Engineering topics

Sun, C. T.

Publications and source records attributed to Sun, C. T..

54 records · Page 3

NASA NTRS1985

Analysis of impact response of buckled composite laminates

The dynamic response of buckled composite plates impacted by a hard object is studied. A nine-node isoparametric finite element, developed based on the Mindlin plate theory and von Karman large deflection assumptions, is used for both postbuckling and impact analyses. In order to evaluate the contact force, an experimentally established contact law which accounts for the permanent indentation is employed. The static postbuckling problem of laminated plates is first considered. The impact responses include contact force histories, dynamic deflections, and dynamic strains in the plate for various buckling conditions. In addition, free vibration of buckled laminated plates is also solved to determine the range of natural frequencies which are needed to choose a proper time increment for time integration in the impact analysis.

Chen, J. K.↗

NASA NTRS1985

An efficient numerical algorithm for transverse impact problems

Transverse impact problems in which the elastic and plastic indentation effects are considered, involve a nonlinear integral equation for the contact force, which, in practice, is usually solved by an iterative scheme with small increments in time. In this paper, a numerical method is proposed wherein the iterations of the nonlinear problem are separated from the structural response computations. This makes the numerical procedures much simpler and also efficient. The proposed method is applied to some impact problems for which solutions are available, and they are found to be in good agreement. The effect of the magnitude of time increment on the results is also discussed.

Sankar, B. V.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Dynamic large deflection response of composite laminates subjected to impact

Impact responses of composite laminates with and without initial stresses are investigated using the finite element method. A nine-node isoparametric quadrilateral element based on the Mindlin plate theory and the von Karman large deflection assumptions is developed. An experimentally established contact law which accounts for the permanent indentation is incorporated into the finite element program to evaluate the impact force. In the time integration, the Newmark constant acceleration algorithm is used in conjunction with successive iterations within each time step. Numerical results, including the contact force histories, deflections and strains in the plate, are presented.

Chen, J. K.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Nonlinear transient responses of initially stressed composite plates

The nonlinear transient response of initially stressed composite plates is investigated using the finite element method. A nine-node isoparametric quadrilateral element is developed to model laminated plates under initial deformation and initial stress according to the Mindlin plate theory and von Karman large deflection assumptions. In the time integration, the Newmark constant acceleration method in conjunction with an efficient and accurate iteration scheme is used. Numerical results for deflections and bending moments for isotropic and laminated plates are obtained.

Chen, J. K.↗

NASA NTRS1983

Parameter estimation in truss beams using Timoshenko beam model with damping

Truss beams with members having viscous damping are modeled with a Timoshenko beam. Procedures for deriving the equivalent bending rigidity, transverse shear rigidity, and damping are presented. Explicit expressions for these equivalent beam properties are obtained for a specific truss beam. The beam model thus established is then used to investigate the effect of damping in free vibration. Finally, the beam is employed in the estimation of structural parameters in a simply-supported truss beam using a random search algorithm.

Sun, C. T.↗

NASA NTRS1983

System identification of large flexible structures by using simple continuum models

Simple continuum models for the representation of large truss beams and truss platforms are constructed and employed in the solution of system identification problems permitting the significant reduction of the number of structural parameters. Two simple and easily computer-implemented algorithms are presented for the estimation of a simple model's equivalent structural parameters, and analytical and numerical solutions are given for the truss beam and truss platform cases in order to illustrate the basic concepts. It is found that model simplicity, in conjunction with the principle of least square erors, yields a feasible integration of structural and identification problems.

Juang, J. N.↗

NASA NTRS1983

Modeling global structural damping in trusses using simple continuum models

Truss beams with members having viscous damping are modeled as continuum Timoshenko beams. Procedures for deriving the equivalent beam stiffnesses and damping are presented. The global damping for the continuum beam is explicitly expressed in terms of the damping coefficients of the individual truss members. The continuum beam model is used to study transient vibration problems and the solutions are compared well with the full scale finite element solutions. The gradient method is used for parameter estimations in conjunction with the Timoshenko beam model. It is shown that the Timoshenko beam model can be easily updated with measured data and the updated model can yield very accurate transient solutions.

Sun, C. T.↗

NASA NTRS1983

Wave propagation in a graphite/epoxy laminate

Harmonic wave and wave front propagations in a graphite/epoxy laminate are investigated using a plate theory that includes transverse shear deformation. Transient waves produced by impact of a steel ball are studied experimentally and by using finite elements. The statically measured law of contact between the steel ball and the laminate is used in the finite element program to compute the dynamic contact force. It is found that use of this contact law in conjunction with the finite element modeling of the laminate yields excellent agreement with the experimental results.

Sun, C. T.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Wave propagation in graphite/epoxy laminates due to impact

The low velocity impact response of graphite-epoxy laminates is investigated theoretically and experimentally. A nine-node isoparametric finite element in conjunction with an empirical contact law was used for the theoretical investigation. Flat laminates subjected to pendulum impact were used for the experimental investigation. Theoretical results are in good agreement with strain gage experimental data. The collective results of the investigation indicate that the theoretical procedure describes the impact response of the laminate up to about 150 in/sec. impact velocity.

