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At least 271 records · Page 15

Development of a Fatigue Crack Growth Coupon for Highly Plastic Stress Conditions

This paper presents an analytical approach used to develop a novel fatigue crack growth coupon for a highly plastic 3-D stress field condition. The flight hardware investigated in this paper is a large separation bolt that fractures using pyrotechnics at the appointed time during the flight sequence. The separation bolt has a deep notch that produces a severe stress concentration and a large plastic zone when highly loaded. For this geometry, linear-elastic fracture mechanics (LEFM) techniques are not valid due to the large nonlinear stress field. Unfortunately, industry codes that are generally available for fracture mechanics analysis and fatigue crack growth (e.g. NASGRO (11) are limited to LEFM and are available for only a limited number of geometries. The results of LEFM based codes are questionable when used on geometries with significant plasticity. Therefore elastic-plastic fracture mechanics (EPFM) techniques using the finite element method (FEM) were used to analyze the bolt and test coupons. scale flight hardware is very costly in t e r n of assets, laboratory resources, and schedule. Therefore to alleviate some of these problems, a series of novel test coupons were developed to simulate the elastic-plastic stress field present in the bolt.

Allen, Phillip A.↗

Characterization of unnotched SCS-6/Ti-15-3 metal matrix composites at 650 C

Ti-15-3 reinforced with SCS-6 silicon carbide fibers, in five different layups, was tested at 650 C to determine monotonic and fatigue strengths, basic mechanical properties, and damage initiation and progression. The elevated temperature results were compared to those obtained at room temperature. Analytical predictions were made of the monotonic stress-strain response as well as cyclic stress-strain hysteresis. The fiber reinforcement was found to significantly increase the static and fatigue strengths of the laminates over that of the matrix material at elevated temperature while the increase was insignificant at room temperature. Initial damage, in either the fibers or the matrix, was partitioned as a function of the life and applied strain range in the constituents. High strains and short lives resulted in multiple fiber failure with no signs of matrix fatigue cracking. Low strains and long lives resulted in extensive matrix cracking and no fiber breaks away from the fracture surface. At 650 C the matrix was too weak to cause fiber-matrix interface failure prior to matrix yielding. Laminate fatigue lives were hypothesized to be a function of the 0 deg fiber stress. More scatter was found in the 0 deg fiber stress vs. high temperature fatigue life data than for the room temperature data. An initial unloading modulus that was greater than the initial loading modulus was observed in the elevated temperature fatigue tests.

Pollock, W. D.↗

Characterization of unnotched SCS-6/Ti-15-3 metal matrix composites at 650 C

Ti-15-3 reinforced with SCS-6 silicon carbide fibers, in five different layups, was tested at 650 C to determine monotonic and fatigue strengths, basic mechanical properties, and damage initiation and progression. The elevated temperature results were compared to those obtained at room temperature. Analytical predictions were made of the monotonic stress-strain response as well as cyclic stress-strain hysteresis. The fiber reinforcement was found to significantly increase the static and fatigue strengths of the laminates over that of the matrix material at elevated temperature while the increase was insignificant at room temperature. Initial damage, in either the fibers or the matrix, was partitioned as a function of the life and applied strain range in the constituents. High strains and short lives resulted in multiple fiber failure with no signs of matrix fatigue cracking. Low strains and long lives resulted in extensive matrix cracking and no fiber breaks away from the fracture surface. At 650 C the matrix was too weak to cause fiber-matrix interface failure prior to matrix yielding. Laminate fatigue lives were hypothesized to be a function of the 0 deg fiber stress. More scatter was found in the 0 deg fiber stress vs. high temperature fatigue life data than for the room temperature data. An initial unloading modulus that was greater than the initial loading modulus was observed in the elevated temperature fatigue tests.

Pollock, William D.↗

Crew Factors in Flight Operations X: Alertness Management in Flight Operations

In response to a 1980 congressional request, NASA Ames Research Center initiated a Fatigue/Jet Lag Program to examine fatigue, sleep loss, and circadian disruption in aviation. Research has examined fatigue in a variety of flight environments using a range of measures (from self-report to performance to physiological). In 1991, the program evolved into the Fatigue Countermeasures Program, emphasizing the development and evaluation of strategies to maintain alertness and performance in operational settings. Over the years, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has become a collaborative partner in support of fatigue research and other Program activities. From the inception of the Program, a principal goal was to return the information learned from research and other Program activities to the operational community. The objectives of this Education and Training Module are to explain what has been learned about the physiological mechanisms that underlie fatigue, demonstrate the application of this information in flight operations, and offer some specific fatigue counter-measure recommendations. It is intended for all segments of the aeronautics industry, including pilots, flight attendants, managers, schedulers, safety and policy personnel, maintenance crews, and others involved in an operational environment that challenges human physiological capabilities because of fatigue, sleep loss, and circadian disruption.

