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At least 199 records · Page 11

Tension strength of a thick graphite/epoxy laminate after impact by a 1/2-in. radius impactor

NASA is developing graphite/epoxy filament-wound cases for solid rocket motors of the space shuttle. They are wet-wound with AS4W graphite fiber and HBRF-55A epoxy. The membrane region is about 1.4 inches thick. Two 30-inch-diameter by 12-inch-long cylinders were impacted every two inches of circumference with 1/2-inch radius impactors that were dropped from various heights. One cylinder was empty and the other was filled with inert propellant. Two-inch-wide test specimens were cut from the cylinders. Each was centered on an impact site. The specimens were x-rayed and loaded to failure in uniaxial tension. Rigid body mechanics and the Hertz law were used to predict impact force, local deformations, contact diameters, and contact pressures. The depth of impact damage was predicted using Love's solution for pressure applied on part of the boundary of a semi-infinite body. The predictions were reasonably good. The strengths of the impacted specimens were reduced by as much as 37 percent without visible surface damage. Even the radiographs did not reveal the nonvisible damage.

Poe, C. C., Jr.↗

Filament winding - Waking the sleeping giant

The use of filament winding (FW) in the production of aerospace composite structures is examined. The FW process applies spools of fiber and prepreg tow or prepreg tape to a male mandrel; the process is more efficient and cost effective than metallic construction. The fibers used in FW and the curing process are explained. The reduced storage and fabrication costs that result from FW are discussed. The use of FW to produce a filament-wound case for a solid rocket motor and the substructure and skin of an aircraft fuselage are described. Areas which require further development in order to expand the use of FW are listed and discussed.

Freeman, W. T., Jr.↗

Thrust imbalance of solid rocket motor pairs on Space Shuttle flights

This analysis extends the investigation presented at the 17th Joint Propulsion Conference in 1981 to include fifteen sets of Space Shuttle flight data. The previous report dealt only with static test data and the first flight pair. The objective is to compare the authors' previous theoretical analysis of thrust imbalance with actual Space Shuttle performance. The theoretical prediction method, which involves a Monte Carlo technique, is reviewed briefly as are salient features of the flight instrumentation system and the statistical analysis. A scheme for smoothing flight data is discussed. The effects of changes in design parameters are discussed with special emphasis on the filament wound motor case being developed to replace the steel case. Good agreement between the predictions and the flight data is demonstrated.

Foster, W. A., Jr.↗

A finite element overlay technique for modeling pinned composite joints

A finite element technique using overlaid plane stress elements is presented for modeling a pinned composite joint. The technique allows for discrete modeling of the pin and web regions of the joint in a two-dimensional (2-D) finite element analysis. Thus, predictive capability is substantially increased without the added complexity of a three-dimensional (3-D) analysis. The overlay technique requires a thorough evaluation of the model constraints between the joint components. Bearing panels are used to account for a reduced compressive modulus under bearing loads. Application of the plane stress overlay technique to the Filament Wound Case (FWC) Program is discussed. The experimental approach to determine bearing panel moduli using a double lap shear test is detailed, and finite element results are correlated with full-scale FWC joint test results.

Colvin, G. E.↗

Fracture of thick graphite/epoxy laminates with part-through surface flaws

Fracture behavior of tensile specimens containing through-the-thickness flaws and part-through semi-elliptic surface flaws was investigated. The material was T300/5208 graphite/epoxy, with a stacking sequence 0/+ or - 45/90 sub ns. Laminate thicknesses ranged from 8 to 120 plies. Fracture toughness for specimens with through-the-thickness flaws was a function of laminate thickness. Fracture toughness was also independent of crack size. Fracture toughness for the thick laminates was also independent of specimen geometry (center-cracked tension specimen, compact tension specimen, and three-point bend specimen). Using the asymptotic value of fracture toughness and linear elastic isotropic fracture mechanics, the notched strength of tensile specimens with semi-elliptic surface flaws was predicted. The strength ratio is a function of the flaw depth (a/t) and flaw aspect (a/c) ratios. Comparisons between predicted and experimental strengths are good for large values of a/t. The notched strength of filament wound graphite/epoxy tensile specimens with part-through surface flaws was also predicted.

