Engineering topics

Wu, K. C.

Publications and source records attributed to Wu, K. C..

6 records

NASA NTRS2011

Highly Loaded Composite Strut Test Results

Highly loaded composite struts from a proposed truss-based Altair lunar lander descent stage concept were selected for development under NASA's Advanced Composites Technology program. Predicted compressive member forces during launch and ascent of over -100,000 lbs were much greater than the tensile loads. Therefore, compressive failure modes, including structural stability, were primary design considerations. NASA's industry partner designed and built highly loaded struts that were delivered to NASA for testing. Their design, fabricated on a washout mandrel, had a uniform-diameter composite tube with composite tapered ends. Each tapered end contained a titanium end fitting with facing conical ramps that are overlaid and overwrapped with composite materials. The highly loaded struts were loaded in both tension and compression, with ultimate failure produced in compression. Results for the two struts tested are presented and discussed, along with measured deflections, strains and observed failure mechanisms.

Wu, K. C.↗

NASA NTRS1992

A structurally adaptive space crane concept for assembling space systems on orbit

A space crane concept is presented which is based on erectable truss hardware to achieve high stiffness and low mass booms and articulating-truss joints which can be assembled on orbit. The hardware is characterized by linear load-deflection response and is structurally predictable. The crane can be reconfigured into different geometries to meet future assembly requirements. Articulating-truss joint concepts with significantly different geometries are analyzed and found to have similar static and dynamic performance, which indicates that criteria other than structural and kinematic performance can be used to select a joint. Passive damping and an open-loop preshaped command input technique greatly enhance the structural damping in the space crane and may preclude the need for an active vibrations suppression system.

Dorsey, John T.↗

NASA NTRS1992

Structural characterization of an articulated-truss joint

A first generation space crane articulated-truss joint was statically and dynamically characterized in a configuration which approximated an operational environment. The articulated-truss joint was integrated into a test bed for structural characterization. Static characterization was performed by applying known loads and measuring the corresponding deflections to obtain load-deflection curves. Dynamic characterization was performed using modal testing to experimentally determine the first six mode shapes, frequencies, and modal damping values. The static and dynamic characteristics were also determined for a reference truss, which served as a characterization baseline. Load-deflection curves are presented for the reference truss, and the articulated-truss joint mounted in the test bed. The static and dynamic experimental results are compared to analytical predictions obtained from finite element analyses. The load-deflection response is also presented for one of the linear actuators used in the articulated-truss joint. Finally, an assessment is presented for the predictability of the truss hardware used in the reference truss and articulated-truss joint based upon hardware stiffness properties which were previously obtained during the Precision Segmented Reflector (PSR) Technology Development Program.

Sutter, Thomas R.↗

NASA NTRS1992

Analysis of space crane articulated-truss joints

The paper examines three articulated-truss joint concepts of the space crane in order to evaluate their static structural performance over a range of geometric design parameters. Emphasis is placed on maintaining the four-longeron reference truss performance across the joint while still allowing large-angle articulation. A maximum positive articulation angle is computed for each joint concept as the design parameters are varied, along with the actuator length ratio required to reach that angle. The tip rotation and lateral deflections of a truss beam with an articulated-truss joint at the midspan are employed to select a point design for each joint concept. The computed deflections for one point design are up to 30 percent higher than deflections for the other two designs. The two lowest natural frequencies of the three point designs are found to be relatively insensitive to large variations in the joint articulation angle.

Wu, K. C.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Analysis of a single-fold deployable truss beam preloaded by extension of selected face diagonal members

A technique for preloading a deployable box truss beam by extension of one face diagonal per bay was studied to determine if it would result in uniform loading of truss joints without causing excessive truss deformations. Results indicate that it is possible to accomplish uniform loading in the beam region way from beam boundaries, whereas in the regions near boundaries the member loading becomes non-uniform with magnitudes greater than those in the uniform load region. Also, the type of deformation which results in the beam depends on the pattern of preloaded members.

Wu, K. C.↗

NASA NTRS1983

Laser microspeckle technique in displacement measurement near a crack tip

The laser speckle method has been found quite useful in obtaining in-plane displacement measurements. It is especially useful if the displacement field in a small region can be effectively determined. By obtaining directly the speckle patterns at higher magnifications, a better distinction of the displacements in the vicinity of a crack tip is possible. In this short report some results are obtained and compared with those calculated from linear fracture mechanics and the finite element method for an aluminum crack.

Tang, Z. Q.↗