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At least 145 records · Page 8
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2009

Objectives and Progress on Integrated Vehicle Ground Vibration Testing for the Ares Launch Vehicles

As NASA begins design and development of the Ares launch vehicles to replace the Space Shuttle and explore beyond low Earth orbit, Integrated Vehicle Ground Vibration Testing (IVGVT) will be a vital component of ensuring that those vehicles can perform the missions assigned to them. 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. This data is then used to calibrate loads and control systems analysis models for verifying analyses of the launch vehicle. The Ares Flight & Integrated Test Office (FITO) will be conducting IVGVT for the Ares I crew launch vehicle at Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) from 2011 to 2012 using the venerable Test Stand (TS) 4550, which supported similar tests for the Saturn V and Space Shuttle vehicle stacks.

Tuma, Margaret L.↗
NASA NTRS2007

Quiet Spike Build-Up Ground Vibration Testing Approach

NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center uses a modified F-15B (836) aircraft as a testbed for a variety of flight research:experiments mounted underneath the aircraft fuselage. The F-15B was selected to fly Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation's (GAC)QuietSpike(TM)(QS) project; however, this experiment is very unique and unlike any of the previous testbed experiments flown on the F-15B. It involves the addition of a relatively long quiet spike boom attached to the radar bulkhead of the aircraft. This QS experiment is a stepping stone to airframe structural morphing technologies designed to mitigate sonic born strength of business jets over land. The QS boom is a concept in Which an aircraft's front-end would be extended prior to supersonic acceleration. This morphing would effectively lengthen the aircraft, reducing peak sonic boom amplitude, but is also expected to partition the otherwise strong bow shock into a series of reduced-strength, non-coalescing shocklets. Prior to flying the Quietspike(TM) experiment on the F-15B aircraft several ground vibration tests (GVT) were required in order to understand the QS modal characteristics and coupling effects with the F-15B. However, due to the project's late hardware delivery of the QS and the intense schedule, a "traditional" GVT of the mated F-1513 Quietspike(tm) ready-for-flight configuration would not have left sufficient time available for the finite element model update and flutter analyses before flight testing. Therefore, a "nontraditional" ground vibration testing approach was taken. The objective of the QuietSpike (TM) build-up ground testing approach was to ultimately obtain confidence in the F-15B Quietspike(TM) finite element model (FEM) to be used for the flutter analysis. In order to obtain the F15B QS FEM with reliable foundation stiffness between the QS and the F-15B radar bulkhead as well as QS modal characteristics, several different GVT configurations were performed. EAch of the four GVT's performed had a specific objective. The overall intent was to provide adequate data which would replicate a "traditional" F-15B QS GVT with actual ready-for-flight hardware. NASA Dryden was tasked with the conduct of the 1st, 2nd and 4th GVT and the 3rd GVT was GAC's responsibility. In order for this build-up GVT approach to be feasible, it was absolutely critical that each GVT configuration matched as closely as possible the connection interface configuration between the and aircraft bulkhead.

Spivey, Natalie D.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Aircraft ground vibration testing at NASA Ames-Dryden Flight Research Facility

At the NASA Ames Research Center's Dryden Flight Research Facility at Edwards Air Force Base, California, a variety of ground vibration test techniques has been applied to an assortment of new or modified aerospace research vehicles. This paper presents a summary of these techniques and the experience gained from various applications. The role of ground vibration testing in the qualification of new and modified aircraft for flight is discussed. Data are presented for a wide variety of aircraft and component tests, including comparisons of sine-dwell, single-input random, and multiple-input random excitation methods on a JetStar airplane.

Kehoe, Michael W.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Aircraft ground vibration testing at NASA Ames-Dryden Flight Research Facility

At the NASA Ames Research Center's Dryden Flight Research Facility at Edwards Air Force Base, California, a variety of ground vibration test techniques has been applied to an assortment of new or modified aerospace research vehicles. This paper presents a summary of these techniques and the experience gained from various applications. The role of ground vibration testing in the qualification of new and modified aircraft for flight is discussed. Data are presented for a wide variety of aircraft and component tests, including comparison of sine-dwell, single-input random, and multiple-input random excitation methods on a JetStar airplane.

Kehoe, Michael W.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Avoiding unrealistic overtest by notching the vibration test specification

The test specifications for spacecraft and components permit test levels to be reduced under a procedure commonly referred to as notching. A summary is provided of the steps required to comply with the notching criterion. Primary structural loads are discussed along with aspect of mathematical modelling of the spacecraft structure, a launch loads analysis, a vibration test loads analysis, and notching methods. It is shown that current, general vibration test specifications are capable of producing unrealistically high spacecraft structural loads.