Harris, C. E.↗

Modal characteristics of a stiffened composite cylinder with open and closed end conditions

The structural and acoustic modal frequencies and the loss factors of a composite fuselage model under free-free end and support-end conditions are evaluated. The fuselage model is a composite filament wound, cylindrical structure composed of carbon fibers embedded in an epoxy resin and has a ply orientation of +,-45, +,-32, 0, -,+32, and -,+45. A computer aided test system was utilized to obtain resonance frequencies, modal damping, and mode shape coefficients. Sound pressure and phase survey data are utilized to estimate acoustic modal freuencies and reverberation time was measured to calculate the acoustic loss factors. The derived structural and acoustic modal parameters are compared to analytical data from a computer prediction model. The data reveal that the acoustic modal frequencies and mode shape correlate well with predicted data, and there is fair agreement between structural modal frequencies and mode shape for the two data sets.

Grosveld, F. W.↗

Measuring the Interlaminar Shear Strengths of Composites

Acousto-ultrasonic technique utilizing computer and waveform digitizer developed for nondestructive evaluation (NDE) of composite materials. Technique employed on filament-wound composite (FWC) specimens cut from sample segments of graphite/epoxy cylinders. Developed for use on large composite structures to verify integrity and assure reusability. Similar applications of technique anticipated for variety of composite structures, such as pipelines and storage tanks.

Kautz, Harold E.↗

Strength of a thick graphite/epoxy rocket motor case after impact by a blunt object

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is developing graphite/epoxy filament-wound cases (FWC) for the solid rocket motors of the Space Shuttle. The membrane region is about 36 mm thick. A study was made to determine the reduction in strength of the FWC due to accidental damage caused by low-velocity impacts. Two 76.2 cm diameter by 30.5 cm long cylinders were impacted every 5 cm of circumference with 1.27 cm radius impacters of various mass. The impacters represented tools and equipment dropped from various heights. One cylinder was empty and the other was filled with inert propellant. Five cm wide test specimens were cut from the cylinder. Each was centered on an impact sight. The specimens were X-rayed and loaded to failure in uniaxial tension. The strengths and depths of impact damage were analyzed in terms of maximum impact force. Rigid body mechanics and the Hertz law were used to derive an equation for impact force in terms of kinetic energy and the masses of the impacter and target. The depth of damage was predicted in terms of impact force using Love's solution of pressure applied on part of the boundary of a semi-infinite body.

Poe, C. C., Jr.↗

The acousto-ultrasonic approach

The nature and underlying rationale of the acousto-ultrasonic approach is reviewed, needed advanced signal analysis and evaluation methods suggested, and application potentials discussed. Acousto-ultrasonics is an NDE technique combining aspects of acoustic emission methodology with ultrasonic simulation of stress waves. This approach uses analysis of simulated stress waves for detecting and mapping variations of mechanical properties. Unlike most NDE, acousto-ultrasonics is less concerned with flaw detection than with the assessment of the collective effects of various flaws and material anomalies. Acousto-ultrasonics has been applied chiefly to laminated and filament-wound fiber reinforced composites. It has been used to assess the significant strength and toughness reducing effects that can be wrought by combinations of essentially minor flaws and diffuse flaw populations. Acousto-ultrasonics assesses integrated defect states and the resultant variations in properties such as tensile, shear, and flexural strengths and fracture resistance. Matrix cure state, porosity, fiber orientation, fiber volume fraction, fiber-matrix bonding, and interlaminar bond quality are underlying factors.

Vary, Alex↗

Hidden impact damage in thick composites

NASA is developing light-weight graphite/epoxy filament-wound cases (FWC) for the solid rocket motors of the Space Shuttle. The 12-foot-diameter FWC's are about 1.4 inches or more thick. Tests were conducted to determine the tension strength of an FWC after low-velocity impact. Impactors of various kinetic energies, masses, and shapes were used. The conditions that give minimum visual evidence of damage were emphasized. The capability to characterize impact damage with radiography and ultrasonic attenuation was also evaluated. After impact, the specimens were loaded uniaxially in tension to determine residual strengths.

