserves the volume of the cube, so there is no change in density or pressure. The cycle is repeated 8 times. Cubes number 6 through 9 repeat these tests for yz shear stresses/strains (Cubes 6 and 7) and zx shear stresses and strains (Cubes 8 and 9). For reasons discussed in the next paragraph, it is unclear if these tests represent a state of pure shear stress and shear strain in the code. Application of shear stresses and strains should not, in general, result in the appearance of normal stresses and strains in Cubes 4 - 9. In the infinitesimal limit, this result might be obtained. However, DYNA3D is a finite deformation code and in the real deformations used in the code, this result is not achieved and the individual components of the normal stresses and strains are non-zero during the cycling. However, the sums of the normal strains are zero in these tests and, except in the case of thermally dependent models, so are the sums of the normal stresses. Cube 10 tests the response of the material model to a hydrostatic loading of the cube. The load curve used for the first three tests is used again and applied to each of the 8 nodes in a manner causing the cube to be either compressed or expanded. This compression/tension cycle is repeated 4 times. The additional cycles allow for the model to be tested under different loads. The amount by which the cube is stretched and compressed is varied from cycle to cycle to allow testing of model features. This document will discuss the testing of Material Models 1 through 5. Relevant results from the test cubes will be discussed. A discussion of the results from all 10 test cubes will be presented only if necessary.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Autonomous Cryogenic Load Operations: Knowledge-Based Autonomous Test Engineer

The Knowledge-Based Autonomous Test Engineer (KATE) program has a long history at KSC. Now a part of the Autonomous Cryogenic Load Operations (ACLO) mission, this software system has been sporadically developed over the past 20 years. Originally designed to provide health and status monitoring for a simple water-based fluid system, it was proven to be a capable autonomous test engineer for determining sources of failure in the system. As part of a new goal to provide this same anomaly-detection capability for a complicated cryogenic fluid system, software engineers, physicists, interns and KATE experts are working to upgrade the software capabilities and graphical user interface. Much progress was made during this effort to improve KATE. A display of the entire cryogenic system's graph, with nodes for components and edges for their connections, was added to the KATE software. A searching functionality was added to the new graph display, so that users could easily center their screen on specific components. The GUI was also modified so that it displayed information relevant to the new project goals. In addition, work began on adding new pneumatic and electronic subsystems into the KATE knowledge base, so that it could provide health and status monitoring for those systems. Finally, many fixes for bugs, memory leaks, and memory errors were implemented and the system was moved into a state in which it could be presented to stakeholders. Overall, the KATE system was improved and necessary additional features were added so that a presentation of the program and its functionality in the next few months would be a success.

Schrading, J. Nicolas↗

Integrated Vehicle Ground Vibration Testing in Support of Launch Vehicle Loads and Controls Analysis

All structural systems possess a basic set of physical characteristics unique to that system. These unique physical characteristics include items such as mass distribution and damping. When specified, they allow engineers to understand and predict how a structural system behaves under given loading conditions and different methods of control. These physical properties of launch vehicles may be predicted by analysis or measured by certain types of tests. Generally, these properties are predicted by analysis during the design phase of a launch vehicle and then verified by testing before the vehicle becomes operational. A ground vibration test (GVT) is intended to measure by test the fundamental dynamic characteristics of launch vehicles during various phases of flight. During the series of tests, properties such as natural frequencies, mode shapes, and transfer functions are measured directly. These data will then be used to calibrate loads and control systems analysis models for verifying analyses of the launch vehicle. NASA manned launch vehicles have undergone ground vibration testing leading to the development of successful launch vehicles. A GVT was not performed on the inaugural launch of the unmanned Delta III which was lost during launch. Subsequent analyses indicated had a GVT been performed, it would have identified instability issues avoiding loss of the vehicle. This discussion will address GVT planning, set-up, execution and analyses, for the Saturn and Shuttle programs, and will also focus on the current and on-going planning for the Ares I and V Integrated Vehicle Ground Vibration Test (IVGVT).