Rosekind, Mark R.↗

Crew Factors in Flight Operations X: Alertness Management in Flight Operations

In response to a 1980 congressional request, NASA Ames Research Center initiated a Fatigue/Jet Lag Program to examine fatigue, sleep loss, and circadian disruption in aviation. Research has examined fatigue in a variety of flight environments using a range of measures (from self-report to performance to physiological). In 1991, the program evolved into the Fatigue Countermeasures Program, emphasizing the development and evaluation of strategies to maintain alertness and performance in operational settings. Over the years, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has become a collaborative partner in support of fatigue research and other Program activities. From the inception of the Program, a principal goal was to return the information learned from research and other Program activities to the operational community. The objectives of this Education and Training Module are to explain what has been learned about the physiological mechanisms that underlie fatigue, demonstrate the application of this information in flight operations, and offer some specific fatigue countermeasure recommendations. It is intended for all segments of the aeronautics industry, including pilots, flight attendants, managers, schedulers, safety and policy personnel, maintenance crews, and others involved in an operational environment that challenges human physiological capabilities because of fatigue, sleep loss, and circadian disruption.

Rosekind, Mark R.↗

Materials

Materials science - brittleness, fatigue, and fracture mechanics - glass-reinforced plastic, high strength metals and alloys, and refractory materials

MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

A procedure for verifying the structural integrity of an existing pressurized wind tunnel

The present work describes the approach employed in verifying the structural integrity at maximum operating pressure of a low turbulence pressurized wind tunnel built in 1939-1940. The approach utilized existing ASME Code guidelines and fracture mechanics techniques in combination with the latest nondestructive examination methods to validate the desired life of the facility while minimizing reconstruction or major modifications. Detailed stress analyses using a finite element computer program and a numerical integration program were performed on critical areas of the tunnel. Critical vessel areas were evaluated for remaining fatigue life. Fracture mechanics analyses of the shell were performed at various regions, and critical flaw sizes at each location were determined. Analysis of the test data permitted the remaining useful life of the tunnel to be estimated at 8 to 10 years.

Taylor, J. T.↗

Fatigue and flexural response of advanced carbon-carbon composites at room and elevated temperatures

The flexural response of SiC-coated carbon-carbon composites (ACC-4) at room and elevated temperatures is presented. Three-point bending tests were performed on virgin and mission-cycled specimens, and the variation in flexural strength is examined. The load-deflection behavior of the material at various temperatures is investigated, and the Weibull (1939) analysis of the strength data is performed. Micrographs of various cross sections in the damaged zone were taken, and the failure mechanisms are discussed. Fatigue tests were conducted under flexural loads, and the S-N diagram with the corresponding Weibull analysis are presented. Untested as well as fractured specimens under static and dynamic loading were C-scanned to identify the damaged zone and visualize the extent of the damage. Failure analyses are presented for both static and cyclic loading on the basis of NDE, the micrographs, and the experimental data.

Mahfuz, Hassan↗

Environmental Barrier Coating Development for SiC/SiC Ceramic Matrix Composites: Recent Advances and Future Directions

This presentation briefly reviews the SiC/SiC major environmental and environment-fatigue degradations encountered in simulated turbine combustion environments, and thus NASA environmental barrier coating system evolution for protecting the SiC/SiC Ceramic Matrix Composites for meeting the engine performance requirements. The presentation will review several generations of NASA EBC materials systems, EBC-CMC component system technologies for SiC/SiC ceramic matrix composite combustors and turbine airfoils, highlighting the temperature capability and durability improvements in simulated engine high heat flux, high pressure, high velocity, and with mechanical creep and fatigue loading conditions. This paper will also focus on the performance requirements and design considerations of environmental barrier coatings for next generation turbine engine applications. The current development emphasis is placed on advanced NASA candidate environmental barrier coating systems for SiC/SiC CMCs, their performance benefits and design limitations in long-term operation and combustion environments. The efforts have been also directed to developing prime-reliant, self-healing 2700F EBC bond coat; and high stability, lower thermal conductivity, and durable EBC top coats. Major technical barriers in developing environmental barrier coating systems, the coating integrations with next generation CMCs having the improved environmental stability, erosion-impact resistance, and long-term fatigue-environment system durability performance will be described. The research and development opportunities for turbine engine environmental barrier coating systems by utilizing improved compositions, state-of-the-art processing methods, and simulated environment testing and durability modeling will be briefly discussed.

Environmental Barrier Coatings↗

An Overview: NASA LeRC Structures Programs

A workshop on National Structures Programs was held, jointly sponsored by the AIAA Structures Technical Committee, the University of Virginia's Center for Advanced Computational Technology and NASA. The Objectives of the Workshop were to: provide a forum for discussion of current Government-sponsored programs in the structures area; identify high potential research areas for future aerospace systems; and initiate suitable interaction mechanisms with the managers of structures programs. The presentations covered structures programs at NASA, DOD (AFOSR, ONR, ARO and DARPA), and DOE. This publication is the presentation of the Structures and Acoustics Division of the NASA Lewis Research Center. The Structures and Acoustics Division has its genesis dating back to 1943. It is responsible for NASA research related to rotating structures and structural hot sections of both airbreathing and rocket engines. The work of the division encompasses but is not limited to aeroelasticity, structural life prediction and reliability, fatigue and fracture, mechanical components such as bearings, gears, and seals, and aeroacoustics. These programs are discussed and the names of responsible individuals are provided for future reference.

