Experimental analysis of perforated torispherical shells under external pressure

Load tests were conducted on torispherical shells at room temperature for the purpose of predicting mechanical behavior of a reactor-vessel head at 1200°F. These shells were models of a calandria-vessel head designed for use in the sodium-reactor experiment. Principles of dimensional analysis were used in designing the tests and relating experimental results to behavior of the full-scale structure. External pressure and point loads were imposed to simulate service conditions caused by submersion of the calandria in sodium and transient thermal contraction of process tubes. Deflections and strains were monitored at several locations throughout various loading sequences. The stability limit of one 36-in. diam shell was reached at a strain number of:

$$\frac{{p(external{\text{ }}pressure)}}{{E(modulus{\text{ }}of{\text{ }}elasticity)}} = 3.07 \times 10^{ - 6} $$     

Full-order optimal compensators for flow control: the multiple inputs case

Flow control has been the subject of numerous experimental and theoretical works. We analyze full-order, optimal controllers for large dynamical systems in the presence of multiple actuators and sensors. The full-order controllers do not require any preliminary model reduction or low-order approximation: this feature allows us to assess the optimal performance of an actuated flow without relying on any estimation process or further hypothesis on the disturbances. We start from the original technique proposed by Bewley et al. (Meccanica 51(12):2997–3014, 2016.  https://doi.org/10.1007/s11012-016-0547-3), the adjoint of the direct-adjoint (ADA) algorithm. The algorithm is iterative and allows bypassing the solution of the algebraic Riccati equation associated with the optimal control problem, typically infeasible for large systems. In this numerical work, we extend the ADA iteration into a more general framework that includes the design of controllers with multiple, coupled inputs and robust controllers (\(\mathcal {H}_{\infty }\) methods). First, we demonstrate our results by showing the analytical equivalence between the full Riccati solutions and the ADA approximations in the multiple inputs case. In the second part of the article, we analyze the performance of the algorithm in terms of convergence of the solution, by comparing it with analogous techniques. We find an excellent scalability with the number of inputs (actuators), making the method a viable way for full-order control design in complex settings. Finally, the applicability of the algorithm to fluid mechanics problems is shown using the linearized Kuramoto–Sivashinsky equation and the Kármán vortex street past a two-dimensional cylinder.     

A simple testing technique for fracture under biaxial stresses

Evidence is accumulating to suggest that the fracture toughness of and cyclic crack-propagation rates in a material may be affected by stresses acting parallel to the crack plane. This effect contradicts the justifiable assumption, implicit in fracture-mechanics theory, that only loads causing a stress singularity at the tip of a crack can affect its behavior. More extensive investigation of this important problem involves the development of special testing equipment and specimens. This article offers a simple design for such a system, which has proved in practice to be highly reliable and of adequate accuracy. Preliminary tests on polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) under biaxial fatigue and ramp loading are described, to demonstrate the technique itself and the phenomena under investigation. The results suggest that, for this material at least, the effects of transverse stresses are indeed slight.     

Methods for Examining the Fatigue and Fracture Behavior of Hard Tissues

An understanding of the fatigue and fracture behavior of hard tissues (e.g., bone and tissues of the human tooth) is critical to the maintenance of physical and oral health. Recent studies suggest that there are a number of mechanisms contributing to crack extension and crack arrest in these materials, and that they appear to be a function of moisture and age of the tissue. An understanding of these processes can provide new ideas that are relevant to the design of multi-functional engineering materials. As a result, we have adopted the use of microscopic Digital Image Correlation (DIC) to examine the mechanisms of crack growth resistance and near-tip displacement distribution for cracks in human dentin that are subjected to opening mode loads. We have also developed a special compact tension (CT) specimen that permits evaluation of crack extension within small portions of tissue under both quasi-static and fatigue loads. The specimen embodies a selected portion of hard tissue within a resin composite restorative and enables an examination of diseased tissue, or portion with specific physiology, that would otherwise be impossible to evaluate. In this paper we describe application of these experimental methods and present some recent results concerning fatigue crack growth and stable crack extension in dentin and across the dentin-enamel-junction (DEJ) of human teeth.

