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At least 217 records · Page 12

Machine Tests Optical Fibers In Flexure

Machine repeatedly flexes single optical fiber or cable or bundle of optical fibers at low temperature. Liquid nitrogen surrounds specimen as it is bent back and forth by motion of piston. Machine inexpensive to build and operate. Tests under repeatable conditions so candidate fibers, cables, and bundles evaluated for general robustness before subjected to expensive shock and vibration tests.

Darejeh, Hadi↗

Free-Roller Versus Fixed-Roller Fixtures in Flexure Testing of Advanced Ceramic Materials

The error associated with strength measurements made with fixed-roller and V-grooved roller figures was studied with a variety of roller and figure material combinations. Both the fixed-roller and the V-grooved fixtures yielded an error in stress of about 4 to 7%. They also exhibited an appreciable amount of load strain hysteresis. Dynamic fatigue testing of 96 wt.% alumina verified the error: the fatigue strength was overestimated by 7 to 9% for the fixed roller configuration. The source of error is exclusively attributed to friction between the rollers and the specimen surface, as verified by previous investigators.

Salem, Jonathan A.↗

Analysis of Ninety Degree Flexure Tests for Characterization of Composite Transverse Tensile Strength

Finite element (FE) analysis was performed on 3-point and 4-point bending test configurations of ninety degree oriented glass-epoxy and graphite-epoxy composite beams to identify deviations from beam theory predictions. Both linear and geometric non-linear analyses were performed using the ABAQUS finite element code. The 3-point and 4-point bending specimens were first modeled with two-dimensional elements. Three-dimensional finite element models were then performed for selected 4-point bending configurations to study the stress distribution across the width of the specimens and compare the results to the stresses computed from two-dimensional plane strain and plane stress analyses and the stresses from beam theory. Stresses for all configurations were analyzed at load levels corresponding to the measured transverse tensile strength of the material.

OBrien, T. Kevin↗

The Coupling of Flexural Propeller Vibrations with the Torsional Crankshaft Vibrations

The exact mathematical treatment of the problem is possible by replacing the propeller blade by a homogeneous prismatic rod. Conclusions can them be drawn as to the behavior of an actual propeller, since tests on propeller blades have indicated a qualitative agreement with the homogeneous rod. The natural frequencies are determined and the stressing of the systems under the various vibration modes are discussed.

Meyer, J.↗

Tidal Flexure, Ice Velocities, and Ablation Rates of Peterman Gletscher, Greenland

Over the floating section of a tide-water glacier, single radar intererograms are difficult to use because the long-term steady motion of the ice is intermixed with the tidal vertical motion of the glacier. With multiple interferograms, it is however possible to isolate the tidal signal and remove it from the single interferograms to estimate the ice velocities. The technique is applied to ERS-1 synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images of Petermann Gletscher, north Greenland.

synthetic aperture radar SAR ice velocities interf↗

Bounds on Flexural Properties and Buckling Response for Symmetrically Laminated Plates

Nondimensional parameters and equations governing the buckling behavior of rectangular symmetrically laminated plates are presented that can be used to represent the buckling resistance, for plates made of all known structural materials, in a very general, insightful, and encompassing manner. In addition, these parameters can be used to assess the degree of plate orthotropy, to assess the importance of anisotropy that couples bending and twisting deformations, and to characterize quasi-isotropic laminates quantitatively. Bounds for these nondimensional parameters are also presented that are based on thermodynamics and practical laminate construction considerations. These bounds provides insight into potential gains in buckling resistance through laminate tailoring and composite-material development. As an illustration of this point, upper bounds on the buckling resistance of long rectangular orthotropic plates with simply supported or clamped edges and subjected to uniform axial compression, uniform shear, or pure inplane bending loads are presented. The results indicate that the maximum gain in buckling resistance for tailored orthotropic laminates, with respect to the corresponding isotropic plate, is in the range of 26-36% for plates with simply supported edges, irrespective of the loading conditions. For the plates with clamped edges, the corresponding gains in buckling resistance are in the range of 9-12% for plates subjected to compression or pure inplane bending loads and potentially up to 30% for plates subjected to shear loads.

Weaver, Paul M.↗

Stepping flexures

An actuator for moving a load has a frame forming a race between two surfaces thereof, at least two elements joined together by at least one flexible member, the elements and the at least one flexible member being disposed between the two surfaces of the frame that forms a race, one of the elements further joined to the load by a portion of the at least one flexible member, wherein when an element comes into contact with a surface of the frame it will stick thereto absent a repelling force, and moving means disposed to selectively attract or repel a corresponding element towards or away from one or the other of the two surfaces of the frame that forms the race. The actuator effects movement of the load in a direction towards or away from the elements, by changing a position of at least one of the elements on a surface of the frame that forms the race.

Vranish, John M.↗

Flexural Fillet Geometry Optimization for Design of Force Transducers Used in Aeronautics Testing

Force transducer designs used in the ground testing aeronautics community have seen minimal change over the last few decades. With increased focus on data quality and long- term performance capabilities over the life of these instruments, it is critical to investigate new methods that improve these designs. One area of focus in the past few years at NASA has been on the design of the exural elements of traditional force balance transducers. Many of the heritage balances that have been heavily used over the last few decades have started to develop fatigue cracks. The recent focus on the exural design of traditional single-piece force balances revolves around the design of these elements such that stress concentrations are minimized, with the overall goal of increasing the fatigue life of the balance. Recent research in the area of using conic shaped llets in the highly stressed regions of traditional force balances will be discussed, with preliminary numerical and experimental data results. A case study will be presented which discusses integration of this knowledge into a new high-capacity semi-span force balance

Lynn, Keith C.↗

Factors Affecting the Ductility and Strength of NaCl Single Crystals Tested in Flexure

An experimental investigation has revealed that the initial deformation of NaCl single crystals is anelastic rather than Hookean. This anelastic deformation is manifested by a low slope foot in the load‐deflection curve. The magnitude of the foot is dictated by the pretreatment given the specimen. Treatments which increase or decrease the fresh dislocation density respectively increase or decrease the length of the initial anelastic foot. The order of increasing ductility and strength with specimen pretreatment was found to be (1) heated at 135 C, (2) as cleaved, (3) coated with silver, (4) heated at 135 C and then water polished, (5) water polished and then coated with silver, (6) water polished, (7) water polished and then heated at 135 C, (8) annealed at 700 C, and (9) annealed at 700 C and then water polished. The experimental results have been discussed in terms of the role played in deformation and fracture by surface cracks, grown‐in dislocations, and fresh dislocations.

Stearns, C. A.↗

A Simple Test Method for Large Deformation Bending of Thin High Strain Composite Flexures

A simple test method for large deformation bending of thin composite laminates is investigated using image processing and full-field strain measurements. The assumptions and kinematic equations that represent the test are used to calculate numerically the laminate bending stiffness and strength as well as the curvature and strains at failure. In order to validate the test methodology, a comparison is performed between analytical model predictions and empirical data in terms of computed surface strains versus digital image correlation data and calculated rotation angles of the fixture arms throughout the test versus measured ones. The new test method is then used to calculate the bending stiffness in the D11 and D22 directions as well as failure strains for various thin-ply laminates of interest. These parameters are ultimately compared with predicted values using micromechanics and classical lamination theory analysis. In general, bending stiffness and strain test results and predictions for 0 degree orientation coupons have a maximum difference of 10% and 35%.

Fernandez, Juan M.↗