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At least 19 records

Structural modification utilizing beam elements

A method for analyzing the effects of sophisticated beam-type structural modifications to a structure with a known modal database is presented. The modification technique integrates the dual modal space modification method with the transfer matrix method to perform general beam modifications. Consideration is given to two examples: one demonstrates the performance of the modification scheme when a severe structural change is made, while the other demonstrates a change to a complex structure.

Elliott, K. B.↗

Enhanced vibration controllability by minor structural modifications

A procedure for checking whether small changes in a structure have the potential for significant enhancements of its vibration control system is described. The first step in the procedure consists of the calculation of the sensitivity of the required strength of the control system to small changes in structural parameters. The second step consists of the optimization of the structural parameters to produce maximal reduction in required control system strength with minimal change in the structure. The procedure has been demonstrated for a flexible beam supported by four cables and controlled by a rate feedback single-colocated force-actuator velocity-sensor pair. Large changes in control strength requirement were obtained with small structural modifications. Analytical predictions of such effects have also been validated experimentally.

Haftka, R. T.↗

Sensitivity of optimized control systems to minor structural modifications

A procedure for checking whether small changes in a structure have the potential for significant enhancements of its optimized vibration control system is described. The first step in the procedure consists of the calculation of the sensitivity of the parameters of the optimized control system to small changes in the structural parameters. Theh second step consists of the optimization of the structural parameters to produce maximal increase in the performance of the control system with minimal change in the structure. The procedure has been demonstrated for a flexible laboratory structure controlled by several rate-feedback colocated force-actuator velocity-sensor pairs. Significant improvements in the performance of the control system were obtained with small structural modifications. Analytical predictions of such effects have also been validated experimentally.

Haftka, R. T.↗

Structural modification of polysaccharides: A biochemical-genetic approach

Polysaccharides have a wide range of industrial and biomedical applications. An industry trend is underway towards the increased use of bacteria to produce polysaccharides. Long term goals of this work are the adaptation and enhancement of saccharide properties for electronic and optic applications. In this report we illustrate the application of enzyme-bearing bacteriophage on strains of the enteric bacterium Klebsiella pneumoniae, which produces a polysaccharide with the relatively rare rheological property of drag-reduction. This has resulted in the production of new polysaccharides with enhanced rheological properties. Our laboratory is developing techniques for processing and structurally modifying bacterial polysaccharides and oligosaccharides which comprise their basic polymeric repeat units. Our research has focused on bacteriophage which produce specific polysaccharide degrading enzymes. This has lead to the development of enzymes generated by bacteriophage as tools for polysaccharide modification and purification. These enzymes were used to efficiently convert the native material to uniform-sized high molecular weight polymers, or alternatively into high-purity oligosaccharides. Enzyme-bearing bacteriophage also serve as genetic selection tools for bacteria that produce new families of polysaccharides with modified structures.

Kern, Roger G.↗

Improving Accuracy of Structural Dynamic Modification with Augmented Residual Vectors

It is often important to perform sensitivity analysis to determine how a structural model will be impacted by design changes. Often, the structural analysts will manually make changes to the finite element model (FEM) to determine the effects. But when dealing with a large FEM with millions of degrees of freedom these manual changes can be cumbersome and calculation of the effects can computationally expensive. Therefore, it is desirable to determine the effects of model changes through approximation methods. One common technique is to determine the analytical sensitivity of the FEM model with respect to the given change. These analytical sensitivities are valid when small changes are made to the structural model, but invalid if large changes need to be assessed. Another approach is to use Structural Dynamic Modification (SDM) to create a surrogate model to analyze model changes. SDM is a widely-used sensitivity method and is used in applications of model updating, uncertainty quantification, and model design studies. SMD is valid for moderate (10-20 percent) changes in the structural model, but model approximations are often needed for large parameter changes (greater than 20 percent). Structural Dynamic Modification can be improved by using residual vectors to augment the surrogate model formulation from SDM. Adding the residual modes increases the fidelity of the surrogate model while keeping the computational cost low. This paper discusses the application and limitations of the augmented residual modes method to two structures: the Integrated Spacecraft and Payload Element (ISPE) of the Space Launch System (SLS) and the full SLS as it is configured during its Integrated Modal Test (IMT).

