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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.

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At least 541 records · Page 30
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1982

Micromechanical predictions of crack propagation and fracture energy in a single fiber boron/aluminum model composite

The axisymmetric finite element model and associated computer program developed for the analysis of crack propagation in a composite consisting of a single broken fiber in an annular sheath of matrix material was extended to include a constant displacement boundary condition during an increment of crack propagation. The constant displacement condition permits the growth of a stable crack, as opposed to the catastropic failure in an earlier version. The finite element model was refined to respond more accurately to the high stresses and steep stress gradients near the broken fiber end. The accuracy and effectiveness of the conventional constant strain axisymmetric element for crack problems was established by solving the classical problem of a penny-shaped crack in a thick cylindrical rod under axial tension. The stress intensity factors predicted by the present finite element model are compared with existing continuum results.

Adams, D. F.↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Modal Test and Analysis Correlation of Wind Tunnel Blades for the National Transonic Facility

NASA has a significant maintenance challenge with the aging wind tunnel infrastructure across the agency . Wind tunnel blades, such as the ones in the National Transonic Facility at NASA Langley Research Center, have been subjected to damage from impacts and fatigue. Accurate analytical models of these blades are necessary to either recertify replacement blades to be built or for redesign of these blades. In this paper an upgraded finite element model of these wind tunnel blades with the capability of representing damage is presented. An eigenvalue analysis of the structural model is performed, and the boundary conditions are adjusted to simulate the natural frequencies obtained by experimental testing of a set of twenty five blades in 1992. Additional numerical studies of the effect of delamination damage on the natural frequencies of the blade are conducted using the tuned finite element model.

wind tunnel↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Modal Test and Analysis Correlation of Wind Tunnel Blades for the National Transonic Facility

NASA has a significant maintenance challenge with the aging wind tunnel infrastructure across the agency . Wind tunnel blades, such as the ones in the National Transonic Facility at NASA Langley Research Center, have been subjected to damage from impacts and fatigue. Accurate analytical models of these blades are necessary to either recertify replacement blades to be built or for redesign of these blades. In this paper an upgraded finite element model of these wind tunnel blades with the capability of representing damage is presented. An eigenvalue analysis of the structural model is performed, and the boundary conditions are adjusted to simulate the natural frequencies obtained by experimental testing of a set of twenty five blades in 1992. Additional numerical studies of the effect of delamination damage on the natural frequencies of the blade are conducted using the tuned finite element model.

wind tunnel↗
NASA NTRS2024

Filament Wound Composite Analysis Using the NASA Multiscale Analysis Tool (NASMAT) and Finite Element Analysis

Fiber reinforced composite materials, owing to their tailorable thermomechanical and functional properties, allow one to produce a structure that is stronger, stiffer, and lighter than its metal counterpart while performing the same function, yielding a more efficient structure. This not only allows for the improvement of current technologies like aircraft structures, but also enables new technologies like gaseous hydrogen storage for mobility applications, which are otherwise impractical when manufactured using traditional metals due to weight and space restrictions or material embrittlement. However, the use of composites imposes greater design and manufacturing challenges on an engineer, since they are heterogenous, having a distinct structure across multiple length scale, behave generally anisotropically at the structural level and require complex manufacturing and processing methods. Capturing this complex behavior requires detailed numerical simulations, including the modeling of microstructural features like undulations, voids, and fiber alignment. In this paper, multiple repeating unit cells (RUCs), representing filament wound composites, are developed (via a script provided in the Appendix) and analyzed. The refinement of these RUCs is varied, and the analyses are performed using both the Abaqus finite element software and the NASA Multiscale Analysis Tool (NASMAT). A study is undertaken to compare the predicted effective elastic properties of the wound RUC to a laminate representation of the wound RUC, which neglects the undulations. Additionally, two different sets of periodic boundary conditions (PBCs) have been examined. One approximates the real boundary conditions using a standard approach and the other represents the PBCs exactly through the use of an offset. Lastly, a comparison of the local elastic stress fields is made among the models and approaches. Since wound structures are often approximated as laminated structures, it is important to understand the degree to which this assumption is valid, namely by first comparing the elastic constants and local elastic fields. This will provide, on the one hand, information concerning the bulk mechanical behavior and, on the other hand, insights concerning local load distributions and likely damage initiation sites.

