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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 343 records · Page 19

Experimental Observations of Damage States in Unnotched and Notched 3D Orthogonal Woven Coupons Loaded in Tension

This paper describes a series of unnotched and notched tensile tests on two 3D orthogonal woven architectures. Dog bone specimens were used for the unnotched tests, and open-hole specimens were used for the notched tests. For each architecture and test type, two specimens were loaded under monotonic displacement control to failure and two specimens were incrementally loaded to failure in five steps. X-ray computed tomography (CT) was used to characterize the woven architecture and defects on each specimen prior to testing. Digital image correlation (DIC) images were obtained from both sides of the specimen throughout the loading and unloading. Acoustic emission (AE) data were also continuously acquired throughout the loading. For the incremental tests, X-ray CT was used to document the damage progression after each load increment. The damage progression was analyzed based on the results from these three techniques. The results for both architectures and test specimens followed a pattern where matrix cracks formed at the surface perpendicular to the tensile load direction. New surface cracks formed continuously throughout the loading and cracks extended in depth and width. In general, fiber failure was not detected until specimen failure.

Wade C Jackson↗

Experimental Observations of Damage States in Unnotched and Notched 3D Orthogonal Woven Coupons Loaded in Tension

This paper describes a series of unnotched and notched tensile tests on two 3D orthogonal woven architectures loaded in the warp direction. Dogbone specimens were used for the unnotched tests, and open-hole specimens were used for the notched tests. For each architecture and test type, two specimens were loaded under monotonic displacement control to failure, and two specimens were incrementally loaded to failure in five steps. X-ray computed tomography (CT) was used to characterize the woven architecture and defects on each specimen prior to testing. Digital image correlation (DIC) images were obtained from both sides of the specimen throughout the loading and unloading. For the incremental tests, X-ray CT was used to document the damage progression after each load increment. The results for both architectures and test specimens followed a similar pattern where matrix cracks formed perpendicular to the load direction and were primarily located between the stacks of warp tows. Two-piece failure path always occurred perpendicular to the loading direction, along the through-thickness segments of the Z-tows. The combination of stress concentrations due to the specimen geometry, weave geometry, and cut tows created stress concentrations that appear to initiate failure.

Woven materials↗

A Modern Load Relief Guidance Scheme for Space Launch Vehicles

Launch vehicle load relief algorithms are concerned with realizing a reduction of transient bending moments near maximum dynamic pressure. Traditional approaches to load relief typically use inner-loop acceleration feedback to reduce the wind-induced angle of attack. When implemented in the inner loop, load relief bandwidth is necessarily limited by the achievable stability margins, and when acceleration feedback is employed, by the uncertainty associated with structural modes that couple with the body-mounted accelerometer. The structure of inner loop load relief increases the dimensionality of the flight control gain and filter optimization problem. Most importantly, classical load relief laws do not take advantage of high-rate and high-accuracy GPS-aided inertial velocity data that is readily available from modern strap down IMUs. In this paper, a novel load relief guidance scheme is described that uses direct angle-of-attack feedback in a clever mechanization. The steering commands are determined by examining the wind-perturbed dynamics of a launch vehicle with respect to a gravity turn ascent trajectory. An angle of attack estimate is derived from GPS-aided inertial data and pre-launch range wind measurements, and it is shown that a reduction worst-case rigid-body loads can be realized without requiring air data. The algorithm also includes a high-rate navigation data preprocessing scheme that operates directly on the IMU delta-theta and delta-velocity measurements in order to produce a filtered acceleration estimate at the vehicle center of mass. The outer-loop guidance scheme simplifies the design process for the classical inner-loop autopilot. Algorithm performance is demonstrated using Monte Carlo analysis of a representative liquid booster in a production high fidelity launch vehicle simulation.

NESC↗

Correlation of Canopy Distortion with Asymmetric Loading in Large Diameter Ringsail Parachutes

The second generation of the main parachutes for the Orion Capsule Parachute Assembly System (CPAS) were subjected to multiple flight tests. Three of the tests included were instrumented with the Tension Measuring System (TMS) to record main dispersion bridle loads. While these units were not able to resolve the individual suspension line loads, they were able to record a course representation of the asymmetric loading of the main parachutes during inflation. These tests were also equipped with upward looking cameras mounted on the test vehicles to collect detailed imagery of main deployment and inflation. When analyzed independently, both data sources exhibit similar features. These similarities provide evidence that the suspension line loads and the distortions in the canopy geometry are not independent. This paper will examine both data sources simultaneously to establish a correlation between asymmetric loading at the canopy skirt and the deformations of the canopy. This correlation will be used to build a model which can estimate individual suspension line loads from a measured riser load and detailed imagery.

