A GENERAL DIGITAL COMPUTER ANALYSIS OF STATICALLY INDETERMINATE STRUCTURES
Digital computer analysis of statically indeterminate structures
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Digital computer analysis of statically indeterminate structures
ABSTRACT Several tanks at the Hanford Site (in Washington State, USA) belong to the first generation of underground nuclear waste storage tanks known as single shell tanks (SSTs). These tanks were constructed between 1943 and 1964 and are well beyond their design life. This article discusses the structural analysis approach and modeling challenges encountered during the ongoing analysis of record (AOR) for evaluating the structural integrity of the SSTs. There are several geometrical and material nonlinearities and uncertainties to be dealt with while performing the modern finite element analysis of these tanks. The analysis takes into account the temperature history of the tanks and allowable mechanical operating loads of these tanks for proper estimation of creep strains and thermal degradation of material properties. The loads prescribed in the AOR models also include anticipated loads that these tanks may see during waste retrieval and closure. Due to uncertainty in a number of inputs to the models, sensitivity studies were conducted to address questions related to the boundary conditions to realistically or conservatively represent the influence of surrounding tanks in a tank farm, the influence of backfill excavation slope, the extent of backfill and the total extent of undisturbed soil surrounding the backfill. Because of the limited availability of data on the thermal and operating history for many of the individual tanks, some of the data was assumed or interpolated. However, the models developed for the analysis of record represent the bounding scenarios and include the loading conditions that the tanks were subjected to or anticipated. The modeling refinement techniques followed in the AOR resulted in conservative estimates for force and moment demands at various sections in the concrete tanks. This article discusses the modeling aspects related to Type-II and Type-III SSTs. The modeling techniques, methodology and evaluation criteria developed for evaluating the structural integrity of SSTs at Hanford are in general applicable to any similar tanks or underground concrete storage structures.
This research examines the vibration and thermal characteristics of double-sided flux concentrating Transverse Flux Machines (TFM), designed for direct drive application. Two TFM prototypes with different stator cores, one with Quasi U-Core and the other with E-Core, has been used for the study. 3D Finite Element Analysis (FEA) has been carried out to determine the no-load and with load performance of the TFMs along with their fluctuating axial electromagnetic force densities acting on the stator teeth. The deformation response of the stator cores was observed in the static structural analysis. Thermal analysis for the TFM was performed through FEA based on copper and iron losses in the machine to examine the temperature rise in different parts of the machine structure. Acceleration and noise measurements were experimentally obtained to characterize the vibrational performance of the prototypes.
The results of an analytical and experimental investigation of the failure of composite is tiffener panels with extension-shear coupling are presented. This tailored concept, when used in the cover skins of a tiltrotor aircraft wing has the potential for increasing the aeroelastic stability margins and improving the aircraft productivity. The extension-shear coupling is achieved by using unbalanced 45 plies in the skin. The failure analysis of two tailored panel configurations that have the center stringer and adjacent skin severed is presented. Finite element analysis of the damaged panels was conducted using STAGS (STructural Analysis of General Shells) general purpose finite element program that includes a progressive failure capability for laminated composite structures that is based on point-stress analysis, traditional failure criteria, and ply discounting for material degradation. The progressive failure predicted the path of the failure and maximum load capability. There is less than 12 percent difference between the predicted failure load and experimental failure load. There is a good match of the panel stiffness and strength between the progressive failure analysis and the experimental results. The results indicate that the tailored concept would be feasible to use in the wing skin of a tiltrotor aircraft.
EV30 provides support to customers with structural design, analysis, and definition of induced environments. These disciplines are responsible for assuring the structural integrity of spacecraft and launch vehicle primary structures, subsystems, mechanisms, and components to ensure designs for this hardware meet structural requirements and performance goals.
The Rocket Experiment Demonstration of a Soft X-ray (REDSoX) Polarimeter is a NASA sounding rocket experiment that is designed to demonstrate the technology necessary for measuring linear X-ray polarization as a function of energy below 1 keV. In astrophysics, soft X-ray spectropolarimetry will be used to probe the nature of acceleration mechanisms in quasar jets and to test models of neutron star structure. NASA Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) has designed a grazing-incidence mirror module assembly (MMA) for the REDSoX payload and used Finite Element Modelling Software (ANSYS) to perform structural analysis of the design. In this paper we will describe the overall design of the REDSoX MMA, details of the analysis techniques used for predicting factor of safety in the mirror adhesive bonds and structural components, the buckling analysis of the outer housing, and the raytrace technique used to estimate the effect of gravity sag on optical performance during ground testing.
