35,268 research outputs found
Modeling and control of flexible structures
This monograph presents integrated modeling and controller design methods for flexible structures. The controllers, or compensators, developed are optimal in the linear-quadratic-Gaussian sense. The performance objectives, sensor and actuator locations and external disturbances influence both the construction of the model and the design of the finite dimensional compensator. The modeling and controller design procedures are carried out in parallel to ensure compatibility of these two aspects of the design problem. Model reduction techniques are introduced to keep both the model order and the controller order as small as possible. A linear distributed, or infinite dimensional, model is the theoretical basis for most of the text, but finite dimensional models arising from both lumped-mass and finite element approximations also play an important role. A central purpose of the approach here is to approximate an optimal infinite dimensional controller with an implementable finite dimensional compensator. Both convergence theory and numerical approximation methods are given. Simple examples are used to illustrate the theory
Two-dimensional oscillating airfoil test apparatus
A two dimensional oscillating airfoil test apparatus is presented as a method of measuring unsteady aerodynamic forces on an airfoil or rotor blade section. The oscillating airfoil test rig, which is being built for use in an 11 X 11-foot transonic wind tunnel (speed range M = 0.4 - 1.4), will allow determination of unsteady loadings and detailed pressure distributions on representative airfoil sections undergoing simulated pitching and flapping motions. The design details of the motion generating system and supporting structure are presented. This apparatus is now in the construction phase
Single-level resonance parameters fit nuclear cross-sections
Least squares analyses of experimental differential cross-section data for the U-235 nucleus have yielded single level Breit-Wigner resonance parameters that fit, simultaneously, three nuclear cross sections of capture, fission, and total
Morphology and thermal conductivity of model organic aerogels
The intersection volume of two independent 2-level cut Gaussian random fields
is proposed to model the open-cell microstructure of organic aerogels. The
experimentally measured X-ray scattering intensity, surface area and solid
thermal conductivity of both polymeric and colloidal organic aerogels can be
accounted for by the model.Comment: 5 pages. RevTex with 4 encapsulated figures. Higher resolution
figures have been submitted for publication. To be published in Phys. Rev. E
(Rapid Comm.). email, [email protected]
On Extracting Mechanical Properties from Nanoindentation at Temperatures up to 1000C
Alloyed MCrAlY bond coats, where M is usually cobalt and/or nickel, are
essential parts of modern turbine blades, imparting environmental resistance
while mediating thermal expansivity differences. Nanoindentation allows the
determination of their properties without the complexities of traditional
mechanical tests, but was not previously possible near turbine operating
temperatures.
Here, we determine the hardness and modulus of CMSX-4 and an Amdry-386 bond
coat by nanoindentation up to 1000C. Both materials exhibit a
constant hardness until 400C followed by considerable softening,
which in CMSX-4 is attributed to the multiple slip systems operating underneath
a Berkovich indenter.
The creep behaviour has been investigated via the nanoindentation hold
segments. Above 700C, the observed creep exponents match the
temperature-dependence of literature values in CMSX-4. In Amdry-386,
nanoindentation produces creep exponents very close to literature data,
implying high-temperature nanoindentation may be powerful in characterising
these coatings and providing inputs for material, model and process
optimisations
The preservation of quartz grain surface textures following vehicle fire and their use in forensic enquiry
During a terrorist trial, dispute arose as to whether the temperature produced in a car fire was sufficient to destroy quartz grain surface textures. A series of seven sequential experiments showed that the temperature for quartz surface texture modification/destruction and the production of vugs, vesicles and glassy precipitation ('snowdrifting') occurred at 1200 degrees C under normal atmospheric conditions. By adding a number of man-made and natural substances, it was found that only the presence of salts depressed this modification temperature (to 900 degrees C). Experiments to determine the temperature of fire in a car indicated that the maximum temperature produced under natural conditions (810 degrees C) was insufficient to affect the quartz grain Surface textures. These results confirm the use of surface texture analysis of quartz grains recovered from the remains of cars Subjected to fire and their use as a forensic indicator. (C) 2008 Forensic Science Society. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved
Modeling Heterogeneous Materials via Two-Point Correlation Functions: II. Algorithmic Details and Applications
In the first part of this series of two papers, we proposed a theoretical
formalism that enables one to model and categorize heterogeneous materials
(media) via two-point correlation functions S2 and introduced an efficient
heterogeneous-medium (re)construction algorithm called the "lattice-point"
algorithm. Here we discuss the algorithmic details of the lattice-point
procedure and an algorithm modification using surface optimization to further
speed up the (re)construction process. The importance of the error tolerance,
which indicates to what accuracy the media are (re)constructed, is also
emphasized and discussed. We apply the algorithm to generate three-dimensional
digitized realizations of a Fontainebleau sandstone and a boron
carbide/aluminum composite from the two- dimensional tomographic images of
their slices through the materials. To ascertain whether the information
contained in S2 is sufficient to capture the salient structural features, we
compute the two-point cluster functions of the media, which are superior
signatures of the micro-structure because they incorporate the connectedness
information. We also study the reconstruction of a binary laser-speckle pattern
in two dimensions, in which the algorithm fails to reproduce the pattern
accurately. We conclude that in general reconstructions using S2 only work well
for heterogeneous materials with single-scale structures. However, two-point
information via S2 is not sufficient to accurately model multi-scale media.
Moreover, we construct realizations of hypothetical materials with desired
structural characteristics obtained by manipulating their two-point correlation
functions.Comment: 35 pages, 19 figure
Unified control/structure design and modeling research
To demonstrate the applicability of the control theory for distributed systems to large flexible space structures, research was focused on a model of a space antenna which consists of a rigid hub, flexible ribs, and a mesh reflecting surface. The space antenna model used is discussed along with the finite element approximation of the distributed model. The basic control problem is to design an optimal or near-optimal compensator to suppress the linear vibrations and rigid-body displacements of the structure. The application of an infinite dimensional Linear Quadratic Gaussian (LQG) control theory to flexible structure is discussed. Two basic approaches for robustness enhancement were investigated: loop transfer recovery and sensitivity optimization. A third approach synthesized from elements of these two basic approaches is currently under development. The control driven finite element approximation of flexible structures is discussed. Three sets of finite element basic vectors for computing functional control gains are compared. The possibility of constructing a finite element scheme to approximate the infinite dimensional Hamiltonian system directly, instead of indirectly is discussed
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