Composites↗
DOE OSTI2023

Multiphysics modeling of printed surface acoustic wave thermometers

Surface acoustic wave (SAW) transducers are a class of sensors and actuators that operate on the fundamental principle of piezoelectricity. Aerosol jet printing and other additive manufacturing techniques have resulted in the low-cost fabrication of low-power and small-footprint SAW devices that are suitable for sensing in high-temperature and radioactive environments. In this work, we developed a series of temperature-dependent finite element models for a SAW transducer consisting of printed silver interdigitated transducers (IDTs) deposited onto piezoelectric lithium niobate. Modeling accuracy was evaluated experimentally from room temperature to 200 °C using an aerosol-jet-printed SAW thermometer. A time-domain study enabled visualization of the wave propagation and successfully guided the denoising of the scattering parameter measurement. Additionally, frequency-domain models using traditional modal analysis or the unique port boundary condition feature in COMSOL Multiphysics accurately predicted the temperature-driven natural frequency drift in the SAW thermometer. The finite element models developed in this study serve to facilitate the computer-aided design of future SAW transducers for applications in harsh environments.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
DOE OSTI2022

MECHANISTIC MULTIPHYSICS MODELING OF CLADDING RUPTURE IN NUCLEAR FUEL RODS DURING LOSS-OF-COOLANT ACCIDENT CONDITIONS

The Loss of Coolant Accident (LOCA) is a design basis accident that is included as part of the safety analysis of nuclear power plants. As the nuclear industry desires to increase the cycle length and discharge burnup of existing nuclear power plants they must demonstrate safe operation during a LOCA on high burnup fuel. During a LOCA transient on high burnup fuel rods, the rods may undergo a process known as fuel fragmentation, relocation, and dispersal (FFRD). To permit dispersal, the cladding encapsulating the fuel must rupture with an opening size large enough to allow the fragmented fuel particles to release. Current licensing tools used by industry and the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission are limited in geometric fidelity and materials that can be analyzed. These simulation tools generally employ a quasi-two-dimensional (1.5D or Layered1D) or 2D-RZ axisymmetric geometric representations exclusively. While a valid approach under some instances, there are times when important physics have an asymmetric behavior in the fuel rod. Examples include fuel fragmentation, thermal-hydraulic boundary conditions, and cladding rupture, all of which are important for LOCA analysis. As industry pursues burnup extensions it must be demonstrated that fuel dispersal can be mitigated or eliminated. To do this, an understanding of the rupture opening after cladding failure is required. This work presents the development of a model for predicting the size and location of the rupture opening in failed fuel rods during LOCA conditions using advanced modeling and simulation tools. In order to supply the rupture model with appropriate boundary conditions, improvements to fuel fragmentation, axial relocation and oxidation modeling were required. First, the eXtended Finite Element Method (XFEM) is used to mechanistically predict the number of fuel fragments that form due to material strength randomization, criteria for strength randomization, mesh density, power ramping rates and irradiation effects. These predictions with associated uncertainty were compared to empirical correlations developed for UO2 verifying that they can be used with increased confidence in subsequent axial relocation analyses. Secondly, a new first-of-its-kind Layered2D computational framework was developed that provides the ability to apply azimuthally varying boundary conditions while providing discrete layers to track fuel movement during the LOCA. An existing fuel axial relocation model developed for Layered1D was extended to work within the Layered2D framework. A large sensitivity study was performed on the initial version of the model to identify modeling parameters of particular importance, with the emissivity used for radiation after blowdown being the primary source of uncertainty. Then, a simplistic approach to incorporate mechanical degradation of the cladding due to oxidation was also developed to investigate the impact of reduced cladding thickness on predictions of the time to failure of cladding tubes. It was found that the cladding will typically rupture prior to a reduction in thickness that is sufficient to impact the rupture behavior. A model was then developed for predicting cladding rupture that transfers the cladding surface temperatures, rod internal and external pressures, fast neutron fluence, and fast neutron flux from a more detailed Layered1D, Layered2D, or 2D-RZ analysis to a 3D cladding only analysis. Comparisons of the rupture model to a few experiments indicate reasonable predictions. The rupture model was then applied to two accident tolerant fuel concepts (FeCrAl and Cr-coated Zircaloy) where it predicted that both ATF concepts would have smaller rupture openings and delayed rupture times than the standard Zircaloy-4 cladding material under identical loading conditions.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
DOE OSTI2022

