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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 181 records · Page 10
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1991

Finite element analysis of nonlinear flutter of composite panels

A finite element formulation is developed to analyze large-amplitude panel flutter of arbitrary laminated plates. The plates considered are anisotropic composite, thin rectangular panels. The equations of motion for an oscillating plate are determined and solved by linearizing the nonlinear stiffness matrices. The solution procedure is presented to determine the limit-cycle motions which are caused by the large deflections and vibrations induced by the areodynamic load. The aerodynamic load is defined by the first-order piston theory. Examples studied include cross-ply laminates with various numbers of layers and three-layer angle-ply laminates with different lamination angles. The effects of simply supported and clamped boundary conditions of a cross-ply laminate are also examined.

Dixon, Iain R.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Finite element analysis of laminated plates and shells, volume 1

The finite element method is used to investigate the static behavior of laminated composite flat plates and cylindrical shells. The analysis incorporates the effects of transverse shear deformation in each layer through the assumption that the normals to the undeformed layer midsurface remain straight but need not be normal to the mid-surface after deformation. A digital computer program was developed to perform the required computations. The program includes a very efficient equation solution code which permits the analysis of large size problems. The method is applied to the problem of stretching and bending of a perforated curved plate.

Seide, P.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Thermal finite-element analysis of space shuttle main engine turbine blade

Finite-element, transient heat transfer analyses were performed for the first-stage blades of the space shuttle main engine (SSME) high-pressure fuel turbopump. The analyses were based on test engine data provided by Rocketdyne. Heat transfer coefficients were predicted by performing a boundary-layer analysis at steady-state conditions with the STAN5 boundary-layer code. Two different peak-temperature overshoots were evaluated for the startup transient. Cutoff transient conditions were also analyzed. A reduced gas temperature profile based on actual thermocouple data was also considered. Transient heat transfer analyses were conducted with the MARC finite-element computer code.

Abdul-Aziz, Ali↗
NASA NTRS1982

Implementation of structural response sensitivity calculations in a large-scale finite-element analysis system

The implementation includes a generalized method for specifying element cross-sectional dimensions as design variables that can be used in analytically calculating derivatives of output quantities from static stress, vibration, and buckling analyses for both membrane and bending elements. Limited sample results for static displacements and stresses are presented to indicate the advantages of analytically calclating response derivatives compared to finite difference methods. Continuing developments to implement these procedures into an enhanced version of the system are also discussed.

Giles, G. L.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Finite element analysis of fluid-filled elastic piping systems

Two finite element procedures are described for predicting the dynamic response of general 3-D fluid-filled elastic piping systems. The first approach, a low frequency procedure, models each straight pipe or elbow as a sequence of beams. The contained fluid is modeled as a separate coincident sequence axial members (rods) which are tied to the pipe in the lateral direction. The model includes the pipe hoop strain correction to the fluid sound speed and the flexibility factor correction to the elbow flexibility. The second modeling approach, an intermediate frequency procedure, follows generally the original Zienkiewicz-Newton scheme for coupled fluid-structure problems except that the velocity potential is used as the fundamental fluid unknown to symmetrize the coefficient matrices. From comparisons of the beam model predictions to both experimental data and the 3-D model, the beam model is validated for frequencies up to about two-thirds of the lowest fluid-filled labor pipe mode. Accurate elbow flexibility factors are seen to be crucial for effective beam modeling of piping systems.

Everstine, G. C.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Penalty function finite element analysis of steady viscous incompressible flow in rotating coordinates

Finite element methods for incompressible viscous flow in turbomachines have not been presented in the literature previously. This paper develops a penalty function primitive variable method including Coriolis and centrifugal force terms for steady flow in a rotating coordinate system. Simplex elements are used with the result of solution times comparable to equivalent finite different solutions. Example cases considered are Couette flow, Poiseuile flow, flow over a step and flow in a rotating channel. Both laminar and turbulent flows are discussed. The accuracy of computed solutions compares well with theoretical solutions and experimenal measurements.

Rosen, M. C.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Local and global accuracy estimates for boundary element analysis

An a posteriori error estimation strategy for the boundary element solution of two-dimensional heat conduction problem is presented. The error estimate formulation is based on the boundary element equations and employs a least squares fit of the solutions obtained from these equations. A local error estimate is evaluated for the unknown quantity in each element. The global error estimates are found from local (element) quantities. The range and accuracy of the proposed strategy is very good as demonstrated by problems containing smooth and non-smooth solutions.

Rencis, Joseph J.↗
NASA NTRS2011

Comparison of Test and Finite Element Analysis for Two Full-Scale Helicopter Crash Tests

Finite element analyses have been performed for two full-scale crash tests of an MD-500 helicopter. The first crash test was conducted to evaluate the performance of a composite deployable energy absorber under combined flight loads. In the second crash test, the energy absorber was removed to establish the baseline loads. The use of an energy absorbing device reduced the impact acceleration levels by a factor of three. Accelerations and kinematic data collected from the crash tests were compared to analytical results. Details of the full-scale crash tests and development of the system-integrated finite element model are briefly described along with direct comparisons of acceleration magnitudes and durations for the first full-scale crash test. Because load levels were significantly different between tests, models developed for the purposes of predicting the overall system response with external energy absorbers were not adequate under more severe conditions seen in the second crash test. Relative error comparisons were inadequate to guide model calibration. A newly developed model calibration approach that includes uncertainty estimation, parameter sensitivity, impact shape orthogonality, and numerical optimization was used for the second full-scale crash test. The calibrated parameter set reduced 2-norm prediction error by 51% but did not improve impact shape orthogonality.

