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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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The use of the Wigner Distribution to analyze structural impulse responses

In this paper it is argued that the time-frequency analysis of structural impulse responses may be used to reveal the wave types carrying significant energy through a structure. Since each wave type is characterized by its own dispersion relation, each wave type may be associated with particular features appearing in the time-frequency domain representation of an impulse response. Here the Wigner Distribution is introduced as a means for obtaining appropriate time-frequency representations of impulse responses. Practical aspects of the calculation of the Wigner Distribution are discussed and examples of its application to the analysis of structural impulse responses are given. These examples will show that the Wigner Distribution may be conveniently used to distinguish between the contributions of various waves types to a total structural response.

Wahl, T. J.↗

The application of the Wigner Distribution to the identification of structure-borne noise components

In this paper it is shown that time-frequency analysis of a transient structural response may be used to identify the wave types carrying significant energy through a structure. The identification of various wave types is possible since each is characterized by its own dispersion relation, with the result that each wave type may be associated with characteristic features in the time-frequency domain representation of a structural response. In the work described here, the Wigner Distribution has been used to obtain time-frequency representations of structural transient responses. Practical aspects of the calculation of the Wigner Distribution are discussed briefly, and examples of its application to the analysis of transient structural responses are given. Additionally, time-frequency filtering techniques are described that can be used both to detect the presence of and to quantify the energy carried by both non-dispersive and dispersive waves.

Wahl, T. J.↗

Identification of structural-borne noise components by the use of time-frequency filtering

In this paper it is shown that a time-frequency analysis of a structural impulse response may be used to identify the wave types carrying significant energy through a structure. The identification of various wave types is possible since each is characterized by its own dispersion relation, with the result that each wave type may be associated with characteristic features in the time-frequency domain representation of an impulse response. In the work described here, the Wigner Distribution has been used to obtain appropriate time-frequency representations of impulse responses. Practical aspects of the calculation of the Wigner Distribution are discussed briefly and examples of its application to the analysis of structural impulse responses are given. Additionally, filtering techniques are described that can be used both to detect the presence of and to quantify the energy carried by both nondispersive and dispersive waves.

Wahl, T. J.↗

Ultrasonic spectrum analysis using frequency-tracked gated RF pulses

A new method of ultrasonic frequency analysis is introduced which employs frequency-tracked gated RF drive pulses rather than shock-excited broadband spikes to generate the ultrasonic waveform. The new technique, a variation of the sampled-continuous wave technique, eliminates problems associated with finite pulse widths of conventional methods. It is shown to yield correct ultrasonic wave velocity measurements of the sample irrespective of receiver gate width or position provided any portions of two successive echoes are gated simultaneously into the spectrum analyzer. The experimental observations are substantiated by a theoretical model based on the time-frequency domain formulation of ultrasonic frequency analysis.

Cantrell, J. H., Jr.↗

The application of the Wigner Distribution to wave type identification in finite length beams

The object of the research described in this paper was to develop a means of identifying the wave-types propagating between two points in a finite length beam. It is known that different structural wave-types possess different dispersion relations: i.e., that their group speeds and the frequency dependence of their group speeds differ. As a result of those distinct dispersion relationships, different wave-types may be associated with characteristic features when structural responses are examined in the time frequency domain. Previously, the time-frequency character of analytically generated structural responses of both single element and multi-element structures were examined by using the Wigner Distribution (WD) along with filtering techniques that were designed to detect the wave-types present in the responses. In the work to be described here, the measure time-frequency response of finite length beam is examined using the WD and filtering procedures. This paper is organized as follows. First the concept of time-frequency analysis of structural responses is explained. The WD is then introduced along with a description of the implementation of a discrete version. The time-frequency filtering techniques are then presented and explained. The results of applying the WD and the filtering techniques to the analysis of a transient response is then presented.

Wahl, T. J.↗

Development of a Model Based Technique for Gear Diagnostics using the Wigner-Ville method

Imperfections in gear tooth geometry often result from errors in the manufacturing process or excessive material wear during operation. Such faults in the gear tooth geometry can result in large vibrations in the transmission system, and, in some cases, may lead to early failure of the gear transmission system. This report presents the study of the effects of imperfection in gear tooth geometry on the dynamic characteristics of a gear transmission system. The faults in the gear tooth geometry are modeled numerically as the deviation of the tooth profile from its original involute geometry. The changes in gear mesh stiffness due to various profile and pattern variations are evaluated numerically. The resulting changes in the mesh stiffness are incorporated into a computer code to simulate the dynamics of the gear transmission system. A parametric study is performed to examine the sensitivity of gear tooth geometry imperfections on the vibration of a gear transmission system. The parameters variations in this study consist of the magnitude of the imperfection, the pattern of the profile variation, and the total number of teeth affected. Numerical results from the dynamic simulations are examined in both the time and the frequency domains. A joint time-frequency analysis procedure using the Wigner-Ville Distribution is also introduced to identify the location of the damaged tooth from the vibration signature. Numerical simulations of the system dynamics with gear faults were compared to experimental results. An optimal tracker was introduced to quantify the level of damage in the gear mesh system. Conclusions are drawn from the results of this numerical study.

