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At least 163 records · Page 9
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1989

Mechanics of graben formation in crustal rocks - A finite element analysis

The mechanics of the initial stages of graben formation are examined, showing that the configuration of a graben (a pair of antithetically dipping normal faults) is the most energetically favorable fault configuration in elastic-brittle rocks subjected to pure extension. The stress field in the vicinity of a single initial normal fault is computed with a two-dimensional FEM. It is concluded that the major factor controlling graben width is the depth of the initial fault.

Melosh, H. J.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Air-mass flux measurement system using Doppler-shifted filtered Rayleigh scattering

An optical system has been investigated to measure mass flux distributions in the inlet of a high speed air-breathing propulsion system. Rayleigh scattered light from air is proportional to the number density of molecules and hence can be used to ascertain the gas density in a calibrated system. Velocity field measurements are achieved by spectrally filtering the elastically-scattered Doppler-shifted light with an absorbing molecular filter. A novel anamorphic optical collection system is used which allows optical rays from different scattering angles, that have different Doppler shifts, to be recorded separately. This is shown to obviate the need to tune the laser through the absorption to determine velocities, while retaining the ability to make spatially-resolved measurements along a line. By properly selecting the laser tuning and filter parameters, simultaneous density measurements can be made. These properties are discussed in the paper and experiments demonstrating the velocimetry capability are described.

Shirley, John A.↗
NASA NTRS2004

Predicting Hall Thruster Operational Lifetime

A simple analytic model predicted Hall thruster channel erosion based on thruster geometry, operating conditions, and magnetic field configuration. This model relied on a one-dimensional representation of the plasma with a fixed ionization fraction and variable ion energies based on the magnetic field distribution. Sputtering was modeled as the result of elastic scattering of ions by neutrals within the channel. Not all scattered ions and neutrals were assumed to reach the channel walls as a result of additional subsequent scattering events. Incorporating this phenomenon resulted in a greater predicted decrease in erosion rate with time than predicted based only on geometric effects. Results from this model were compared to SPT 100 experimental erosion data.

Manzella, David↗
NASA NTRS1976

Seismic effects on the rotational dynamics of the earth and its gravitational field

The effects of earthquakes on the rotational motion of the earth were studied. The connection between the fault parameters and the corresponding changes in the moments and products of inertia were analytically developed. The reciprocal theorem of elasticity and Volterra's formula were applied as well as the displacement and stress fields for the second degree static response of the earth model being used. The numerical results of the investigation yield the magnitude and direction of the pole shift as well as the change in the length of the day. The changes in the second degree coefficients of the geopotential were computed. Source parameters corresponding to the Alaskan earthquake on March 28, 1964 were used to generate numerical results.

Sanchez, B. V.↗
NASA NTRS2014

The Effect of General Statistical Fiber Misalignment on Predicted Damage Initiation in Composites

A micromechanical method is employed for the prediction of unidirectional composites in which the fiber orientation can possess various statistical misalignment distributions. The method relies on the probability-weighted averaging of the appropriate concentration tensor, which is established by the micromechanical procedure. This approach provides access to the local field quantities throughout the constituents, from which initiation of damage in the composite can be predicted. In contrast, a typical macromechanical procedure can determine the effective composite elastic properties in the presence of statistical fiber misalignment, but cannot provide the local fields. Fully random fiber distribution is presented as a special case using the proposed micromechanical method. Results are given that illustrate the effects of various amounts of fiber misalignment in terms of the standard deviations of in-plane and out-of-plane misalignment angles, where normal distributions have been employed. Damage initiation envelopes, local fields, effective moduli, and strengths are predicted for polymer and ceramic matrix composites with given normal distributions of misalignment angles, as well as fully random fiber orientation.

Micromechanical↗
NASA NTRS1986

A general low frequency acoustic radiation capability for NASTRAN

A new capability called NASHUA is described for calculating the radiated acoustic sound pressure field exterior to a harmonically-excited arbitrary submerged 3-D elastic structure. The surface fluid pressures and velocities are first calculated by coupling a NASTRAN finite element model of the structure with a discretized form of the Helmholtz surface integral equation for the exterior fluid. After the fluid impedance is calculated, most of the required matrix operations are performed using the general matrix manipulation package (DMAP) available in NASTRAN. Far field radiated pressures are then calculated from the surface solution using the Helmholtz exterior integral equation. Other output quantities include the maximum sound pressure levels in each of the three coordinate planes, the rms and average surface pressures and normal velocities, the total radiated power and the radiation efficiency. The overall approach is illustrated and validated using known analytic solutions for submerged spherical shells subjected to both uniform and nonuniform applied loads.