Parachutes↗

Strain Gage Load Calibration of the Wing Interface Fittings for the Adaptive Compliant Trailing Edge Flap Flight Test

This is the presentation to follow conference paper of the same name. The adaptive compliant trailing edge (ACTE) flap experiment safety of flight requires that the flap to wing interface loads be sensed and monitored in real time to ensure that the wing structural load limits are not exceeded. This paper discusses the strain gage load calibration testing and load equation derivation methodology for the ACTE interface fittings. Both the left and right wing flap interfaces will be monitored and each contains four uniquely designed and instrumented flap interface fittings. The interface hardware design and instrumentation layout are discussed. Twenty one applied test load cases were developed using the predicted in-flight loads for the ACTE experiment.

strain gage calibration↗

Aerodynamic Loads on Tails at High Angles of Attack and Sideslip

Results are presented for the loads and moments acting on the individual tail surfaces of a body-tail combination over a wide range of angles of attack and sideslip. The effects of forebody length and panel-panel interference on the characteristics are included. It is shown that large nonlinear variations in these loads and moments, which occur at some combinations of angle of attack and sideslip, cannot be predicted by low-angle theory. A relatively simple, but general, theoretical method for calculating these load and moment characteristics is described, and the results from this method are found to be in good agreement with experiment provided the initial positions of the forebody vortices are known. It is shown that a simple application of slender-body theory can be used to predict the side loads due to sideslip that are contributed by a vertical tail on a wide variety of wing-body-tail combinations at low angles of attack. For several configurations, changes are indicated which reduced the vertical-tail loads per unit yawing moment of each complete configuration at large angles of attack. Some results are presented on the effect of high angle of attack on the induced-flow field and tail loads due to a wing at supersonic speed.

SLENDER BODY↗

Effect of Roller Geometry on Roller Bearing Load-Life Relation

Cylindrical roller bearings typically employ roller profile modification to equalize load distribution, minimize stress concentration at roller ends and allow for a small amount of misalignment. The 1947 Lundberg-Palmgren analysis reported an inverse fourth power relation between load and life for roller bearings with line contact. In 1952, Lundberg and Palmgren changed their load-life exponent to 10/3 for roller bearings, assuming mixed line and point contact. The effect of roller-crown profile was reanalyzed in this paper to determine the actual load-life relation for modified roller profiles. For uncrowned rollers (line contact), the load-life exponent is p = 4, in agreement with the 1947 Lundberg-Palmgren value but crowning reduces the value of the exponent, p. The lives of modern roller bearings made from vacuum-processed steels significantly exceed those predicted by the Lundberg-Palmgren theory. The Zaretsky rolling-element bearing life model of 1996 produces a load-life exponent of p = 5 for flat rollers, which is more consistent with test data. For the Zaretsky model with fully crowned rollers p = 4.3. For an aerospace profile and chamfered rollers, p = 4.6. Using the 1952 Lundberg-Palmgren value p = 10/3, the value incorporated in ANSI/ABMA and ISO bearing standards, can create significant life calculation errors for roller bearings.

Roller bearing↗

A Tool for Model-Based Generation of Scenario-driven Electric Power Load Profiles

Power consumption during all phases of spacecraft flight is of great interest to the aerospace community. As a result, significant analysis effort is exerted to understand the rates of electrical energy generation and consumption under many operational scenarios of the system. Previously, no standard tool existed for creating and maintaining a power equipment list (PEL) of spacecraft components that consume power, and no standard tool existed for generating power load profiles based on this PEL information during mission design phases. This paper presents the Scenario Power Load Analysis Tool (SPLAT) as a model-based systems engineering tool aiming to solve those problems. SPLAT is a plugin for MagicDraw (No Magic, Inc.) that aids in creating and maintaining a PEL, and also generates a power and temporal variable constraint set, in Maple language syntax, based on specified operational scenarios. The constraint set can be solved in Maple to show electric load profiles (i.e. power consumption from loads over time). SPLAT creates these load profiles from three modeled inputs: 1) a list of system components and their respective power modes, 2) a decomposition hierarchy of the system into these components, and 3) the specification of at least one scenario, which consists of temporal constraints on component power modes. In order to demonstrate how this information is represented in a system model, a notional example of a spacecraft planetary flyby is introduced. This example is also used to explain the overall functionality of SPLAT, and how this is used to generate electric power load profiles. Lastly, a cursory review of the usage of SPLAT on the Cold Atom Laboratory project is presented to show how the tool was used in an actual space hardware design application.

