Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “structural response”

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 109 records · Page 6

Structural response of a rotating bladed disk to rotor whirl

A set of high speed rotating whirl experiments were performed in the vacuum of the MIT Blowdown Compressor Facility on the MIT Aeroelastic Rotor, which is structurally typical of a modern high bypass ratio turbofan stage. These tests identified the natural frequencies of whirl of the rotor system by forcing its response using an electromagnetic shaker whirl excitation system. The excitation was slowly swept in frequency at constant amplitude for several constant rotor speeds in both a forward and backward whirl direction. The natural frequencies of whirl determined by these experiments were compared to those predicted by an analytical 6 DOF model of a flexible blade-rigid disk-flexible shaft rotor. The model is also presented in terms of nondimensional parameters in order to assess the importance of the interation between the bladed disk dynamics and the shaft-disk dynamics. The correlation between the experimental and predicted natural frequencies is reasonable, given the uncertainty involved in determining the stiffness parameters of the system.

Crawley, E. F.↗

Structural response of transport airplanes in crash situations

This report highlights the results of contractural studies of transport accident data undertaken in a joint research program sponsored by the FAA and NASA. From these accident data studies it was concluded that the greatest potential for improved transport crashworthiness is in the reduction of fire related fatalities. Accident data pertaining to fuselage integrity, main landing gear collapse, fuel tank rupture, wing breaks, tearing of tank lower surfaces, and engine pod scrubbing are discussed. In those accidents where the energy absorbing protective capability of the fuselage structure is expended and the airplane experiences major structural damage, trauma caused fatalities are also discussed. The dynamic performance of current seat/restraint systems are examined but it is concluded that the accident data does not adequately define the relationship between occupant response and the dynamic interaction with the seat, floor and fuselage structure.

Thomson, R. G.↗

Study of effects of design details on structural response to acoustic excitation

The normal mode vibration characteristics of one-dimensional and two-dimensional panel arrays were investigated analytically and experimentally. The finite element displacement method was used to formulate the structural models. The structural models include a stiffness and consistent mass matrix for thin-walled open-section beams not previously reported, and a modification of a rectangular plate bending element to include a fundamental interior mode for the element as a generalized coordinate. Provision for adding lumped masses to represent accelerometers is also included. For the one-dimensional panel, the normal mode stress resultants are obtained by integrating the equilibrium equations directly. For the two-dimensional panel arrays, the solution for the stress resultants in the cover sheet was attempted by introducing stress functions dependent upon the displacement field of the plate element. This approach, although incomplete, is a natural extension of the one-dimensional analysis for plate elements. The exerimental program which was used to verify the analysis is described and experimental results are compared with the analysis.

Rudder, F. F., Jr.↗

FAST Mast Structural Response to Axial Loading: Modeling and Verification

The International Space Station s solar array wing mast shadowing problem is the focus of this paper. A building-block approach to modeling and analysis is pursued for the primary structural components of the solar array wing mast structure. Starting with an ANSYS (Registered Trademark) finite element model, a verified MSC.Nastran (Trademark) model is established for a single longeron. This finite element model translation requires the conversion of several modeling and analysis features for the two structural analysis tools to produce comparable results for the single-longeron configuration. The model is then reconciled using test data. The resulting MSC.Nastran (Trademark) model is then extended to a single-bay configuration and verified using single-bay test data. Conversion of the MSC. Nastran (Trademark) single-bay model to Abaqus (Trademark) is also performed to simulate the elastic-plastic longeron buckling response of the single bay prior to folding.

Knight, Norman F., Jr.↗

Advanced composites structural concepts and materials technologies for primary aircraft structures. Structural response and failure analysis: ISPAN modules users manual

The ISPAN Program (Interactive Stiffened Panel Analysis) is an interactive design tool that is intended to provide a means of performing simple and self contained preliminary analysis of aircraft primary structures made of composite materials. The program combines a series of modules with the finite element code DIAL as its backbone. Four ISPAN Modules were developed and are documented. These include: (1) flat stiffened panel; (2) curved stiffened panel; (3) flat tubular panel; and (4) curved geodesic panel. Users are instructed to input geometric and material properties, load information and types of analysis (linear, bifurcation buckling, or post-buckling) interactively. The program utilizing this information will generate finite element mesh and perform analysis. The output in the form of summary tables of stress or margins of safety, contour plots of loads or stress, and deflected shape plots may be generalized and used to evaluate specific design.

Hairr, John W.↗

Ground/Flight Correlation of Aerodynamic Loads with Structural Response

United States Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) ground tests at the NASA Transonic Dynamics Tunnel (TDT) and NASA flight tests provide a basis and methodology for in-flight characterization of the aeroelastic performance through the monitoring of the fluid-structure interaction using surface flow sensors. NASA NF-15B flight tests provided a unique opportunity to test the correlation of aerodynamic loads with sectional flow attachment/detachment points, also known as flow bifurcation points (FBPs), as observed in previous wind tunnel tests. The NF-15B tail was instrumented with hot-film sensors and strain gages for measuring root-bending strains. These data were gathered via selected sideslip maneuvers performed at level flight and subsonic speeds. The aerodynamic loads generated by the sideslip maneuver resulted in root-bending strains and hot-film sensor signals near the stagnation region that were highly correlated. For the TDT tests, a flexible wing section developed under the AFRL SensorCraft program was instrumented with strain gages, accelerometers, and hot-film sensors at multiple span stations. The TDT tests provided data showing a gradual phase change between the FBP and the structural mode occurred during a resonant condition as the wings structural modes were excited by the tunnel-generated gusts.

