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At least 163 records · Page 9

Binaural Simulation Experiments in the NASA Langley Structural Acoustics Loads and Transmission Facility

A location and positioning system was developed and implemented in the anechoic chamber of the Structural Acoustics Loads and Transmission (SALT) facility to accurately determine the coordinates of points in three-dimensional space. Transfer functions were measured between a shaker source at two different panel locations and the vibrational response distributed over the panel surface using a scanning laser vibrometer. The binaural simulation test matrix included test runs for several locations of the measuring microphones, various attitudes of the mannequin, two locations of the shaker excitation and three different shaker inputs including pulse, broadband random, and pseudo-random. Transfer functions, auto spectra, and coherence functions were acquired for the pseudo-random excitation. Time histories were acquired for the pulse and broadband random input to the shaker. The tests were repeated with a reflective surface installed. Binary data files were converted to universal format and archived on compact disk.

Grosveld, Ferdinand W.↗

Active Control of the Forced and Transient Response of a Finite Beam

When studying structural vibrations resulting from a concentrated source, many structures may be modelled as a finite beam excited by a point source. The theoretical limit on cancelling the resulting beam vibrations by utilizing another point source as an active controller is explored. Three different types of excitation are considered, harmonic, random, and transient. In each case, a cost function is defined and minimized for numerous parameter variations. For the case of harmonic excitation, the cost function is obtained by integrating the mean squared displacement over a region of the beam in which control is desired. A controller is then found to minimize this cost function in the control interval. The control interval and controller location are continuously varied for several frequencies of excitation. The results show that control over the entire beam length is possible only when the excitation frequency is near a resonant frequency of the beam, but control over a subregion may be obtained even between resonant frequencies at the cost of increasing the vibration outside of the control region. For random excitation, the cost function is realized by integrating the expected value of the displacement squared over the interval of the beam in which control is desired. This is shown to yield the identical cost function as obtained by integrating the cost function for harmonic excitation over all excitation frequencies. As a result, it is always possible to reduce the cost function for random excitation whether controlling the entire beam or just a subregion, without ever increasing the vibration outside the region in which control is desired. The last type of excitation considered is a single, transient pulse. A cost function representative of the beam vibration is obtained by integrating the transient displacement squared over a region of the beam and over all time. The form of the controller is chosen a priori as either one or two delayed pulses. Delays constrain the controller to be causal. The best possible control is then examined while varying the region of control and the controller location. It is found that control is always possible using either one or two control pulses. The two pulse controller gives better performance than a single pulse controller, but finding the optimal delay time for the additional controllers increases as the square of the number of control pulses.

Post, John Theodore↗

The development and verification of shuttle orbiter random vibration test requirements

The unique space shuttle vehicle size, weight, and configuration gave rise to problems in determining vibration requirements and in verifying structural integrity for anticipated mission environments. The applications of large-scale vibration testing played a prominent part in qualifying the shuttle for its intended missions. Severe vibration excitation from rocket engines, aerodynamic noise, and onboard equipment are expected on each shuttle flight. Scale-model wind tunnel and rocket firing tests, as well as full-size rocket engine tests were relied on to define the random forcing functions. The determination of structural response to these environments is described as well as evaluations of measured flight data and comparison with predicted design and test criteria.

Coody, M. C.↗

Ground vibration test of the laminar flow control JStar airplane

A ground vibration test was conducted on a Lockheed JetStar airplane that had been modified for the purpose of conducting laminar flow control experiments. The test was performed prior to initial flight flutter tests. Both sine-dwell and single-point-random excitation methods were used. The data presented include frequency response functions and a comparison of mode frequencies and mode shapes from both methods.

Kehoe, M. W.↗

Understanding of the Dynamics of the Stirling Convertor Advanced by Structural Testing

