Oscillations of a wedge in a free stream with particular reference to parachutes

The phenomenon of coupled breathing and longitudinal oscillations of a wedge-mass system in a free stream is examined. As a first step the unsteady pressure distribution on the surface of the oscillating wedge is calculated. For dynamic equilibrium of the wedge-mass system, the moment about the apex of the wedge must be zero. This condition establishes the amplitude and phase relation between breathing and longitudinal oscillations. As a final step the equation of motion of the store is used to calculate the frequency of the breathing oscillations. This frequency is shown to be dependent on four parameters. These parameters include the Froude number, the rigging line length to wedge breadth ratio and the rigging line stiffness and damping. Current results are compared with Hume and Stevens [1] experimental results.     

Mechanical and optical characterization of an anelastic polymer at large strain rates and large strains

Two constitutive relations have been determined from test results that characterize, respectively, the uniaxial and photomechanical behavior of a polyester-styrene copolymer for strain rates from 10^?5 to 3×10³ in./in./s and strains up to 40 percent. The high-strain-rate data were obtained by means of a split-Hopkinson-bar apparatus. Intermediate-strain-rate tests, performed with the aid of a drop tower, were reported in an earlier paper. Quasi-static experiments were conducted on a standard testing machine. A nonlinear, four-parameter, elastic-viscoplastic model was constructed which describes the mechanical behavior. The parameters were determined by a least-mean-squares curve-fitting procedure. The viscoplastic parameters were found to obey a power law in strain rate. The photomechanical model was found to be linear with strain well into the plastic-deformation region, while the slope of the strain-birefringence curve for each strain rate also varied by strain rate to a power.     

A technique for generating shear waves in cylindrical shells under radial impact

Experimental techniques are developed to study and measure the shear-wave velocity in an aluminum cylindrical shell subjected to a radial impact. The radial impact is obtained by exploding an electrical detonator inserted in plastic plugs mounted on the end of the shell. Strain gages, mounted on the outside surface of the shell at various axial locations, are used to obtain oscilloscope traces from which the shear-wave velocity can be calculated.     

Effects of artificial cracks and poisson's ratio upon photoelastic stress-intensity determination

A series of stress-freezing photoelastic experiments were performed with multiple replications upon edge-cracked strips for three types of “cracks” in current use:

1. Rectangular slots 0.152 mm wide,
2. 1.59-mm-wide slots terminating in a 30-deg vee notch of approximately 0.025-mm root radius, and
3. Natural cracks (approximately 0.0025-mm root radius).

Stress-intensity results were compared with the Gross-Srawley analysis; in addition (1) was compared with Savin's solution. It was concluded that (2) and (3) yield the same results but (1) was slightly higher. Both (2) and (3) were about 12 percent higher than the Gross-Srawley results. This is shown to be related to a Poisson's ratio effect.     

Local and overall extremal properties of time-independent materials and non-linear elastic comparison materials

For time-independent materials which undergo non-linear deformations from some given reference configuration two (dual) hypotheses are considered. Firstly it is supposed that the work done to a given state of deformation is bounded below and that the bound is attainable on a physically possible path; secondly that the complementary work to a given state of stress is bounded above and that this bound too is attainable on a physically possible path. The consequences of these assumptions are analysed, and the results of Ponter and Martin [1] in the linear theory are generalized to account for non-linear deformations, due attention being paid to questions of stability.A non-linear elastic comparison material is defined whose strain energy is equal to the work done on a minimum path for the time-independent material. Extremum principles for non-linear elastic materials given in [2] are then applied to the comparison elastic material, and bounds are thereby placed on the work and complementary-work functional of the time-independent material. Corresponding overall properties of the time-independent and elastic materials are then compared by defining respective overall constitutive laws and overall stress and deformation variables.Following the definition of strengthening (weakening) of a non-linear elastic solid given by Ogden[2] a time-independent material is said to be strengthened (weakened) when its comparison elastic material is strengthened (weakened). Local and overall aspects of this definition are examined.     

A sensitive and rapid bridge for the study of magnetic susceptibilities at frequencies from 200 to 106 Hz

Summary A new piece of equipment is described for measuring / ₀ and / ₀ as a function of field (0 to 4250 Oe), temperature (1.2°K to room temperature) and frequency (200 Hz to 1 MHz). It is about ten times more sensitive than the Hartshorn bridge used in Leiden²⁾ and it is more convenient to operate as the measuring procedure is automatic after initial adjustments have been made. The main component is a bridge circuit of four inductors, built as closely similar to each other as possible. The output from the bridge goes to two phase sensitive detectors which monitor the two outputs, one inphase, one /2 out of phase, of the bridge. A heterodyne system is used where the input signal to the bridge is obtained by mixing the output from a variable frequency oscillator with that from a 1.5 MHz oscillator and taking the difference frequency, which is phase locked to a master oscillator. The output from the bridge, after preamplification, is mixed with a second output from the variable oscillator and the difference taken again. This gives a 1.5 MHz signal modulated by the magnetic effects in the bridge which is used in the two phase-sensitive detectors. Their output is recorded on an x–y writer. The bridge needs only be balanced to an output of about 50 mV because the sample is moved between two coils and the difference voltage is measured. The use of the same equipment to measure relaxation times longer than 100 ms is also described.Communication No. 349a from The Kamerlingh Onnes Laboratorium, Leiden, The Netherlands     

The buckling behavior of uniformly heated thin circular cylindrical shells

The results of buckling tests on uniformly heated, clamped, thin circular cylindrical shells are presented and discussed. Particular attention is paid to both the actual buckling process and the ensuing post-buckling behavior. Load vs. end-shortening curves are included. The possibility of “snap-through” buckling which occurs at a value of end shortening greater than that corresponding to the maximum supported load is experimentally verified. A comparison of the present experimental results with available theory is made. It is observed that the experimental values of the buckling temperature can be substantially greater than the temperatures calculated by linear theory from the experimental buckling loads; however, the buckling stresses are the same whether the loading is thermal or mechanical.     

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