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At least 19 records

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NASA NTRS1988

Slender wing theory including regions of embedded total pressure loss

An aerodynamic theory of the flow about slender delta wings is described. The theory includes a treatment of the self-consistent development of the vortex wake patterns above the wing necessary to maintain smooth flow at the wing edges. The paper focuses especially on the formation within the wake of vortex 'cores' as embedded regions of total pressure loss, fed and maintained by umbilical vortex sheets emanating from the wing edges. Criteria are developed for determining the growing size and location of these cores, as well as the distribution and strength of the vorticity within them. In this paper, however, the possibility of vortex breakup is omitted. The aerodynamic consequences of the presence and evolution of the cores and the associated wake structure are illustrated and discussed. It is noted that wake history effects can have substantial influence on the distribution of normal force on the wing as well as on its magnitude.

Mccune, James E.↗

NASA NTRS1979

Unsteady thin airfoil theory for transonic flows with embedded shocks

Classical unsteady thin airfoil theory fails for low frequencies at the subsonic freestream Mach number, because of the formation of a shock wave that shields the forward region of the airfoil from aft generated disturbances. In the present paper, the classical thin airfoil theory is modified to account for the presence and induced motion of such shocks. The modification consists of taking the steady local Mach number to be a simple step discontinuity, normal to the undisturbed flow, separating two uniform regions. Predicted regions are shown to correlate well both with the experiment and finite difference calculations.

Williams, M. H.↗

NASA NTRS1989

Adaptive structures; Proceedings of the ASME Winter Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA, Dec. 10-15, 1989

The present conference on adaptive structures discusses piezoelectric and electrostrictive sensors and actuators for adaptive structures and smart materials, real-time control for composite structures with embedded actuators and sensors, a laminated-shell theory incorporating embedded distributed actuators, traveling-wave power flow techniques, uncertainty modeling for the control of an active structure, and active vibration isolation in the presence of unmodeled structural dynamic response. Also discussed are the control of flexible beams via free-free active truss, truss structure control using member actuators with latch mechanism, neural processors for smart-structure control, the effect of imperfections on the static control of adaptive structures, adaptive structures for segmented optical systems, and the shape-control of flexible structures.

Wada, Ben K.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Constitutive Modeling of Superalloy Single Crystals and Directionally Solidified Materials

A unified viscoplastic constitutive relation based on crystallographic slip theory was developed for the deformation analysis of nickel base face centered cubic superalloy single crystals at elevated temperature. The single crystal theory is embedded in a self consistent method to derive a constitutive relation for a directionally solidified material comprised of a polycrystalline aggregate of columnar cylindrical grains. One of the crystallographic axes of the cylindrical crystals points in the columnar direction while the remaining crystallographic axes are oriented at random in the basal plane perpendicular to the columnar direction. These constitutive formulations are coded in FORTRAN for use in nonlinear finite element and boundary element programs.

Walker, K. P.↗

NASA NTRS1989

Development of a funding, cost, and spending model for satellite projects

The need for a predictive budget/funging model is obvious. The current models used by the Resource Analysis Office (RAO) are used to predict the total costs of satellite projects. An effort to extend the modeling capabilities from total budget analysis to total budget and budget outlays over time analysis was conducted. A statistical based and data driven methodology was used to derive and develop the model. Th budget data for the last 18 GSFC-sponsored satellite projects were analyzed and used to build a funding model which would describe the historical spending patterns. This raw data consisted of dollars spent in that specific year and their 1989 dollar equivalent. This data was converted to the standard format used by the RAO group and placed in a database. A simple statistical analysis was performed to calculate the gross statistics associated with project length and project cost ant the conditional statistics on project length and project cost. The modeling approach used is derived form the theory of embedded statistics which states that properly analyzed data will produce the underlying generating function. The process of funding large scale projects over extended periods of time is described by Life Cycle Cost Models (LCCM). The data was analyzed to find a model in the generic form of a LCCM. The model developed is based on a Weibull function whose parameters are found by both nonlinear optimization and nonlinear regression. In order to use this model it is necessary to transform the problem from a dollar/time space to a percentage of total budget/time space. This transformation is equivalent to moving to a probability space. By using the basic rules of probability, the validity of both the optimization and the regression steps are insured. This statistically significant model is then integrated and inverted. The resulting output represents a project schedule which relates the amount of money spent to the percentage of project completion.