A biaxial test specimen for crack arrest studies

A biaxially loaded, single edge notched (SEN) fracture specimen, with mixed modes I and II loading, was used to study the crack arrest capability of a bonded and riveted tear strap without and with simulated multiple site damage (MSD). MSD was modeled by a 50-percent groove without which the running crack would inevitably kink due to K_II loading. A total of thirty-one 2024-T3 aluminum specimens with various crack and MSD configurations were tested. The fracture parameters associated with straight and curved crack paths were determined by using the experimenta results to drive a dynamic finite element model of the specimen in its generation mode. The crack kinking and extension criteria were verified by the excellent agreement between the prediction based on these fracture parameters and the measured crack kinking angles. Comparison between the test results generated by the biaxial stress specimens and by those generated by small- and full-scale pressurized fuselage rupture experiments showed that this specimen can be used to prescreen the effectiveness of tear straps and crack arrestors in an airplane fuselage.     

Development and characterization of plasma actuators for high-speed jet control

Active control of high Reynolds number and high-speed jets has been hampered due to the lack of suitable actuators. Some of the attributes that would make an actuator suitable for such flows are: high amplitude and bandwidth; small size for distribution around the jet; phase-locking ability for jet azimuthal mode forcing; and sufficient ruggedness for hot jets. We have been developing a class of actuators termed localized arc filament plasma actuators, which possess such characteristics. In this paper, we present the development and characterization of these actuators as well as preliminary results on their applications in high Reynolds number Mach 0.9 and ideally expanded Mach 1.3 jets.Patent pending     

Testing methods for large aircraft

Some unique testing methods in connection with static-load application and associated data acquisition are described. The “free-flight” method of airplane static testing is covered as it applies to the current test program for the C-133 Cargomaster (300,000 lb gross weight). The loading and safety advantages of the “single-pressure concept” are discussed. Instrumentation provides for visual readout as well as IBM punch cards for records of deflection, cabin pressures, jack loads and up to a total of 2800 strain gage installations. Use of the “Electromec,” and safety methods for fuselages pressurized by air are discussed. Additional areas that are covered: hydrostatic-test methods and instrumentation; fail-safe development for pressurized cabins; and future of fatigue tests of a complete airplane.     

Factors affecting the tightening characteristics of bolts

A study on the tightening characteristics of bolt-nut-washer assemblies was undertaken after a preliminary literature survey showed different opinions to exist on the effect of several commonly encountered factors on the torque-tension relationship. The test program included tightening bolts up to the yield point under a planned series of combination of factors, and recording nut-tightening torque, bolt torque and tension. The main factors tested were:

1. (a)
   Plating of the mating surfaces of bolt, nut and washer     
   
   

典型梁-缘结构鸟撞破坏的有限元分析

以某特种飞机机身处典型支撑结构为对象,建立了鸟撞击多层间隙梁-缘结构的三维有限元分析模型。在给定的三种工况下,运用大型非线性动力学有限元分析程序ANSYS/LS-DYNA的ALE-Lagrange耦合运算功能,计算得到了鸟撞击关键部位的数值结果及结构的鸟撞临界速度,考察了不同撞击点对结构动响应的影响,分析了结构鸟撞破坏机理,经与全尺寸实验结果比较,不论是结构的变形量还是破坏模式,两者均吻合较好,从而证明了本文方法及模型的正确性。     

The stress state of a plate subjected to a piecewise homogeneous load

We consider the stress-strain state of a plate having a doubly connected domain S bounded from the outside by a circle of radius R and from the inside by an ellipse with two rectilinear cuts. The cuts lie symmetrically on the x-axis. The plate is subjected to various forces: the hole contour (the ellipse) is under the action of uniformly distributed forces of intensity q, and the cut shores are free of loads; at the points ±ib of the imaginary axis, the plate is under the action of a lumped force P.The solution of the problem is reduced to determining two analytic functions φ(z) and ψ(z) satisfying certain boundary conditions (depending on the type of the acting loads).We use the Kolosov-Muskhelishvili method to reduce the problem to a system of linear algebraic equations for the coefficients in the expansions of the functions φ(z) and ψ(z). The solution thus obtained is illustrated by numerical examples.     