Askins, Bruce R.↗

Investigation of high-speed shaft bearing loads in wind turbine gearboxes through dynamometer testing

Many wind turbine gearboxes require repair or replacement well before reaching the end of their design life. The most common failure is bearing axial cracks, commonly called white etching cracks (WECs), which typically occur in the inner raceways of the high-speed parallel-stage rolling element bearings. Although the root causes of WECs are debated, one theory is that they are related to routine dynamic operating conditions and occasional transient events prevalent in wind turbines that can result in high bearing stress and sliding of the rolling elements. Here, this paper examined wind turbine gearbox high-speed shaft bearing loads and stresses through modeling and full-scale dynamometer testing. Bearing outer race loads were directly measured and predicted using a variety of modeling tools in normal operations, misaligned conditions, and transient events particularly prone to bearing sliding. Test data and models of bearing loads were well correlated. Neither operational misalignment due to rotor moments nor static generator misalignment affected the bearing loads when compared with pure-torque conditions. Thus, it is not likely that generator misalignment is a causal factor of WECs. In contrast, during transient events, the bearings experienced alternating periods of high stress, torque reversals, and loads under the minimum requisite at high rotating speeds while showing indications of sliding, all of which could be related to the formation of WECs.

17 WIND ENERGY↗

Improved Regression Analysis of Temperature-Dependent Strain-Gage Balance Calibration Data

An improved approach is discussed that may be used to directly include first and second order temperature effects in the load prediction algorithm of a wind tunnel strain-gage balance. The improved approach was designed for the Iterative Method that fits strain-gage outputs as a function of calibration loads and uses a load iteration scheme during the wind tunnel test to predict loads from measured gage outputs. The improved approach assumes that the strain-gage balance is at a constant uniform temperature when it is calibrated and used. First, the method introduces a new independent variable for the regression analysis of the balance calibration data. The new variable is designed as the difference between the uniform temperature of the balance and a global reference temperature. This reference temperature should be the primary calibration temperature of the balance so that, if needed, a tare load iteration can be performed. Then, two temperature{dependent terms are included in the regression models of the gage outputs. They are the temperature difference itself and the square of the temperature difference. Simulated temperature{dependent data obtained from Triumph Aerospace's 2013 calibration of NASA's ARC-30K five component semi{span balance is used to illustrate the application of the improved approach.

wind tunnel testing↗

Opening Loads Analyses for Various Disk-Gap-Band Parachutes

Detailed opening loads data is presented for 18 tests of Disk-Gap-Band (DGB) parachutes of varying geometry with nominal diameters ranging from 43.2 to 50.1 ft. All of the test parachutes were deployed from a mortar. Six of these tests were conducted via drop testing with drop test vehicles weighing approximately 3,000 or 8,000 lb. Twelve tests were conducted in the National Full-Scale Aerodynamics Complex 80- by 120-foot wind tunnel at the NASA Ames Research Center. The purpose of these tests was to structurally qualify the parachute for the Mars Exploration Rover mission. A key requirement of all tests was that peak parachute load had to be reached at full inflation to more closely simulate the load profile encountered during operation at Mars. Peak loads measured during the tests were in the range from 12,889 to 30,027 lb. Of the two test methods, the wind tunnel tests yielded more accurate and repeatable data. Application of an apparent mass model to the opening loads data yielded insights into the nature of these loads. Although the apparent mass model could reconstruct specific tests with reasonable accuracy, the use of this model for predictive analyses was not accurate enough to set test conditions for either the drop or wind tunnel tests. A simpler empirical model was found to be suitable for predicting opening loads for the wind tunnel tests to a satisfactory level of accuracy. However, this simple empirical model is not applicable to the drop tests.

Cruz, J. R.↗

Effect of Hot Deformation on Texture and Microstructure in Fe-Mn Austenitic Steel During Compression Loading

Hot compression tests of a new high-Mn austenitic steel were carried out at deformation temperatures of 700, 800, 900, and 1000 °C under strain rate of 0.01 s{sup −1}. The hot deformation behavior was investigated by the analyses of flow curves, texture, and deformed microstructures. Microstructures of the deformed specimens and macrotexture were examined using electron backscatter diffraction and x-ray diffraction methods, respectively. The results showed that the flow stress depended strongly on the deformation temperature and decreased by increasing deformation temperature. The microstructural evidence indicated that the dynamic recrystallization (DRX) process of experimental steel was initiated at 800 °C with necklace structure. The volume fraction of DRX grains was considerably increased by increasing deformation temperature to 1000 °C. Texture of the DRX grains tended to become a weak texture and was associated with the formation of Goss and R-Cube components. Meanwhile, martensitic transformation was detected in the hot-deformed austenite. The martensitic transformation was the most difficult in the DRX grains because of the effect of small grain size. The tendency of transformation was decreased after compression at 1000 °C.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Buckling behavior of Rene 41 tubular panels for a hypersonic aircraft wing

