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At least 55 records · Page 3

Static metrology of the meter-scale deformable heliostat

This paper describes a heliostat metrology system which is developed based on deflectometry, utilizing a static perforated panel instead of conventional dynamic monitor displays to provide incident rays. The developed method is named static screen deflectometry (SSD). This robust and scalable method is especially valuable for outdoor tests of large reflectors used in concentrating solar-thermal power (CSP) systems. The developed method has been successfully demonstrated on a 2.4 𝑚 × 3.3 𝑚 float glass deformable reflector bent to focus sunlight at 113 𝑚 distance throughout a day. From images obtained from a camera at 50𝑚 distance, the reflector surface was measured to an accuracy of less than 1 𝑚𝑟𝑎𝑑 rms slope error in the full test scope.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

An analysis of rotor blade twist variables associated with different Euler sequences and pretwist treatments

A nonlinear analysis which is necessary to adequately model elastic helicopter rotor blades experiencing moderately large deformations was examined. The analysis must be based on an appropriate description of the blade's deformation geometry including elastic bending and twist. Built-in pretwist angles complicate the deformation process ant its definition. Relationships between the twist variables associated with different rotation sequences and corresponding forms of the transformation matrix are lasted. Relationships between the twist variables associated with first, the pretwist combined with the deformation twist are included. Many of the corresponding forms of the transformation matrix for the two cases are listed. It is shown that twist variables connected with the combined twist treatment are related to those where the pretwist is applied initially. A method to determine the relationships and some results are outlined. A procedure to evaluate the transformation matrix that eliminates the Eulerlike sequence altogether is demonstrated. The resulting form of the transformation matrix is unaffected by rotation sequence or pretwist treatment.

Alkire, K.↗

Bendability parameter for twisted ribbons to describe longitudinal wrinkling and delineate the near-threshold regime

We propose a dimensionless bendability parameter, ε -1 =[(h/W) 2 ⁢T -1 ] -1 , for wrinkling of thin, twisted ribbons with thickness h, width W, and tensional strain T. Bendability permits efficient collapse of data for wrinkle onset, wavelength, critical stress, and residual stress, demonstrating longitudinal wrinkling's primary dependence on this parameter. This parameter also allows us to distinguish the highly bendable range (ε -1 >20) from moderately bendable samples (ε -1 ϵ(0,20]). We identify scaling relations to describe longitudinal wrinkles that are valid across our entire set of simulated ribbons. When restricted to the highly bendable regime, simulations confirm theoretical near-threshold (NT) predictions for wrinkle onset and wavelength.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Blade Displacement Predictions for the Full-Scale UH-60A Airloads Rotor

An unsteady Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes solver for unstructured grids is loosely coupled to a rotorcraft comprehensive code and used to simulate two different test conditions from a wind-tunnel test of a full-scale UH-60A rotor. Performance data and sectional airloads from the simulation are compared with corresponding tunnel data to assess the level of fidelity of the aerodynamic aspects of the simulation. The focus then turns to a comparison of the blade displacements, both rigid (blade root) and elastic. Comparisons of computed root motions are made with data from three independent measurement systems. Finally, comparisons are made between computed elastic bending and elastic twist, and the corresponding measurements obtained from a photogrammetry system. Overall the correlation between computed and measured displacements was good, especially for the root pitch and lag motions and the elastic bending deformation. The correlation of root lead-lag motion and elastic twist deformation was less favorable.

Bledron, Robert T.↗

Measurement of Rotorcraft Blade Deformation using Projection Moire Interferometry

Projection Moire Interferometry (PMI) has been used to obtain near instantaneous, quantitative blade deformation measurements of a generic rotorcraft model at several test conditions. These laser-based measurements provide quantitative, whole field, dynamic blade deformation profiles conditionally sampled as a function of rotor azimuth. The instantaneous nature of the measurements permits computation of the mean and unsteady blade deformation, blade bending, and twist. The PMI method is presented, and the image processing steps required to obtain quantitative deformation profiles from PMI interferograms are described. Experimental results are provided which show blade bending, twist, and unsteady motion. This initial proof-of-concept test has demonstrated the capability of PMI to acquire accurate, full field rotorcraft blade deformation data.