Hershfeld, D. J.↗
NASA NTRS2008

Integrated Vehicle Ground Vibration Testing of Manned Spacecraft: Historical Precedent

For the first time in nearly 30 years, NASA is developing a new manned space flight launch system. The Ares I will carry crew and cargo to not only the International Space Station, but onward for the future exploration of the Moon and Mars. The Ares I control system and structural designs use complex computer models for their development. An Integrated Vehicle Ground Vibration Test (IVGVT) will validate the efficacy of these computer models. The IVGVT will reduce the technical risk of unexpected conditions that could place the vehicle or crew in jeopardy. The Ares Project Office's Flight and Integrated Test Office commissioned a study to determine how historical programs, such as Saturn and Space Shuttle, validated the structural dynamics of an integrated flight vehicle. The study methodology was to examine the historical record and seek out members of the engineering community who recall the development of historic manned launch vehicles. These records and interviews provided insight into the best practices and lessons learned from these historic development programs. The information that was gathered allowed the creation of timelines of the historic development programs. The timelines trace the programs from the development of test articles through test preparation, test operations, and test data reduction efforts. These timelines also demonstrate how the historical tests fit within their overall vehicle development programs. Finally, the study was able to quantify approximate staffing levels during historic development programs. Using this study, the Flight and Integrated Test Office was able to evaluate the Ares I Integrated Vehicle Ground Vibration Test schedule and workforce budgets in light of the historical precedents to determine if the test had schedule or cost risks associated with it.

Lemke, Paul R.↗
NASA NTRS1987

All Shuttle Centaur engine and nozzle support plug vibration testing

Loads applied to the RL10 engines while in flight in the orbiter payload bay are significantly different from the load environment experienced in Atlas and Titan/Centaur applications. To predict the engine loads, a NASTRAN analysis was conducted. As part of this effort a vibration test program was accomplished to provide input to the analysis, and to verify engine durability. This program was completed in two phases. The first phase provided data and characteristics which were used as input to the analysis. The second phase subjected the engine to limit loads, and included hot firings before and after the vibration test. The test hardware, performance, and results are described.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1974

The development of sine vibration test requirements for Viking lander capsule components

In connection with the Viking project for exploring the planet Mars, two identical spacecraft, each consisting of an orbiter and a lander, will be launched in the third quarter of 1975. Upon arrival at the planet, the Viking lander will separate from the Viking orbiter and descend to a soft landing at a selected site on the Mars surface. It was decided to perform a sine vibration test on the Viking spacecraft, in its launch configuration, to qualify it for the booster-induced transient-dynamic environment. It is shown that component-level testing is a cost- and schedule-effective prerequisite to the system-level, sine-vibration test sequences.

Barrett, S.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Ground vibration test of the laminar flow control JStar airplane

A ground vibration test was conducted on a Lockheed JetStar airplane that had been modified for the purpose of conducting laminar flow control experiments. The test was performed prior to initial flight flutter tests. Both sine-dwell and single-point-random excitation methods were used. The data presented include frequency response functions and a comparison of mode frequencies and mode shapes from both methods.

Kehoe, M. W.↗
NASA NTRS2013

Vibration Testing of Electrical Cables to Quantify Loads at Tie-Down Locations

The standard method for defining static equivalent structural load factors for components is based on Mile s equation. Unless test data is available, 5% critical damping is assumed for all components when calculating loads. Application of this method to electrical cable tie-down hardware often results in high loads, which often exceed the capability of typical tie-down options such as cable ties and P-clamps. Random vibration testing of electrical cables was used to better understand the factors that influence component loads: natural frequency, damping, and mass participation. An initial round of vibration testing successfully identified variables of interest, checked out the test fixture and instrumentation, and provided justification for removing some conservatism in the standard method. Additional testing is planned that will include a larger range of cable sizes for the most significant contributors to load as variables to further refine loads at cable tie-down points. Completed testing has provided justification to reduce loads at cable tie-downs by 45% with additional refinement based on measured cable natural frequencies.

