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At least 271 records · Page 15

Variational finite element-tensor formulation for the large deflection random vibration of composite plates

A numerical integration routine is derived from a set of unified single step integration algorithms using a weighted satisfaction of the equilibrium equation governing the large deflection random response of laminated composite plates. The equilibrium equation is derived using a constant matrix large deflection finite-element formulation. In-plane inertia terms are considered in the formulation, however, rotary inertia terms are assumed negligible. Probability density, spectral density and autocorrelation functions of the maximum displacement and strain responses are presented for three acoustic excitation levels. Classical thin plate boundary conditions and pseudo white noise excitation are used in this investigation.

Robinson, Jay H.↗

Implementation of 3-D isoparametric finite elements on supercomputer for the formulation of recursive dynamical equations of multi-body systems

A computational algorithmic procedure is developed and implemented for the dynamic analysis of a multibody system with rigid/flexible interconnected bodies. The algorithm takes into consideration the large rotation/translation and small elastic deformations associated with the rigid-body degrees of freedom and the flexibility of the bodies in the system respectively. Versatile three-dimensional isoparametric brick elements are employed for the modeling of the geometric configurations of the bodies. The formulation of the recursive dynamical equations of motion is based on the recursive Kane's equations, strain energy concepts, and the techniques of component mode synthesis. In order to minimize CPU-intensive matrix multiplication operations and speed up the execution process, the concepts of indexed arrays is utilized in the formulation of the equations of motion. A spin-up maneuver of a space robot with three flexible links carrying a solar panel is used as an illustrative example.

Shareef, N. H.↗

Liquid-Spray Formulation Of Scopolamine

Scopolamine, fast-acting anticholinergic drug, formulated into drops administered intranasally. Formulation very useful for people who need immediate relief from motion sickness, and they can administer it to themselves. Also used in other clinical situations in which fast-acting anticholinergic medication required. Modified into such other forms as gel preparation, aqueous-base ointment, or aerosol spray or mist; also dispensed in metered-dose delivery system.

Putcha, Lakshmi↗

A geometric nonlinear degenerated shell element using a mixed formulation with independently assumed strain fields

A mixed formulation is chosen to overcome deficiencies of the standard displacement-based shell model. Element development is traced from the incremental variational principle on through to the final set of equilibrium equations. Particular attention is paid to developing specific guidelines for selecting the optimal set of strain parameters. A discussion of constraint index concepts and their predictive capability related to locking is included. Performance characteristics of the elements are assessed in a wide variety of linear and nonlinear plate/shell problems. Despite limiting the study to geometric nonlinear analysis, a substantial amount of additional insight concerning the finite element modeling of thin plate/shell structures is provided. For example, in nonlinear analysis, given the same mesh and load step size, mixed elements converge in fewer iterations than equivalent displacement-based models. It is also demonstrated that, in mixed formulations, lower order elements are preferred. Additionally, meshes used to obtain accurate linear solutions do not necessarily converge to the correct nonlinear solution. Finally, a new form of locking was identified associated with employing elements designed for biaxial bending in uniaxial bending applications.

Graf, Wiley E.↗

On the downstream boundary conditions for the vorticity-stream function formulation of two-dimensional incompressible flows

Downstream boundary conditions equivalent to the homogeneous form of the natural boundary conditions associated with the velocity-pressure formulation of the Navier-Stokes equations are derived for the vorticity-stream function formulation of two-dimensional incompressible flows. Of particular interest are the zero normal and shear stress conditions at a downstream boundary.

Tezduyar, T. E.↗

Boundary formulations for sensitivities of three-dimensional stress invariants

The direct, singular, boundary element analysis (BEA) formulation has been shown to provide a basis for a computationally efficient and accurate shape structural design sensitivity analysis (DSA) approach for three-dimensional solid objects. Within the boundary element analysis context, the theoretical formulation for sensitivities of important stress-related quantities including principal and deviatoric stresses, von Mises, maximum shear, and other stress invariants are presented, both for the surface as well as the interior of a continuum structure. Numerical results are given to demonstrate the accuracy of this approach.

Guru Prasad, K.↗

A mathematical formulation for the control of the SCOLE configuration

A mathematical formulation for the control of the Spacecraft Control Laboratory Experiment (SCOLE) configuration is given. Two equivalent approaches, one using a functional equation and the other an abstract wave equation, are illustrated. Such a formulation can help in digital computer simulation to evaluate control laws, providing insight, and generating control laws.

Balakrishnan, A. V.↗

Evaluation of candidate working fluid formulations for the electrothermal - chemical wind tunnel

Various candidate chemical formulations are evaluated as a precursor for the working fluid to be used in the electrothermal hypersonic test facility which was under study at the NASA LaRC Hypersonic Propulsion Branch, and the formulations which would most closely satisfy the goals set for the test facility are identified. Out of the four tasks specified in the original proposal, the first two, literature survey and collection of kinetic data, are almost completed. The third task, work on a mathematical model of the ET wind tunnel operation, was started and concentrated on the expansion in the nozzle with finite rate kinetics.

