Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “Structural characteristics”

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.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 451 records · Page 25

Structure and decay characteristics of turbulence in the near- and far-wake of a moderately loaded compressor rotor-blade

The wake of a turbomachinery rotor-blade is turbulent, highly three-dimensional, and nonisotropic with appreciable curvature in the trailing-edge and near-wake regions. The characteristics of the turbulence vary considerably with radius, blade loading, free-stream turbulence, Reynolds number, and the rotor-blade geometry. This paper is concerned with the turbulence properties of a moderately loaded compressor blade, particularly near the blade trailing-edge. The tangential variation of the axial, tangential and radial intensities and stresses across the wake, as well as their decay characteristics were measured with a tri-axial hot-wire probe in the rotor frame of reference. The decay of intensities and stresses were found to be very rapid in the trailing-edge and near-wake regions and slow in the far-wake region. The effects of inlet-guide-vane and the hub-wall boundary layers on the rotor wake turbulence spectra are also discussed. Similarity rules for the three components of intensity are also derived and presented in this paper.

Ravindranath, A.↗

Load deflection characteristics of inflated structures

A single, closed form relationship to relate load to the deformed dimensions of the horizontal torus was developed. Wall elasticity was included in the analysis, and special care was taken to predict the final footprint area of the loaded structure. The test fixture utilized is shown. The tori used for the bulk of the testing were rubber inner tubes for a 32 and 160 pneumatic tire. The inner tube being tested was plumbed, to a mercury-filled manometer, which had a 50 inch measurement capacity, by use of a special adapter. The adapter fit over the valve stem and allowed air to be added from a shop-air source and to be bled through the standard valve mechanism. In this fashion, tests requiring the maintenance of a constant indication of air pressure could be run with little difficulty.

Baumgarten, J. R.↗

A cosmic ray super high energy multicore family event. 2: Structure and fragmentation characteristics of the jets

Quarks and gluons are not directly observable, but may be displayed through fragmentation in the form of hadronic jets, the evidence of which was first revealed in cosmic ray interactions before the advent of the modern theory of strong interactions. Experimental results from ISR and SPPS collider rendered the jet phenomena more confident and definite. All the properties of jets observed up to now at ISR and SPPS collider are in agreement with the predictions of QCD. In order to make further test of QCD in still higher energy regions, detailed study of super high energy jet events in cosmic rays is very desirable. The event KO E19 observed in the Mt. Kambala emulsion chamber is an interesting event for such study. The general features of KO E19 is described. Its total visible energy is sigma E sub gamma = 1537 TeV(E sub min = 1.5 TeV) and production height H=(70 + or - 30)m, with a hadron as its primary particle. Besides about forty small clusters, there are five super high energy cores or jets, one lying near the center of the event while the other four surrounding it, having incident directions making small angles with that of the primary particle. Detailed analysis is done on the emulsion plates inserted in the chamber, making full use of their fine granularity, superior in detecting and analyzing jet events, specially their substructures.

Source record↗

Geophysical characteristics and crustal structure of greenstone terranes: Canadian Shield

Geophysical studies in the Canadian Shield have provided some insights into the tectonic setting of greenstone belts. Greenstone belts are not rooted in deep crustal structures. Geophysical techniques consistently indicate that greenstones are restricted to the uppermost 10 km or so of crust and are underlain by geophysically normal crust. Gravity models suggest that granitic elements are similarly restricted, although magnetic modelling suggests possible downward extension to the intermediate discontinuity around approx. 18 km. Seismic evidence demonstrates that steeply-dipping structure, which can be associated with the belts in the upper crust, is not present in the lower crust. Horizontal intermediate discontinuities mapped under adjacent greenstone and granitic components are not noticeably disrupted in the boundary zone. Geophysical evidence points to the presence of discontinuities between greenhouse-granite and adjacent metasedimentary erranes. Measured stratigraphic thicknesses of greenstone belts are often twice or more the vertical thicknesses determined from gravity modelling. Explantations advanced for the discrepancy include stratigraphy repeated by thrust faulting and/or listric normal faulting, mechanisms which are consistent with certain aspects of conceptual models of greenstone development. Where repetition is not a factor the gravity evidence points to removal of the root zones of greenstone belts. For one region, this has been attributed to magmatic stopping during resurgent caldera activity.

Thomas, M. D.↗

Acoustic characteristics and dynamic structural loading of an ASTOVL aircraft in hover

Measurements of surface dynamic loading and freestream acoustics were made for an ASTOVL model in hover, to quantify the effects of elevated temperature on the acoustic field and surface loading. Data were acquired for a many combinations of operating parameters: model height above the ground plane, nozzle pressure ratio, and jet exit stagnation temperature. For many conditions, strong tones were observed, with amplitudes up to 150 dB. The frequencies of the strongest tones were well predicted by a model assuming feedback between the nozzle exit and the ground plane. The model also accounts for many of the variations in frequency observed with changes in model height, nozzle pressure ratio, and jet temperature. Broadband sound pressure levels up to 170 dB were also recorded. The maximum levels occurred at approximately 3 equivalent jet diameters above the ground plane. For the majority of the cases, the increase in noise due to temperature was less than expected based on free jet correlations.

