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At least 37 records · Page 2

Numerical analysis of the Iosipescu specimen for composite materials

A finite element analysis of the Iosipescu shear tests for unidirectional and cross-ply composites is presented. It is shown that an iterative analysis procedure must be used to model the fixture-specimen kinematics. The correction factors which are needed to compensate for the nonuniformity of stress distribution in calculating shear modulus are shown to be dependent on the material orthotropic ratio and the finite element loading models. Test section strain distributions representative of typical graphite-epoxy specimens are also presented.

Ho, H.↗

A numerical method for the stress analysis of stiffened-shell structures under nonuniform temperature distributions

A numerical method is presented for the stress analysis of stiffened-shell structures of arbitrary cross section under nonuniform temperature distributions. The method is based on a previously published procedure that is extended to include temperature effects and multicell construction. The application of the method to practical problems is discussed and an illustrative analysis is presented of a two-cell box beam under the combined action of vertical loads and a nonuniform temperature distribution.

Heldenfels, Richard R↗

Observations of Laminar Surface Shear Stress Patterns on the Sidewall of a Rectangular, Mach 3 Quiet Tunnel Using Liquid Crystal Coatings

A shear-stress--sensitive liquid crystal coating (LCC) was used to visualize the surface shear stress distribution on the flat sidewall of the MSU quiet supersonic tunnel as a function of flow stagnation pressure. Under conditions of quiet operation, the LCC color-change response indicated the existence of a nonuniform surface shear stress distribution. This shear pattern was characterized by an elongated, down st ream-point ing triangular region of relatively low shear, with its apex on and its axis coincident with, the sidewall centerline. This low-shear zone was bounded symmetrically by two regions of relatively higher shear; these high-shear zones originated within the concave-curvature portion of the nozzle, in the corners between the flat sidewall and the contoured upper and lower nozzle surfaces. A 3-D Navier-Stokes code was used to compute the pressure and surface shear distributions on the sidewall. Flow-expansion-induced transverse pressure gradients on the nozzle sidewall generated symmetric inflows from the corners towards the sidewall centerline; these inflows caused a thickening of the sidewall boundary layer along the centerline, resulting in lower shear stresses consistent with the liquid crystal results. Peripherally nonuniform laminar boundary layer development, and the associated stability of such complex 3-D flows, must be considered in quiet-tunnel applications using rectangular nozzles. A color video will be shown.

Reda, D.↗

Dielectric Fabry-Perot mirror coatings for infrared astronomy

A number of Fabry-Perot (FP) coating designs have been developed specifically for IR astronomy. These have been optimized for uniform reflectance over five contiguous spectral ranges of particular astronomical interest between 1 and 5 microns. Wavelength coverage in individual designs is given by (maximum wavelength/minimum wavelength) greater than 1.4, over which reflective finesse is maintained near 35. Consideration has been made for the peculiar requirements of FP coatings. Visual alignment and testing of the FP has been made convenient by bringing the reflective finesse of the coating at 632.8 nm to the same value as the main IR reflection band. For example, a calcium fluoride FP can be aligned and tested at 632.8-nm He-Ne laser line, with the assurance of a corresponding finesse and spectral resolving power over its IR (3.6-5.1-micron) range. In addition, the FP can be used for IR spectroscopy while being simultaneously monitored and/or actively controlled at the laser wavelength. The potential for the coating itself to degrade the effective surface flatness of the FP through either mechanical stress or thickness nonuniformities is minimized by reducing to a minimum the number and thickness of coating layers. Several of these coatings have been fabricated and are actively in use at a number of observatories.

Trauger, J.↗

Behavior of a Cantilever Plate Under Rapid-heating Conditions

The temperature distributions encountered in thin solid wings subjected to aerodynamic heating induce thermal stresses that may effectively reduce the stiffness of the wing. The effects of this reduction in stiffness were investigated experimentally by rapidly heating the edges of a cantilever plate. The midplane thermal stresses imposed by the nonuniform temperature distribution caused the plate to buckle torsionally, increased the deformations of the plate under a constant applied torque, and reduced the frequency of the first two natural modes of vibration. By using small-deflection theory and employing energy methods, the effect of nonuniform heating on the plate stiffness was calculated. The theory predicts the general effects of the thermal stresses, but becomes inadequate as the temperature difference increases and plate deflections become large.