Everstine, G. C.↗
NASA NTRS1997

Large Volcanic Rises on Venus

Large volcanic rises on Venus have been interpreted as hotspots, or the surface manifestation of mantle upwelling, on the basis of their broad topographic rises, abundant volcanism, and large positive gravity anomalies. Hotspots offer an important opportunity to study the behavior of the lithosphere in response to mantle forces. In addition to the four previously known hotspots, Atla, Bell, Beta, and western Eistla Regiones, five new probable hotspots, Dione, central Eistla, eastern Eistla, Imdr, and Themis, have been identified in the Magellan radar, gravity and topography data. These nine regions exhibit a wider range of volcano-tectonic characteristics than previously recognized for venusian hotspots, and have been classified as rift-dominated (Atla, Beta), coronae-dominated (central and eastern Eistla, Themis), or volcano-dominated (Bell, Dione, western Eistla, Imdr). The apparent depths of compensation for these regions ranges from 65 to 260 km. New estimates of the elastic thickness, using the 90 deg and order spherical harmonic field, are 15-40 km at Bell Regio, and 25 km at western Eistla Regio. Phillips et al. find a value of 30 km at Atla Regio. Numerous models of lithospheric and mantle behavior have been proposed to interpret the gravity and topography signature of the hotspots, with most studies focusing on Atla or Beta Regiones. Convective models with Earth-like parameters result in estimates of the thickness of the thermal lithosphere of approximately 100 km. Models of stagnant lid convection or thermal thinning infer the thickness of the thermal lithosphere to be 300 km or more. Without additional constraints, any of the model fits are equally valid. The thinner thermal lithosphere estimates are most consistent with the volcanic and tectonic characteristics of the hotspots. Estimates of the thermal gradient based on estimates of the elastic thickness also support a relatively thin lithosphere (Phillips et al.). The advantage of larger estimates of the thermal lithospheric thickness is that they provide an explanation for the apparently modest levels of geologic activity on Venus over the last half billion years.

Smrekar, Suzanne E.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Fundamental aspects in quantitative ultrasonic determination of fracture toughness: The scattering of a single ellipsoidal inhomogeneity

The scattering of a single ellipsoidal inhomogeneity is studied via an eigenstrain approach. The displacement field is given in terms of volume integrals that involve eigenstrains that are related to mismatch in mass density and that in elastic moduli. The governing equations for these unknown eigenstrains are derived. Agreement with other approaches for the scattering problem is shown. The formulation is general and both the inhomogeneity and the host medium can be anisotrophic. The axisymmetric scattering of an ellipsoidal inhomogeneity in a linear elastic isotropic medium is given as an example. The angular and frequency dependence of the scattered displacement field, the differential and total cross sections are formally given in series expansions for the case of uniformly distributed eigenstrains.

Fu, L. S. W.↗
NASA NTRS1988

The stress field in an edge cracked plate in antiplane deformation

The antiplane strain problem of an edge cracked elastic plate subjected to a surface displacement load is solved, and the surface line loads are obtained using conformal mapping techniques. Results are presented for the yield, stress, strain and displacement distributions, and stress intensity factors in the plate. A superposition technique and Green's functions are used to determine the strain field on the upper plate surface due to arbitrarily applied tensile stress on the lower plate surface.

Li, V. C.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Forced motion of an initially stressed rectangular plate - An elasticity solution

An initially stressed rectangular plate is subjected to a transverse, time dependent load. The initial stress field is constant and parallel to two of the plate edges. The transverse load is uniformly distributed over a rectangular area, the sides of which are parallel to the sides of the plate. The problem is formulated within the framework of classical, three-dimensional elasticity theory, and an exact solution is obtained in series form. The case of static stability under pre-stress is also considered.

Reismann, H.↗
NASA NTRS1979

The effect of transverse shear in a cracked plate under skew-symmetric loading

The problem of an elastic plate containing a through crack and subjected to twisting moments or transverse shear loads is considered. By using a bending theory which allows the satisfaction of the boundary conditions on the crack surface regarding the normal and the twisting moments and the transverse shear load separately, it is found that the resulting asymptotic stress field around the crack tip becomes identical to that given by the elasticity solutions of the plane strain and antiplane shear problems. The problem is solved for uniformly distributed or concentrated twisting moment or transverse shear load and the normalized Mode II and Mode III stress-intensity factors are tabulated. The results also include the effect of the Poisson's ratio and material orthotropy for specially orthotropic materials on the stress-intensity factors.

Delale, F.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Coupled BE/FE/BE approach for scattering from fluid-filled structures

NASHUA is a coupled finite element/boundary element capability built around NASTRAN for calculating the low frequency far-field acoustic pressure field radiated or scattered by an arbitrary, submerged, three-dimensional, elastic structure subjected to either internal time-harmonic mechanical loads or external time-harmonic incident loadings. Described here are the formulation and use of NASHUA for solving such structural acoustics problems when the structure is fluid-filled. NASTRAN is used to generate the structural finite element model and to perform most of the required matrix operations. Both fluid domains are modeled using the boundary element capability in NASHUA, whose matrix formulation (and the associated NASTRAN DMAP) for evacuated structures can be used with suitable interpretation of the matrix definitions. After computing surface pressures and normal velocities, far-field pressures are evaluated using an asymptotic form of the Helmholtz exterior integral equation. The proposed numerical approach is validated by comparing the acoustic field scattered from a submerged fluid-filled spherical thin shell to that obtained with a series solution, which is also derived here.