Intergranular ductile failure of materials with plastically heterogeneous grains

In several precipitation hardened alloys that are susceptible to intergranular ductile failure, precipitation does not always occur uniformly throughout the microstructure, and regions close to grain boundaries may remain precipitate-free. These precipitate-free zones (PFZs) in the material microstructures result in plastically heterogeneous grains, since PFZs are expected to have lower yield strength but higher strain-hardenability compared to the precipitate containing grain interior. Experimentally, the presence of PFZs in precipitation-hardened alloys has been associated with both increase and decrease in materials’ ductility, with or without significant change in the strength. Thus, to understand and rationalize the experimental observations, we have carried out extensive microstructure-based finite element calculations of intergranular ductile failure in materials under tensile loading conditions. In the calculations, both the grain boundaries and PFZs are discretely modeled, and a wide range of the values of yield strength, strain-hardenability and width of PFZs in the material microstructures are analyzed. Our results show that the effects of PFZs on the overall mechanical response of the material strongly depend on the values of yield strength and strain-hardenability of PFZs. Here, there exists an optimum combination of the values of these two parameters that can result in the overall ductility and tensile strength of the material microstructures with PFZs being greater than the microstructures without PFZs.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
NASA NTRS1985

Mixed models and reduction method for dynamic analysis of anisotropic shells

A time-domain computational procedure is presented for predicting the dynamic response of laminated anisotropic shells. The two key elements of the procedure are: (1) use of mixed finite element models having independent interpolation (shape) functions for stress resultants and generalized displacements for the spatial discretization of the shell, with the stress resultants allowed to be discontinuous at interelement boundaries; and (2) use of a dynamic reduction method, with the global approximation vectors consisting of the static solution and an orthogonal set of Lanczos vectors. The dynamic reduction is accomplished by means of successive application of the finite element method and the classical Rayleigh-Ritz technique. The finite element method is first used to generate the global approximation vectors. Then the Rayleigh-Ritz technique is used to generate a reduced system of ordinary differential equations in the amplitudes of these modes. The temporal integration of the reduced differential equations is performed by using an explicit half-station central difference scheme (Leap-frog method). The effectiveness of the proposed procedure is demonstrated by means of a numerical example and its advantages over reduction methods used with the displacement formulation are discussed.

Noor, A. K.↗
NASA NTRS1999

Numerical Analysis of Temperature Gradients and Interface Shape During Directional Solidification of Al and Al-Cu Alloy Under Microgravity Conditions

Numerical modeling was undertaken to analyze the influence of radial thermal gradient on solid/liquid interface shape and convection patterns during solidification of pure Al and Al-4 wt. % Cu alloy. Steady state calculations were performed for different gravity levels and orientations. Furthermore, transient modeling was undertaken to investigate effect of the solidification velocity. The furnace configuration used in this analysis is the proposed International Space Station Furnace. Results from a thermal model of the furnace core were used as initial boundary conditions for solidification modeling. The Solidification model was adopted from previous work and was based on the finite element code FIDAP. Thermocouple data and quenched interface shape from a pure Al sample flown on the Life Sciences and Microgravity Spacelab (LMS) mission, July 1996 was used for model validation. Good agreement was obtained between the predicted interface shape and that measured from the quenched LMS sample. It was found that the imposed temperature boundary condition must be sufficiently smooth for the heat fluxes in the model to be self-consistent. The model predicted that alloy sample Al-Cu is more sensitive to variations in the gravity level compared to pure Al. For Al-Cu alloy, solute diffusivity is approximately 10(exp 4) times smaller than thermal diffusivity of pure Al. Hence, in a microgravity environment the weak convection has no measurable effect on the heat fluxes, but is still strong enough to affect concentration distribution. Since the alloy melting temperature is determined by concentration the interface shape depends on the level of convection. This was found not to be the case for pure metal.

Bune, Andris V.↗
NASA NTRS1987

A probabilistic Hu-Washizu variational principle

A Probabilistic Hu-Washizu Variational Principle (PHWVP) for the Probabilistic Finite Element Method (PFEM) is presented. This formulation is developed for both linear and nonlinear elasticity. The PHWVP allows incorporation of the probabilistic distributions for the constitutive law, compatibility condition, equilibrium, domain and boundary conditions into the PFEM. Thus, a complete probabilistic analysis can be performed where all aspects of the problem are treated as random variables and/or fields. The Hu-Washizu variational formulation is available in many conventional finite element codes thereby enabling the straightforward inclusion of the probabilistic features into present codes.