power load profile↗

Design Limit Loads and Verification Approach for the TESS Observatory

The Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) is a NASA Explorer mission. The TESS Observatory is scheduled to launch on Falcon 9 in April 2018. This presentation covers the process used to define and update design limit loads for the observatory, instrument, and components throughout the life of the program. The limit loads that drove the need for a SoftRide isolation system are highlighted. The testing performed to qualify the observatory for launch loads at the instrument and observatory level is also detailed. In addition, exchanges with the launch vehicle provider in terms of loads predictions and hardware for test are discussed along with the associated issues encountered and lessons learned. The loads development and verification success on TESS was a team effort. Orbital ATK is the spacecraft provider, NASA GSFC provides project management and technical oversight, the instrument is managed by MIT Kavli Institute and the instrument cameras are built and tested by MIT Lincoln Laboratory. Since the instrument was designed in parallel with the spacecraft, the instrument design limit loads were developed in partnership with NASA and the instrument team. The three teams collaborated on a regular basis starting in the early design phase and continuing through observatory level testing.

Limit Loads↗

Variational Coupled Loads Analysis using the Hybrid Parametric Variation Method

Time-domain coupled loads analysis (CLA)is used to determine the response of a launch vehicle and payload system to transient forces, such as liftoff, engine ignitions and shutdowns, jettison events, and atmospheric flight loads, such as buffet. CLA, using Hurty/Craig-Bampton (HCB)component models, is the accepted method for the establishment of design-level loads for launch systems. However, uncertainty in the component models flows into uncertainty in predicted system results. Uncertainty in the structural responses during launch is a significant concern because small variations in launch vehicle and payload mode shapes and their interactions can result in significant variations in system loads. Uncertainty quantification (UQ)is used to determine statistical bounds on prediction accuracy based on model uncertainty. In this paper uncertainty is treated at the HCB component-model level. In an effort to account for model uncertainties and statistically bound their effect on CLA predictions, this work combines CLA with UQ in a process termed variational coupled loads analysis (VCLA). The modeling of uncertainty using a parametric approach, in which input parameters are represented by random variables, is common, but its major drawback is the resulting uncertainty is limited to the form of the nominal model. Uncertainty in model form is one of the biggest contributors to uncertainty in complex built-up structures. Model-form uncertainty can be represented using a nonparametric approach based on random matrix theory (RMT). In this work, UQ is performed using the hybrid parametric variation (HPV)method, which combines parametric with nonparametric uncertainty at the HCB component model level. The HPV method requires the selection of dispersion values for the HCB fixed-interface (FI)eigenvalues, and the HCB mass and stiffness matrices. The dispersions are based upon component test-analysis modal correlation results. During VCLA, random component models are assembled into an ensemble of random systems using a Monte Carlo (MC)approach. CLA is applied to each of the ensemble members to produce an ensemble of system-level responses for statistical analysis. The proposed methodology is demonstrated through its application to a buffet loads analysis of NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS)during the transonic regime fifty seconds after liftoff. Core stage (CS)section shears and moments are recovered, and statistics are computed.

Uncertainty Quantification↗

Space Launch System Artemis I Ascent Loads Reconstruction Summary

On November 16, 2022, NASA successfully launched the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft for the first SLS mission, Artemis 1. This first flight was outfitted with Developmental Flight Instrumentation (DFI) such as accelerometers, pressure sensors, and strain gauges. The DFI supports many post-flight activities, one of which is the ascent loads reconstruction effort. The integrated vehicle ascent loads spans both boost phase and Core phase and often produces the largest loads experienced by the vehicle during flight. One of the primary goals of the ascent loads reconstruction is to evaluate applicable Coupled Loads Analysis (CLA) design math models, assumptions, and analysis methodologies. To achieve this goal, all significant ascent subevents have been reconstructed through the use of flight data, reconstructed inputs, and existing CLA simulations. Resulting responses have been compared to available flight measurements. Additionally, reconstructed subevent loads were combined and compared to appropriate flight data and pre-flight predictions.

SLS↗

Combined loading criterial influence on structural performance

An investigation was conducted to determine the influence of combined loading criteria on the space shuttle structural performance. The study consisted of four primary phases: Phase (1) The determination of the sensitivity of structural weight to various loading parameters associated with the space shuttle. Phase (2) The determination of the sensitivity of structural weight to various levels of loading parameter variability and probability. Phase (3) The determination of shuttle mission loading parameters variability and probability as a function of design evolution and the identification of those loading parameters where inadequate data exists. Phase (4) The determination of rational methods of combining both deterministic time varying and probabilistic loading parameters to provide realistic design criteria. The study results are presented.

Kuchta, B. J.↗

Nondestructive shell-stability estimation by a combined-loading technique.

