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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 163 records · Page 9
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1992

Computational structural analysis and advanced commercial engines

The history of computational structural analysis is reviewed and anticipated requirements for the design, development, and support of advanced commercial engines is discussed. The present commercial engine environment is comprised primarily of turbofan engines containing monolithic titanium and nickel alloys. Future commercial engines will make extensive use of composite materials to meet demanding high temperature requirement and aggressive weight goals, since only modestly higher capabilities can be anticipated in monolithic materials. Engine configurations will include ducted and/or unducted propfans and super turbojet in addition to turbofans.

Wilson, R. B.↗
NASA NTRS2004

A Simplified Mesh Deformation Method Using Commercial Structural Analysis Software

Mesh deformation in response to redefined or moving aerodynamic surface geometries is a frequently encountered task in many applications. Most existing methods are either mathematically too complex or computationally too expensive for usage in practical design and optimization. We propose a simplified mesh deformation method based on linear elastic finite element analyses that can be easily implemented by using commercially available structural analysis software. Using a prescribed displacement at the mesh boundaries, a simple structural analysis is constructed based on a spatially varying Young s modulus to move the entire mesh in accordance with the surface geometry redefinitions. A variety of surface movements, such as translation, rotation, or incremental surface reshaping that often takes place in an optimization procedure, may be handled by the present method. We describe the numerical formulation and implementation using the NASTRAN software in this paper. The use of commercial software bypasses tedious reimplementation and takes advantage of the computational efficiency offered by the vendor. A two-dimensional airfoil mesh and a three-dimensional aircraft mesh were used as test cases to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method. Euler and Navier-Stokes calculations were performed for the deformed two-dimensional meshes.

Hsu, Su-Yuen↗
NASA NTRS2005

Structural Analysis Made 'NESSUSary'

Everywhere you look, chances are something that was designed and tested by a computer will be in plain view. Computers are now utilized to design and test just about everything imaginable, from automobiles and airplanes to bridges and boats, and elevators and escalators to streets and skyscrapers. Computer-design engineering first emerged in the 1970s, in the automobile and aerospace industries. Since computers were in their infancy, however, architects and engineers during the time were limited to producing only designs similar to hand-drafted drawings. (At the end of 1970s, a typical computer-aided design system was a 16-bit minicomputer with a price tag of $125,000.) Eventually, computers became more affordable and related software became more sophisticated, offering designers the "bells and whistles" to go beyond the limits of basic drafting and rendering, and venture into more skillful applications. One of the major advancements was the ability to test the objects being designed for the probability of failure. This advancement was especially important for the aerospace industry, where complicated and expensive structures are designed. The ability to perform reliability and risk assessment without using extensive hardware testing is critical to design and certification. In 1984, NASA initiated the Probabilistic Structural Analysis Methods (PSAM) project at Glenn Research Center to develop analysis methods and computer programs for the probabilistic structural analysis of select engine components for current Space Shuttle and future space propulsion systems. NASA envisioned that these methods and computational tools would play a critical role in establishing increased system performance and durability, and assist in structural system qualification and certification. Not only was the PSAM project beneficial to aerospace, it paved the way for a commercial risk- probability tool that is evaluating risks in diverse, down- to-Earth application

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1981

Recent developments in quasi-Newton methods for structural analysis and synthesis

Unlike the Newton-Raphson method, quasi-Newton methods by virture of the updates and step length control procedures are globally convergent and hence better suited for the solution of nonlinear problems of structural analysis and synthesis. Extension of quasi-Newton algorithms to large scale problems has led to the development of sparse update algorithms and to economical strategies for evaluating sparse Hessians. Ill-conditioning problems have led to the development of self-scaled variable metric and conjugate gradient algorithms, as well as the use of the singular perturbation theory. This paper emphasizes the effectiveness of such quasi-Newton algorithms for nonlinear structural analysis and synthesis.

Kamat, M. P.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Parallel Methods on Large-Scale Structural Analysis and Physics Applications; Symposium, Hampton, VA, Feb. 5, 6, 1991, Selected Papers

Recent advances in parallel methods and algorithms integrated into large-scale codes are presented. Consideration is given to problem decomposition (substructuring), efficient matrix solution algorithms for shared memory architectures, dynamic and transient analysis algorithms for shared memory architectures, and algorithms for distributed and massively parallel architectures. Particular attention is given to partitioning of unstructured problems for parallel processing, parallel-vector computation for linear-structural analysis and nonlinear unconstraint optimization problems, a parallel-vector equation solver for unsymmetric matrices on supercomputers, parallel nonlinear finite element dynamic response, multigrid algorithms for solving structural mechanics problems on supercomputers, structural analysis on massively parallel computers, explicit finite element methods with contact-impact on SIMD computers, and the impact of mapping and sparsity on parallelized finite element method modules.