Mangalam, Arun S.↗

Some issues in numerical simulation of nonlinear structural response

The development of commercial finite element software is addressed. This software provides practical tools that are used in an astonishingly wide range of engineering applications that include critical aspects of the safety evaluation of nuclear power plants or of heavily loaded offshore structures in the hostile environments of the North Sea or the Arctic, major design activities associated with the development of airframes for high strength and minimum weight, thermal analysis of electronic components, and the design of sports equipment. In the more advanced application areas, the effectiveness of the product depends critically on the quality of the mechanics and mechanics related algorithms that are implemented. Algorithmic robustness is of primary concern. Those methods that should be chosen will maximize reliability with minimal understanding on the part of the user. Computational efficiency is also important because there are always limited resources, and hence problems that are too time consuming or costly. Finally, some areas where research work will provide new methods and improvements is discussed.

Hibbitt, H. D.↗

Application of the mobility power flow approach to structural response from distributed loading

The problem of the vibration power flow through coupled substructures when one of the substructures is subjected to a distributed load is addressed. In all the work performed thus far, point force excitation was considered. However, in the case of the excitation of an aircraft fuselage, distributed loading on the whole surface of a panel can be as important as the excitation from directly applied forces at defined locations on the structures. Thus using a mobility power flow approach, expressions are developed for the transmission of vibrational power between two coupled plate substructures in an L configuration, with one of the surfaces of one of the plate substructures being subjected to a distributed load. The types of distributed loads that are considered are a force load with an arbitrary function in space and a distributed load similar to that from acoustic excitation.

Cuschieri, J. M.↗

Concurrent Probabilistic Simulation of High Temperature Composite Structural Response

A computational structural/material analysis and design tool which would meet industry's future demand for expedience and reduced cost is presented. This unique software 'GENOA' is dedicated to parallel and high speed analysis to perform probabilistic evaluation of high temperature composite response of aerospace systems. The development is based on detailed integration and modification of diverse fields of specialized analysis techniques and mathematical models to combine their latest innovative capabilities into a commercially viable software package. The technique is specifically designed to exploit the availability of processors to perform computationally intense probabilistic analysis assessing uncertainties in structural reliability analysis and composite micromechanics. The primary objectives which were achieved in performing the development were: (1) Utilization of the power of parallel processing and static/dynamic load balancing optimization to make the complex simulation of structure, material and processing of high temperature composite affordable; (2) Computational integration and synchronization of probabilistic mathematics, structural/material mechanics and parallel computing; (3) Implementation of an innovative multi-level domain decomposition technique to identify the inherent parallelism, and increasing convergence rates through high- and low-level processor assignment; (4) Creating the framework for Portable Paralleled architecture for the machine independent Multi Instruction Multi Data, (MIMD), Single Instruction Multi Data (SIMD), hybrid and distributed workstation type of computers; and (5) Market evaluation. The results of Phase-2 effort provides a good basis for continuation and warrants Phase-3 government, and industry partnership.

Abdi, Frank↗

Structural response of SSME turbine blade airfoils

Reusable space propulsion hot gas-path components are required to operate under severe thermal and mechanical loading conditions. These operating conditions produce elevated temperature and thermal transients which results in significant thermally induced inelastic strains, particularly, in the turbopump turbine blades. An inelastic analysis for this component may therefore be necessary. Anisotropic alloys such as MAR M-247 or PWA-1480 are being considered to meet the safety and durability requirements of this component. An anisotropic inelastic structural analysis for an SSME fuel turbopump turbine blade was performed. The thermal loads used resulted from a transient heat transfer analysis of a turbine blade. A comparison of preliminary results from the elastic and inelastic analyses is presented.

Arya, V. K.↗

Reduced-Order Modeling and Wavelet Analysis of Turbofan Engine Structural Response Due to Foreign Object Damage (FOD) Events

The development of a wavelet-based feature extraction technique specifically targeting FOD-event induced vibration signal changes in gas turbine engines is described. The technique performs wavelet analysis of accelerometer signals from specified locations on the engine and is shown to be robust in the presence of significant process and sensor noise. It is envisioned that the technique will be combined with Kalman filter thermal/health parameter estimation for FOD-event detection via information fusion from these (and perhaps other) sources. Due to the lack of high-frequency FOD-event test data in the open literature, a reduced-order turbofan structural model (ROM) was synthesized from a finite element model modal analysis to support the investigation. In addition to providing test data for algorithm development, the ROM is used to determine the optimal sensor location for FOD-event detection. In the presence of significant noise, precise location of the FOD event in time was obtained using the developed wavelet-based feature.

