| Sol No.: |
Navy STTR FY2008 |
| Topic No.: |
N08-T002 |
| Topic Title: |
Innovative Approaches to the Automated Simulation of Aircraft Structural Joints in Structural Analysis Models |
| Proposal No.: |
N08A-002-0195 |
| Firm: |
ACTA Incorporated
2790 Skypark Drive, Suite 310
Torrance, California 90505-5345 |
| Contact: |
Timothy Hasselman |
| Phone: |
(310) 530-1008 |
| Web Site: |
www.actainc.com |
| Abstract: |
ACTA Incorporated and Sandia National Laboratories propose a seven month STTR Phase I project to demonstrate the feasibility of developing an automated simulation of aircraft structural joints in structural analysis models. The technical approach includes an expert system executive to create detailed models of abstracted joint components including interfacing structural components, fasteners and nonlinear interface constitutive models. Optional tasks are proposed with a three month performance period to implement a selected joint model in an existing finite element structural modeling code to demonstrate the feasibility of integrating the proposed joint model within conventional finite element modeling software. |
| Benefits: |
The proposed development of automated aircraft structural joint modeling tools will benefit the Navy in a number of ways. It should ultimately benefit the Joint Strike Fighter Program by providing the joint modeling tools needed for refinement of existing models that are presently deficient in their ability to accurately model the effects of joints on global structural behavior including vibration modes and damping. More generally, the availability of these tools in commercial structural analysis software will be available to all commercial aerospace developers so that more accurate analyses may be performed prior to testing and model calibration, thereby shortening the development time required to bring a product to market. |