Storaasli, Olaf O.↗
NASA NTRS2012

Structural Analysis in a Conceptual Design Framework

Supersonic aircraft designers must shape the outer mold line of the aircraft to improve multiple objectives, such as mission performance, cruise efficiency, and sonic-boom signatures. Conceptual designers have demonstrated an ability to assess these objectives for a large number of candidate designs. Other critical objectives and constraints, such as weight, fuel volume, aeroelastic effects, and structural soundness, are more difficult to address during the conceptual design process. The present research adds both static structural analysis and sizing to an existing conceptual design framework. The ultimate goal is to include structural analysis in the multidisciplinary optimization of a supersonic aircraft. Progress towards that goal is discussed and demonstrated.

Padula, Sharon L.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Nonlinear constitutive theory for turbine engine structural analysis

A number of viscoplastic constitutive theories and a conventional constitutive theory are evaluated and compared in their ability to predict nonlinear stress-strain behavior in gas turbine engine components at elevated temperatures. Specific application of these theories is directed towards the structural analysis of combustor liners undergoing transient, cyclic, thermomechanical load histories. The combustor liner material considered in this study is Hastelloy X. The material constants for each of the theories (as a function of temperature) are obtained from existing, published experimental data. The viscoplastic theories and a conventional theory are incorporated into a general purpose, nonlinear, finite element computer program. Several numerical examples of combustor liner structural analysis using these theories are given to demonstrate their capabilities. Based on the numerical stress-strain results, the theories are evaluated and compared.

Thompson, R. L.↗
NASA NTRS2013

Structural Analysis Peer Review for the Static Display of the Orbiter Atlantis at the Kennedy Space Center Visitors Center

Mr. Christopher Miller with the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) NASA Safety & Mission Assurance (S&MA) office requested the NASA Engineering and Safety Center's (NESC) technical support on March 15, 2012, to review and make recommendations on the structural analysis being performed for the Orbiter Atlantis static display at the KSC Visitor Center. The principal focus of the assessment was to review the engineering firm's structural analysis for lifting and aligning the orbiter and its static display configuration

Minute, Stephen A.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Nonlinear structural analysis of cylindrical thrust chambers using viscoplastic models

The results are presented of a viscoplastic stress-strain analysis of a cylindrical thrust chamber used in experiments that were designed to simulate the SSME operating conditions. The inelastic strain was calculated by using a viscoplastic model, and a quasi-three-dimensional structural analysis was performed by using a finite element program MARC. The temperatures and pressures were calculated by using the loading cycles of experiments, and these temperatures and pressures were used in the computations. The deformed shape of the component was predicted after the end of each loading cycle. The predicted shape qualitatively replicated the deformed shape of the component as observed in experiments. The results indicate that the use of viscoplastic models for structural analysis may lead to more realistic life assessments of experimental thrust chambers.

Arya, Vinod K.↗
NASA NTRS2010

Probabilistic Structural Analysis Program

NASA/NESSUS 6.2c is a general-purpose, probabilistic analysis program that computes probability of failure and probabilistic sensitivity measures of engineered systems. Because NASA/NESSUS uses highly computationally efficient and accurate analysis techniques, probabilistic solutions can be obtained even for extremely large and complex models. Once the probabilistic response is quantified, the results can be used to support risk-informed decisions regarding reliability for safety-critical and one-of-a-kind systems, as well as for maintaining a level of quality while reducing manufacturing costs for larger-quantity products. NASA/NESSUS has been successfully applied to a diverse range of problems in aerospace, gas turbine engines, biomechanics, pipelines, defense, weaponry, and infrastructure. This program combines state-of-the-art probabilistic algorithms with general-purpose structural analysis and lifting methods to compute the probabilistic response and reliability of engineered structures. Uncertainties in load, material properties, geometry, boundary conditions, and initial conditions can be simulated. The structural analysis methods include non-linear finite-element methods, heat-transfer analysis, polymer/ceramic matrix composite analysis, monolithic (conventional metallic) materials life-prediction methodologies, boundary element methods, and user-written subroutines. Several probabilistic algorithms are available such as the advanced mean value method and the adaptive importance sampling method. NASA/NESSUS 6.2c is structured in a modular format with 15 elements.

Pai, Shantaram S.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Three-dimensional thermal-structural analysis of a swept cowl leading edge subjected to skewed shock-shock interference heating

A three-dimensional flux-based thermal analysis method has been developed and its capability is demonstrated by predicting the transient nonlinear temperature response of a swept cowl leading edge subjected to intense three-dimensional aerodynamic heating. The predicted temperature response from the transient thermal analysis is used in a linear elastic structural analysis to determine thermal stresses. Predicted thermal stresses are compared with those obtained from a two-dimensional analysis which represents conditions along the chord where maximum heating occurs. Results indicate a need for a three-dimensional analysis to predict accurately the leading edge thermal stress response.