Choy, F.↗

Time-Frequency Analysis of the Dispersion of Lamb Modes

Accurate knowledge of the velocity dispersion of Lamb modes is important for ultrasonic nondestructive evaluation methods used in detecting and locating flaws in thin plates and in determining their elastic stiffness coefficients. Lamb mode dispersion is also important in the acoustic emission technique for accurately triangulating the location of emissions in thin plates. In this research, the ability to characterize Lamb mode dispersion through a time-frequency analysis (the pseudo-Wigner-Ville distribution) was demonstrated. A major advantage of time-frequency methods is the ability to analyze acoustic signals containing multiple propagation modes, which overlap and superimpose in the time domain signal. By combining time-frequency analysis with a broadband acoustic excitation source, the dispersion of multiple Lamb modes over a wide frequency range can be determined from as little as a single measurement. In addition, the technique provides a direct measurement of the group velocity dispersion. The technique was first demonstrated in the analysis of a simulated waveform in an aluminum plate in which the Lamb mode dispersion was well known. Portions of the dispersion curves of the AO, A I , So, and S2 Lamb modes were obtained from this one waveform. The technique was also applied for the analysis of experimental waveforms from a unidirectional graphite/epoxy composite plate. Measurements were made both along and perpendicular to the fiber direction. In this case, the signals contained only the lowest order symmetric and antisymmetric modes. A least squares fit of the results from several source to detector distances was used. Theoretical dispersion curves were calculated and are shown to be in good agreement with experimental results.

Prosser, W. H.↗

Detailed Vibration Analysis of Pinion Gear with Time-Frequency Methods

In this paper, the authors show a detailed analysis of the vibration signal from the destructive testing of a spiral bevel gear and pinion pair containing seeded faults. The vibration signal is analyzed in the time domain, frequency domain and with four time-frequency transforms: the Short Time Frequency Transform (STFT), the Wigner-Ville Distribution with the Choi-Williams kernel (WV-CW), the Continuous Wavelet' Transform (CWT) and the Discrete Wavelet Transform (DWT). Vibration data of bevel gear tooth fatigue cracks, under a variety of operating load levels and damage conditions, are analyzed using these methods. A new metric for automatic anomaly detection is developed and can be produced from any systematic numerical representation of the vibration signals. This new metric reveals indications of gear damage with all of the time-frequency transforms, as well as time and frequency representations, on this data set. Analysis with the CWT detects changes in the signal at low torque levels not found with the other transforms. The WV-CW and CWT use considerably more resources than the STFT and the DWT. More testing of the new metric is needed to determine its value for automatic anomaly detection and to develop fault detection methods for the metric.

Mosher, Marianne↗

Time-Frequency Analysis of the Dispersion of Lamb Modes

Accurate knowledge of the velocity dispersion of Lamb modes is important for ultrasonic nondestructive evaluation methods used in detecting and locating flaws in thin plates and in determining their elastic stiffness coefficients. Lamb mode dispersion is also important in the acoustic emission technique for accurately triangulating the location of emissions in thin plates. In this research, the ability to characterize Lamb mode dispersion through a time-frequency analysis (the pseudo Wigner-Ville distribution) was demonstrated. A major advantage of time-frequency methods is the ability to analyze acoustic signals containing multiple propagation modes, which overlap and superimpose in the time domain signal. By combining time-frequency analysis with a broadband acoustic excitation source, the dispersion of multiple Lamb modes over a wide frequency range can be determined from as little as a single measurement. In addition, the technique provides a direct measurement of the group velocity dispersion. The technique was first demonstrated in the analysis of a simulated waveform in an aluminum plate in which the Lamb mode dispersion was well known. Portions of the dispersion curves of the A(sub 0), A(sub 1), S(sub 0), and S(sub 2)Lamb modes were obtained from this one waveform. The technique was also applied for the analysis of experimental waveforms from a unidirectional graphite/epoxy composite plate. Measurements were made both along, and perpendicular to the fiber direction. In this case, the signals contained only the lowest order symmetric and antisymmetric modes. A least squares fit of the results from several source to detector distances was used. Theoretical dispersion curves were calculated and are shown to be in good agreement with experimental results.