The buckling characteristics of Rene 41 tubular panels for a hypersonic aircraft wing were investigated. The panels were repeatedly tested for buckling characteristics using a hypersonic wing test structure and a universal tension/compression testing machine. The nondestructive buckling tests were carried out under different combined load conditions and in different temperature environments. The force/stiffness technique was used to determine the buckling loads of the panel. In spite of some data scattering, resulting from large extrapolations of the data fitting curve (because of the termination of applied loads at relatively low percentages of the buckling loads), the overall test data correlate fairly well with theoretically predicted buckling interaction curves. Also, the structural efficiency of the tubular panels was found to be slightly higher than that of beaded panels.

Ko, W. L.↗

Buckling behavior of Rene 41 tubular panels for a hypersonic aircraft wing

The buckling characteristics of Rene 41 tubular panels for a hypersonic aircraft wing were investigated. The panels were repeatedly tested for buckling characteristics using a hypersonic wing test structure and a universal tension/compression testing machine. The nondestructive buckling tests were carried out under different combined load conditions and in different temperature environments. The force/stiffness technique was used to determine the buckling loads of the panels. In spite of some data scattering resulting from large extrapolations of the data-fitting curve (because of the termination of applied loads at relatively low percentages of the buckling loads), the overall test data correlate fairly well with theoretically predicted buckling interaction curves. Also, the structural efficiency of the tubular panels was found to be slightly higher than that of beaded panels.

Ko, W. L.↗

Utilization and Application of Kurion Mobile Processing System in Remediation of Radioactively Contaminated Water - 16370

Kurion{sup R} Mobile Processing Systems (KMPS) were deployed in Fukushima as first-of-a- kind at-tank isotope removal systems to remediate Sr from reverse osmosis concentrated salt water. The systems were successful in their efforts and achieved their decontamination and availability goals. The use of KMPS has been considered for other applications where a modular system is of benefit. The use of different Kurion Ion Specific Media (ISM) allows for precision removal of hazardous ions from a variety of waste streams. This paper describes a range of projects in which KMPS modularity will benefit the nuclear industry. The KMPS is a flexible system that can be deployed quickly and efficiently. One treatment system option being considered is the utilization of a KMPS for the removal of contamination from groundwater. Similar to its use in Japan, the KMPS can be sent to remote locations for the direct treatment of ground water. In particular, there are several sites across the world where uranium contamination is a problem. Uranium treatability testing was performed on collected groundwater samples from a radiologically contaminated site. The tests were used to help provide designs for KMPS modifications. These designs included the addition of chemical treatment module for the control of pH and other chemistry, the addition of an ultraviolet module for the destruction of biological material, among others. The tests determined the loading capacities of uranium capture resins (UCR) and media (UCM) for this specific waste stream. Based on uranium loading capacities of 37.3 mg/L (end of test C/C{sub 0} = 0.5) and 54.6 mg/L (extrapolated to C/C{sub 0} = 0.98), and the longevity of the resin (45,911 BV for C/C{sub 0} = 0.5, and 80,556 BV for C/C{sub 0} = 0.98) UCR-1 was selected as the media/resin to be proposed for a uranium treatment system. (authors)

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

Flight Test Identification and Simulation of a UH-60A Helicopter and Slung Load

Helicopter slung-load operations are common in both military and civil contexts. Helicopters and loads are often qualified for these operations by means of flight tests, which can be expensive and time consuming. There is significant potential to reduce such costs both through revisions in flight-test methods and by using validated simulation models. To these ends, flight tests were conducted at Moffett Field to demonstrate the identification of key dynamic parameters during flight tests (aircraft stability margins and handling-qualities parameters, and load pendulum stability), and to accumulate a data base for simulation development and validation. The test aircraft was a UH-60A Black Hawk, and the primary test load was an instrumented 8- by 6- by 6-ft cargo container. Tests were focused on the lateral and longitudinal axes, which are the axes most affected by the load pendulum modes in the frequency range of interest for handling qualities; tests were conducted at airspeeds from hover to 80 knots. Using telemetered data, the dynamic parameters were evaluated in near real time after each test airspeed and before clearing the aircraft to the next test point. These computations were completed in under 1 min. A simulation model was implemented by integrating an advanced model of the UH-60A aerodynamics, dynamic equations for the two-body slung-load system, and load static aerodynamics obtained from wind-tunnel measurements. Comparisons with flight data for the helicopter alone and with a slung load showed good overall agreement for all parameters and test points; however, unmodeled secondary dynamic losses around 2 Hz were found in the helicopter model and they resulted in conservative stability margin estimates.

