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At least 37 records · Page 2

Ground/Flight Correlation of Aerodynamic Loads with Structural Response

Ground and flight tests provide a basis and methodology for in-flight characterization of the aerodynamic and structural performance through the monitoring of the fluid-structure interaction. The NF-15B flight tests of the Intelligent Flight Control System program provided a unique opportunity to test the correlation of aerodynamic loads with points of flow attaching and detaching from the surface, which are also known as flow bifurcation points, as observed in a previous wind tunnel test performed at the U.S. Air Force Academy (Colorado Springs, Colorado). Moreover, flight tests, along with the subsequent unsteady aerodynamic tests in the NASA Transonic Dynamics Tunnel (TDT), provide a basis using surface flow sensors as means of assessing the aeroelastic performance of flight vehicles. For the flight tests, the NF-15B tail was instrumented with hot-film sensors and strain gages for measuring root-bending strains. This data were gathered via selected sideslip maneuvers performed at level flight and subsonic speeds. The aerodynamic loads generated by the sideslip maneuver resulted in a structural response, which were then compared with the hot-film sensor signals. The hot-film sensor signals near the stagnation region were found to be highly correlated with the root-bending strains. For the TDT tests, a flexible wing section developed under the U.S. Air Force Research Lab SensorCraft program was instrumented with strain gages, accelerometers, and hot-film sensors at two span stations. The TDT tests confirmed the correlation between flow bifurcation points and the wing structural response to tunnel-generated gusts. Furthermore, as the wings structural modes were excited by the gusts, a gradual phase change between the flow bifurcation point and the structural mode occurred during a resonant condition.

Mangalam, Arun S.↗

Probabilistic Sensitivity Analyses Incorporating Surrogate Models for the Structural Response of a Representative Inflatable Space Structure

This study concentrates on results from probabilistic analysis and numerical simulation tools to identify parameter sensitivities and assess surrogate model suitability for a novel inflatable airlock concept, specifically the Non-Axisymmetric Inflatable Pressure Structure (NAIPS) under NASA's Minimalistic Advanced Softgoods Hatch (MASH) Program. The current studies extended the demonstration of probabilistic analysis tools to identify parameter sensitivities by: incorporating nonlinear material load-strain property curves and orthotropic representation of the fabric; and exploring the use of surrogate models to facilitate rapid evaluations as new information becomes available, as well as enable optimizations. The airlock model has been simplified to focus on the end dome section. Brief overviews of the finite element model and associated surrogate models are provided along with the probabilistic sensitivity analysis approaches. Responses of interest include the sensitivities of various loads in the structural elements of the NAIPS to material properties, cord lengths, inflation pressure and friction between softgoods components. The use of surrogate models was explored to facilitate rapid sensitivity evaluations as parameter ranges change. The completion of the sensitivity studies improved understanding of the dependence of load responses to several uncertain parameters and confidence in the ability to use surrogate models to represent the finite element simulations.

Lyle, Karen H.↗

Measurements of unsteady pressure and structural response for an elastic supercritical wing

Results are presented which define unsteady flow conditions associated with the high-dynamic structural response of a high-aspect-ratio, elastic, supercritical wing at transonic speeds. The wing was tested in the Langley Transonic Dynamics Tunnel with a heavy gas test medium. The supercritical wing, designed for a cruise lift coefficient of 0.53 at a Mach number of 0.80, experienced the high-dynamic structural response from Mach 0.90 to 0.94 with the maximum response occurring at about Mach 0.92. At the maximum response conditions of the wing, the forcing function appears to be the oscillatory chordwise movement of strong shocks located on the upper and lower surfaces of the wing in conjunction with the flow separation on the lower surface of the wing in the trailing-edge cove region.

Eckstrom, Clinton V.↗

Structural response to discrete and continuous gusts of an airplane having wing bending flexibility and a correlation of calculated and flight results

An analysis is made of the structural response to gusts of an airplane having the degrees of freedom of vertical motion and wing bending flexibility and basic parameters are established. A convenient and accurate numerical solution of the response equations is developed for the case of discrete-gust encounter, an exact solution is made for the simpler case of continuous-sinusoidal-gust encounter, and the procedure is outlined for treating the more realistic condition of continuous random atmospheric turbulence, based on the methods of generalized harmonic analysis. Correlation studies between flight and calculated results are then given to evaluate the influence of wing bending flexibility on the structural response to gusts of two twin-engine transports and one four-engine bomber. It is shown that calculated results obtained by means of a discrete-gust approach reveal the general nature of the flexibility effects and lead to qualitative correlation with flight results. In contrast, calculations by means of the continuous-turbulence approach show good quantitative correlation with flight results and indicate a much greater degree of resolution of the flexibility effects.

Houbolt, John C↗

Flight investigation of XB-70 structural response to oscillatory aerodynamic shaker excitation and correlation with analytical results

The low frequency symmetric structural response and damping characteristics of the XB-70 airplane were measured at four flight conditions: heavyweight at a Mach number of 0.87 at an altitude of 7620 meters (25,000 feet); lightweight at a Mach number of 0.86 at an altitude of 7620 meters (25,000 feet); a Mach number of 1.59 at an altitude of 11,918 meters (39.100 feet); and a Mach number of 2.38 and an altitude of 18,898 meters (62,000 feet). The flight data are compared with the response calculated by using early XB-70 design data and with the response calculated with mass, structural, and aerodynamic data updated to reflect as closely as possible the airplane characteristics at three of the flight conditions actually flown.

