Search NASASearch

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “structural complexity”

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 55 records · Page 3

Vibrational transfer functions for complex structures

Evaluation of effects of vibrational multiple frequency forcing functions is discussed. Computer program for developing vibrational transfer functions is described. Possible applications of computer program are enumerated.

Jones, P. A.

Dynamic testing of complex structures

Response of structure is determined under impulses large enough to create severe strains. Electrodynamic shaker can provide impulses to nearly any point on structure and can deliver repeated pulses of varying force and duration.

Birs, C.

Sizing of complex structure by the integration of several different optimal design algorithms

Practical design of large-scale structures can be accomplished with the aid of the digital computer by bringing together in one computer program algorithms of nonlinear mathematical programing and optimality criteria with weight-strength and other so-called engineering methods. Applications of this approach to aviation structures are discussed with a detailed description of how the total problem of structural sizing can be broken down into subproblems for best utilization of each algorithm and for efficient organization of the program into iterative loops. Typical results are examined for a number of examples.

Sobieszczanski, J.

Ground vibration testing of complex structures

A method of measuring separately the in-phase and quadrature components of the vibration response, designed by APL, was developed and applied. Both analysis and test results show immediately a much improved definition of mode shapes and frequencies. The approach was further developed. It allows the measurement of damping in the different natural modes, and the determination of the exact shape of the normal modes, i.e., to eliminate the coupling effect due to structural damping. It is also expected to be used in flight flutter testing.

Stahle, C. V.

Measured response of a complex structure to supersonic turbulent boundary layers

Measurements of the response of a large frame-stringer panel excited by supersonic turbulent boundary layer are reported. The statistical description of the wall pressure fluctuations in terms of the mean flow parameters governing the turbulent boundary layer is given. These results can be used in the development of design criteria on the response of sidewall structure of a large airplane in supersonic flight, since both forcing field and structure are realistic. Results indicate the significant importance of the modal coupling and the acoustic damping. The acoustic damping plays a major role in the response of the structure.

Maestrello, L.

Programs for analysis and resizing of complex structures

The paper describes the PARS (Programs for Analysis and Resizing of Structures) system. PARS is a user oriented system of programs for the minimum weight design of structures modeled by finite elements and subject to stress, displacement, flutter and thermal constraints. The system is built around SPAR - an efficient and modular general purpose finite element program, and consists of a series of processors that communicate through the use of a data base. An efficient optimizer based on the Sequence of Unconstrained Minimization Technique (SUMT) with an extended interior penalty function and Newton's method is used. Several problems are presented for demonstration of the system capabilities.

Haftka, R. T.

Derivation of the equations of motion for complex structures by symbolic manipulation

This paper outlines a computer program especially tailored to the task of deriving explicit equations of motion for structures with point-connected substructures. The special purpose program is written in FORTRAN and is designed for performing the specific algebraic operations encountered in the derivation of explicit equations of motion. The derivation is by the Lagrangian approach. Using an orderly kinematical procedure and a discretization and/or truncation scheme, it is possible to write the kinetic and potential energy of each substructure in a compact vector-matrix form. Then, if each element of the matrices and vectors encountered in the kinetic and potential energy is a known algebraic expression, the computer program performs the necessary operations to evaluate the kinetic and potential energy of the system explicitly. Lagrange's equations for small motions about equilibrium can be deduced directly from the explicit form of the system kinetic and potential energy.

Hale, A. L.

Shock diffraction computations over complex structures

This work contains the results of a study aimed at the development of two- and three-dimensional numerical procedures for computing the flowfield generated by the interaction of a blast wave and a rigid body. A number of numerical procedures were applied to two-dimensional problems including both implicit and explicit algorithms. Each was tried on the blast wave-cylinder interaction problem. MacCormack's (1969) method with added fourth-order dissipation yielded the best results and was then applied to the blast wave-truck interaction problems in two dimensions. MacCormack's method was also used in three dimensions to determine the flowfield that results when a blast wave strikes a rectangular parallelepiped at an arbitrary angle. Both the twoand three-dimensional computations were compared with experiments in a number of ways. Two dimensional density contours show qualitative agreement for shock front location and Mach stem formation with spark shadowgraphs taken in a shock tube. Pressure-time histories indicate good quantitative agreement between theory and experiment both in two- and three-dimensions.