Vosteen, Louis F↗

Thermoelastic stress in oceanic lithosphere due to hotspot reheating

The effect of hotspot reheating on the intraplate stress field is investigated by modeling the three-dimensional thermal stress field produced by nonuniform temperature changes in an elastic plate. Temperature perturbations are calculated assuming that the lithosphere is heated by a source in the lower part of the thermal lithosphere. A thermal stress model for the elastic lithosphere is calculated by superposing the stress fields resulting from temperature changes in small individual elements. The stress in an elastic plate resulting from a temperature change in each small element is expressed as an infinite series, wherein each term is a source or an image modified from a closed-from half-space solution. The thermal stress solution is applied to midplate swells in oceanic lithosphere with various thermal structures and plate velocities. The results predict a stress field with a maximum deviatoric stress on the order of 100 MPa covering a broad area around the hotspot plume. The predicted principal stress orientations show a complicated geographical pattern, with horizontal extension perpendicular to the hotspot track at shallow depths and compression along the track near the bottom of the elastic lithosphere.

Zhu, Anning↗

An experimental investigation of a two and a three-dimensional low speed turbulent boundary layer

Experimental studies of a two and a three-dimensional low speed turbulent boundary layer were conducted on the side wall of a boundary layer wind tunnel. The 20 ft. long test section, with a rectangular cross section measuring 17.5 in. x 46 in., produced a 3.5 in. thick turbulent boundary layer at a free stream Reynolds number. The three-dimensional turbulent boundary layer was produced by a 30 deg swept wing-like model faired into the side wall of the test section. Preliminary studies in the two-dimensional boundary layer indicated that the flow was nonuniform on the 46 in. wide test wall. The nonuniform boundary layer is characterized by transverse variations in the wall shear stress and is primarily caused by nonuniformities in the inlet damping screens.

Winkelmann, A. E.↗

The effects of eccentricities on the fracture of off-axis fiber composites

Finite element analyses were performed to investigate theoretically the effects of in-plane and out-of-plane eccentricities, bending or twisting, and thickness nonuniformity on the axial stress and strain variations across the width of off-axis specimens. The results are compared with measured data and are also used to assess the effects of these eccentricities on the fracture stress of off-axis fiber composites. Guidelines for detecting and minimizing the presence of eccentricities are described.

Chamis, C. C.↗

The effects of eccentricities on the fracture of off-axis fiber composites

Finite element analyses were performed to investigate theoretically the effects of in-plane and out-of plane eccentricities, bending or twisting, and thickness nonuniformity on the axial stress and strain variations across the width of off-axis specimens. The results are compared with measured data and are also used to access the effects of these eccentricities on the fracture stress of off-axis fiber composites. Guidelines for detecting and minimizing the presence of eccentricities are described.

Chamis, C. C.↗

Graphical determination of wall temperatures for heat transfers through walls of arbitrary shape

A graphical method is given which permits determining of the temperature distribution during heat transfer in arbitrarily shaped walls. Three examples show the application of the method. The further development of heat engines depends to a great extent on the control of the thermal stresses in the walls. The thermal stresses stem from the nonuniform temperature distribution in heat transfer through walls which are, for structural reasons, of various thicknesses and sometimes complicated shape. Thus, it is important to know the temperature distribution in these structural parts. Following, a method is given which permits solution of this problem.

HEAT TRANSMISSION - WALLS↗

Non-linear numerical analysis of the Iosipescu specimen for composite materials

A nonlinear elastic finite element analysis is presented of the Iosipescu shear specimen tested in the modified Wyoming fixture for unidirectional graphite/epoxy composites. It is shown that the nonlinear effects due to specimen-to-fixture contact interactions and specimen geometry on the overall shear response are negligible. It is proposed that the tangential shear modulus should be used to characterize the shear resistance of composite materials with highly nonlinear shear response. The correction factors, which are needed to compensate for the nonuniformity of the shear stress or strain distribution in the specimen test section for shear modulus measurement, have to be defined carefully. Strain contours in the nonlinear response ranges are presented and the initiation of failure in the notch regions is investigated.