Johnson, Jesse P.↗

NASA NTRS1996

Simulation of Fatigue Behavior of High Temperature Metal Matrix Composites

A generalized relatively new approach is described for the computational simulation of fatigue behavior of high temperature metal matrix composites (HT-MMCs). This theory is embedded in a specialty-purpose computer code. The effectiveness of the computer code to predict the fatigue behavior of HT-MMCs is demonstrated by applying it to a silicon-fiber/titanium-matrix HT-MMC. Comparative results are shown for mechanical fatigue, thermal fatigue, thermomechanical (in-phase and out-of-phase) fatigue, as well as the effects of oxidizing environments on fatigue life. These results show that the new approach reproduces available experimental data remarkably well.

Tong, Mike T.↗

NASA NTRS1982

The 3-D inelastic analysis methods for hot section components: Brief description

Advanced 3-D inelastic structural/stress analysis methods and solution strategies for more accurate yet more cost-effective analysis of components subjected to severe thermal gradients and loads in the presence of mechanical loads, with steep stress and strain gradients are being developed. Anisotropy, time and temperature dependent plasticity and creep effects are also addressed. The approach is to develop four different theories, one linear and three higher order theories (polynomial function, special function, general function). The theories are progressively more complex from linear to general function in order to provide streamlined analysis capability with increasing accuracy for each hot section component and for different parts of the same component according to the severity of the local stress, strain and temperature gradients associated with hot spots, cooling holes and surface coating cracks. To further enhance the computational effectiveness, the higher order theories will have embedded singularities (cooling passages, for example) in the generic modeling region. Each of the four theories consists of three formulation models derivable from independent theoretical formulations. These formulation models are based on: (1) mechanics of materials; (2) special finite elements; and (3) an advanced formulation to be recommended by the contractor.

Chamis, C. C.↗

NASA NTRS1998

Profile Evolution Simulation in Etching Systems Using Level Set Methods

Semiconductor device profiles are determined by the characteristics of both etching and deposition processes. In particular, a highly anisotropic etch is required to achieve vertical sidewalls. However, etching is comprised of both anisotropic and isotropic components, due to ion and neutral fluxes, respectively. In Ar/Cl2 plasmas, for example, neutral chlorine reacts with the Si surfaces to form silicon chlorides. These compounds are then removed by the impinging ion fluxes. Hence the directionality of the ions (and thus the ion angular distribution function, or IAD), as well as the relative fluxes of neutrals and ions determines the amount of undercutting. One method of modeling device profile evolution is to simulate the moving solid-gas interface between the semiconductor and the plasma as a string of nodes. The velocity of each node is calculated and then the nodes are advanced accordingly. Although this technique appears to be relatively straightforward, extensive looping schemes are required at the profile corners. An alternate method is to use level set theory, which involves embedding the location of the interface in a field variable. The normal speed is calculated at each mesh point, and the field variable is updated. The profile comers are more accurately modeled as the need for looping algorithms is eliminated. The model we have developed is a 2-D Level Set Profile Evolution Simulation (LSPES). The LSPES calculates etch rates of a substrate in low pressure plasmas due to the incident ion and neutral fluxes. For a Si substrate in an Ar/C12 gas mixture, for example, the predictions of the LSPES are identical to those from a string evolution model for high neutral fluxes and two different ion angular distributions.(2) In the figure shown, the relative neutral to ion flux in the bulk plasma is 100 to 1. For a moderately isotropic ion angular distribution function as shown in the cases in the left hand column, both the LSPES (top row) and rude's string method (bottom row) predict tapered profiles. The LSPES uses an AD with a FWHM = 13.5 degrees, and rude's model uses a ratio of sheath voltage to ion temperature of 50. The more anisotropic IADs produce profiles with more vertical sidewalls and a wider bottom surface, as shown in the right hand column. Here, the LSPES has an AD with a FWHM = 2 degrees, and rude's model uses a ratio of 500 of sheath voltage to ion temperature. The agreement between the LSPES and rude's model is excellent in both cases. We will present etching profiles generated by the LSPES, including calculations of the re-emitted fluxes of both neutrals and ions off of the profile walls. In addition, we will show the effect of geometric structures (overhangs, etc.) on the etching profiles. Other physical aspects, such as surface diffusion, will also be included in the model.