Polesky, Sandra P.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Comparison of advanced reduced-basis methods for transient structural analysis

Two advanced reduced-basis methods for linear, transient structural analysis, the force-derivative method and the Lanczos method, are compared to two widely-used modal methods, the mode-displacement method and the mode-acceleration method. Comparisons are made for two linear example problems: a proportionally-damped cantilevered beam subject to a discrete tip load which varies linearly with time, and a discretely-damped multispan beam subject to a uniformly distributed load which varies as a quintic function of time. Results from the methods are compared in terms of the number of basis vectors required to obtain a desired level of accuracy and the associated computational times. The results are problem dependent, and it is shown that for the cantilevered beam problem, the mode-acceleration and force-derivative methods are the most efficient in terms of the number of basis vectors and computational time. The force-derivative method is shown to be the most effective method for solving the multispan beam problem with closely-spaced frequencies. In general, the force-derivative method is shown to produce an accurate solution using very few basis vectors and to require less computational time as compared to the other methods studied.

Mcgowan, David M.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Neural networks in structural analysis and design - An overview

The present paper provides an overview of the state-of-the-art in the application of neural networks in problems of structural analysis and design, including a survey of published applications in structural engineering. Such applications have included, among others, the use of neural networks in modeling nonlinear analysis of structures, as a rapid reanalysis capability in optimal design, and in developing problem parameter sensitivity of optimal solutions for use in multilevel decomposition based design. While most of the applications reported in the literature have been restricted to the use of the multilayer perceptron architecture and minor variations thereof, other network architectures have also been successfully explored, including the ART network, the counterpropagation network and the Hopfield-Tank model.

Hajela, P.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Probabilistic structural analysis for space propulsion system components

Probabilistic design and analysis methods for the achievement of greater reliability in structural systems are especially useful in those cases where the structure operates in such severe environments as that of the Space Shuttle. Attention is presently given to the development status of a NASA-sponsored program for probabilistic structural analysis methods applicable to current and future reusable space propulsion systems. Methodologies for the assessment of structural response by means of integrated finite element and probabilistic analysis techniques are discussed, with illustrative examples.

Burnside, O. H.↗
NASA NTRS2013

Conceptual Design and Structural Analysis of an Open Rotor Hybrid Wing Body Aircraft

Through a recent NASA contract, Boeing Research and Technology in Huntington Beach, CA developed and optimized a conceptual design of an open rotor hybrid wing body aircraft (HWB). Open rotor engines offer a significant potential for fuel burn savings over turbofan engines, while the HWB configuration potentially allows to offset noise penalties through possible engine shielding. Researchers at NASA Langley converted the Boeing design to a FLOPS model which will be used to develop take-off and landing trajectories for community noise analyses. The FLOPS model was calibrated using Boeing data and shows good agreement with the original Boeing design. To complement Boeing s detailed aerodynamics and propulsion airframe integration work, a newly developed and validated conceptual structural analysis and optimization tool was used for a conceptual loads analysis and structural weights estimate. Structural optimization and weight calculation are based on a Nastran finite element model of the primary HWB structure, featuring centerbody, mid section, outboard wing, and aft body. Results for flight loads, deformations, wing weight, and centerbody weight are presented and compared to Boeing and FLOPS analyses.

Gern, Frank H.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Evaluation of an adaptive unstructured remeshing technique for integrated fluid-thermal-structural analysis

An adaptive unstructured remeshing technique is evaluated for integrated fluid-thermal-structural analysis. The technique is combined with the finite element method to solve: (1) the Navier-Stokes equations for high-speed compressible flow; (2) the energy equation for the structural-thermal response; and (3) the quasi-static equilibrium equations for the structural response. The remeshing technique and the analysis solution procedure are described. The effectiveness of the approach is evaluated with two application studies. The flow analysis of Mach 8 shock-shock interference on a three-inch-diameter cylinder is used as the first application study to demonstrate the capability of the remeshing technique and to examine proper remeshing indicators for the inviscid and boundary layer regions. The applicability of the approach for the thermal and structural analyses of the structure is evaluated in the second application study of a 0.25-inch-diameter convectively cooled leading edge subjected to intense aerodynamic heating. Issues associated with remeshing indicators for thermal stress problems are identified.

Dechaumphai, Pramote↗
NASA NTRS1990

Evaluation of an adaptive unstructured remeshing technique for integrated fluid-thermal-structural analysis

An adaptive unstructured remeshing technique is evaluated for integrated fluid-thermal-structural analysis. The technique is combined with the finite element method to solve: (1) the Navier-Stokes equations for high-speed compressible flow, (2) the energy equation for the structural-thermal response, and (3) the quasi-static equilibrium equations for the structural response. The remeshing technique and the analysis solution procedure are described. The effectiveness of the approach is evaluated with two applications studies. The flow analysis of Mach 8 shock-shock interference on a three-inch-diameter cylinder is used as the first application study to demonstrate the capability of the remeshing technique and to examine proper remeshing indicators for the inviscid and boundary layer regions. The applicability of the approach for the thermal and structural analyses of the structure is evaluated in the second application study of a 0.25-inch-diameter convectively cooled leading edge subjected to intense aerodynamic heating. Issues associated with remeshing indicators for thermal stress problems are identified.

Dechaumphai, Pramote↗