Fleming, Gary A.↗

Enhancement of Magneto‐Mechanical Actuation of Micropillar Arrays by Anisotropic Stress Distribution

Abstract Magnetically active shape‐reconfigurable microarrays undergo programmed actuation according to the arrangement of magnetic dipoles within the structures, achieving complex twisting and bending deformations. Cylindrical micropillars have been widely used to date, whose circular cross‐sections lead to identical actuation regardless of the actuating direction. In this study, micropillars with triangular or rectangular cross‐sections are designed and fabricated to introduce preferential actuation directions and explore the limits of their actuation. Using such structures, controlled liquid wetting is demonstrated on micropillar surfaces. Liquid droplets pinned on magnetic micropillar arrays undergo directional spreading when the pillars are actuated as depinning of the droplets is enabled only in certain directions. The enhanced deformation due to direction dependent magneto‐mechanical actuation suggests that micropillar arrays can be fundamentally tailored to possess application specific responses and opens up opportunities to exploit more complex designs such as micropillars with polygonal cross sections. Such tunable wetting of liquids on microarray surfaces has potential to improve printing technologies via contactless reconfiguration of stamp geometry by magnetic field manipulation.

Park, Jeong Eun↗

Inflight optical measurement of antenna surfaces

A technology base was developed for a wide variety of applications oriented sensors to meet requirements for the fabrication, assembly, test, surface figure monitoring, and ultimately surface figure active control of large space antennas. An optical sensor technique is described which establishes an ideal centerline at each beam during fabrication or later during assembly. Deviations from the centerline, either in lateral deformation or in twist, are measured to produce limit warnings or to evoke active control at the building machine.

Neiswander, R. S.↗

Plates and shells containing a surface crack under general loading conditions

Various through and part-through crack problems in plates and shells are considered. The line-spring model of Rice and Levy is generalized to the skew-symmetric case to solve surface crack problems involving mixed-mode, coplanar crack growth. Compliance functions are introduced which are valid for crack depth to thickness ratios at least up to .95. This includes expressions for tension and bending as well as expressions for in-plane shear, out-of-plane shear, and twisting. Transverse shear deformation is taken into account in the plate and shell theories and this effect is shown to be important in comparing stress intensity factors obtained from the plate theory with three-dimensional solutions. Stress intensity factors for cylinders obtained by the line-spring model also compare well with three-dimensional solution. By using the line-spring approach, stress intensity factors can be obtained for the through crack and for part-through crack of any crack front shape, without recalculation integrals that take up the bulk of the computer time. Therefore, parameter studies involving crack length, crack depth, shell type, and shell curvature are made in some detail. The results will be useful in brittle fracture and in fatigue crack propagation studies. All problems considered are of the mixed boundary value type and are reducted to strongly singular integral equations which make use of the finite-part integrals of Hadamard. The equations are solved numerically in a manner that is very efficient.

Joseph, Paul F.↗

Bearingless rotor aeromechanical stability measurements and correlations using nonlinear aerodynamics

The aeromechanical stability of a 1/8th Froude scaled bearingless rotor model was investigated experimentally in a wind tunnel. Both shaft-fixed and shaft-free conditions were examined to study the aeroelastic stability of a bearingless rotor without the incorporation of auxiliary dampers. This wind tunnel investigation generated a set of stability data for four different advance ratios, and a wide range of collective pitch settings. Theoretical analysis was performed using the newly developed University of Maryland Advanced Rotorcraft Code (UMARC). For analysis, the blade is modeled as an elastic beam undergoing flap bending, lag bending, elastic twist, and axial deformation. Blade response is calculated using a finite element method in time. Nonlinear aerodynamic effects are included by using a semiempirical stall modeling. The linearized periodic rotor perturbation equations in the nonrotating frame are solved for stability roots using Floquet transition matrix theory, as well as constant coefficient approximation. The predicted results are compared with the experimental data.