The NASA Glenn Research Center, the U.S. Department of Energy, and the Stirling Technology Company (STC) are developing a highly efficient, long-life, free-piston Stirling convertor for use as an advanced spacecraft power system for future NASA missions, including deep-space and Mars surface applications. As part of this development, four structural dynamic test programs were recently performed on Stirling Technology Demonstration Convertors (TDC's) that were designed and built by STC under contract to the Department of Energy. This testing was performed in Glenn's Structural Dynamics Laboratory and Microgravity Emissions Laboratory. The first test program, in November and December 1999, demonstrated that the Stirling TDC could withstand the harsh random vibration experienced during a typical spacecraft launch and survive with no structural damage or functional power performance degradation. This was a critical step in enabling the use of Stirling convertors for future spacecraft power systems. The most severe test was a 12.3grms random vibration test, with test durations of 3 min per axis. The random vibration test levels were chosen to simulate, with margin, the maximum anticipated launch vibration conditions. The Microgravity Emissions Laboratory is typically used to measure the dynamics produced by operating space experiments and the resulting impact to the International Space Station's microgravity environment. For the second Stirling dynamic test program, performed in January 2001, the Microgravity Emissions Laboratory was used to characterize the structure-borne disturbances produced by the normal operation of a pair of Stirling convertors. The forces and moments produced by the normal operation of a Stirling system must be recognized and controlled, if necessary, so that other nearby spacecraft components, such as cameras, are not adversely affected. The Stirling convertor pair emitted relatively benign tonal forces at its operational frequency and associated harmonics. Therefore, Stirling power systems will not disturb spacecraft science experiments if minimal appropriate mounting efforts are made. The third test program, performed in February and May 2001, resulted in a modal characterization of a Stirling convertor. Since the deflection of the TDC piston rod, under vibration excitation, was of particular interest, the outer pressure shell was removed to allow access to the rod. Through this testing, the Stirling TDC's natural frequencies and modes were identified. This knowledge advanced our understanding of the successful 1999 vibration test and may be utilized to optimize the output power of future Stirling designs. The fourth test program, in April 2001, was conducted to characterize the structural response of a pair of Stirling convertors, as a function of their mounting interface stiffness. The test results provide guidance for the Stirling power package interface design. Properly designed, the interface may lead to increased structural capability and power performance beyond what was demonstrated in the successful 1999 vibration test. Dynamic testing performed to date at Glenn has shown that the Stirling convertors can withstand liftoff random vibration environments and meet "good neighbor" vibratory emission requirements. Furthermore, the future utilization of the information obtained during the tests will allow the corporation selected to be the Stirling system integrator to optimize their convertor and system interfaces designs. Glenn's Thermo-Mechanical Systems Branch provides Stirling technology expertise under a Space Act Agreement with the Department of Energy. Additional vibration testing by Glenn's Structural Systems Dynamics Branch is planned to continue to demonstrate the Stirling power system's vibration capability as its technology and flight system designs progress.

Hughes, William O.↗

An advanced stochastic model for threshold crossing studies of rotor blade vibrations.

A stochastic model to analyze turbulence-excited rotor blade vibrations, previously described by Gaonkar et al. (1971), is generalized to include nonuniformity of the atmospheric turbulence velocity across the rotor disk in the longitudinal direction. The results of the presented analysis suggest that the nonuniformity of the vertical turbulence over the rotor disk is of little influence on the random blade flapping response, at least as far as longitudinal nonuniformity is concerned.

Gaonkar, G. H.↗

Vibration Test Demonstrated Dynamic Capability of an Operating Stirling Convertor

The NASA Glenn Research Center and the U.S. Department of Energy are currently developing a high-efficiency, long-life, free piston Stirling convertor for use as an advanced spacecraft power system for future NASA missions. As part of this development, a Stirling Technology Demonstrator Converter (TDC), developed by Stirling Technology Company for the Department of Energy, was vibration tested at Glenn's Structural Dynamics Laboratory in November and December 1999. This testing demonstrated that the Stirling TDC is able to withstand the harsh random vibration (20 to 2000 Hz) seen during a typical spacecraft launch and to survive with no structural damage or functional power performance degradation, thereby enabling its use in future spacecraft power systems. Glenn and Stirling personnel conducted tests on a single 55 We TDC. The purpose was to characterize the TDC's structural response to vibration and to determine if the TDC could survive the vibration criteria established by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory for launch environments. The TDC was operated at full-stroke and full power conditions during the vibration testing.

Hughes, William O.↗

InSight System Acoustic Requirement Evolution

The InSight Mars lander is to be launched to Mars in 2018 on a rocket, contained within an aeroshell designed for Mars entry. The primary mission objective is to deliever an ultra-sensitive seismometer to the Martian surface for scientific investigations. The preliminary InSight PF acoustic requirement (the heritage Phoenix environment, 139.8 dB overall SPL maximum expected environment) was reduced significantly when the Launch vehicle was selected as the InSight launch vehicle (134.5 dB overall SPL maximum expected environment). This reduction would have resulted in a very low Lander Deck random vibration at SEIS, and other instruments inside the aeroshell, during the system Protoflight (PF) acoustic test with questionable workmanship value. To mitigate this concern JPL and Launch vehicle contractor agreed to increase the InSight PF acoustic test requirement to enhance workmanship testing for science instruments and assemblies inside the aeroshell. The actual InSight system acoustic test vibration responses at the SEIS instrument are compared to the predicted responses.