Mckay, J. M.↗

Development of advanced modal methods for calculating transient thermal and structural response

Higher-order modal methods for predicting thermal and structural response are evaluated. More accurate methods or ones which can significantly reduce the size of complex, transient thermal and structural problems are desirable for analysis and are required for synthesis of real structures subjected to thermal and mechanical loading. A unified method is presented for deriving successively higher-order modal solutions related to previously-developed, lower-order methods such as the mode displacement and mode-acceleration methods. A new method, called the force-derivative method, is used to obtain higher-order modal solutions for both uncoupled (proportionally-damped) structural problems as well as thermal problems and coupled (non-proportionally damped) structural problems. The new method is called the force-derivative method because, analogous to the mode-acceleration method, it produces a term that depends on the forcing function and additional terms that depend on the time derivatives of the forcing function.

Camarda, Charles J.↗

Analysis of structural response data using discrete modal filters

The application of reciprocal modal vectors to the analysis of structural response data is described. Reciprocal modal vectors are constructed using an existing experimental modal model and an existing frequency response matrix of a structure, and can be assembled into a matrix that effectively transforms the data from the physical space to a modal space within a particular frequency range. In other words, the weighting matrix necessary for modal vector orthogonality (typically the mass matrix) is contained within the reciprocal model matrix. The underlying goal of this work is mostly directed toward observing the modal state responses in the presence of unknown, possibly closed loop forcing functions, thus having an impact on both operating data analysis techniques and independent modal space control techniques. This study investigates the behavior of reciprocol modal vectors as modal filters with respect to certain calculation parameters and their performance with perturbed system frequency response data.

Freudinger, Lawrence C.↗

Structural Response of Compression-Loaded, Tow-Placed, Variable Stiffness Panels

Results of an analytical and experimental study to characterize the structural response of two compression-loaded variable stiffness composite panels are presented and discussed. These variable stiffness panels are advanced composite structures, in which tows are laid down along precise curvilinear paths within each ply and the fiber orientation angle varies continuously throughout each ply. The panels are manufactured from AS4/977-3 graphite-epoxy pre-preg material using an advanced tow placement system. Both variable stiffness panels have the same layup, but one panel has overlapping tow bands and the other panel has a constant-thickness laminate. A baseline cross-ply panel is also analyzed and tested for comparative purposes. Tests performed on the variable stiffness panels show a linear prebuckling load-deflection response, followed by a nonlinear response to failure at loads between 4 and 53 percent greater than the baseline panel failure load. The structural response of the variable stiffness panels is also evaluated using finite element analyses. Nonlinear analyses of the variable stiffness panels are performed which include mechanical and thermal prestresses. Results from analyses that include thermal prestress conditions correlate well with measured variable stiffness panel results. The predicted response of the baseline panel also correlates well with measured results.

Wu, K. Chauncey↗

The prediction of structural response to buffet flow: A state-of-the-art review

Certain aspects of the dynamic system being discussed are reviewed and important structural and aerodynamic quantities of the system are discussed. A theoretical model is presented which relates these quantities to each other. These quantities are then each, in turn, considered in terms of the state of the art of determining the quantities and in terms of areas where further research is needed. The similarity laws and scaling relationships applicable to determining buffet structural response are then discussed, and areas where simplification is required or may be permissible are mentioned. Finally, the various types of model tests pertinent to predicting response of the aircraft structure to buffet flow are discussed.

Hanson, P. W.↗

An evaluation of higher-order model methods for calculating transient structural response

A higher-order modal method proposed by Leung for transient structural analysis entitled the force-derivative method is evaluated. This method repeatedly integrates by parts with respect to time the convolution-integral form of the structural response to produce successively better approximations to the contribution of the higher modes which are neglected in the modal summation. Comparisons are made of the force-derivative, the mode-displacement, and the mode-acceleration methods for several numerical example problems for various times, levels of damping, and forcing functions. The example problems include a tip-loaded cantilevered beam and a simply-supported multispan beam. The force-derivative method is shown to converge to an accurate solution in fewer modes than either the mode-displacement or the mode-acceleration methods. In addition, for problems in which there are a large number of closely-spaced frequencies whose mode shapes have a negligible contribution to the response, the force-derivative method is very effective in representing the effect of the important, but otherwise neglected, higher modes.

Camarda, Charles J.↗

Vibroacoustic analysis and experimental validation of the structural responses of NASA Mars Exploration Rover spacecraft due to acoustic launch load

Structural responses of a spacecraft during liftoff are dominated by the intense acoustic pressure field imping on the exterior of the launch vehicle. Statistical Energy Analysis model of the NASA Mars Exploration Rover spacecraft has been developed and the SEA model was analyzed to predict vibroacoustic responses of the spacecraft under the diffuse acoustic loading condition.

vibroacoustic statistical energy analysis SEA↗

Vibroacoustic analysis and experimental validation of the structural responses of NASA Mars Exploration Rover spacecraft due to acoustic launch load

Structural responses of a spacecraft during liftoff are dominated by the intense acoustic pressure field imping on the exterior of the launch vehicle. Statistical Energy Analysis model of the NASA Mars Exploration Rover spacecraft has been developed and the SEA model was analyzed to predict vibroacoustic responses of the spacecraft under the diffuse acoustic loading condition.

vibroacoustic statistical energy analysis SEA↗