Mitchell, L. K.↗

Improving stability and strength characteristics of framed structures with nonlinear behavior

In this paper an optimal design procedure is introduced to improve the overall performance of nonlinear framed structures. The design methodology presented here is a multiple-objective optimization procedure whose objective functions involve the buckling eigenvalues and eigenvectors of the structure. A constant volume with bounds on the design variables is used in conjunction with an optimality criterion approach. The method provides a general tool for solving complex design problems and generally leads to structures with better limit strength and stability. Many algorithms have been developed to improve the limit strength of structures. In most applications geometrically linear analysis is employed with the consequence that overall strength of the design is overestimated. Directly optimizing the limit load of the structure would require a full nonlinear analysis at each iteration which would be prohibitively expensive. The objective of this paper is to develop an algorithm that can improve the limit-load of geometrically nonlinear framed structures while avoiding the nonlinear analysis. One of the novelties of the new design methodology is its ability to efficiently model and design structures under multiple loading conditions. These loading conditions can be different factored loads or any kind of loads that can be applied to the structure simultaneously or independently. Attention is focused on optimal design of space framed structures. Three-dimensional design problems are more complicated to carry out, but they yield insight into real behavior of the structure and can help avoiding some of the problems that might appear in planar design procedure such as the need for out-of-plane buckling constraint. Although researchers in the field of structural engineering generally agree that optimum design of three-dimension building frames especially in the seismic regions would be beneficial, methods have been slow to emerge. Most of the research in this area has dealt with the optimization of truss and plane frame structures.

Pezeshk, Shahram↗

Characteristics of luminous structures in the stratosphere above thunderstorms as imaged by low-light video

An experiment was conducted in which an image-intensified, low-light video camera systematically monitored the stratosphere above distant (100-800 km) mesoscale convective systems over the high plains of the central U.S. for 21 nights between 6 July and 27 August 1993. Complex, luminous structures were observed above large thunderstorm clusters on eleven nights, with one storm system (7 July 1993) yielding 248 events in 410 minutes. Their duration ranged from 33 to 283 ms, with an average of 98 ms. The luminous structures, generally not visible to the naked, dark-adapted eye, exhibited on video a wide variety of brightness levels and shapes including streaks, aurora-like curtains, smudges, fountains and jets. The structures were often more than 10 km wide and their upper portions extended to above 50 km msl.

Lyons, Walter A.↗

Global Failure Modes in High Temperature Composite Structures

Composite materials have been considered for many years as the major advance in the construction of energy efficient aerospace structures. Notable advances have been made in understanding the special design considerations that set composites apart from the usual "isotropic" engineering materials such as the metals. As a result, a number of significant engineering designs have been accomplished. However, one shortcoming of the currently favored composites is their relatively unforgiving behavior with respect to failure (brittleness) under seemingly mild impact conditions and large efforts are underway to rectify that situation, much along the lines of introducing thermoplastic matrix materials. Because of their relatively more pronounced (thermo) viscoelastic behavior these materials respond with "toughness" in fracture situations. From the point of view of applications requiring material strength, this property is highly desirable. This feature impacts several important and distinct engineering problems which have been' considered under this grant and cover the 1) effect of impact damage on structural (buckling) stability of composite panels, the 2) effect of time dependence on the progression of buckling instabilities, and the 3) evolution of damage and fracture at generic thickness discontinuities in structures. The latter topic has serious implications for structural stability problems (buckling failure in reinforced shell structures) as well as failure progression in stringer-reinforced shell structures. This grant has dealt with these issues. Polymer "toughness" is usually associated with uncrosslinked or thermo-plastic polymers. But, by comparison with their thermoset counterparts they tend to exhibit more pronounced time dependent material behavior; also, that time dependence can occur at lower temperatures which places restriction in the high temperature use of these "newer and tougher" materials that are not quite so serious with the thermoset matrix materials. From a structural point of view the implications of this material behavior are potentially severe in that structural failure characteristics are no longer readily observed in short term qualification tests so characteristic for aerospace structures built from typical engineering metals.