Liu, W. K.↗
NASA NTRS1995

Alaska Crustal Deformation: Finite Element Modeling Constrained by Geologic and Very Long Baseline Interferometry Data

We compute crustal motions in Alaska by calculating the finite element solution for an elastic spherical shell problem. The method we use allows the finite element mesh to include faults and very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) baseline rates of change. Boundary conditions include Pacific-North American (PA-NA) plate motions. The solution is constrained by the oblique orientation of the Fairweather-Queen Charlotte strike-slip faults relative to the PA-NA relative motion direction and the oblique orientation from normal convergence of the eastern Aleutian trench fault systems, as well as strike-shp motion along the Denali and Totschunda fault systems. We explore the effects that a range of fault slip constraints and weighting of VLBI rates of change has on the solution. This allows us to test the motion on faults, such as the Denali fault, where there are conflicting reports on its present-day slip rate. We find a pattern of displacements which produce fault motions generally consistent with geologic observations. The motion of the continuum has the general pattern of radial movement of crust to the NE away from the Fairweather-Queen Charlotte fault systems in SE Alaska and Canada. This pattern of crustal motion is absorbed across the Mackenzie Mountains in NW Canada, with strike-slip motion constrained along the Denali and Tintina fault systems. In south central Alaska and the Alaska forearc oblique convergence at the eastern Aleutian trench and the strike-shp motion of the Denali fault system produce a counterclockwise pattern of motion which is partially absorbed along the Contact and related fault systems in southern Alaska and is partially extruded into the Bering Sea and into the forearc parallel the Aleutian trench from the Alaska Peninsula westward. Rates of motion and fault slip are small in western and northern Alaska, but the motions we compute are consistent with the senses of strike-slip motion inferred geologically along the Kaltag, Kobuk Trench, and Thompson Creek faults and with the normal faulting observed in NW Alaska near Nome. The nonrigid behavior of our finite element solution produces patterns of motion that would not have been expected from rigid block models: strike-slip faults can exist in a continuum that has motion mostly perpendicular to their strikes, and faults can exhibit along-strike differences in magnitudes and directions.

Lundgren, Paul↗
NASA NTRS2006

In-Space Radiator Shape Optimization using Genetic Algorithms

Future space exploration missions will require the development of more advanced in-space radiators. These radiators should be highly efficient and lightweight, deployable heat rejection systems. Typical radiators for in-space heat mitigation commonly comprise a substantial portion of the total vehicle mass. A small mass savings of even 5-10% can greatly improve vehicle performance. The objective of this paper is to present the development of detailed tools for the analysis and design of in-space radiators using evolutionary computation techniques. The optimality criterion is defined as a two-dimensional radiator with a shape demonstrating the smallest mass for the greatest overall heat transfer, thus the end result is a set of highly functional radiator designs. This cross-disciplinary work combines topology optimization and thermal analysis design by means of a genetic algorithm The proposed design tool consists of the following steps; design parameterization based on the exterior boundary of the radiator, objective function definition (mass minimization and heat loss maximization), objective function evaluation via finite element analysis (thermal radiation analysis) and optimization based on evolutionary algorithms. The radiator design problem is defined as follows: the input force is a driving temperature and the output reaction is heat loss. Appropriate modeling of the space environment is added to capture its effect on the radiator. The design parameters chosen for this radiator shape optimization problem fall into two classes, variable height along the width of the radiator and a spline curve defining the -material boundary of the radiator. The implementation of multiple design parameter schemes allows the user to have more confidence in the radiator optimization tool upon demonstration of convergence between the two design parameter schemes. This tool easily allows the user to manipulate the driving temperature regions thus permitting detailed design of in-space radiators for unique situations. Preliminary results indicate an optimized shape following that of the temperature distribution regions in the "cooler" portions of the radiator. The results closely follow the expected radiator shape.

Hull, Patrick V.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Measured and calculated acoustic attenuation rates of tuned resonator arrays for two surface impedance distribution models with flow

An experiment was performed to validate two analytical models for predicting low frequency attenuation of duct liner configurations built from an array of seven resonators that could be individually tuned via adjustable cavity depths. These analytical models had previously been developed for high frequency aero-engine inlet duct liner design. In the low frequency application, the liner surface impedance distribution is unavoidably spatially varying by virtue of available fabrication techniques. The characteristic length of this spatial variation may be a significant fraction of the acoustic wavelength. Comparison of measured and predicted attenuation rates and transmission losses for both modal decomposition and finite element propagation models were in good to excellent agreement for a test frequency range that included the first and second cavity resonance frequencies. This was true for either of two surface impedance distribution modeling procedures used to simplify the impedance boundary conditions. In the presence of mean flow, measurements revealed a fine scale structure of acoustic hot spots in the attenuation and phase profiles. These details were accurately predicted by the finite element model. Since no impedance changes due to mean flow were assumed, it is concluded that this fine scale structure was due to convective effects of the mean flow interacting with the surface impedance nonuniformities.