O'Connell, Michael↗

A finite element formulation for the large deflection random response of thermally buckled beams

The effects of temperature and acoustic loading are included in a theoretical finite element large deflection formulation for thin, isotropic beams. Thermal loads are applied as steady-state temperature distributions, and acoustic loads are taken to be ergodic and Gaussian with zero mean and uniform magnitude and phase along the length of the beam. Material properties are considered presently to be independent of temperature. Also, inplane and rotary inertia terms are assumed to be negligible, and all inplane edge conditions are taken to be immovable. For the random response analysis, both auto- and cross-correlation terms are included. The nature of the loads leads to the solution of two separate problems. First, the problem of thermal postbuckling is solved to determine the deflections and stresses due to the thermal load only. These deflections and stresses are then used as initial deflections and stresses for the random vibration analysis. Root-mean-square (RMS) maximum deflections and strains are obtained and compared with previous classical equivalent linearization results.

Locke, James↗

Concepts for a theoretical and experimental study of lifting rotor random loads and vibrations. Phase 5C: Development of experimental methods

Test equipment which was built and the calibration tests are described. The test equipment consists of a two-bladed rotor of 16-in. diameter, the blades of which are elastically hinged in flapping. The feathering shaft of the blades can be harmonically rotated with the help of a cam mechanism located inside the hollow rotor shaft. The frequency range measured in the rotating system can be adjusted between 0 and 80 cps and the rotor speed between 0 and 40 cps. The test equipment is for measuring the flapping response of the blades to harmonic feathering excitation.

Hohenemser, K. H.↗

GOES-R Active Vibration Damping Controller Design, Implementation, and On-Orbit Performance

GOES-R series spacecraft feature a number of flexible appendages with modal frequencies below 3.0 Hz which, if excited by spacecraft disturbances, can be sources of undesirable jitter perturbing spacecraft pointing. In order to meet GOES-R pointing stability requirements, the spacecraft flight software implements an Active Vibration Damping (AVD) rate control law which acts in parallel with the nadir point attitude control law. The AVD controller commands spacecraft reaction wheel actuators based upon Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) inputs to provide additional damping for spacecraft structural modes below 3.0 Hz which vary with solar wing angle. A GOES-R spacecraft dynamics and attitude control system identified model is constructed from pseudo-random reaction wheel torque commands and IMU angular rate response measurements occurring over a single orbit during spacecraft post-deployment activities. The identified Fourier model is computed on the ground, uplinked to the spacecraft flight computer, and the AVD controller filter coefficients are periodically computed on-board from the Fourier model. Consequently, the AVD controller formulation is based not upon pre-launch simulation model estimates but upon on-orbit nadir point attitude control and time-varying spacecraft dynamics. GOES-R high-fidelity time domain simulation results herein demonstrate the accuracy of the AVD identified Fourier model relative to the pre-launch spacecraft dynamics and control truth model. The AVD controller on-board the GOES-16 spacecraft achieves more than a ten-fold increase in structural mode damping of the fundamental solar wing mode while maintaining controller stability margins and ensuring that the nadir point attitude control bandwidth does not fall below 0.02 Hz. On-orbit GOES-16 spacecraft appendage modal frequencies and damping ratios are quantified based upon the AVD system identification, and the increase in modal damping provided by the AVD controller for each structural mode is presented. The GOES-16 spacecraft AVD controller frequency domain stability margins and nadir point attitude control bandwidth are presented along with on-orbit time domain disturbance response performance.

Active Vibration Damping↗

Effects of Central Cut Width on the Dynamical Characteristics of Box Assembly Structure

An investigation into the Box Assembly with Removable Component (BARC) structure is conducted by utilizing computational simulations and experimental structural testing in order to determine the complex dynamical responses instigated by the central cut of the system. Because the dynamics of the BARC system is complex, this study focuses primarily on analyzing the behavior of the box assembly (BA) system. The investigation explores the dynamics of the BA system by varying the central cut widths, ranging from a cut as wide as 0.5” cut to a 0.25” cut system, as well as a 0.1” cut and a system with no cut at all. Experimental testing is performed on each system including a free vibration test using an impact hammer to excite and identify the dominant frequencies of each structure. This testing is followed by pseudo-random vibration tests and swept sinusoidal excitation tests to determine the nonlinear aspects of these systems, such as the possible existence of nonlinear softening, hardening, and/or damping. The results show that nonlinear softening and nonlinear damping are present in each system. The no-cut system demonstrated the highest peak frequencies throughout all the tests, being the most rigid structure. The 0.25” cut system was shown to have the highest peak frequencies among all the cut systems in both the finite elemenet analysis (FEA) and impact testing. This trend did not continue, though, in the random and harmonic testing, possibly due to the added stiffness of the test setup with the slip table and stinger. The results show the importance of accurately measuring the central cut width and how possible geometric uncertainties change the overall dynamical behaviors of complex systems, such as natural characteristics, nonlinear responses, coupling of modes, and oscillating amplitudes.