Tan, T. M.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Dynamic responses of graphite/epoxy laminated beam to impact of elastic spheres

Wave propagation in 90/45/90/-45/902s and 0/45/0/-45/02s laminates of a graphite/epoxy composite due to impact of a steel ball was investigated experimentally and also by using a high order beam finite element. Dynamic strain responses at several locations were obtained using strain gages. The finite element program which incorporated statically determined contact laws was employed to calculate the contact force history as well as the target beam dynamic deformation. The comparison of the finite element solutions with the experimental data indicated that the static contact laws for loading and unloading (developed under this grant) are adequate for the dynamic impact analysis. It was found that for the 0/45/0/-45/02s laminate which has a much larger longitudinal bending rigidity, the use of beam finite elements is not suitable and plate finite element should be used instead.

Sun, C. T.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Contact between a rigid cylinder and an orthotropic beam under initial stress

The contact behavior between a smooth rigid cylinder and a simply-supported orthotropic beam under uniaxial initial stresses is studied. The displacements are computed by superposing Mindlin plate solution with the solution obtained from Biot's theory of incremental deformation. Finite Fourier transforms are used in solving the equations. The effects of orthotropy and initial stresses on the contact stress distribution are investigated. An indentation law is established from the numerical results.

Sun, C. T.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Indentation law for composite laminates

Static indentation tests are described for glass/epoxy and graphite/epoxy composite laminates with steel balls as the indentor. Beam specimens clamped at various spans were used for the tests. Loading, unloading, and reloading data were obtained and fitted into power laws. Results show that: (1) contact behavior is not appreciably affected by the span; (2) loading and reloading curves seem to follow the 1.5 power law; and (3) unloading curves are described quite well by a 2.5 power law. In addition, values were determined for the critical indentation, alpha sub cr which can be used to predict permanent indentations in unloading. Since alpha sub cr only depends on composite material properties, only the loading and an unloading curve are needed to establish the complete loading-unloading-reloading behavior. Previously announced in STAR as N82-15123

Yang, S. H.↗

NASA NTRS1981

Fatigue retardation due to creep in a fibrous composite

Experiments performed to determine the effects of temperature and creep strain on the fatigue life of a graphite/epoxy composite laminate show that (1) sustained periods of static loading have significant retardation effects on the fatigue degradation rate of the laminated composite, and (2) cyclic loading with a lower frequency preceding higher frequency loading also prolongs the fatigue life. A creep crack hypothesis is proposed that can provide reasonable interpretations for these experimental results.

Sun, C. T.↗

NASA NTRS1980

Proof test and fatigue of unnotched composite laminates

A comprehensive fatigue and residual strength degradation model has been used to predict the effect of proof loads (or high load) on the statistical fatigue behavior of composite laminates. The validity of the theoretical model is confirmed by the experimental test results. The correlation between the test results and the theoretical distributions of the fatigue life and the residual strength for composite specimens with or without the effect of proof loads is shown to be very good.

Yang, J. N.↗

NASA NTRS1980

Contact law and impact responses of laminated composites

Static identation tests were performed to determine the law of contact between a steel ball and glass/epoxy and graphite/epoxy laminated composites. For both composites the power law with an index of 1.5 was found to be adequate for the loading curve. Substantial permanent deformations were noted after the unloading. A high order beam finite element was used to compute the dynamic contact force and response of the laminated composite subjected to the impact of an elastic sphere. This program can be used with either the classical Hertzian contact law or the measured contact law. A simple method is introduced for estimating the contact force and contact duration in elastic impacts.

Sun, C. T.↗

NASA NTRS1980

Parameter identification of civil engineering structures

This paper concerns the development of an identification method required in determining structural parameter variations for systems subjected to an extended exposure to the environment. The concept of structural identifiability of a large scale structural system in the absence of damping is presented. Three criteria are established indicating that a large number of system parameters (the coefficient parameters of the differential equations) can be identified by a few actuators and sensors. An eight-bay-fifteen-story frame structure is used as example. A simple model is employed for analyzing the dynamic response of the frame structure.

Juang, J. N.↗

NASA NTRS1979

Frequency effect on the fatigue life of a laminated composite

Effects of load frequency on the fatigue behavior of notched (+ or - 45 deg)2s laminated graphite/epoxy composites are investigated. Experimental results are obtained using four frequencies at three load levels. Temperature rises near the center hole are also measured. It is found that when temperature increase during the fatigue test is small, fatigue life increases as the load frequency increases. However, an increase in the near hole temperature results in a reduction in fatigue life. A theoretical model based upon crack propagation in viscoelastic media is presented. The model is modified to account for the temperature effect.

Sun, C. T.↗

NASA NTRS1978

Thermorheological effects on fatigue life of fiber composites

A series of experiments were performed to study the effect of creep strain and temperature on the fatigue life of the graphite epoxy laminate composite. It was concluded that sustained periods of static loading have significant retardation effects on the fatigue life of the laminated composite and that a cyclic loading with a higher frequency preceeding the one with a lower frequency also prolongs the fatigue life. A creep crack model was proposed which can provide interpretations for the experimental results.

Sun, C. T.↗