The interaction of creep and fatigue for a rotor steel

Twenty tests were performed on a 1 Cr?1 Mo?1/4 V rotor steel at 1000° F (538°C) to determine the interaction of creep and low-cycle fatigue. These tests involved five different types of strain-controlled cycling: creep at constant tensile stress; linearly varying strain at different frequencies; and hold periods at maximum compressive strain, maximum tensile strain, or both. The experimental data were then used to characterize the interaction of creep and fatigue by the:

1. Frequency-modified strain-range approach of Coffin;
2. Total time to fracture vs. the time of one cycle relation as proposed by Conway and Berling;
3. Total time to fracture vs. the number of cycles to fracture characterization of Ellis and Esztergar;
4. Summation of damage fractions obtained from tests using interspersed creep and fatigue as proposed by the Metal Properties Council;
5. Strain-range-partitioning method of Manson, Halford, and Hirschberg.

In order to properly assess the strain-range-partitioning approach, seven additional tests were performed at the NASA Lewis Research Center. Visual, ultrasonic, and acoustic-emission methods of crackinitiation determination were unsuccessful. An approximate indication of crack initiation was obtained by finding the cycle N_o where the stress-cycle curve first deviated from a constant slope. Predictive methods (based on monotonic tests) for determining the fatigue life in the creep range were examined and found deficient, though they may still be useful for preliminary comparison of materials and temperatures. The extension of the frequency-modified strain-range approach to notched members was developed and the results of notched-bar tests were shown to corroborate this approach, when crack initiation for the plain and notched bars was campared.     

Buckling of cylindrical shells under combined torsion and hydrostatic pressure

Results are given for a series of tests conducted to determine the elastic buckling behavior of circular cylindrical shells under hydrostatic pressure and torsion, both for individual and for combined loads. Nondimensional interaction curves are presented in terms of the geometric parameters of the cylinders and, in general, follow the parabolaP+T ²=1, whereP andT are the nondimensional critical hydrostatic and torsional loads, respectively.     

An innovative tooth root profile for spur gears and its effect on service life

An innovative approach to the design of the gear-tooth root-profile, and its effects on the service life is reported in this paper. In comparison with the widely used trochoidal and the recently proposed circular-filleted root profiles, the optimum profile proposed here is a \(G^2\)-continuous curve that blends smoothly with both the involute of the tooth profile and the dedendum circle. Following the AGMA and ISO standards for fatigue loading, the von Mises stress at the critical section and stress distribution along the gear tooth root are studied. The process leading to gear-tooth failure is composed of the crack initiation phase, in number of cycles \(N_i\), and the crack propagation phase, in \(N_p\) cycles. The strain-life (\(\epsilon\)-N) method is employed to determine \(N_i\), where the crack is assumed to initiate at the critical section. Based on the ANSYS crack-analysis module, the effects of \(G^2\)-continuous blending on the stress intensity factor (SIF) are investigated for different crack sizes. Paris’ law, within the framework of Linear Elastic Fracture Mechanics, is used to correlate the SIF with crack size and, further, to determine \(N_p\). The optimum profile provides a significant reduction in SIF and improvement in both \(N_i\) and \(N_p\). Spur gears are made of high-strength steel alloy 42CrMo4, the effects of its properties and surface treatment on service life improvement not being included in this study.     

COD measurements at various positions along a crack

Load versus crack-opening displacement (COD) was measured at various positions along the border of a fatigue crack as it grew from a small surface crack on the edge of an aluminum specimen into a through-the-thickness crack. Displacements were measured with a laser-based interferometric system with a gage length of 70 m and a resolution of 0.01 m. These load-COD curves can be used to determine opening loads and thereby investigate the effect of closure on the growth of cracks. In general, the opening loads decrease as the crack grows. The compliances after the crack is fully open can also be measured, and show generally good agreement with the predictions of linear-elastic fracture mechanics.Paper was presented at the 1988 SEM Spring Conference on Experimental Mechanics held in Portland, OR on June 5–10.     