Prosser, W. H.↗

Wavelet Analyses of F/A-18 Aeroelastic and Aeroservoelastic Flight Test Data

Time-frequency signal representations combined with subspace identification methods were used to analyze aeroelastic flight data from the F/A-18 Systems Research Aircraft (SRA) and aeroservoelastic data from the F/A-18 High Alpha Research Vehicle (HARV). The F/A-18 SRA data were produced from a wingtip excitation system that generated linear frequency chirps and logarithmic sweeps. HARV data were acquired from digital Schroeder-phased and sinc pulse excitation signals to actuator commands. Nondilated continuous Morlet wavelets implemented as a filter bank were chosen for the time-frequency analysis to eliminate phase distortion as it occurs with sliding window discrete Fourier transform techniques. Wavelet coefficients were filtered to reduce effects of noise and nonlinear distortions identically in all inputs and outputs. Cleaned reconstructed time domain signals were used to compute improved transfer functions. Time and frequency domain subspace identification methods were applied to enhanced reconstructed time domain data and improved transfer functions, respectively. Time domain subspace performed poorly, even with the enhanced data, compared with frequency domain techniques. A frequency domain subspace method is shown to produce better results with the data processed using the Morlet time-frequency technique.

Martin J Brenner↗

Comparison of Signals from Gravitational Wave Detectors with Instantaneous Time-Frequency Maps

Gravitational wave astronomy relies on the use of multiple detectors, so that coincident detections may distinguish real signals from instrumental artifacts, and also so that relative timing of signals can provide the sky position of sources. We show that the comparison of instantaneous time-frequency and time-amplitude maps provided by the Hilbert-Huang Transform (HHT) can be used effectively for relative signal timing of common signals, to discriminate between the case of identical coincident signals and random noise coincidences and to provide a classification of signals based on their time-frequency trajectories. The comparison is done with a X(sup 2) goodness-of~fit method which includes contributions from both the instantaneous amplitude and frequency components of the HHT to match two signals in the time domain. This approach naturally allows the analysis of waveforms with strong frequency modulation.

Stroeer, A.↗

Comparison of Mesospheric Winds From a High-Altitude Meteorological Analysis System and Meteor Radar Observations During the Boreal Winters of 2009-2010 and 2012-2013

We present a study of horizontal winds in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere (MLT) during the boreal winters of 2009-2010 and 2012-2013 produced with a new high-altitude numerical weather prediction (NWP) system. This system is based on a modified version of the Navy Global Environmental Model (NAVGEM) with an extended vertical domain up to approximately 116 km altitude coupled with a hybrid four-dimensional variational (4DVAR) data assimilation system that assimilates both standard operational meteorological observations in the troposphere and satellite-based observations of temperature, ozone and water vapor in the stratosphere and mesosphere. NAVGEM-based MLT analyzed winds are validated using independent meteor radar wind observations from nine different sites ranging from 69 deg N-67 deg S latitude. Time-averaged NAVGEM zonal and meridional wind profiles between 75 and 95 km altitude show good qualitative and quantitative agreement with corresponding meteor radar wind profiles. Wavelet analysis finds that the 3-hourly NAVGEM and 1-hourly radar winds both exhibit semi-diurnal, diurnal, and quasi-diurnal variations whose vertical profiles of amplitude and phase are also in good agreement. Wavelet analysis also reveals common time-frequency behavior in both NAVGEM and radar winds throughout the Northern extra tropics around the times of major stratospheric sudden warmings (SSWs) in January 2010 and January 2013, with a reduction in semi-diurnal amplitudes beginning around the time of a mesospheric wind reversal at 60 deg N that precedes the SSW, followed by an amplification of semi-diurnal amplitudes that peaks 10-14 days following the onset of the mesospheric wind reversal. The initial results presented in this study demonstrate that the wind analyses produced by the high altitude NAVGEM system accurately capture key features in the observed MLT winds during these two boreal winter periods.

McCormack, J.↗

Characteristics of the RFI Environment at L-band as Observed from SMAP

This manuscript presents some characteristics of RFI sources as they were observed by the SMAP L-band radiometer. Knowledge of the nature of RFI can help improve design of future detection algorithms. For example, observations with airborne instruments demonstrating the pulse-like nature of RFI in the protected L-band spectrum at 1.413 GHz (attributed to air-traffic control radar) informed the design of the Aquarius radiometer and its RFI detection algorithm. The experience of Aquarius and SMOS in space led to the advanced detection system on SMAP. The fully polarimetric SMAP radiometer with spectral and time domain processing, provides sophisticated detection but also the opportunity to look at the temporal and spectral characteristics of the L-band RFI globally. The examples and categorization presented are based on a global sample but over a limited time. They are not meant to be complete. Rather, they are intended to provide insight into the time-frequency characteristics of RFI with the goal that knowledge of the characteristics can help improve detection in future missions.

Yan Soldo↗