Poe, C. C., Jr.↗

Validation of an interior noise prediction model for a composite cylinder

An acoustic modal analysis has been performed in the cavity of a composite cylinder model of an aircraft fuselage. The filament wound, composite shell is 12 feet long and 5.5 feet in diameter. A one-half-in. thick plywood floor is attached to the shell 69 deg from the vertical centerline through the bottom of the shell. The acoustic modal frequencies were obtained from a sound pressure level and phase survey conducted throughout the interior volume bounded by the floor, endcaps and stiffened shell, while being excited by white noise from a loudspeaker source. The measured acoustic resonance frequencies and mode shapes compare well with analytical predictions from the Propeller Aircraft Interior Noise (PAIN) model. Details of the theory and derivation of the acoustic characteristics have been included. Reverberation time measurements, using the integrated impulse technique, have been performed to determine acoustic loss factors. These measured loss factors have been input to the PAIN program in order to more accurately predict the space-averaged interior noise of the composite cylinder.

Beyer, Todd B.↗

Qualification of S-glass/epoxy thermal isolator bands

Unidirectional fiberglass reinforced epoxy structures have been evaluated as thermal isolator tension straps for the charge-coupled devices on the Hubble Space Telescope's Wide Field/Planetary Camera. Mechanical and thermal properties are reported for filament-wound S-2 glass in a generic epoxy resin and compared to S-901 glass bands used on a previous camera. Measurements were performed on very small paper clip-shaped bands. Probably the smallest in length and have a load carrying mean cross sectional area of only 0.00024 square inches.

Bauer, Jerry↗

STA-2A NDT testing

The nondestructive testing (NDT) on the Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Booster (SRB) filament wound case (FWC) short stact structural test articles 2 (STA-2A) during test of phases 1B-9C is described. The primary objective of this testing was to verify the structural integrity of the SRB-FWC for critical design loads. Another objective was to quantify the effect of load distributions in the aft skirt. The NDT objectives were to determine the acoustic emission characteristics of the FWC-SRB and to identify possible design deficiencies or defect growth. The results from the posttest inspection of the samples shows the depth measurements taken were accurate until exceeding .260 inches thickness. The data then show that pulse echo measurements exceeded actual part thickness by 10 to 14 percent. The mapping of forward boundaries of delaminations proved to be within the tolerance of the equipment. Using the ZIP probe, the maximum difference between the pulse echo boundary and the visual boundary was expected to be no greater than one half the diameter of the probe. The NDT performance on STA-2A shows how NDT can be used to assist design engineering in evaluating the structural integrity of composite test articles.

Lewis, T. J.↗

Simulated impact damage in a thick graphite/epoxy laminate using spherical indenters

A study was made to determine the extent of fiber damage caused by low-velocity impact of spherical impactors to a very thick graphite/epoxy laminate. The laminate was cut from a filament wound case being developed for the Space Shuttle solid rocket motors. The case was wound using a wet process with AS4W graphite fiber and HBRF-55A epoxy. Impacts were simulated under quasi-static conditions by pressing hemispherically shaped indenters against the laminate at different locations. The contact force and indenter diameter were varied from location to location. The forces were chosen for each indenter diameter to produce contact pressures below and above that required to initiate damage. After the forces were applied, the laminate was cut into smaller pieces so that each piece contained a test site. The pieces were then deplied and the individual plies examined to determine the extent of fiber damage. Broken fibers were found in the outer layers directly beneath the contact site. The locus of broken fibers in each layer resembled a crack normal to the direction of the fibers. The maximum length and depth of the cracks increased with increasing contact pressure and indenter diameter. The internal stresses in the laminate were calculated using Hertz's law and Love's solution for pressure applied on part of the boundary of a semi-infinite body. The maximum length and depth of the cracks were predicted using a maximum shear stress criterion. Predictions and measurements were in good agreement.