Streamwise Vortices and Velocity Streaks in a Locally Drag-Reduced Turbulent Boundary Layer

This work aims to understand the changes associated with the near-wall streaky structures in a turbulent boundary layer (TBL) where the local skin-friction drag is substantially reduced. The Reynolds number is R e _?? = 1000 based on the momentum thickness or R e _τ = 440 based on the friction velocity of the uncontrolled flow. The TBL is perturbed via a local surface oscillation produced by an array of spanwise-aligned piezo-ceramic (PZT) actuators and measurements are made in two orthogonal planes using particle image velocimetry (PIV). Data analyses are conducted using the vortex detection, streaky structure identification, spatial correlation and proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) techniques. It is found that the streaky structures are greatly modified in the near-wall region. Firstly, the near-wall streamwise vortices are increased in number and swirling strength but decreased in size, and are associated with greatly altered velocity correlations. Secondly, the velocity streaks grow in number and strength but contract in width and spacing, exhibiting a regular spatial arrangement. Other aspects of the streaky structures are also characterized; they include the spanwise gradient of the longitudinal fluctuating velocity and both streamwise and spanwise integral length scales. The POD analysis indicates that the turbulent kinetic energy of the streaky structures is reduced. When possible, our results are compared with those obtained by other control techniques such as a spanwise-wall oscillation, a spanwise oscillatory Lorentz force and a transverse traveling wave.     

Determination of stress-intensity factors from photoelastic data with applications to surface-flaw problems

ATaylor-series correction to the maximum inplane shear stress was studied as a means of extending the data zone in photoelastic determination of stress-intensity factors beyond the singular region of a two-degree-of-freedom analysis. Convergence properties were obtained by comparing with several complete two-dimensional solutions. Experiments were performed on two kinds of three-dimensional problems, plates containing surface flows in both bending and extension. Results were analyzed by both a two-degree-of-freedom and aTaylor-series correction method (TSCM). Results were compared to theories of F. W. Smith and A. S. Kobayashi and R. C. Shah. It was concluded that:

1. The TSCM program converges rapidly to accurateK _I values and will accommodate the scatter inherent in experimental data if the series is properly truncated.
2. The TSCM program is essentially equivalent to the two-parameter representation when only the crack-surface effects dominate.
3. When effects other than crack surfaces are important, TSCM requires more terms but still predictsK _I with reasonable accuracy.

     

Resonant-vibration fatigue testing

Techniques are described for the fatigue testing of components, such as turbine buckets, used in large steam turbines and generators. Fatigue of these large structures, which have relatively high unit damping, is obtained through the use of resonant-vibration systems. An electromagnetic drive serves as the source of excitation. The drive system is designed to produce the maximum force from a given-size magnet. Control of the amplitudes of vibration, for very long periods, is obtained through the use of an automatic amplitude control, the stability of which maintains the amplitude with a variation of less than 2 percent. Three specific fatigue-testing techniques described are:

1. 1.
   The fatigue of complete weld sections for large numbers of cycles (500 million), which required dynamic bending moments of greater than 6000 ft-lb to produce failure.     
   
   

Robust mixed H_2 /H_\infty active control for offshore steel jacket platform

This paper presents a robust mixed \(H_2 /H_\infty \) control method for wave-excited offshore jacket platforms. Its objective was to design a controller that minimizes the upper bound of the \(H_2 \) performance measure on platform dynamics satisfying some \(H_\infty \) norm bound constraint simultaneously. Based on mixed \(H_2 /H_\infty \) control theory and linear matrix inequality techniques, a novel approach to stabilize offshore platform vibration with constrained \(H_2 /H_\infty \) performances is proposed. Uncertainties of the wave excitation are considered in dynamic performance analysis of offshore platforms. A reduced mode offshore platform structure under wave excitation is analyzed, and simulations are used to verify the effectiveness of the proposed approach. Compared with existing \(H_\infty \) control methods, the proposed approach makes a significant improvement for dynamic performances of offshore platforms under random wave excitation.