Everstine, Gordon C.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Dynamics of articulated structures

An articulated structure is defined as an assembly of flexible bodies that may be coupled by kinematic connections and force elements that permit large relative displacement and rotation. Kinematics of such systems is defined using one reference frame for each body in the system and deformation modal coordinates that define displacement fields within flexible bodies. Deformation kinematics are defined by both elastic vibration and static correction deformation modes. Linear elastic deformation is presumed; i.e., a linear stress-strain relation is valid and relative displacements within each elastic component are small enough so that the theory of linear elasticity applies. Coupling of reference and modal coordinates leads to a system of nonlinear equations of motion. Methods of automatically generating and solving these equations of motion are outlined.

Haug, Edward J.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Static and dynamic properties of incommensurate smectic-A(IC) liquid crystals

The elasticity, topological defects, and hydrodynamics of the incommensurate smectic A(IC) phase liquid crystals are studied. The phase is characterized by two colinear mass density waves of incommensurate spatial frequency. The elastic free energy is formulated in terms of a displacement field and a phason field. It is found that the topological defects of the system are dislocations with a nonzero phason field and phason field components. A two-dimensional Burgers lattice for these dislocations is introduced. It is shown that the hydrodynamic modes of the phase include first- and second-sound modes whose direction-dependent velocities are identical to those in ordinary smectics.

Lubensky, T. C.↗
NASA NTRS1996

Overview of nuclear fragementation models and needs

It has been known for some time that adequate assessment of spacecraft requirements and concomitant estimates of astronaut radiation exposures from galactic cosmic radiation requires accurate, quantitative methods for characterizing these radiation fields as they pass through thick absorbers. The main nuclear interaction processes involved are nuclear elastic an inelastic collisions, and nuclear breakup (fragmentation) and electromagnetic dissociation (EMD). Nuclear fragmenation and EMD are important because they alter the elemental and isotopic composition of the transported radiation fields. At present, there is no suitable accurate theory for predicting nuclear fragmentation cross sections for all collision pairs and energies of interest in space radiation protection. Typical cross-section differences between theory and experiment range from about 25 percent to a factor of two. The resulting errors in transported flux, for high linear energy transfer (LET) particles, are compared to these cross-sections errors. In this overview, theoretical models of heavy ion fragmentation currently used to generate input data bases for cosmic-ray transport and shielding codes are reviewed. Their shortcomings are discussed. Further actions needed to improve their accuracy and generality are presented.

Townsend, L. W.↗
NASA NTRS1996

A New Higher-Order Composite Theory for Analysis and Design of High Speed Tilt-Rotor Blades

A higher-order theory is developed to model composite box beams with arbitrary wall thicknesses. The theory, based on a refined displacement field, represents a three-dimensional model which approximates the elasticity solution. Therefore, the cross-sectional properties are not reduced to one-dimensional beam parameters. Both inplane and out-of-plane warping are automatically included in the formulation. The model accurately captures the transverse shear stresses through the thickness of each wall while satisfying all stress-free boundary conditions. Several numerical results are presented to validate the present theory. The developed theory is then used to model the load carrying member of a tilt-rotor blade which has thick-walled sections. The composite structural analysis is coupled with an aerodynamic analysis to compute the aeroelastic stability of the blade. Finally, a multidisciplinary optimization procedure is developed to improve the aerodynamic, structural and aeroelastic performance of the tilt-rotor aircraft. The Kreisselmeier-Steinhauser function is used to formulate the multiobjective function problem and a hybrid approximate analysis is used to reduce the computational effort. The optimum results are compared with the baseline values and show significant improvements in the overall performance of the tilt-rotor blade.

McCarthy, Thomas Robert↗
NASA NTRS1997

Multidisciplinary Optimization of Tilt Rotor Blades Using Comprehensive Composite Modeling Technique

An optimization procedure is developed for addressing the design of composite tilt rotor blades. A comprehensive technique, based on a higher-order laminate theory, is developed for the analysis of the thick composite load-carrying sections, modeled as box beams, in the blade. The theory, which is based on a refined displacement field, is a three-dimensional model which approximates the elasticity solution so that the beam cross-sectional properties are not reduced to one-dimensional beam parameters. Both inplane and out-of-plane warping are included automatically in the formulation. The model can accurately capture the transverse shear stresses through the thickness of each wall while satisfying stress free boundary conditions on the inner and outer surfaces of the beam. The aerodynamic loads on the blade are calculated using the classical blade element momentum theory. Analytical expressions for the lift and drag are obtained based on the blade planform with corrections for the high lift capability of rotor blades. The aerodynamic analysis is coupled with the structural model to formulate the complete coupled equations of motion for aeroelastic analyses. Finally, a multidisciplinary optimization procedure is developed to improve the aerodynamic, structural and aeroelastic performance of the tilt rotor aircraft. The objective functions include the figure of merit in hover and the high speed cruise propulsive efficiency. Structural, aerodynamic and aeroelastic stability criteria are imposed as constraints on the problem. The Kreisselmeier-Steinhauser function is used to formulate the multiobjective function problem. The search direction is determined by the Broyden-Fletcher-Goldfarb-Shanno algorithm. The optimum results are compared with the baseline values and show significant improvements in the overall performance of the tilt rotor blade.

Chattopadhyay, Aditi↗