Padilla, Christopher (ORCID:000900033446732X)↗

Development of modified vibration test criteria for qualifying space vehicle components

Simplified methods are described to estimate the test criteria of primary structures at component attachment points subjected to broadband random acoustic excitations. The current method utilizes a constant smeared component mass attenuation factor across the frequency range of interest. The developed method indicates that the attenuation factor is based on a frequency dependent ratio of the mechanical impedances of both the component and primary structures. The procedures used to predict the structural responses are considered as the present state-of-the-art and provide satisfactory prediction results. Example problems are used to illustrate the application procedures of the two methods and to compare the significant difference. It was found that the lower test criteria obtained by the impedance ratio method is due to the results of considering the effects of component/primary structure interaction.

Chang, K. Y.↗

Benefits of Spacecraft Level Vibration Testing

NASA-HDBK-7008 Spacecraft Level Dynamic Environments Testing discusses the approaches, benefits, dangers, and recommended practices for spacecraft level dynamic environments testing, including vibration testing. This paper discusses in additional detail the benefits and actual experiences of vibration testing spacecraft for NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) and Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) flight projects. JPL and GSFC have both similarities and differences in their spacecraft level vibration test approach: JPL uses a random vibration input and a frequency range usually starting at 5 Hz and extending to as high as 250 Hz. GSFC uses a sine sweep vibration input and a frequency range usually starting at 5 Hz and extending only to the limits of the coupled loads analysis (typically 50 to 60 Hz). However, both JPL and GSFC use force limiting to realistically notch spacecraft resonances and response (acceleration) limiting as necessary to protect spacecraft structure and hardware from exceeding design strength capabilities. Despite GSFC and JPL differences in spacecraft level vibration test approaches, both have uncovered a significant number of spacecraft design and workmanship anomalies in vibration tests. This paper will give an overview of JPL and GSFC spacecraft vibration testing approaches and provide a detailed description of spacecraft anomalies revealed.

Spacecraft Vibration Test↗

Probabilistic structural analysis methods and applications

An advanced algorithm for simulating the probabilistic distribution of structural responses due to statistical uncertainties in loads, geometry, material properties, and boundary conditions is reported. The method effectively combines an advanced algorithm for calculating probability levels for multivariate problems (fast probability integration) together with a general-purpose finite-element code for stress, vibration, and buckling analysis. Application is made to a space propulsion system turbine blade for which the geometry and material properties are treated as random variables.

Cruse, T. A.↗

SRG110 Stirling Generator Dynamic Simulator Vibration Test Results and Analysis Correlation

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Lockheed Martin (LM), and NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC) have been developing the Stirling Radioisotope Generator (SRG110) for use as a power system for space science missions. The launch environment enveloping potential missions results in a random input spectrum that is significantly higher than historical RPS launch levels and is a challenge for designers. Analysis presented in prior work predicted that tailoring the compliance at the generator-spacecraft interface reduced the dynamic response of the system thereby allowing higher launch load input levels and expanding the range of potential generator missions. To confirm analytical predictions, a dynamic simulator representing the generator structure, Stirling convertors and heat sources was designed and built for testing with and without a compliant interface. Finite element analysis was performed to guide the generator simulator and compliant interface design so that test modes and frequencies were representative of the SRG110 generator. This paper presents the dynamic simulator design, the test setup and methodology, test article modes and frequencies and dynamic responses, and post-test analysis results. With the compliant interface, component responses to an input environment exceeding the SRG110 qualification level spectrum were all within design allowables. Post-test analysis included finite element model tuning to match test frequencies and random response analysis using the test input spectrum. Analytical results were in good overall agreement with the test results and confirmed previous predictions that the SRG110 power system may be considered for a broad range of potential missions, including those with demanding launch environments.

Suarez, Vicente J.↗

Eigenvalue uncertainty in stressed structures.

A method is presented for calculating the statistics of the natural frequencies and mode shapes of vibration for a structure acted upon by an external static loading which results in the structure being stressed for eigenvalue analysis. The analytical tools presented apply to the probabilistic eigenvalue problem, and it is apparent that structural parameter uncertainty will significantly influence all aspects of the structure's response. The treatment of a sample problem serves the purpose of furthering understanding for the importance of considering structural parameters as random variables.

Hart, G. C.↗

Finite element large deflection random response of thermally buckled plates

The governing nonlinear equations of motion are derived for a rectangular isotropic plate subjected to a combined thermal-acoustic loading. The thermal loading is taken to be a steady state temperature distribution, and the acoustic loading is considered to be a stationary Gaussian pressure with zero mean and uniform magnitude and phase over the plate surface. With these types of loads, the thermal-acoustic analysis can be separated into two problems: (1) thermal post-buckling; and (2) random vibration of the thermally buckled plate. Since both analyses are nonlinear, iterative techniques are used to solve each. For the random vibration analysis, the method of equivalent linearization is used; both auto- and cross-correlation terms are included. Results obtained using the present formulation are compared with previous classical equivalent linearization results.

Locke, J. E.↗