Wang, James M.↗

Two SMA-Actuated Miniature Mechanisms

The figures depict two miniature mechanisms actuated by strips made of shape-memory alloy (SMA). A typical SMA is a nickel-titanium alloy known by the trade name "Flexinol" or "Nitinol." In preparation for a typical application, a suitably sized and shaped piece of an SMA is deformed by a predetermined amount at the lower of two operating temperatures, then mounted in a mechanism. When stroking of the mechanism in one direction is desired, the piece of SMA is heated above a transition temperature to make it return to the "remembered" undeformed state. When stroking of the mechanism in the opposite direction is desired, the SMA is cooled below the transition temperature to make it return to the deformed state. Also, the SMA alloy chosen for a specific application is one that has a transition temperature somewhat above the ambient temperature, so that stroking in one direction or the opposite direction can be achieved by heating the SMA, or refraining from heating the SMA, respectively, above the transition temperature. In the present mechanisms as in typical other SMA mechanisms, the heating is effected by electric currents applied via electrical contacts at the ends of the SMA strips. The purpose served by the mechanism of Figure 1 is to lock or release a flexible latch attachment. In preparation for use in this mechanism, two initially straight SMA strips are deformed into curved springs that, when mounted in the mechanism at ambient temperature, clamp the knob at the lower end of the flexible latch attachment. When heated above their transition temperature by an electric current, the SMA strips return to their original straight configuration, thereby releasing the knob. This mechanism is redundant in the sense that as long as at least one of the two SMA strips straightens when commanded to do so, the knob is released. The mechanism of Figure 2 is suited to any of a variety of applications in which there are requirements for a small mechanism that affords lowtorque rotary actuation through a finite angular range. As shown here, the mechanism is used to rotate a coverlatch pin to a release position. In this case, a straight and flat SMA strip is torsionally deformed to a twist angle of about 90deg by use of a torsion bias spring. When the SMA strip is heated, it rotates to its original straight and flat condition.

Willey, Cliff E.↗

Aeroelastic analysis for helicopter rotor blades with time-variable, non-linear structural twist and multiple structural redundancy: Mathematical derivation and program user's manual

The differential equations of motion for the lateral and torsional deformations of a nonlinearly twisted rotor blade in steady flight conditions together with those additional aeroelastic features germane to composite bearingless rotors are derived. The differential equations are formulated in terms of uncoupled (zero pitch and twist) vibratory modes with exact coupling effects due to finite, time variable blade pitch and, to second order, twist. Also presented are derivations of the fully coupled inertia and aerodynamic load distributions, automatic pitch change coupling effects, structural redundancy characteristics of the composite bearingless rotor flexbeam - torque tube system in bending and torsion, and a description of the linearized equations appropriate for eigensolution analyses. Three appendixes are included presenting material appropriate to the digital computer program implementation of the analysis, program G400.

Bielawa, R. L.↗

Arbitrarily Curved and Twisted Space Beams

A derivation of the equations which govern the deformation of an arbitrarily curved and twisted space beam is presented. These equations differ from those of the classical theory in that (1) extensional effects are included; (2) the strain-displacement relations are derived; and (3) the expressions for the stress resultants are developed from the strain displacement relations. It is shown that the torsional stress resultant obtained by the classical approach is basically incorrect except when the cross-section is circular. The governing equations are given in the form of first-order differential equations. A numerical algorithm is given for obtaining the natural vibration characteristics and example problems are presented.

Hunter, W. F.↗

Variable response load limiting device

An energy absorbing device used as a load limiting member in a structure to control its response to applied loads is described. It functions by utilizing a spool assembly having flanged ends and an interior cavity of sufficiently large diameter to cause it to deform plastically at a prescribed load. In application, the spool is utilized as a pivot point for the legs of an airplane seat. When properly designed and integrated into the seat arrangement the spool will twist about its axis, deforming plastically when the impact load exceeds the spool yield value. Through this deformation, the spool absorbs the kinetic energy of the movement of the seat at a substantially constant rate, thereby controlling the level of loads transmitted to the seat occupant. By proper sizing and collection of materials, it is possible to control load response in a predictable manner.

Mcsmith, Dwight D.↗

Helical dislocation in twisted bilayer graphene

Here, we observe helical dislocation network in twisted bilayer graphene (tBLG), which is accompanied by large out-of-plane deformation. By atomistic calculations, we demonstrate two distinct out-of-plane deformation modes, breathing mode with small out-of-plane deformation and bending mode with one order larger corrugation magnitude compared to the breathing mode. The out-of-plane deformation is caused by inhomogeneous interlayer coupling resulting from the periodic stacking order of the tBLG moiré superlattice. Instead of commonly observed screw dislocation in tBLG, we demonstrate a slip-induced helical dislocation network in the bending mode tBLG. We show that bending mode deformation is more stable at low twist angles, as the energy savings due to interface energy exceeds the energy penalty due to the strain energy caused by the large out-of-plane deformation. Our work provides a detailed picture of a new helical dislocation structure in tBLG and establishes a direct connection between the dislocation and deformation. Therefore, understanding the dislocation mechanics of tBLG may open up the possibility to control the corrugation, and reveal an opportunity to tune the intriguing physical properties of twisted bilayer graphene.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Error Due to Wing Bending in Single-Camera Photogrammetric Technique