Knauss, W. G.↗

Changing Circulation Structure and Precipitation Characteristics in Asian Monsoon Regions: Greenhouse Warming vs. Aerosol Effects

Using model outputs from CMIP5 historical integrations, we have investigated the relative roles of anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG) and aerosols in changing the characteristics of the large-scale circulation and rainfall in Asian summer monsoon (ASM) regions. Under GHG warming, a strong positive trend in low-level moist static energy (MSE) is found over ASM regions, associated with increasing large-scale land-sea thermal contrast from 1870's to present. During the same period, a mid tropospheric convective barrier (MCB) due to widespread reduction in relative humidity in the mid- and lower troposphere is strengthening over the ASM regions, in conjunction with expanding areas of anomalous subsidence associated with the Deep Tropical Squeeze (DTS) [Lau and Kim, 2015]. The opposing effects of MSE and MCB lead to enhanced total ASM rainfall, but only a partial strengthening of the southern portion of the monsoon meridional circulation, coupled to anomalous multi-cellar overturning motions over ASM land. Including anthropogenic aerosol emissions strongly masks MSE but enhances MCB via increased stability in the lower troposphere, resulting in an overall weakened ASM circulation with suppressed rainfall. Rainfall characteristics analyses indicate that under GHG, overall precipitation efficiency over the ASM region is reduced, manifesting in less moderate but more extreme heavy rain events. Under combined effects of GHG and aerosols, precipitation efficiency is unchanged, with more moderate, but less extreme rainfall.

Asian monsoon↗

Characteristic Lifelength of Coherent Structure in the Turbulent Boundary Layer

A characteristic lifelength is defined by which a Gaussian distribution is fit to data correlated over a 3 sensor array sampling streamwise sidewall pressure. The data were acquired at subsonic, transonic and supersonic speeds aboard a Tu-144. Lifelengths are estimated using the cross spectrum and are shown to compare favorably with Efimtsov's prediction of correlation space scales. Lifelength distributions are computed in the time/frequency domain using an interval correlation technique on the continuous wavelet transform of the original time data. The median values of the lifelength distributions are found to be very close to the frequency averaged result. The interval correlation technique is shown to allow the retrieval and inspection of the original time data of each event in the lifelength distribution, thus providing a means to locate and study the nature of the coherent structure in the turbulent boundary layer. The lifelength data can be converted to lifetimes using the convection velocity. The lifetime of events in the time/frequency domain are displayed in Lifetime Maps. The primary purpose of the paper is to validate these new analysis techniques so that they can be used with confidence to further characterize coherent structure in the turbulent boundary layer.

Palumbo, Daniel L.↗

The characterization of widespread fatigue damage in fuselage structure

The characteristics of widespread fatigue damage (WSFD) in fuselage riveted structure were established by detailed nondestructive and destructive examinations of fatigue damage contained in a full size fuselage test article. The objectives of this were to establish an experimental data base for validating emerging WSFD analytical prediction methodology and to identify first order effects that contribute to fatigue crack initiation and growth. Detailed examinations were performed on a test panel containing four bays of a riveted lap splice joint. The panel was removed from a full scale fuselage test article after receiving 60,000 full pressurization cycles. The results of in situ examinations document the progression of fuselage skin fatigue crack growth through crack linkup. Detailed tear down examinations and fractography of the lap splice joint region revealed fatigue crack initiation sites, crack morphology, and crack linkup geometry. From this large data base, distributions of crack size and locations are presented and discussions of operative damage mechanisms are offered.

Piascik, Robert S.↗

The characterization of widespread fatigue damage in fuselage structure

The characteristics of widespread fatigue damage (WSFD) in fuselage riveted structure were established by detailed nondestructive and destructive examinations of fatigue damage contained in a full size fuselage test article. The objectives of this work were to establish an experimental data base for validating emerging WSFD analytical prediction methodology and to identify first order effects that contribute to fatigue crack initiation and growth. Detailed examinations were performed on a test panel containing four bays of a riveted lap splice joint. The panel was removed from a full scale fuselage test article after receiving 60,000 full pressurization cycles. The results of in situ examinations document the progression of fuselage skin fatigue crack growth through crack linkup. Detailed tear down examinations and fractography of the lap splice joint region revealed fatigue crack initiation sites, crack morphology and crack linkup geometry. From this large data base, distributions of crack size and locations are presented and discussions of operative damage mechanisms are offered.

Piascik, Robert S.↗

Dynamic characteristics of specialty composite structures with embedded damping layers

Damping mechanics for simulating the damped dynamic characteristics in specialty composite structures with compliant interlaminar damping layers are presented. Finite-element based mechanics incorporating a discrete layer (or layer-wise) laminate damping theory are utilized to represent general laminate configurations in terms of lay-up and fiber orientation angles, cross-sectional thickness, shape, and boundary conditions. Evaluations of the method with exact solutions and experimental data illustrate the accuracy of the method. Additional applications investigate the potential for significant damping enhancement in angle-ply composite laminates with cocured interlaminar damping layers.

Saravanos, D. A.↗