The structural integrity was studied of the Integrated Equipment Assembly (IEA) Strongback of the SSF for the launch environment. The strongback structure supports the electrical power system for SSF. To achieve minimum launch mass, it is essential that flight structures are designed as light as possible. A nonlinear structural analysis was conducted to determine the collapse load of the structure and the associated factor of safety against the service loads. A modeling technique is provided for simulating the load conditions and the buckling and post buckling (collapse) load is evaluated of the IEA Strongback structure, using the finite element computer code MARC. Two of four strongback panels were modeled and analyzed. The effects were examined of the following factors on the global behavior of the strongback panels: (1) load simplification and simulation; (2) type of support boundary conditions; and (3) the possibility of weight reduction of the original structure. For this purpose, several models of the two panels of the strongback were considered. The stress level and distribution in the panels for launch condition, the Eigenvalue critical buckling load and/or the collapse load were determined.
Statistical analysis of nonstationary structural response under feedback conditions and time solution of covariance matrix
Herein is presented a design for a lightweight 5m 1m radio-frequency (RF) re ector that can be attened, folded, and coiled for compact stowage on board an ESPA-class spacecraft. The re ector is a re ectarray that operates at 3.2GHz. Compared to state- of-the-art technologies for RF re ectors, the presented design has advantages in terms of areal density, sti ness, deployed stability, and scalability. Thermal and structural analysis is presented to demonstrate deployed sti ness and thermoelastic stability of the proposed design. Thermal analysis is used to predict in- space deployed temperatures in an operational condition, and structural nite element analysis is used to predict deployed vibration modes and frequencies, and the thermoelastic deformation of the deployed re ector. Also presented are the fabrication, assembly, and testing of two one-third-scale-length full-scale-width 1:7m 1m test articles. These test articles are used to experimentally demonstrate RF functioning, stowage, deployment, and RF performance after deployment.
A process for aerospace structural concept analysis and design is presented, with examples of a blended-wing-body fuselage, a multi-bubble fuselage concept, a notional crew exploration vehicle, and a high altitude long endurance aircraft. Aerospace vehicle structures must withstand all anticipated mission loads, yet must be designed to have optimal structural weight with the required safety margins. For a viable systems study of advanced concepts, these conflicting requirements must be imposed and analyzed early in the conceptual design cycle, preferably with a high degree of fidelity. In this design process, integrated multidisciplinary analysis tools are used in a collaborative engineering environment. First, parametric solid and surface models including the internal structural layout are developed for detailed finite element analyses. Multiple design scenarios are generated for analyzing several structural configurations and material alternatives. The structural stress, deflection, strain, and margins of safety distributions are visualized and the design is improved. Over several design cycles, the refined vehicle parts and assembly models are generated. The accumulated design data is used for the structural mass comparison and concept ranking. The present application focus on the blended-wing-body vehicle structure and advanced composite material are also discussed.
This paper presents the results of the structural design and analysis of the upper pressure shell section of a carbon composite demonstration structure for the Composite Crew Module (CCM) Project. The project is managed by the NASA Engineering and Safety Center with participants from eight NASA Centers, the Air Force Research Laboratory, and multiple aerospace contractors including ATK/Swales, Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin, Collier Research Corporation, Genesis Engineering, and Janicki Industries. The paper discusses details of the upper pressure shell section design of the CCM and presents the structural analysis results using the HyperSizer structural sizing software and the MSC Nastran finite element analysis software. The HyperSizer results showed that the controlling load case driving most of the sizing in the upper pressure shell section was the internal pressure load case. The regions around the cutouts were controlled by internal pressure and the main parachute load cases. The global finite element analysis results showed that the majority of the elements of the CCM had a positive margin of safety with the exception of a few hot spots around the cutouts. These hot spots are currently being investigated with a more detailed analysis. Local finite element models of the Low Impact Docking System (LIDS) interface ring and the forward bay gussets with greater mesh fidelity were created for local sizing and analysis. The sizing of the LIDS interface ring was driven by the drogue parachute loads, Trans-Lunar Insertion (TLI) loads, and internal pressure. The drogue parachute loads controlled the sizing of the gusset cap on the drogue gusset and TLI loads controlled the sizing of the other five gusset caps. The main parachute loads controlled the sizing of the lower ends of the gusset caps on the main parachute fittings. The results showed that the gusset web/pressure shell and gusset web/gusset cap interfaces bonded using Pi-preform joints had local hot spots in the Pi-preform termination regions. These regions require a detailed three-dimensional analysis, which is currently being performed, to accurately address the load distribution near the Pi-preform termination in the upper and lower gusset caps.