Akyurtlu, Jale F.↗

Double simple-harmonic-oscillator formulation of the thermal equilibrium of a fluid interacting with a coherent source of phonons

A formulation is given for a collection of phonons (sound) in a fluid at a non-zero temperature which uses the simple harmonic oscillator twice; one to give a stochastic thermal 'noise' process and the other which generates a coherent Glauber state of phonons. Simple thermodynamic observables are calculated and the acoustic two point function, 'contrast' is presented. The role of 'coherence' in an equilibrium system is clarified by these results and the simple harmonic oscillator is a key structure in both the formulation and the calculations.

Defacio, B.↗

Analytical formulation of optimum rotor interdisciplinary design with a three-dimensional wake

An analytical formulation of optimum rotor interdisciplinary design is presented. A finite-state aeroelastic rotor model, coupling generalized dynamic wake with blade finite elements, is applied to perform the optimum rotor blade design for improved aerodynamic performance and vehicle vibration, while a feasible direction nonlinear optimizer, CONMIN, provides the optimization algorithm. The approach features a systematic rotor aeroelastic model which offers an efficient analytical tool, and retains necessary aerodynamic and blade dynamic building blocks for a sufficient rotor dynamic response analysis. The formulation is well suited for an efficient design sensitivity computation without resorting to finite difference, and thus provides a practical design tool. The results show improved rotor aerodynamic performance and reduced hub vibratory loads for the optimized blade as compared to the advanced rotor of reference design.

He, Chengjian↗

Improved solar models constructed with a formulation of convection for stellar structure and evolution calculations without the mixing-length theory approximations

We have updated a previous attempt to incorporate within a solar model a treatment of convection based upon numerical simulations of convection rather than mixing-length theory (MLT). We have modified our formulation of convection for a better treatment of the kinetic energy flux. Our solar model has been updated to include a complete range of OPAL opacities, the Debye-Hueckel correction to the equation of state, helium diffusion due to gravitational settling, and atmospheres by Kurucz. We construct a series of models using both MLT and our revised formulation of convection and the compared results to measurements of the solar radius, the solar luminosity, and the depth of the solar convection zone as inferred from helioseismology. We find X(solar) = 0.702 +/- 0.005, Y(solar) = 0.278 +/- 0.005, and Z(solar) = 0.0193 +/- 0.0005.

Lydon, Thomas J.↗

Stiffness, thermal expansion, and thermal bending formulation of stiffened, fiber-reinforced composite panels

A method is presented for formulating stiffness terms and thermal coefficients of stiffened, fiber-reinforced composite panels. The method is robust enough to handle panels with general cross sectional shapes, including those which are unsymmetric and/or unbalanced. Nonlinear, temperature and load dependent constitutive material data of each laminate are used to 'build-up' the stiffened panel membrane, bending, and membrane-bending coupling stiffness terms and thermal coefficients. New thermal coefficients are introduced to quantify panel response from through-the-thickness temperature gradients. A technique of implementing this capability with a single plane of shell finite elements using the MSC/NASTRAN analysis program (FEA) is revealed that provides accurate solutions of entire airframes or engines with coarsely meshed models. An example of a composite, hat-stiffened panel is included to demonstrate errors that occur when an unsymmetric panel is symmetrically formulated as traditionally done. The erroneous results and the correct ones produced from this method are compared to analysis from discretely meshed three-dimensional FEA.

Collier, Craig S.↗

A comparison of two formulations for high-order accurate essentially non-oscillatory schemes

The finite-volume and finite-difference implementations of high-order accurate essentially nonoscillatory shock-capturing schemes are discussed and compared. Results obtained with fourth-order accurate algorithms based on both formulations are examined for accuracy, sensitivity to grid irregularities, resolution of waves that are oblique to the mesh, and computational efficiency. Some algorithm modifications that may be required for a given application are suggested. Conclusions that pertain to the relative merits of both formulations are drawn, and some circumstances for which each might be useful are noted.