Parrott, Tony L.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Contributions to the finite element solution of the fan noise radiation problem

The radiation of fan generated noise to the far field from a nacelle of realistic geometry is investigated using the finite element method. Several innovations have been introduced to minimize the computational requirements and create a highly efficient numerical scheme. The innovations include: (1) formulation of the problem in terms of velocity potential and density in such a way that no inlet mean flow velocity derivatives are required in the field equations, (2) the use of 'wave envelope' elements in an outer region permitting a grid much coarser than would be used for conventional finite elements, (3) the use of a mesh which deforms with an increase of forward flight speed so that mesh lines are always lines of constant phase and rays for a point source, permitting the use of wave envelope elements and simple boundary conditions for any case of forward velocity, (4) an efficient scheme for introducing the noise source via modal amplitude coefficients, and (5) the use of a frontal solution technique which for physically realistic problems drastically reduces the active storage requirements. The finite element scheme is outlined, as are the specific details of the innovations. Results are given for cases where comparable experimental data are available.

Eversman, W.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Analysis and test evaluation of the dynamic stability of three advanced turboprop models at zero forward speed

Results of static stability wind tunnel tests of three 62.2 cm (24.5 in) diameter models of the Prop-Fan are presented. Measurements of blade stresses were made with the Prop-Fans mounted on an isolated nacelle in an open 5.5 m (18 ft) wind tunnel test section with no tunnel flow. The tests were conducted in the United Technology Research Center Large Subsonic Wind Tunnel. Stall flutter was determined by regions of high stress, which were compared with predictions of boundaries of zero total viscous damping. The structural analysis used beam methods for the model with straight blades and finite element methods for the models with swept blades. Increasing blade sweep tends to suppress stall flutter. Comparisons with similar test data acquired at NASA/Lewis are good. Correlations between measured and predicted critical speeds for all the models are good. The trend of increased stability with increased blade sweep is well predicted. Calculated flutter boundaries generaly coincide with tested boundaries. Stall flutter is predicted to occur in the third (torsion) mode. The straight blade test shows third mode response, while the swept blades respond in other modes.

Smith, Arthur F.↗
NASA NTRS1972

A theoretical study of mixing downstream of transverse injection into a supersonic boundary layer

A theoretical and analytical study was made of mixing downstream of transverse hydrogen injection, from single and multiple orifices, into a Mach 4 air boundary layer over a flat plate. Numerical solutions to the governing three-dimensional, elliptic boundary layer equations were obtained using a general purpose computer program. Founded upon a finite element solution algorithm. A prototype three-dimensional turbulent transport model was developed using mixing length theory in the wall region and the mass defect concept in the outer region. Excellent agreement between the computed flow field and experimental data for a jet/freestream dynamic pressure ratio of unity was obtained in the centerplane region of the single-jet configuration. Poorer agreement off centerplane suggests an inadequacy of the extrapolated two-dimensional turbulence model. Considerable improvement in off-centerplane computational agreement occured for a multi-jet configuration, using the same turbulent transport model.

Baker, A. J.↗
NASA NTRS1974

A finite element analysis of fatigue crack closure

Experiments have shown that fatigue cracks close at positive loads during constant-amplitude load cycling. The crack-closure phenomenon is caused by residual plastic deformations remaining in the wake of an advancing crack tip. The present paper is concerned with the application of a two-dimensional, nonlinear, finite-element analysis for predicting crack-closure and crack-opening stresses during cyclic loading. A two-dimensional finite-element computer program, which accounts for both elastic-plastic material behavior and changing boundary conditions associated with crack extension and intermittent contact of the crack surfaces under cyclic loading, has been developed. An efficient technique to account for changing boundary conditions was also incorporated into the nonlinear analysis program. This program was subsequently used to study crack extension and crack closure under constant-amplitude and two-level block loading. The calculated crack-closure and crack-opening stresses were qualitatively consistent with experimental observations.

Newman, J. C., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Hybrid finite element methods

The purpose of this paper is to show how Lagrange multipliers can be used with finite elements to achieve a number of desirable properties in the underlying approximation. For elliptic boundary value problems, variational principles can be developed in which all boundary conditions are natural. In fluid flow problems, one can endow the approximations with physically essential conservation laws.

Fix, G. M.↗