Hwang, Helen H.↗

NASA NTRS1992

A first-order global model of Late Cenozoic climatic change: Orbital forcing as a pacemaker of the ice ages

The development of a theory of the evolution of the climate of the earth over millions of years can be subdivided into three fundamental, nested, problems: (1) to establish by equilibrium climate models (e.g., general circulation models) the diagnostic relations, valid at any time, between the fast-response climate variables (i.e., the 'weather statistics') and both the prescribed external radiative forcing and the prescribed distribution of the slow response variables (e.g., the ice sheets and shelves, the deep ocean state, and the atmospheric CO2 concentration); (2) to construct, by an essentially inductive process, a model of the time-dependent evolution of the slow-response climatic variables over time scales longer than the damping times of these variables but shorter than the time scale of tectonic changes in the boundary conditions (e.g., altered geography and elevation of the continents, slow outgassing, and weathering) and ultra-slow astronomical changes such as in the solar radiative output; and (3) to determine the nature of these ultra-slow processes and their effects on the evolution of the equilibrium state of the climatic system about which the above time-dependent variations occur. All three problems are discussed in the context of the theory of the Quaternary climate, which will be incomplete unless it is embedded in a more general theory for the fuller Cenozoic that can accommodate the onset of the ice-age fluctuations. We construct a simple mathematical model for the Late Cenozoic climatic changes based on the hypothesis that forced and free variations of the concentration of atmospheric greenhouse gases (notably CO2), coupled with changes in the deep ocean state and ice mass, under the additional 'pacemaking' influence of earth-orbital forcing, are primary determinants of the climate state over this period. Our goal is to illustrate how a single model governing both very long term variations and higher frequency oscillatory variations in the Pleistocene can be formulated with relatively few adjustable parameters.

Saltzman, Barry↗

NASA NTRS1978

Induced velocities of grains embedded in a turbulent gas

A theory is presented for the dynamics of dust particles in an incompressible turbulent fluid. Grain-gas coupling occurs through friction forces that are proportional to the mean grain velocity relative to the gas. This test particle theory is applied to the case of Kolmogoroff spectrum in a protostellar cloud. The mean turbulence induced grain velocity and the mean turbulent relative velocity of two grains are calculated. Whereas the former should determine the dust scale height, grain-grain collisions are influenced by the latter. For a reasonable strength of turbulence, the mean induced relative velocity of two particles turns out to be at least as large as the corresponding terminal velocity difference during gravitational settling.

Voelk, H. J.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Subcentimeter-size particle distribution functions in planetary rings from Voyager radio and photopolarimeter occultation data

Analysis of measurements of the scattered and direct components of Voyager 1 radio occultation signals at 3.5 and 13 cm wavelengths yield estimates of the distribution functions of supracentimeter-size particles and thickness of relatively broad regions in Saturn's rings. If mearurements of signal amplitude at a shorter wavelength are combined with the previously analyzed data, the shape of the distribution functions characterizing the smaller particles can be constrained. If size distributions of arbitrary form were considered, many solutions are found that are consistent with the three available observations of signal amplitude. The best-fit power law was calculated to the three observations at three wavelengths for several of the embedded Saturn ringlets. Mie scattering theory predicts that the measured phase of the radio occultation signal is highly sensitive to particles ranging from 0.1 to 1.0 wavelengths in size, thus additional constraints on the subcentimeter-size distribution functions for both the Saturn and Uranus rings can in principle be derived from radio phase measurements.