Dutson, Joseph D.↗
NASA NTRS2000

Force limit specifications vs. design limit loads in vibration testing

The purpose of the work presented herein is to discuss the results of force limit notching during vibration testing with respect to the traditional limit load design criteria. By using a single-degree-of-freedom (SDOF) system approach, this work shows that with an appropriate force specification the notched response due to force limiting will result in loads comparable with the structural design limit criteria.

force limiting vibration testing flight limit load↗
NASA NTRS2020

Multiple Shaker Placement for Ground Vibration Test of X-59 Aircraft Using Topology Optimization

A multiple shaker placement methodology is developed and tested using a topology optimization technique. Current multiple shaker placement methodology requires optimum accelerometer placement and optimum single-shaker placement techniques. The proposed methodology is tested using a finite element model of the X-59 Low Boom Flight Demonstrator aircraft. The effective independence and the driving point acceleration transfer function (DPATF) methods are used for the accelerometer placement study. In this study, four shakers are used to excite each mode more effectively during the ground vibration test; all the modes of interest thus are separated into four groups. Each shaker takes care of a separate group of modes. Grouping the modes of interest is performed utilizing topology optimization. The number of modes for each group therefore will be automatically decided during grouping. For each group of modes, perform the following two steps to determine optimal location of four shakers: 1) At each accelerometer location, compare the magnitude of DPATF values at natural frequencies, select the minimum value, and make a vector with these minimum values of the DPATF magnitudes for each group; and 2) Select the degrees of freedom corresponding to the maximum value of this vector. The objective function value is the maximum value of the vector with minimum value of the magnitude of the superposed acceleration transfer function. This objective function value is maximized by changing the modes for each group. Forty accelerometers are enough to have good correlation between mode shapes obtained from the reduced order model and the simulated ground vibration test.

Optimization Analysis↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Are We Shaking Too Much? An Inquiry into Environmental Random Vibration Testing Margins

Problem Statement: The conventional, MIL-STD-810 approach to vibration environment derivation is perhaps too conservative, leading to unnecessary failures during acceptance & qualification vibration testing of Armstrong’s one-off flight equipment. Objective: This presentation explores some alternative understandings of the distributions of vibration severity in nonstationary environments. Proposed methods of sorting and adding appropriate margin are explored.

Scott L. Stebbins↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

All-Electric X-Plane, X-57 Mod II Ground Vibration Test

As part of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration New Aviation Horizons initiative to demonstrate and validate future high-impact concepts and technologies, the X-57 Maxwell airplane--the first all-electric X-plane--was conceived to advance research in the area of electric propulsion to show the feasibility of minimizing fuel use, reducing emissions, and lowering noise during flight. Through several configuration modifications to the X-57 airplane, validation of electrical-powered flight with increasing efficiency between each modification when compared to the baseline original airplane is anticipated. In the case of the X-57 Modification II airplane, a ground vibration test was needed to identify the airplane structural modes and use them to update and validate the finite element model. To determine the airworthiness of the airplane the updated finite element model will be utilized to investigate both classical and whirl flutter. The X-57ModificationII ground vibration test was performed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Armstrong Flight Research Center Flight Loads Laboratory. This paper will highlight the testing performed to acquire the modal data as well as the results.

Natalie Dawn Spivey↗
NASA NTRS1984

Ground vibration test of F-16 airplane with initial decoupler pylon

A ground vibration test was conducted on an F-16 airplane loaded on each wing with a 370-gal tank mounted on a standard pylon, a GBU-8 store mounted on a decoupler pylon, and an AIM-9J missile mounted on a wing-tip launcher. The decoupler pylon is a passive wing/store flutter-suppression device. The test was conducted prior to initial flight tests to determine the modal frequencies, mode shapes, and structural damping coefficients. The data presented include frequency response plots, force effect plots, and limited mode shape data.

Cazier, F. W., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1998

A Magnetic Suspension and Excitation System for Spin Vibration Testing of Turbomachinery Blades

The Dynamic Spin Rig (DSR) is used to perform vibration tests of turbomachinery blades and components under spinning conditions in a vacuum. A heteropolar radial active magnetic bearing was integrated into the DSR to provide non-contact magnetic suspension and mechanical excitation of the rotor to induce turbomachinery blade vibrations. The magnetic bearing replaces one of the two existing conventional radial ball bearings. Prior operation of the DSR used two voice-coil type linear electromagnetic shakers which provided axial excitation of the rotor. The new magnetic suspension and excitation system has provided enhanced testing capabilities. Tests were performed at high rotational speeds for longer duration and higher vibration amplitudes. Some characteristics of the system include magnetic bearing stiffness values up to 60,000 lb./in., closed loop control bandwidth around 500 Hz, and multi-directional radial excitation of the rotor. This paper reports on the implementation and operation of this system and presents some test results using this system.

Johnson, Dexter↗