Redox-active metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have long been proposed as electronic transport platforms, yet the microscopic origin of their conductivity remains debated. A theoretical demonstration reveals charge transport in a Zn(pyrazole–naphthalene diimide (NDI)) MOF arising not from delocalized band-like states but from redox hopping between discrete linker sites. Using ab initio molecular dynamics simulations combined with electronic structure analysis, we established a direct link among electron injection, structural reorganization, and transport. Electron accumulation proceeds sequentially and site-selectively from imide and carbonyl groups of the NDI core progressively involving pyrazole N atoms at higher reduction states, through a hierarchy of redox-active sites. In contrast, Zn nodes remain essentially redox-inactive, which confirms their structural role. Density-of-states analysis corroborates a transport regime dominated by linker-centered states with evolving p-character upon reduction, resulting in dynamically reconfigured conduction networks. Real-time trajectories reveal anisotropic linker-to-linker electron transfer modulated by counterion coordination. This cooperative ion–electron regime emerges from potential energy surface collapse into a single low-barrier transition (ΔG ‡ ≈ 45 meV), where ionic and electronic motions evolve adiabatically on the same free-energy landscape. Elucidating redox conductivity in Zn(pyrazole–NDI) MOFs provides a theoretical framework for use in neuromorphic computing and related technologies.
Two metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with Zr-oxo secondary building units (SBUs) were prepared by using p,p'-terphenyldicarboxylate (TPDC) bridging ligands pre-functionalized with orthogonal succinic acid (MOF-1) and maleic acid groups (MOF-2). Single-crystal X-ray structure analysis of MOF-1 provides the first direct evidence for eight-connected SBUs in UiO-type MOFs. In contrast, MOF-2 contains twelve-connected SBUs as seen in the traditional UiO MOF topology. These structural assignments were confirmed by extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) analysis. The highly porous MOF-1 is an excellent fluorescence sensor for metal ions with the detection limit of <0.5 ppb for Mn 2+ and three to four orders of magnitude greater sensitivity for metal ions than previously reported luminescent MOFs.
The session "Venus" included the following reports:Preliminary Study of Laser-induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) for a Venus Mission; Venus Surface Investigation Using VIRTIS Onboard the ESA/Venus Express Mission; Use of Magellan Images for Venus Landing Safety Assessment; Volatile Element Geochemistry in the Lower Atmosphere of Venus; Resurfacing Styles and Rates on Venus: Assessment of 18 Venusian Quadrangles; Stereo Imaging of Impact Craters in the Beta-Atla-Themis (BAT) Region, Venus; Depths of Extended Crater-related Deposits on Venus ; Potential Pyroclastic Deposit in the Nemesis Tessera (V14) Quadrangle of Venus; Relationship Between Coronae, Regional Plains and Rift Zones on Venus, Preliminary Results; Coronae of Parga Chasma, Venus; The Evolution of Four Volcano/Corona Hybrids on Venus; Calderas on Venus and Earth: Comparison and Models of Formation; Venus Festoon Deposits: Analysis of Characteristics and Modes of Emplacement; Topographic and Structural Analysis of Devana Chasma, Venus: A Propagating Rift System; Anomalous Radial Structures at Irnini Mons, Venus: A Parametric Study of Stresses on a Pressurized Hole; Analysis of Gravity and Topography Signals in Atalanta-Vinmara and Lavinia Planitiae Canali are Lava, Not River, Channels; and Formation of Venusian Channels in a Shield Paint Substrate.