The variation of specimen lateral stiffness with compressive axial loading is studied experimentally, and it is demonstrated that buckling loads can be predicted for monocoque shells from such data. A study of the initial specimen geometry is presented, and an evaluation is made of its effect on the distribution of stiffness at zero axial load. When the lateral test force used to determine the stiffness is considered as a destabilizing load in combination with the axial compression, it is shown that critical values of the force can be estimated by the 'Southwell plot' procedure. These critical forces can be correlated with axial load and extrapolated to yield an accurate estimate of the buckling load.

Craig, J. I.↗

Crack-opening displacements in center-crack, compact, and crack-line wedge-loaded specimens

The theoretical crack-opening displacements for center-crack, compact, and crack-line wedge-loaded specimens (reported in the ASTM Proposed Recommended Practice for R-Curve Determination (1974)) disagree with experimental measurements in the literature. The disagreement is a result of using approximate specimen configurations and load representation to obtain the theoretical displacements. An improved method of boundary collocation is presented which was used to obtain the theoretical displacements in these three specimen types; the actual specimen configurations and more accurate load representation were used. In the analysis of crack-opening displacements in the compact and crack-line wedge-loaded specimens, the effects of the pin-loaded holes were also included. The theoretical calculations agree with the experimental measurements reported in the literature. Also examined are accurate polynomial expressions for crack-opening displacements in both compact and crack-line wedge-loaded specimens.

Newman, J. C., Jr.↗

RTLS entry load relief parameter optimization

The results are presented of a study of a candidate load relief control law for use during the pullup phase of Return-to-Launch-Site (RTLS) abort entries. The control law parameters and cycle time which optimized performance of the normal load factor limiting phase (load relief phase) of an RTLS entry are examined. A set of control law gains, a smoothing parameter, and a normal force coefficient curve fit are established which resulted in good load relief performance considering the possible aerodynamic coefficient uncertainties defined. Also, the examination of various guidance cycle times revealed improved load relief performance with decreasing cycle time. A .5 second cycle provided smooth and adequate load relief in the presence of all the aerodynamic uncertainties examined.

Crull, T. J.↗

Determination of nonlinear energy toughness values for cyclic loading applications

For several years the nonlinear energy method proposed by Liebowitz and Eftis has been examined as a failure criterion for static testing of center-cracked and compact tension specimens. Since the method appears to be valid under conditions of crack-tip plasticity, subcritical crack growth and load relaxation, tests have been conducted to ascertain the merit of this method as a failure criterion under cyclic loading conditions. The nonlinear energy toughness for cyclic loading is obtained from an envelope of the cyclic load-displacement record, which naturally imposes some restrictions on the loading program. The cyclic toughness parameter has been evaluated for thin center-cracked sheets of 2024-T3 and 7075-T6 aluminum alloys. Both alloys exhibited a significant reduction of the cyclic toughness parameter with increasing cyclic life in a manner similar to the classical S-N diagram. It is suggested that this method may serve the design process by allowing the establishment of a fracture toughness parameter capable of including the effects of the entire loading history of a structure into the fracture toughness requirements.

Poulose, P. K.↗

Gaussian step-pressure loading of rigid viscoplastic plates

The response of a thin, rigid viscoplastic plate subjected to a spatially axisymmetric Gaussian step pressure impulse loading was studied analytically. A Gaussian pressure distribution in excess of the collapse load was applied to the plate, held constant for a length of time, and then suddenly removed. The plate deforms with monotonically increasing deflections until the dynamic energy is completely dissipated in plastic work. The simply supported plate of uniform thickness obeys the von Mises yield criterion and a generalized constitutive equation for rigid viscoplastic materials. For the small deflection bending response of the plate, the governing system of equations is essentially nonlinear. Transverse shear stress is neglected in the yield condition and rotary inertia in the equations of dynamic equilibrium. A proportional loading technique, known to give excellent approximations of the exact solution for the uniform load case, was used to linearize the problem and to obtain the analytical solutions in the form of eigenvalue expansions. The effects of load concentration, of an order of magnitude change in the viscosity of the plate material, and of load duration were examined while holding the total impulse constant.

Hayduk, R. J.↗

Summary of Voyager Design and Flight Loads

Estimates of flight loads for Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 are summarized and compared to the Voyager design loads obtained from the shock spectra/impedance method and to the loads obtained using space vehicle transient loads analysis. These estimates were obtained by using the measured flight accelerations at the launch vehicle/spacecraft interface as forcing functions for the Voyager mathematical model. Based on these data, an assessment of the shock spectra/impedance loads method used for Voyager is presented. The following conclusions were reached: (1) the shock spectra approach provided reasonable conservative design loads for Voyager, (2) care has to be executed to insure that all critical events are accounted for in constructing shock spectra envelopes, (3) the selection of critical events is not always obvious, especially for those flight events wherein the spacecraft dynamic characteristics are important, and (4) the success of the method is strongly dependent on the analysts' experience and judgement.

Chen, J. C.↗