Zebker, Howard A.↗

NASA NTRS1989

Mock gravity and the cosmic structure

The process of generating large-scale cosmic structure from the radiation-pressure or 'mock gravity' instability is studied with particular emphasis on the implications of the Berkeley-Nagoya rocket data for the submillimeter background. The linear theory of perturbations in an absorbing medium embedded in an expanding universe of radiation sources is presented. The instability sets up collapse velocities in linear perturbation theory which far exceed those from gravitational instability, so growth continues even after the instability switches off. Perturbation due to this effect is analyzed and related to the growth of large-scale cosmic structures at recent times; large-scale structure is shown to evolve very little from 1 + z about 5 to the present. Nonlinear small-scale effects of the instability are analyzed; it is shown that radiation pressure would compress gas into small, dense pressure-confined clouds with tau much greater than one.

Hogan, Craig J.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Origin of gauge invariance in string theory

A first quantization of the space-time embedding Chi exp mu and the world-sheet metric rho of the open bosonic string. The world-sheet metric rho decouples from S-matrix elements in 26 dimensions. This formulation of the theory naturally includes 26-dimensional gauge transformations. The gauge invariance of S-matrix elements is a direct consequence of the decoupling of rho. Second quantization leads to a string field Phi(Chi exp mu, rho) with a gauge-covariant equation of motion.

Horowitz, G. T.↗

NASA NTRS1998

Analysis and Testing of Plates with Piezoelectric Sensors and Actuators

Piezoelectric material inherently possesses coupling between electrostatics and structural dynamics. Utilizing linear piezoelectric theory results in an intrinsically coupled pair of piezoelectric constitutive equations. One equation describes the direct piezoelectric effect where strains produce an electric field and the other describes the converse effect where an applied electrical field produces strain. The purpose of this study is to compare finite element analysis and experiments of a thin plate with bonded piezoelectric material. Since an isotropic plate in combination with a thin piezoelectric layer constitutes a special case of a laminated composite, the classical laminated plate theory is used in the formulation to accommodated generic laminated composite panels with multiple bonded and embedded piezoelectric layers. Additionally, the von Karman large deflection plate theory is incorporated. The formulation results in laminate constitutive equations that are amiable to the inclusion of the piezoelectric constitutive equations yielding in a fully electro-mechanically coupled composite laminate. Using the finite element formulation, the governing differential equations of motion of a composite laminate with embedded piezoelectric layers are derived. The finite element model not only considers structural degrees of freedom (d.o.f.) but an additional electrical d.o.f. for each piezoelectric layer. Comparison between experiment and numerical prediction is performed by first treating the piezoelectric as a sensor and then again treating it as an actuator. To assess the piezoelectric layer as a sensor, various uniformly distributed pressure loads were simulated in the analysis and the corresponding generated voltages were calculated using both linear and nonlinear finite element analyses. Experiments were carried out by applying the same uniformly distributed loads and measuring the resulting generated voltages and corresponding maximum plate deflections. It is found that a highly nonlinear relationship exists between maximum deflection and voltage versus pressure loading. In order to assess comparisons of predicted and measured piezoelectric actuation, sinusoidal excitation voltages are simulated/applied and maximum deflections are calculated/measured. The maximum deflection as a function of time was determined using the linear finite elements analysis. Good correlation between prediction and measurement was achieved in all cases.