Cicolani, Luigi S.↗

Planetary Load Sharing in Three-Point Mounted Wind Turbine Gearboxes: A Design and Test Comparison

This work compares the planetary load-sharing characteristics of wind turbine gearboxes supported by cylindrical roller bearings (CRBs) and preloaded tapered roller bearings (TRBs) when subjected to rotor moments. Planetary bearing loads were measured in field-representative dynamometer tests and compared to loads predicted by finite-element models. Preloaded TRBs significantly improved load sharing. In pure torque conditions, the upwind planet bearing load in the gearbox with preloaded TRBs was only 14% more than the assumed load compared to 47% more for the gearbox with CRBs. Consequently, the predicted fatigue life of the complete set of planetary bearings for the gearbox with preloaded TRBs is 3.5 times greater than that of the gearbox with CRBs.

17 WIND ENERGY↗

Hitts Law? A test of the relationship between information load and movement precision

Recent technological developments have made viable a man-machine interface heavily dependent on graphics and pointing devices. This has led to new interest in classical reaction and movement time work by Human Factors specialists. Two experiments were designed and run to test the dependence of target capture time on information load (Hitt's Law) and movement precision (Fitts' Law). The proposed model linearly combines Hitt's and Fitts' results into a combination law which then might be called Hitts' Law. Subjects were required to react to stimuli by manipulating a joystick so as to cause a cursor to capture a target on a CRT screen. Response entropy and the relative precision of the capture movement were crossed in a factorial design and data obtained that were found to support the model.

Zaleski, M.↗

Autonomous Cryogenics Loading Operations Simulation Software: Knowledgebase Autonomous Test Engineer

The Simulation Software, KATE (Knowledgebase Autonomous Test Engineer), is used to demonstrate the automatic identification of faults in a system. The ACLO (Autonomous Cryogenics Loading Operation) project uses KATE to monitor and find faults in the loading of the cryogenics int o a vehicle fuel tank. The KATE software interfaces with the IHM (Integrated Health Management) systems bus to communicate with other systems that are part of ACLO. One system that KATE uses the IHM bus to communicate with is AIS (Advanced Inspection System). KATE will send messages to AIS when there is a detected anomaly. These messages include visual inspection of specific valves, pressure gauges and control messages to have AIS open or close manual valves. My goals include implementing the connection to the IHM bus within KATE and for the AIS project. I will also be working on implementing changes to KATE's Ul and implementing the physics objects in KATE that will model portions of the cryogenics loading operation.

Wehner, Walter S.↗

Residual Strength Predictions with Crack Buckling

Fracture tests were conducted on middle crack tension, M(T), and compact tension, C(T), specimens of varying widths, constructed from 0.063 inch thick sheets of 2024-T3 aluminum alloy. Guide plates were used to restrict out-of-plane displacements in about half of the tests. Analyses using the three-dimensional, elastic-plastic finite element code WARP3D simulated the tests with and without guide plates using a critical CTOA fracture criterion. The experimental results indicate that crack buckling reduced the failure loads by up to 40%. Using a critical CTOA value of 5.5 deg., the WARP3D analyses predicted the failure loads for the tests with guide plates within +/- 10% of the experimentally measured values. For the M(T) tests without guide plates, the WARP3D analyses predicted the failure loads for the 12 and 24 inch tests within 10%, while over predicting the failure loads for the 40 inch wide tests by about 20%.

Dawicke, D. S.↗

Development of an accelerated creep testing technique via multi-specimen loading

This report summarizes a research effort undertaken by Argonne National Laboratory to accelerate the development of creep data package for code qualification. The goal is to explore new creep testing techniques to shorten the overall time needed to generate high-quality data to support an ASME code case on laser powder bed fusion 316H stainless steel. Progresses on the design and implementation of a 3-specimen load train and an innovative strain measurement method with direct potential current drop (DCPD) technique are reported.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