Casper, J.↗

Symmetric Galerkin boundary formulations employing curved elements

Accounts of the symmetric Galerkin approach to boundary element analysis (BEA) have recently been published. This paper attempts to add to the understanding of this method by addressing a series of fundamental issues associated with its potential computational efficiency. A new symmetric Galerkin theoretical formulation for both the (harmonic) heat conduction and the (biharmonic) elasticity problem that employs regularized singular and hypersingular boundary integral equations (BIEs) is presented. The novel use of regularized BIEs in the Galerkin context is shown to allow straightforward incorporation of curved, isoparametric elements. A symmetric reusable intrinsic sample point (RISP) numerical integration algorithm is shown to produce a Galerkin (i.e., double) integration strategy that is competitive with its counterpart (i.e., singular) integration procedure in the collocation BEA approach when the time saved in the symmetric equation solution phase is also taken into account. This new formulation is shown to be capable of employing hypersingular BIEs while obviating the requirement of C 1 continuity, a fact that allows the employment of the popular continuous element technology. The behavior of the symmetric Galerkin BEA method with regard to both direct and iterative equation solution operations is also addressed. A series of example problems are presented to quantify the performance of this symmetric approach, relative to the more conventional unsymmetric BEA, in terms of both accuracy and efficiency. It is concluded that appropriate implementations of the symmetric Galerkin approach to BEA indeed have the potential to be competitive with, if not superior to, collocation-based BEA, for large-scale problems.

Kane, J. H.↗

A comparison of two formulations for high-order accurate essentially non-oscillatory schemes

The finite-volume and finite-difference implementations of high-order accurate essentially non-oscillatory shock-capturing schemes are discussed and compared. Results obtained with fourth-order accurate algorithms based on both formulations are examined for accuracy, sensitivity to grid irregularities, resolution of waves that are oblique to the mesh, and computational efficiency. Some algorithm modifications that may be required for a given application are suggested. Conclusions that pertain to the relative merits of both formulations are drawn, and some circumstances for which each might be useful are noted.

Casper, Jay↗

Cryogenic Gellant and Fuel Formulation for Metallized Gelled Propellants: Hydrocarbons and Hydrogen with Aluminum

An experimental program to determine the viability of nanoparticulate gellant materials for gelled hydrocarbons and gelled liquid hydrogen was conducted. The gellants included alkoxides (BTMSE and BTMSH) and silica-based materials. Hexane, ethane, propane and hydrogen were gelled with the newly-formulated materials and their rheological properties were determined: shear stress versus shear rate and their attendant viscosities. Metallized hexane with aluminum particles was also rheologically characterized. The propellant and gellant formulations were selected for the very high surface area and relatively-high energy content of the gellants. These new gellants can therefore improve rocket engine specific impulse over that obtained with traditional cryogenic-fuel gellant materials silicon dioxide, frozen methane, or frozen ethane particles. Significant reductions in the total mass of the gellant were enabled in the fuels. In gelled liquid hydrogen, the total mass of gellant was reduced from 10-40 wt percent of frozen hydrocarbon particles to less that 8 wt percent with the alkoxide.

Wong, Wing↗

A survey of the core-congruential formulation for geometrically nonlinear TL finite elements

This article presents a survey of the core-congruential formulation (CCF) for geometrically nonlinear mechanical finite elements based on the total Lagrangian (TL) kinematic description. Although the key ideas behind the CCF can be traced back to Rajasekaran and Murray in 1973, it has not subsequently received serious attention. The CCF is distinguished by a two-phase development of the finite element stiffness equations. The initial phase developed equations for individual particles. These equations are expressed in terms of displacement gradients as degrees of freedom. The second phase involves congruential-type transformations that eventually binds the element particles of an individual element in terms of its node-displacement degrees of freedom. Two versions of the CCF, labeled direct and generalized, are distinguished. The direct CCF (DCCF) is first described in general form and then applied to the derivation of geometrically nonlinear bar, and plane stress elements using the Green-Lagrange strain measure. The more complex generalized CCF (GCCF) is described and applied to the derivation of 2D and 3D Timoshenko beam elements. Several advantages of the CCF, notably the physically clean separation of material and geometric stiffnesses, and its independence with respect to the ultimate choice of shape functions and element degrees of freedom, are noted. Application examples involving very large motions solved with the 3D beam element display the range of applicability of this formulation, which transcends the kinematic limitations commonly attributed to the TL description.

Felippa, Carlos A.↗

A three-dimensional nonlinear Timoshenko beam based on the core-congruential formulation

A three-dimensional, geometrically nonlinear two-node Timoshenkoo beam element based on the total Larangrian description is derived. The element behavior is assumed to be linear elastic, but no restrictions are placed on magnitude of finite rotations. The resulting element has twelve degrees of freedom: six translational components and six rotational-vector components. The formulation uses the Green-Lagrange strains and second Piola-Kirchhoff stresses as energy-conjugate variables and accounts for the bending-stretching and bending-torsional coupling effects without special provisions. The core-congruential formulation (CCF) is used to derived the discrete equations in a staged manner. Core equations involving the internal force vector and tangent stiffness matrix are developed at the particle level. A sequence of matrix transformations carries these equations to beam cross-sections and finally to the element nodal degrees of freedom. The choice of finite rotation measure is made in the next-to-last transformation stage, and the choice of over-the-element interpolation in the last one. The tangent stiffness matrix is found to retain symmetry if the rotational vector is chosen to measure finite rotations. An extensive set of numerical examples is presented to test and validate the present element.

Crivelli, Luis A.↗