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At least 109 records · Page 6

NASTRAN computer system level 12.1

Program uses finite element displacement method for solving linear response of large, three-dimensional structures subject to static, dynamic, thermal, and random loadings. Program adapts to computers of different manufacture, permits up-dating and extention, allows interchange of output and input information between users, and is extensively documented.

Butler, T. G.

Nonstationary envelope process and first excursion probability

A definition of the envelope of nonstationary random processes is proposed. The establishment of the envelope definition makes it possible to simulate the nonstationary random envelope directly. Envelope statistics, such as the density function, joint density function, moment function, and level crossing rate, which are relevent to analyses of catastrophic failure, fatigue, and crack propagation in structures, are derived. Applications of the envelope statistics to the prediction of structural reliability under random loadings are discussed in detail.

Yang, J.

Simulation of random envelope processes.

Efficient and practical methods of simulating stationary and nonstationary random envelope processes are presented. The stationary envelope processes are simulated by using the fast Fourier transform while the nonstationary envelope processes are simulated as the square root of the sum of a series of cosine functions and a series of sine functions with random phase angles. Typical applications of the envelope simulation are the simulations of peaks and troughs which play an important role in the analyses of the first excursion probability, fatigue and crack propagation. In particular, applications to the crack propagation under random loadings are demonstrated in detail.

Yang, J.-N.

Design and fabrication of composite wing panels containing a production splice

Bolted specimens representative of both upper and lower wing surface splices of a transport aircraft were designed and manufactured for static and random load tension and compression fatigue testing including ground-air-ground load reversals. The specimens were fabricated with graphite-epoxy composite material. Multiple tests were conducted at various load levels and the results were used as input to a statistical wearout model. The statically designed specimens performed very well under highly magnified fatigue loadings. Two large panels, one tension and compression, were fabricated for testing by NASA-LRC.

Reed, D. L.

Random Life Curves for Common Engineering Materials

Program incorporates non-Rayleigh effects in evaluating structure life. RMS2 computer program converts constant amplitude fatigue allowables to random-loading allowables, with influence of peak distribution and mean stress considered. RMS2 written in FORTRAN IV.

Hu, T.

Response of double wall composite shells

This paper presents an analytical study of double wall laminate cylindrical shell response to random loads. A soft viscoelastic core with dilatational modes included is used. The theory of laminate shells is simplified by assumptions similar to those in the Donnell-Mushtari development for isotropic shells. Modal solutions of simply supported shells are obtained. Modal frequencies and deflection response spectral densities are determined. It is found that this approach allows for easy parametric evaluation and that by proper selection of dynamic parameters, viscoelastic core characteristics and fiber reinforcement orientation, vibration response can be reduced.

Vaicaitis, R.

Response of discretely stiffened structures

This paper presents a theoretical study on dynamic response of complex discretely stiffened and interconnected structures to random loads. Modal and transfer matrix techniques are utilized to analyze these multidimensional structures. Application of this formulation for response and noise generation studies in space station and fuselage-wing design is discussed. The response spectral densities are calculated for several typical discretely stiffened and interconnected structural systems. It is found that this approach allows for easy parametric evaluation and that by proper selection of structural parameters and loading conditions, the vibration response can be reduced.

Vaicaitis, R.

Structure-borne noise transmission in stiffened structures

The structure-borne noise transmission of stiffened and interconnected structures under random loads is presented. The method is based on the transfer matrix for the structural response and on the modal decomposition for the interior acoustic field. The acoustic enclosure is taken to be rectangular in shape of which portion of the boundaries are elastic while the remaining surface is acoustically rigid. Numerical results are presented for several acousto-structural problems.