Mark, A.

Component mode synthesis and large deflection vibrations of complex structures

The accuracy of the NASTRAN modal synthesis analysis was assessed by comparing it with full structure NASTRAN and nine other modal synthesis results using a nine-bay truss. A NASTRAN component mode transient response analysis was also performed on the free-free truss structure. A finite element method was developed for nonlinear vibration of beam structures subjected to harmonic excitation. Longitudinal deformation and inertia are both included in the formula. Tables show the finite element free vibration results with and without considering the effects of longitudinal deformation and inertia as well as the frequency ratios for a simply supported and a clamped beam subjected to a uniform harmonic force.

Mei, C.

Origin and evolution of osmoregulatory mechanisms in blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) as a function of metabolic and structural complexity: Reflections of Precambrian paleobiology

Major accomplishments underlying the basic understanding of cyanobacterial resistance to salt tolerance and osmotic stress were made. The methodology proposed included: the tracing of the pathways of formation of osmoregulatory solutes by traditional methods involving C-14 labelled substrates; gas chromatography; amino acid analysis; X-ray analysis using scanning transmission electron microscopy; and most importantly, C-13 labelled substrates, followed by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. It was found that the cyanobacteria employ a diversity of organic, osmoregulatory solutes. Osmoregulatory solutes were found to serve four functions: adjustment of water activity, noninhibition of enzymes; lowering of K sub m of enzymes to allow functioning at normal levels when the intracellular salt accumulates, and extending the pH optimum of enzymes as intracellular pH rises due to proton-potassium ion pump action during osmoregulation. Differences in osmoregulatory solutes may, but are not always, be attributed to differences in nutritional capabilities. The mechanism of osmoregulation and concomitant salt tolerance in halophilic cyanobacteria was elucidated. The activities of betaine and S-Adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase are discussed.

Yopp, John H.

Component mode synthesis and large deflection vibration of complex structures. Volume 1: Examples of NASTRAN modal synthesis capability

The use of NASTRAN model synthesis capability is illustrated. A classical truss problem is examined and the results are compared to results from other methods to test for accuracy. The problem is examined using both fixed interface modes and free interface modes. The solution is carried out for an applied dynamic load as far as recovery of forces in individual members as a function of time. Another small beam problem is used to compare different means of combining substructures.

Mei, Chuh

Component mode synthesis and large deflection vibration of complex structures. Volume 3: Multiple-mode nonlinear free and forced vibrations of beams using finite element method

Multiple-mode nonlinear forced vibration of a beam was analyzed by the finite element method. Inplane (longitudinal) displacement and inertia (IDI) are considered in the formulation. By combining the finite element method and nonlinear theory, more realistic models of structural response are obtained more easily and faster.

Mei, Chuh

Reduced complexity structural modeling for automated airframe synthesis

A procedure is developed for the optimum sizing of wing structures based on representing the built-up finite element assembly of the structure by equivalent beam models. The reduced-order beam models are computationally less demanding in an optimum design environment which dictates repetitive analysis of several trial designs. The design procedure is implemented in a computer program requiring geometry and loading information to create the wing finite element model and its equivalent beam model, and providing a rapid estimate of the optimum weight obtained from a fully stressed design approach applied to the beam. The synthesis procedure is demonstrated for representative conventional-cantilever and joined wing configurations.

Hajela, Prabhat

High Leverage Technologies for In-Space Assembly of Complex Structures

In-space assembly (ISA), the ability to build structures in space, has the potential to enable or support a wide range of advanced mission capabilities. Many different individual assembly technologies would be needed in different combinations to serve many mission concepts. The many-to-many relationship between mission needs and technologies makes it difficult to determine exactly which specific technologies should receive priority for development and demonstration. Furthermore, because enabling technologies are still immature, no realistic, near-term design reference mission has been described that would form the basis for flowing down requirements for such development and demonstration. This broad applicability without a single, well-articulated mission makes it difficult to advance the technology all the way to flight readiness. This paper reports on a study that prioritized individual technologies across a broad field of possible missions to determine priority for future technology investment.

Hamill, Doris