Poe, C. C., Jr.↗

Vibratory response of a stiffened, floor equipped, composite cylinder

A structural modal analysis has been performed on a composite, filament wound cylindrical shell with floor, using a Computer Aided Test (CAT) system. The twelve foot (3.66 m) long shell is five and one half feet (1.68 m) in diameter and includes a half inch thick plywood floor attached to the shell 69 degrees from the vertical centerline through the bottom of the shell. The shell is composed of carbon fibers embedded in an epoxy resin. The cylinder is supported by two heavy, rigid endcaps simulating simply supported end conditions. Modal frequencies of the shell and floor have been extracted by measuring the frequency response functions from impulse excitation by an impact hammer. Reasonable agreement is obtained between the measured structural modal frequencies and mode shapes and analytical results from a computerized prediction model. The effects of floor location, fiber orientation, and skin thickness on the resonance frequencies of the shell and floor have been predicted for a stiffened and unstiffened cylinder.

Grosveld, Ferdinand W.↗

Bayonet for superfluid helium transfer in space

A prototype superfluid helium bayonet for potential space applications has been developed and evaluated with a low heat leak test apparatus. Measured heat leak of the 13 mm (1/2 inch) bayonet pair is 0.21 W at 1.8 K with an uncertainty of +0.09/-0.05 W. Bayonets are fabricated with thin, electron beam (EB) welded tubes which are EB welded to machined nose and flange pieces. Low heat leak structural integrity is provided by a 0.9 mm thickness of filament wound fiberglass-epoxy. Superfluid creep is restricted by KEL-F nose seals which form vacuum-tight extensions to the bayonet cold end pieces.

Mcintosh, G. E.↗

Quality Evaluation By Acousto-Ultrasonic Testing Of Composites

Promising nondestructive-testing method based on ultrasonic simulation of stress waves. Report reviews acousto-ultrasonic technology for nondestructive testing. Discusses principles, suggests advanced signal-analysis schemes for development, and presents potential applications. Acousto-ultrasonics applied principally to assess defects in laminated and filament-wound fiber-reinforced composite materials. Technique used to determine variations in such properties as tensile, shear, and flexural strengths and reductions in strength and toughness caused by defects. Also used to evaluate states of cure, porosities, orientation of fibers, volume fractions of fibers, bonding between fibers and matrices, and qualities of interlaminar bonds.

Vary, Alex↗

Cryogenic reactant storage for lunar base regenerative fuel cells

There are major advantages to be gained by integrating a cryogenic reactant storage system with a hydrogen-oxygen regenerative fuel cell (RFC) to provide on-site electrical power during the lunar night. Although applicable to any power system using hydrogen-oxygen RFC's for energy storage, cryogenic reactant storage offers a significant benefit whenever the sun/shade cycle and energy storage period approach hundreds of hours. For solar power installations on the moon, cryogenic reactant storage reduces overall specific mass and meteoroid vulnerability of the system. In addition, it offers synergistic benefits to on-site users, such as availability of primary fuel cell reactants for surface rover vehicles and cryogenic propellants for OTV's. The integration involves processing and storing the RFC reactant streams as cryogenic liquids rather than pressurized gases, so that reactant containment (tankage per unit mass of reactants) can be greatly reduced. Hydrogen-oxygen alkaline RFC's, GaAs photovoltaic (PV) arrays, and space cryogenic processing/refrigeration technologies are assumed to be available for the conceptual system design. Advantages are demonstrated by comparing the characteristics of two power system concepts: a conventional lunar surface PV/RFC power system using pressurized gas storage in SOA filament wound pressure vessels and, that same system with gas liquefaction and storage replacing the pressurized storage. Comparisons are made at 20 and 250 kWe. Although cryogenic storage adds a processing plant (drying and liquefaction) to the system plus 30 percent more solar array to provide processing power, the approximate order of magnitude reduction in tankage mass, confirmed by this analysis, results in a reduction in overall total system mass of approximately 50 percent.

Kohout, Lisa L.↗