Zaretsky, Erwin V.↗

Neural Network Would Estimate Fatigue Life

Processor learns mappings between sequences of loads and fatigue damage. Data processor built around neural network provides real-time estimates of fatigue life of simple mechanical components. Intended to be forerunner of more-advanced processors that estimates remaining lives of components stressed near their mechanical and thermal limits in turbine engines and other complicated, high-performance machinery. Real-time estimates of accumulated fatigue damage and remaining life before mechanical failure useful in scheduling maintenance and controlling operation to extend overall life of machinery.

Merrill, W.↗

Cyclic creep and fatigue of TD-NiCr (thoria-dispersion-strengthened nickel-chromium), TD-Ni, and NiCr sheet at 1200 C

The resistance of thin TD-NiCr sheet to cyclic deformation was compared with that of TD-Ni and a conventional nickel-chromium alloy. Strains were determined by a calibration technique which combines room-temperature strain gage and deflection measurements with high-temperature deflection measurements. Analyses of the cyclic tests using measured tensile and creep-rupture data indicated that the TD-NiCr and NiCr alloy specimens failed by a cyclic creep mechanism. The TD-Ni specimens, on the other hand, failed by a fatigue mechanism.

Hirschberg, M. H.↗

Characterization of mode 1 and mixed-mode failure of adhesive bonds between composite adherends

A combined experimental and analytical investigation of an adhesively bonded composite joint was conducted to characterize both the static and fatigue beyond growth mechanism under mode 1 and mixed-mode 1 and 2 loadings. Two bonded systems were studied: graphite/epoxy adherends bonded with EC 3445 and FM-300 adhesives. For each bonded system, two specimen types were tested: a double-cantilever-beam specimen for mode 1 loading and a cracked-lapshear specimen for mixed-mode 1 and 2 loading. In all specimens tested, failure occurred in the form of debond growth. Debonding always occurred in a cohesive manner with EC 3445 adhesive. The FM-300 adhesive debonded in a cohesive manner under mixed-mode 1 and 2 loading, but in a cohesive, adhesive, or combined cohesive and adhesive manner under mode 1 loading. Total strain-energy release rate appeared to be the driving parameter for debond growth under static and fatigue loadings.

Mall, S.↗

Characterization of mode I and mixed-mode failure of adhesive bonds between composite adherends

A combined experimental and analytical investigation of an adhesively bonded composite joint was conducted to characterize both the static and fatigue beyond growth mechanism under mode 1 and mixed-mode 1 and 2 loadings. Two bonded systems were studied: graphite/epoxy adherends bonded with EC 3445 and FM-300 adhesives. For each bonded system, two specimen types were tested: a double-cantilever-beam specimen for mode 1 loading and a cracked-lapshear specimen for mixed-mode 1 and 2 loading. In all specimens tested, failure occurred in the form of debond growth. Debonding always occurred in a cohesive manner with EC 3445 adhesive. The FM-300 adhesive debonded in a cohesive manner under mixed-mode 1 and 2 loading, but in a cohesive, adhesive, or combined cohesive and adhesive manner under mode 1 loading. Total strain-energy release rate appeared to be the driving parameter for debond growth under static and fatigue loadings.

Mall, S.↗

Application of fracture mechanics and half-cycle theory to the prediction of fatigue life of aerospace structural components

The service life of aircraft structural components undergoing random stress cycling was analyzed by the application of fracture mechanics. The initial crack sizes at the critical stress points for the fatigue crack growth analysis were established through proof load tests. The fatigue crack growth rates for random stress cycles were calculated using the half-cycle method. A new equation was developed for calculating the number of remaining flights for the structural components. The number of remaining flights predicted by the new equation is much lower than that predicted by the conventional equation. This report describes the application of fracture mechanics and the half-cycle method to calculate the number of remaining flights for aircraft structural components.

Ko, William L.↗

Establishment of design criteria for acceptable failure modes and fail safe considerations for the space shuttle structural system

The application of general design approaches for preventing failures due to repeated load cycles is briefly discussed. Program objective, mission requirements, and structural design criteria are summarized. Discrete structural elements and associated sections were selected for detailed strength, fatigue, and fracture mechanics investigations.

Westrup, R. W.↗

A fuselage/tank structure study for actively cooled hypersonic cruise vehicles: Aircraft design evaluation

The effects of fuselage cross sections and structural members on the performance of hypersonic cruise aircraft are evaluated. Representative fuselage/tank area structure was analyzed for strength, stability, fatigue and fracture mechanics. Various thermodynamic and structural tradeoffs were conducted to refine the conceptual designs with the primary objective of minimizing weight and maximizing aircraft range.

Nobe, T.↗