A series of 3d-4f heterometallic coordination polymers, formulated as {l_brace} [Cu{sub 3}Ln{sub 2}(pydc){sub 6}(H{sub 2}O){sub 12}]{center_dot}4H{sub 2}O{r_brace} {sub n} [Ln=Tb (1), Eu (2), Dy (3), Ho (4), Lu (5)], {l_brace} [CuNd{sub 2}(pydc){sub 4}(H{sub 2}O){sub 3}]{center_dot}H{sub 2}O{r_brace} {sub n} (6) and {l_brace} [Cu{sub 3}Pr{sub 2}(pydc){sub 6}(H{sub 2}O){sub 13}]{center_dot}4H{sub 2}O{r_brace} {sub n} (7) (where H{sub 2}pydc=pyridine-2,5-dicarboxylic acid), have been hydrothermally prepared by reactions of H{sub 2}pydc ligand with lanthanide ions in the presence of Cu(II) ion. X-ray crystal structure analysis reveals that these compounds exhibit rich structural chemistry. 1-5 are isomorphous and present a two-dimensional network constructed from Ln{sub 2}Cu{sub 2}L{sub 2}(H{sub 2}O){sub 2} SBU rings and CuL{sub 2}(H{sub 2}O) building blocks. In 6, two-dimensional ladder-like layers based on Nd(III) belts and CuL{sub 2}O{sub 2} units are assembled by H{sub 2}pydc ligands into a three-dimensional open framework. Polymer 7 displays a two-dimensional wave-like layer structure containing two distinct ring units, in which a new coordination mode of the pydc{sup 2-} ligand is observed. The results indicate that the coordination flexibility of the pydc{sup 2-} ligand and lanthanide contraction effect play cooperative roles in the formation of coordination polymers with different polymeric architectures. Compounds 1-2 exhibit intense green and red luminescence emission characteristics of Tb(III) and Eu(III), respectively. Furthermore, elemental analyses (EA), infrared spectra (IR) and thermogravimetric analyses (TGA) of these compounds were also studied. - Graphical abstract: Seven 3d-4f heterometallic coordination polymers were synthesized by reactions of H{sub 2}pydc with lanthanide metal ions in the presence of Cu{sup 2+}, the effects of Cu{sup 2+} on the structures and photoluminescent properties of Ln-pydc{sup 2-} systems were investigated. Highlights: Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Seven 3d-4f heterometallic compounds have been prepared and characterized. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer 1-5 and 7 are constructed from Ln{sub 2}Cu{sub 2}L{sub 2}(H{sub 2}O){sub 2} rings and CuL{sub 2}(H{sub 2}O) building blocks. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer One new coordination mode of the pydc{sup 2-} ligand is first observed. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer 1-2 exhibit intense characteristic luminescence emission spectra of lanthanide ions.
A structural performance and resizing (SPAR) finite-element computer program and NASA structural analysis (NASTRAN) finite-element computer programs were used in the thermal stress analysis of the space shuttle orbiter subjected to reentry aerodynamic heating. A SPAR structural model was set up for the entire left wing of the orbiter, and NASTRAN structural models were set up for: (1) a wing segment located at midspan of the orbiter left wing, and (2) a fuselage segment located at midfuselage. The thermal stress distributions in the orbiter structure were obtained and the critical high thermal stress regions were identified. It was found that the thermal stresses induced in the orbiter structure during reentry were relatively low. The thermal stress predictions from the whole wing model were considered to be more accurate than those from the wing segment model because the former accounts for temperature and stress effects throughout the entire wing.
To improve understanding of the single-shell tanks (SSTs) integrity, Washington River Protection Solutions, LLC (WRPS), the US DOE Hanford Site tank contractor, developed an enhanced Single-Shell Tank Integrity Project (SSTIP) in 2009. An expert panel on SST integrity, consisting of various subject matter experts in industry and academia, was created to provide recommendations supporting the development of the project. This panel developed 33 recommendations in four main areas of interest: structural integrity, liner degradation, leak integrity and prevention, and mitigation of contamination migration. In late 2010, seventeen of these recommendations were used to develop the basis for the M-45-10-1 Change Package for the Hanford Federal Agreement and Compliance Order, which is also known as the Tri-Party Agreement. The change package identified two phases of work for SST integrity. The initial phase was focused on efforts to envelope the integrity of the tanks. The initial phase was divided into two primary areas of investigation: structural integrity and leak integrity. If necessary, based on the outcome from the initial work, second phase would be focused on further definition of the integrity of the tanks and liners. Combined these two phases are designed to support the formal integrity assessment of the Hanford SSTs in 2018 by an Independent Qualified Registered Engineer. As the initial phase of this work completes in early 2015, this paper summarizes the project formation and status the work of the past few years associated the implementation of the Phase one recommendations. Work in the initial phase to further define the DOE's understanding of the structural integrity SSTs involved preparing a modern Analysis of Record (AOR) using finite element analysis. Structural analyses of the SSTs have been conducted since 1957, but these analyses used analog calculations, less rigorous models, or focused on individual structures. As such, an integrated understanding of all of the SSTs has not been developed to modern expectations. In support of this effort, other activities addressed the visual inspection of tank internal conditions and the collection of concrete core samples from the tanks, including a full height tank sidewall core, for analysis of current mechanics properties. The work on the liner leak integrity has examined leaks from 25 tanks with known liner failures. Individual leak assessments were developed for each tank to identify the leak cause and location and estimate historic leak rates. A common cause/failure analysis study was performed to take data from individual tanks to look for trends in the causes of failure. A separate activity is being conducted to examine the propensity for corrosion in select SSTs with aggressive waste layers. (authors)