The error due to wing bending introduced into single-camera photogrammetric computations used for the determination of wing twist or control surface angular deformation is described. It is shown that the error due to wing bending when determining main wing element-induced twist is typically less than 0.05deg at the wing tip and may not warrant additional correction. It is also shown that the angular error in control surface deformation due to bending can be as large as 1deg or more if the control surface is at a large deflection angle compared to the main wing element. A correction procedure suitable for control surface measurements is presented. Simulations of the error based on typical wind tunnel measurement geometry, and results from a controlled experimental test in the test section of the National Transonic Facility (NTF) are presented to confirm the validity of the method used for correction of control surface photogrammetric deformation data. An example of a leading edge (LE) slat measurement is presented to illustrate the error due to wing bending and its correction.

Burner, Alpheus W., Jr.↗

Relativistic Magnetohydrodynamic Simulations of Giant Magnetar Bursts

Gradual crustal deformation can generate strongly twisted magnetic fields around magnetars, potentially triggering giant flares with total energies exceeding 10 44 erg. In this letter, we present the first relativistic magnetohydrodynamic simulation of a surface shear-driven magnetar eruption, capturing reconnection-driven plasma heating, the ejection of relativistically hot plasma, and the formation of a hot fireball confined within the inner magnetosphere. We find that magnetic reconnection in the equatorial current sheet launches a hot trailing outflow capable of powering the initial spike observed in giant flares, while simultaneously leaving behind a thermally stratified fireball with sufficient thermal energy to produce the pulsating, decaying tail. Together, these features provide a self-consistent physical framework for understanding the observed energetics of magnetar giant flares. The eruption also expels a magnetically dominated giant plasmoid carrying up to ∼9% of the magnetosphere’s total magnetic energy. Furthermore, our simulation demonstrates how the plasmoid drives the formation of a blast wave—an important ingredient in models linking magnetar eruptions to fast radio bursts.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Experimental Investigation of the NASA Common Research Model

An experimental aerodynamic investigation of the NASA Common Research Model has been conducted in the NASA NTF (National Transonic Facility). Data have been obtained at chord Reynolds numbers of 5, 19.8 and 30 million for the WB and WBT0 configurations. Data have also been obtained at a chord Reynolds number of 5 million for the WBNP, WBT+2 and WBT-2 configurations. Force and moment, surface pressure and surface flow visualization data were obtained but only the force and moment data are presented herein. Model deformation measurements, aeroelastic, nacelle/pylon Reynolds number and tail effects have been assessed. The model deformation measurements showed more twist as you go out the wing span, with a break in the high q(sub infinity) data close to CL = 0.6 which is consistent with separation near the tip. Increases in dynamic pressure give an increase in pitching moment and drag and a decrease in lift for the WB and WBT0 configuration at Mach = 0.7, 0.85 and 0.87. The addition of a nacelle/pylon gave an increase in drag, decrease in lift and a less nose down pitching moment around the design lift condition of 0.5. Increases in chord Reynolds number have been found to follow the normal Reynolds number trends except at the 19.8 million low q(sub infinity) cases. The abnormality of the 19.8 million low q(sub infinity) cases is being investigated. The tail effects also follow the expected trends. All of the data shown fall within the 2-sigma limits for repeatability.

Rivers, Melissa B.↗

Supramolecular Interactions and Morphology of Self-Assembling Peptide Amphiphile Nanostructures

The morphology of supramolecular peptide nanostructures is difficult to predict given their complex energy landscapes. We investigated peptide amphiphiles containing β-sheet forming domains that form twisted nanoribbons in water. We explained the morphology based on a balance between the energetically favorable packing of molecules in the center of the nanostructures, the unfavorable packing at the edges, and the deformations due to packing of twisted β-sheets. We find that morphological polydispersity of PA nanostructures is determined by peptide sequences, and the twisting of their internal β-sheets. Here, we also observed a change in the supramolecular chirality of the nanostructures as the peptide sequence was modified, although only amino acids with l-configuration were used. Upon increasing charge repulsion between molecules, we observed a change in morphology to long cylinders and then rodlike fragments and spherical micelles. Understanding the self-assembly mechanisms of peptide amphiphiles into nanostructures should be useful to optimize their well-known functions.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