Ho, Henjen↗

Micromechanical Modeling of the Thermal Expansion of Graphite/copper Composites with Nonuniform Microstructure

Two micromechanical models were developed to investigate the thermal expansion of graphite/copper (Gr/Cu) composites. The models incorporate the effects of temperature-dependent material properties, matrix inelasticity, initial residual stresses due to processing history, and nonuniform fiber distribution. The first model is based on the multiple concentric cylinder geometry, with each cylinder treated as a two-phase composite with a characteristic fiber volume fractions. By altering the fiber volume fraction of the individual cylinders, unidirectional composites with radially nonuniform fiber distributions can be investigated using this model. The second model is based on the inelastic lamination theory. By varying the fiber content in the individual laminae, composites with nonuniform fiber distribution in the thickness direction can be investigated. In both models, the properties of the individual regions (cylinders or laminae) are calculated using the method of cells micromechanical model. Classical incremental plasticity theory is used to model the inelastic response of the copper matrix at the microlevel. The models were used to characterize the effects of nonuniform fiber distribution on the thermal expansion of Gr/Cu. These effects were compared to the effects of matrix plasticity, choice of stress-free temperature, and slight fiber misalignment. It was found that the radially nonuniform fiber distribution has little effect on the thermal expansion of Gr/Cu but could become significant for composites with large fiber-matrix transverse CTE and Young's modulus mismatch. The effect of nonuniform fiber distribution in the through-thickness direction of a laminate was more significant, but only approached that of the stress-free temperature for the most extreme cases that include large amounts of bending. Subsequent comparison with experimental thermal expansion data indicated the need for more accurate characterization of the graphite fiber thermomechanical properties. Correlation with cyclic data revealed the presence of a mechanism not considered in the developed models. The predicted response did, however, exhibit ratcheting behavior that has been observed experimentally in Gr/Cu. Finally, simulation of the actual fiber distribution of particular specimens had little effect on the predicted thermal expansion.

Bednarcyk, Brett A.↗

Vestibular reactions of astronauts during flight in Voskhod spacecraft

It is shown that differing human vestibular resistances to weightlessness stress are connected with the nonuniform initial sensitivity of the vestibular apparatus, as well as with different lengths of vestibular training. However, intensive vestibular training of persons with a moderate degree of sensitivity of the vestibular analyzer does not ensure vestibular stability under weightlessness conditions.

Yuganov, Y. M.↗

Composite wall concept for high temperature turbine shrouds: Survey of low modulus strain isolator materials

Plasma sprayed yttria stabilized zirconium oxide turbine seal specimens, incorporating various low modulus porous metal strain isolator pads between the zirconium oxide and a dense metal substrate, were subjected to cyclic thermal shock testing. Specimens that had a low modulus pad composed of sintered FeNiCrAlY fibermetal survived 1000 thermal shock cycles without spalling of the ceramic. A figure of merit for the low modulus pad materials taking into consideration the elastic modulus, thermal conductivity, strength, and oxidation resistance of the pad was proposed, and showed reasonable agreement with the thermal shock results. A potential surface distress problem on the zirconium oxide, associated with nonuniform temperature distribution and rapid stress relaxation was identified. One approach to solving the surface distress problem through application of laser surface fusion of the zirconium oxide layer showed some promise, but improvements in the laser surface fusion process are necessary to prevent process associated damage to the ceramic.

Bill, R. C.↗

A numerical simulation to verify the stress-free growth of silicon crystal ribbon

Thermal stresses developed during the growth of silicon crystal ribbon have been shown to be negligible, thus eliminating residual stresses and dislocations, if the temperature profile satisfies a second-order partial differential equation inside the ribbon. This has been numerically verified through a finite element model, an outline of which is presented here. This model shows that, for homogeneous isotropic material with temperature independent thermal expansion coefficients, thermal stresses will vanish if the temperature profile satisfies the Laplacian. A comparison of stresses due to uniform and nonuniform temperature gradients in the plane of the ribbon is also presented. The strategies employed to control the round-off error and to validate the computer model are discussed.

Ray, Sujit K.↗

Efficient development and processing of thermal math models of very large space truss structures

As the spacecraft moves along the orbit, the truss members are subjected to direct and reflected solar, albedo and planetary infra-red (IR) heating rates, as well as IR heating and shadowing from other spacecraft components. This is a transient process with continuously changing heating loads and the shadowing effects. The resulting nonuniform temperature distribution may cause nonuniform thermal expansion, deflection and stress in the truss elements, truss warping and thermal distortions. There are three challenges in the thermal-structural analysis of the large truss structures. The first is the development of the thermal and structural math models, the second - model processing, and the third - the data transfer between the models. All three tasks require considerable time and computer resources to be done because of a very large number of components involved. To address these challenges a series of techniques of automated thermal math modeling and efficient processing of very large space truss structures were developed. In the process the finite element and finite difference methods are interfaced. A very substantial reduction of the quantity of computations was achieved while assuring a desired accuracy of the results. The techniques are illustrated on the thermal analysis of a segment of the Space Station main truss.

Warren, Andrew H.↗