Turso, James↗

Reduced-Order Modeling and Wavelet Analysis of Turbofan Engine Structural Response Due to Foreign Object Damage "FOD" Events

The development of a wavelet-based feature extraction technique specifically targeting FOD-event induced vibration signal changes in gas turbine engines is described. The technique performs wavelet analysis of accelerometer signals from specified locations on the engine and is shown to be robust in the presence of significant process and sensor noise. It is envisioned that the technique will be combined with Kalman filter thermal/ health parameter estimation for FOD-event detection via information fusion from these (and perhaps other) sources. Due to the lack of high-frequency FOD-event test data in the open literature, a reduced-order turbofan structural model (ROM) was synthesized from a finite-element model modal analysis to support the investigation. In addition to providing test data for algorithm development, the ROM is used to determine the optimal sensor location for FOD-event detection. In the presence of significant noise, precise location of the FOD event in time was obtained using the developed wavelet-based feature.

Turso, James A.↗

Solving Component Structural Dynamic Failures Due to Extremely High Frequency Structural Response on the Space Shuttle Program

For many years, the capabilities to determine the root-cause failure of component failures have been limited to the analytical tools and the state of the art data acquisition systems. With this limited capability, many anomalies have been resolved by adding material to the design to increase robustness without the ability to determine if the design solution was satisfactory until after a series of expensive test programs were complete. The risk of failure and multiple design, test, and redesign cycles were high. During the Space Shuttle Program, many crack investigations in high energy density turbomachines, like the SSME turbopumps and high energy flows in the main propulsion system, have led to the discovery of numerous root-cause failures and anomalies due to the coexistences of acoustic forcing functions, structural natural modes, and a high energy excitation, such as an edge tone or shedding flow, leading the technical community to understand many of the primary contributors to extremely high frequency high cycle fatique fluid-structure interaction anomalies. These contributors have been identified using advanced analysis tools and verified using component and system tests during component ground tests, systems tests, and flight. The structural dynamics and fluid dynamics communities have developed a special sensitivity to the fluid-structure interaction problems and have been able to adjust and solve these problems in a time effective manner to meet budget and schedule deadlines of operational vehicle programs, such as the Space Shuttle Program over the years.

Frady, Greg↗

A Database of CFD-Based Buffet Forcing Functions for Artemis I Structural Response Evaluation

Time-accurate FUN3D simulations are utilized to estimate buffet-induced unsteady forces experienced by the Space Launch System during the Artemis I (AR01) flight. A set of FUN3D simulations was developed that employed time-accurate mesh translations to simulate the changing velocity and attitude based on the AR01 best estimated trajectory. In these simulations, referred to as accelerating-flow simulations, the freestream Mach number increased from 0.80 to 1.92. Additional time-accurate simulations were obtained at constant freestream Mach number equal to 0.95, 1.18, 1.70, thereby simulating stationary conditions experienced by the flow in a wind-tunnel. On the grounds of favorable comparisons between simulated and flight-measured environments, the FUN3D-based surface pressures were utilized to develop a buffet forcing function (BFF) database. This BFF database was analyzed to characterize the spatial distribution and frequency content of the buffet forces during transonic and supersonic portions of the AR01 flight. The region of interest is located downstream of the forward attachment (FA) hardware between the core stage and the solid rocket boosters where vortex shedding off the FA protuberance produces significant unsteadiness. The analysis reveals that, at transonic and supersonic conditions, buffet forces that are based on constant freestream Mach number data are a good approximation of those based on accelerating-flow simulations.

transonic buffet↗

A Database of CFD-Based Buffet Forcing Functions for Artemis I Structural Response Evaluation

Time-accurate FUN3D simulations are utilized to estimate buffet-induced unsteady forces experienced by the Space Launch System during the Artemis I (AR01) flight. A set of FUN3D simulations was developed that employed time-accurate mesh translations to simulate the changing velocity and attitude based on the AR01 best estimated trajectory. In these simulations, referred to as accelerating-flow simulations, the freestream Mach number increased from 0.80 to 1.92. Additional time-accurate simulations were obtained at constant freestream Mach number equal to 0.95, 1.18, 1.70, thereby simulating stationary conditions experienced by the flow in a wind-tunnel. On the grounds of favorable comparisons between simulated and flight-measured environments, the FUN3D-based surface pressures were utilized to develop a buffet forcing function (BFF) database. This BFF database was analyzed to characterize the spatial distribution and frequency content of the buffet forces during transonic and supersonic portions of the AR01 flight. The region of interest is located downstream of the forward attachment (FA) hardware between the core stage and the solid rocket boosters where vortex shedding off the FA protuberance produces significant unsteadiness. The analysis reveals that, at transonic and supersonic conditions, buffet forces that are based on constant freestream Mach number data are a good approximation of those based on accelerating-flow simulations.

FUN3D↗