Determination of Notched Input for Equipment Under Random Vibrations

Equipment that is mounted on a spacecraft is subjected to random vibration tests to verify whether they can withstand the specified random loads. These tests are generally carried out by using shaker systems during which equipment experiences very high responses at the natural frequencies of the equipment. To reduce such over-testing, notching of the input is done. Notching of the input is normally carried out by considering the force generated at the base and limiting it to a specified value. To accomplish the notching, the force spectrum to be limited and measurement of base force during the tests are needed. This work shows that the acceleration input at the interface of equipment gets reduced at its resonance frequency and this feature can be utilized in arriving at the notched input. An expression to determine the depth of notching is derived and the results are compared with those obtained using numerical simulations. The depth of the notch increases with the response of the oscillator and it is sensitive to the stiffness ratios rather than the mass ratios of the oscillator and the mounting panel. This behavior and the expressions derived can be effectively used in arriving at the notched input for an equipment without the need for measuring the base force, especially for random vibration testing, which is demonstrated with an example.

Distortion-Induced Fatigue Reassessment of a Welded Bridge Detail Based on Structural Stress Methods

Typically, bridge structural systems are affected by random loads that can cause significant damage. One challenging problem in this field is the high-stress amplitude associated with distortion-induced fatigue. In this study, the hot-spot method and the master S-N curve method were validated for the evaluation of fatigue resistance induced by distortion in welded joints of steel bridges. Validation of the master S-N curve method in this research was a necessary prior step for application of the method in real case studies of road bridges, which will be subject to loads of variable amplitudes in the near future, ensuring the basis for the application. The method of validation was based on an important available full-scale fatigue test database, which was generated decades ago to serve as the foundation for the assessment of distortion-induced fatigue. Modelling was carried out based on the finite element method with the aid of ANSYS software, considering the shell and solid elements and equivalent structural stresses. The experimental results were compared with the numerical ones obtained with the two methodologies, and the difference, in terms of global and local tension, was less than 1%.

Comparative study of adhesive fatigue in aeronautical bonded joints: A numerical approach in the frequency domain

The use of adhesively bonded structures has increased over the years, together with the development of composite materials. This work investigates a procedure for fatigue life prediction of an aeronautical bonded joint under random loads, in particular, the cohesive failure of the adhesive layer in a skin-to-stiffener bonded joint. The use of two different adhesives is investigated, and Dirlik’s method is employed to predict the stress response in the adhesive layer, from which the fatigue life is obtained. The effect of damping is also investigated, and it is shown that increases in damping result in higher fatigue life estimations.

Study on an Integral Algorithm of Load Identification Based on Displacement Response

Load identification is a very important and challenging indirect load measurement method because load identification is an inverse problem solution with ill-conditioned characteristics. A new method of load identification is proposed here, in which a virtual function was introduced to establish integral structure equations of motion, and partial integration was applied to reduce the response types in the equations. The effects of loading duration, the type of basis function, and the number of basis function expansion items on the calculation efficiency and the accuracy of load identification were comprehensively taken into account. Numerical simulation and experimental results showed that our algorithm could not only effectively identify periodic and random loads, but there was also a trade-off between the calculation efficiency and identification accuracy. Additionally, our algorithm can improve the ill-conditionedness of the solution of load identification equations, has better robustness to noise, and has high computational efficiency.

Offshore Structural Reliability Assessment by Probabilistic Procedures—A Review

Offshore installations must be built to resist fatigue as well as extreme forces caused by severe environmental conditions. The structural reliability analysis is the popular practise to assess a variety of natural waves determined by the long-term probability distribution of wave heights and corresponding periods on the site. In truth, however, these structures are subjected to arbitrary wave-induced forces in the open ocean. Hence, it is much more reasonable to account for the changed loading characteristics by determining the probabilistic characteristics of the random loads and outcomes responses. The key challenges are uncertainties and the non-linearity of Morison’s drag element, which results in non-Gaussian loading and response distributions. This study would analyze advances achieved to date in a comprehensive probabilistic review of offshore fixed jacket-type platforms.

Bending fatigue of single-wall and double-wall corrugated paperboards under sinusoidal and random loads

The bending fatigue tests of single-wall and double-wall corrugated paperboards were conducted to obtain the εrms– N curves under sinusoidal and random loads in this paper. The εrms– N equation of corrugated paperboard can be described by modified Coffin–Manson model considering the effect of mean stress. Four independent fatigue parameters are obtained for single-wall and double-wall corrugated paperboards. The εrms– N curve under random load moves left and rotates clockwise compared with that under sinusoidal load. The fatigue life under random load is much less than that under sinusoidal load, and the fatigue design of corrugated box should be based on the fatigue result under random load. The stiffness degradation and energy dissipation of double-wall corrugated paperboard before approaching fatigue failure are very different from that of single-wall one. For double-wall corrugated paperboard, two turning points occur in the stiffness degradation, and fluctuation occurs in the energy dissipation. Different from metal materials, the bending fatigue failure of corrugated paperboard is a process of wrinkle forming, spreading, and folding. The results obtained have practical values for the design of vibration fatigue of corrugated box.

Analysis of influence of elastic properties of deadwood bearings on shaft line operability

The paper considers the ship shafting and its design. Depending on the constructive features, operating conditions, effects of continuous, dynamic, variable and random loads the operation of the shaft line is accompanied by wear of the shafting structure and auxiliary parts. The formulas for calculating the maximum permissible clearances during operation in stern bearings of propeller shafts are given, according to the norms and technical and operational requirements. A graph of the maximum permissible clearances in metal stern bearings is presented. There has been carried out a dynamic design of the shaft line in order to define the influence of rigid characteristics of the stern bearings on eigen frequency of transverse vibrations. It is noted that the service life of the shaft line depends on the material of bushings or liners of the bearings (bakout, babbit, textolite, caprolon, bronze, polyurethanes, rubber) and their wear degree. The design scheme of the ship shaft line on elastic supports with a coefficient of rigidity is presented. To assess the influence of the elastic properties of deadwood bearings, the method of initial parameters was used. According to the researchers’ opinion, the greater the wear, the lower their stiffness coefficient. At a certain wear degree of deadwood bearings, there occurs resonance at the lowest operating frequencies. It has been proved that the greater the deflection at the attachment point of the propeller, the lower the eigen frequency of transverse vibrations of the shaft line. It has been pointed out that the calculations should include the separation of the shaft line from the deadwood bearing, since it contributes to a decrease in eigen frequency and causes a resonance during transverse vibrations.