Bevan, Jeffrey S.↗

NASA NTRS1994

The luminosity functions of embedded stellar clusters. 2: Numerical results

We use the theory developed previously to calculate the evolving luminosity functions of very young stellar clusters. The luminosity function of the protostars alone quickly attains a characteristic, sharply peaked shape, which it maintains throughout the time of cluster formation. For the pre-main-sequence stars, the function continually changes but displays a pronounced 'step' near a luminosity of 10 Solar luminosity for a prolonged period. At most times, the vast majority of cluster members are pre-main-sequence stars. However, the total cluster luminosity is dominated first by the protostellar and later by the main-sequence component. At these late times, it is the brightest stars which reach the main sequence first. Finaly, a preliminary application of our model to the rho Ophiuchi embedded cluster indicates that star formation has proceeded in that region for 1 x 10(exp 6).

Fletcher, Andre B.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Vacancy formation energies in II-VI semiconductors

Cation and anion vacancy formation energies are calculated for HgTe, ZnTe, CdTe, and their dilute alloys. Harrison's tight-bonding theory is extended to a cluster embedded in an extended crystal. Only neutral vacancies have been considered, and two final states for the removed atom have been addressed: a free atom in vacuum and an atom on an ideal (111) surface.

Berding, M. A.↗

NASA NTRS1991

Adhesion at metal interfaces

A basic adhesion process is defined, the theory of the properties influencing metallic adhesion is outlined, and theoretical approaches to the interface problem are presented, with emphasis on first-principle calculations as well as jellium-model calculations. The computation of the energies of adhesion as a function of the interfacial separation is performed; fully three-dimensional calculations are presented, and universality in the shapes of the binding energy curves is considered. An embedded-atom method and equivalent-crystal theory are covered in the framework of issues involved in practical adhesion.

Banerjea, Amitava↗

NASA NTRS1997

Analysis of Smart Composite Structures Including Debonding

Smart composite structures with distributed sensors and actuators have the capability to actively respond to a changing environment while offering significant weight savings and additional passive controllability through ply tailoring. Piezoelectric sensing and actuation of composite laminates is the most promising concept due to the static and dynamic control capabilities. Essential to the implementation of these smart composites are the development of accurate and efficient modeling techniques and experimental validation. This research addresses each of these important topics. A refined higher order theory is developed to model composite structures with surface bonded or embedded piezoelectric transducers. These transducers are used as both sensors and actuators for closed loop control. The theory accurately captures the transverse shear deformation through the thickness of the smart composite laminate while satisfying stress free boundary conditions on the free surfaces. The theory is extended to include the effect of debonding at the actuator-laminate interface. The developed analytical model is implemented using the finite element method utilizing an induced strain approach for computational efficiency. This allows general laminate geometries and boundary conditions to be analyzed. The state space control equations are developed to allow flexibility in the design of the control system. Circuit concepts are also discussed. Static and dynamic results of smart composite structures, obtained using the higher order theory, are correlated with available analytical data. Comparisons, including debonded laminates, are also made with a general purpose finite element code and available experimental data. Overall, very good agreement is observed. Convergence of the finite element implementation of the higher order theory is shown with exact solutions. Additional results demonstrate the utility of the developed theory to study piezoelectric actuation of composite laminates with pre-existing debonding. Significant changes in the modes shapes and reductions in the control authority result due to partially debonded actuators. An experimental investigation addresses practical issues, such as circuit design and implementation, associated with piezoelectric sensing and actuation of composite laminates. Composite specimens with piezoelectric transducers were designed, constructed and tested to validate the higher order theory. These specimens were tested with various stacking sequences, debonding lengths and gains for both open and closed loop cases. Frequency changes of 15% and damping on the order of more than 20% of critical damping, via closed loop control, was achieved. Correlation with the higher order theory is very good. Debonding is shown to adversely affect the open and closed loop frequencies, damping ratios, settling time and control authority.

Chattopadhyay, Aditi↗