Stewart, Eric C.↗

Application of modern structural optimization to vibration reduction in rotorcraft

This paper explores a number of techniques which are capable of reducing vibration levels in rotorcraft by redistributing the mass and stiffness properties of the structure. First, vibration reduction in the rotor is considered by using formal structural optimization for ensuring optimal frequency placement. Two cases are considered: in the first case aeroelastic constraints are not enforced and the blade is designed for minimum weight; in the second case aeroelastic constraints are enforced and vibration levels are minimized in forward flight. Next, vibration reduction in the fuselage is considered and the various methods available for vibration reduction by local structural modification are reviewed. The feasibility of combining local structural modification with modern structural optimization is discussed and some extensions of previous research are suggested.

Friedmann, P.↗

Fully-Stressed-Design Algorithm For Plate/Shell Structures

Modification of basic stress-ratio algorithm enhances convergence. In conjunction with reliable stress-analysis algorithm, stress-ratio algorithm used to compute fully stressed state to obtain efficient distribution of materials in structure.

Miura, Hirokazu↗

Overview of the X-57 Structure Requirements, Modifications, and Airworthiness

This presentation is overview of the X-57 structural design requirements for the propeller systems and power systems, modifications to the existing Tecnam aircraft, and as well as the structural airworthiness process which includes the analysis and ground testing of the composite wing.'

structural mechanics↗

Effects of an internal floor on low frequency sound transmission into aircraft cabins - An experimental investigation

A simplified cylindrical model of an aircraft fuselage is used to experimentally study the effects of an internal floor on low frequency sound transmission into aircraft cabins. A scaled-down lattice floor support and floor skin are designed based upon selected characteristics of a business aircraft. Thus, the model provides a simplified procedure for studying the effects of various structural modifications as well as other important effects. Modal decomposition of the shell response and the corresponding pressure response at various interior locations are presented. Results indicate that the main effect of the floor on interior pressure levels is due to modification of the interior acoustic mode shape and not due to the structural modification of the fuselage caused by the lattice floor support.

Jones, J. D.↗

SOFIA: Aircraft system, aft telescope cavity configuration, phase 2. Volume 1: Executive summary

This volume summarizes the tasks performed by E-Systems during Phase 2 of a study evaluating the structural modifications required to install the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy, SOFIA in the Boeing 747 airplane. An optimal structural modification concept for installation of the Infrared telescope is identified, and the concept is validated by analysis of the static and dynamic characteristics of the modified structure.

Source record↗

Type B cyclogenesis in a zonally varying flow

An earlier formulated hypothesis that surface cyclogenesis in the Northern-Hemisphere storm-track regions can be described by the structural modification of baroclinic wave packets traversing a zonally varying flow field was tested using a linear quasi-geostrophic model with a zonally varying basic state and a zonally varying Ekman layer eddy viscosity. The results of eigenvalue calculations and initial value integrations confirm the proposed mechanism for Type B cyclogenesis. It is shown that a disturbance initiated upstream of the midchannel baroclinic zone rapidly evolves into a wave packet with the maximum amplitude near the tropopause; the wave packet undergoes a structural modification upon entering the low-level baroclinic zone, developing maximum amplitude at the surface. The proposed model of Type B cyclogenesis is consistent with numerous case studies.

Whitaker, Jeffrey S.↗

Efficient reanalysis of structures by a direct modification method

A procedure for the local stiffness modifications of large structures is described. It enables structural modifications without an a priori definition of the changes in the original structure and without loss of efficiency due to multiple loading conditions. The solution procedure, implemented in NASTRAN, involved the decomposed stiffness matrix and the displacement vectors of the original structure. It solves the modified structure exactly, irrespective of the magnitude of the stiffness changes. In order to investigate the efficiency of the present procedure and to test its applicability within a design environment, several real and large structures were solved. The results of the efficiency studies indicate that the break-even point of the procedure varies between 8% and 60% stiffness modifications, depending upon the structure's characteristics and the options employed.

Raibstein, A. I.↗

New developments in blown flap noise technology

The noise technology relating to blown-flap systems is reviewed. There are three general sources of noise: turbomachinery, airframe, and the interaction noise of the jet blowing on the flaps. The latter noise-source area is the most critical and the main subject dicussed. Characteristics of lower surface blown and upper surface blown systems are described, including noise spectra, directivity, jet velocity characteristics, aircraft geometric variation effects, and aircraft forward speed effects. Noise reduction concepts are described, including slowing down the jet flow field by devices and engine cycle modifications, structural geometry and shielding modifications, local flow field modifications of the passive and active type, and the absorption of noise. It is concluded that, while there has been considerable progress in the past several years, low noise characteristics in blown flap aircraft must be largely built in by better application of low noise principles during the design.

Gibson, J. S.↗