Annett, Martin S.↗
NASA NTRS2007

A Procedure for Modeling Structural Component/Attachment Failure Using Transient Finite Element Analysis

Structures often comprise smaller substructures that are connected to each other or attached to the ground by a set of finite connections. Under static loading one or more of these connections may exceed allowable limits and be deemed to fail. Of particular interest is the structural response when a connection is severed (failed) while the structure is under static load. A transient failure analysis procedure was developed by which it is possible to examine the dynamic effects that result from introducing a discrete failure while a structure is under static load. The failure is introduced by replacing a connection load history by a time-dependent load set that removes the connection load at the time of failure. The subsequent transient response is examined to determine the importance of the dynamic effects by comparing the structural response with the appropriate allowables. Additionally, this procedure utilizes a standard finite element transient analysis that is readily available in most commercial software, permitting the study of dynamic failures without the need to purchase software specifically for this purpose. The procedure is developed and explained, demonstrated on a simple cantilever box example, and finally demonstrated on a real-world example, the American Airlines Flight 587 (AA587) vertical tail plane (VTP).

Lovejoy, Andrew E.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Finite element analysis of thermal post-buckling and vibrations of thermally buckled composite plates

A finite-element formulation is presented for the analysis of thermal postbuckling and free vibrations of thermally buckled, thin, rectangular, arbitrarily laminated, composite plates. The thermal load is considered to be a large steady-state temperature change over the plate. The equations of motion are derived from the principle of virtual work. The solution procedures are briefly discussed. Finite-element results are compared with existing isotropic and composite solutions. Examples studied include symmetric and antisymmetric angle-ply laminates and certain symmetric laminates.

Mei, Chuh↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Dynamic Stability Finite Element Analysis of Multiple Potential Large Space Telescope Structural Designs

One of the driving structural requirements of the Habitable Exo-Planet telescope is to maintain line of sight stability between the primary and secondary mirror of ≤ 5 milli-arc seconds. Dynamic analyses of two configurations of a proposed Habitable Exo-Planet 4 meter off-axis telescope structure were performed to predict effects of a vibration input on primary/secondary mirror alignment. The dynamic disturbance used as the forcing function was the James Webb Space Telescope reaction wheel assembly vibration emission specification level. The objective of these analyses was to predict order-of-magnitude performance for various structural configurations which contribute to efforts in defining the Habitable Exo-Planet structural design’s global architecture. Two variations of the basic architectural design were analyzed. Relative motion between the PM and the SM for each design configuration are reported.

jitter↗
NASA NTRS1975

Finite element analysis using NASTRAN applied to helicopter transmission vibration/noise reduction

A finite element NASTRAN model of the complete forward rotor transmission housing for the Boeing Vertol CH-47 helicopter was developed and applied to reduce transmission vibration/noise at its source. In addition to a description of the model, a technique for vibration/noise prediction and reduction is outlined. Also included are the dynamic response as predicted by NASTRAN, test data, the use of strain energy methods to optimize the housing for minimum vibration/noise, and determination of design modifications which will be manufactured and tested. The techniques presented are not restricted to helicopters but are applicable to any power transmission system. The transmission housing model developed can be used further to evaluate static and dynamic stresses, thermal distortions, deflections and load paths, fail-safety/vulnerability, and composite materials.

Howells, R. W.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Concurrent Finite-Element Analysis On Hypercube Computers

Improved approach to execution of finite-element codes on hypercube and similar concurrent data processors increases efficiency of computation for many different types of problems. Based on flexible general model of computation on, and communication among, large-node parallel processors. Hybrid combining direct methods within subdomains and preconditioned-conjugate-gradient (PCG) iteration on remaining boundary system to obtain method of solution both robust and efficient. Preserves general structure and function of conventional sequential finite-element-method software. Generalized to both distributed- and shared-memory multicomputers, eliminating degree of machine specificity restricting general usefulness.

Lyzenga, G. A.↗
NASA NTRS2007

Better Finite-Element Analysis of Composite Shell Structures

A computer program implements a finite-element-based method of predicting the deformations of thin aerospace structures made of isotropic materials or anisotropic fiber-reinforced composite materials. The technique and corresponding software are applicable to thin shell structures in general and are particularly useful for analysis of thin beamlike members having open cross-sections (e.g. I-beams and C-channels) in which significant warping can occur.

Clarke, Gregory↗
NASA NTRS1990

Comparison of equivalent plate and finite element analysis of a realistic aircraft structural configuration

This paper presents a comparison study to assess how well a realistic aircraft structure can be represented with an equivalent plate model. A wing box and full wing structure of a high-speed civil transport aircraft configuration are analyzed. Static and vibration results from the equivalent plate analysis are compared with results from a finite element model. The results from these comparisons show that, for the simpler wing box models, the static displacements and first vibration frequency agree to within 1.5 percent. The full wing models only agree to within 10 percent, for both models, the higher frequencies vary by as much as 26 percent. These differences are due to inadequate refinement of the equivalent plate model.

Kao, Pi-Jen↗
NASA NTRS1991

Nonlinear static and dynamic finite element analysis of an eccentrically loaded graphite-epoxy beam

The Dynamic Crash Analysis of Structures (DYCAT) and NIKE3D nonlinear finite element codes were used to model the static and implulsive response of an eccentrically loaded graphite-epoxy beam. A 48-ply unidirectional composite beam was tested under an eccentric axial compressive load until failure. This loading configuration was chosen to highlight the capabilities of two finite element codes for modeling a highly nonlinear, large deflection structural problem which has an exact solution. These codes are currently used to perform dynamic analyses of aircraft structures under impact loads to study crashworthiness and energy absorbing capabilities. Both beam and plate element models were developed to compare with the experimental data using the DYCAST and NIKE3D codes.

Fasanella, Edwin L.↗