Vaicaitis, Rimas

Efficient probabilistic fracture mechanics analysis

A systematic and efficient method for probabilistic fracture mechanics analysis is proposed. The method is based on a most-probable-point-locus concept. The locus is obtained iteratively where the initial locus is determined using the linear approximation of the service life N(X) function about the mean values of the random variables X. Linear and quadratic approximations of N(X) are established locally at the most probable points, and the reliability analysis methods are used to compute the cumulative probabilities. By using two examples, the proposed method is demonstrated to be efficient and accurate. One example involved a random loading and N(X) was computed using cycle-by-cycle integration. The method is general and can be applied to other performance functions. It is particularly suitable when the computation of the performance function is time consuming such that Monte Carlo simulation is prohibitively costly.

Wu, Y.-T.

Structure-borne noise generation and transmission

The structure-borne noise generation and transmission of stiffened and interconnected structures under random loads is presented. The method is based on the transfer matrix for the structural response and on the modal decomposition for the interior acoustic field. The acoustic enclosure is taken to be rectangular in shape of which portion of the boundaries are elastic while the remaining surface is acoustically rigid. Numerical results are presented for a variety of acousto-structural problems.

Lyrintzis, Constantinos S.

Practical theories for service life prediction of critical aerospace structural components

A new second-order theory was developed for predicting the service lives of aerospace structural components. The predictions based on this new theory were compared with those based on the Ko first-order theory and the classical theory of service life predictions. The new theory gives very accurate service life predictions. An equivalent constant-amplitude stress cycle method was proposed for representing the random load spectrum for crack growth calculations. This method predicts the most conservative service life. The proposed use of minimum detectable crack size, instead of proof load established crack size as an initial crack size for crack growth calculations, could give a more realistic service life.

Ko, William L.

Effect of spectral shape on acoustic fatigue life estimates

Methods for estimating fatigue life due to random loading are briefly reviewed. These methods include a probabilistic approach in which the expected value of the rate of damage accumulation is computed by integrating over the probability density of damaging events and a method which consists of analyzing the response time history to count damaging events. It is noted that it is necessary to employ a time domain approach to perform Rainflow counting, while simple peak counting may be accomplished using the probabilistic method. Data obtained indicate that Rainflow counting produces significantly different fatigue life predictions than other methods that are commonly used in acoustic fatigue predictions. When low-frequency oscillations are present in a signal along with high-frequency components, peak counting will produce substantially shorter fatigue lives than Rainflow counting. It is concluded that Rainflow counting is capable of providing reliable fatigue life predictions for acoustic fatigue studies.

Miles, R. N.

Probabilistic structural analysis algorithm development for computational efficiency

The PSAM (Probabilistic Structural Analysis Methods) program is developing a probabilistic structural risk assessment capability for the SSME components. An advanced probabilistic structural analysis software system, NESSUS (Numerical Evaluation of Stochastic Structures Under Stress), is being developed as part of the PSAM effort to accurately simulate stochastic structures operating under severe random loading conditions. One of the challenges in developing the NESSUS system is the development of the probabilistic algorithms that provide both efficiency and accuracy. The main probability algorithms developed and implemented in the NESSUS system are efficient, but approximate in nature. In the last six years, the algorithms have improved very significantly.

Wu, Y.-T.

Random vibration analysis of space flight hardware using NASTRAN

During liftoff and ascent flight phases, the Space Transportation System (STS) and payloads are exposed to the random acoustic environment produced by engine exhaust plumes and aerodynamic disturbances. The analysis of payloads for randomly fluctuating loads is usually carried out using the Miles' relationship. This approximation technique computes an equivalent load factor as a function of the natural frequency of the structure, the power spectral density of the excitation, and the magnification factor at resonance. Due to the assumptions inherent in Miles' equation, random load factors are often over-estimated by this approach. In such cases, the estimates can be refined using alternate techniques such as time domain simulations or frequency domain spectral analysis. Described here is the use of NASTRAN to compute more realistic random load factors through spectral analysis. The procedure is illustrated using Spacelab Life Sciences (SLS-1) payloads and certain unique features of this problem are described. The solutions are compared with Miles' results in order to establish trends at over or under prediction.

Thampi, S. K.