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At least 73 records · Page 4

Heat pipe fatigue test specimen: Metallurgical evaluation

An innovative creep/fatigue test was run to simulate the temperature, mechanical load, and sodium corrosion conditions expected in a heat pipe designed to supply thermal energy to a Stirling cycle power converter. A sodium-charged Inconel 718 heat pipe with a Nickel 200 screen wick was operated for 1090 hr at temperatures between 950 K (1250 F) and 1050 K (1430 F) while being subjected to creep and fatigue loads in a servo-hydraulic testing machine. After testing, the heat pipe was sectioned and examined using optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and electron microprobe analysis with wavelength dispersive x-ray spectroscopy. The analysis concentrated on evaluating topographic, microstructural, and chemical changes in the sodium exposed surfaces of the heat pipe wall and wick. Surface changes in the evaporator, condenser, and adiabatic sections of the heat pipe were examined in an effort to correlate the changes with the expected sodium environment in the heat pipe. This report describes the setup, operating conditions, and analytical results of the sodium heat pipe fatigue test.

Walak, Steven E.↗

Preliminary fatigue tests on short-crack specimens

The objective of the preliminary fatigue tests was to determine the stress levels to be used by the participants in the Cooperative Test Program. As previously mentioned, the United States Air Force Wright-Patterson Aeronautical Laboratory machined about 700 single-edge-notched tension (SENT) specimens from material supplied by the NASA Langley Research Center. In addition, NASA Langley machined about 50 SENT specimens from the same material. Comparison of fatigue tests conducted on the two sets of specimens indicated a large difference in fatigue behavior under constant-amplitude loading. A recovery program was initiated to resolve this difference before the specimens were distributed to participants. The following sections describe the recovery program and the preliminary fatigue tests and analyses conducted to determine stress levels for constant-amplitude, FALSTAFF, and Gaussian loading.

Newman, J. C., Jr.↗

The Effects of Shot and Laser Peening on Fatigue Life and Crack Growth in 2024 Aluminum Alloy and 4340 Steel

Fatigue and crack growth tests have been conducted on 4340 steel and 2024-T3 aluminum alloy, respectively, to assess the effects of shot peening on fatigue life and the effects of shot and laser peening on crack growth. Two current programs involving fixed and rotary-wing aircraft will not be using shot peened structures. Since the shot peening compressive residual stress depth is usually less than the 0.05-inch initial damage tolerance crack size, it is believed by some that shot peening should have no beneficial effects toward retarding crack growth. In this study cracks were initiated from an electronic-discharged machining flaw which was cycled to produce a fatigue crack of approximately 0.05-inches in length and then the specimens were peened. Test results showed that after peening the crack growth rates were noticeably slower when the cracks were fairly short for both the shot and laser peened specimens resulting in a crack growth life that was a factor of 2 to 4 times greater than the results of the average unpeened test. Once the cracks reached a length of approximately 0.1-inches the growth rates were about the same for the peened and unpeened specimens. Fatigue tests on 4340 steel showed that the endurance limit of a test specimen with a 0.002-inch-deep machining-like scratch was reduced by approximately 40 percent. However, if the "scratched" specimen was shot peened after inserting the scratch, the fatigue life returned to almost 100 percent of the unflawed specimens original fatigue life.

Everett, R. A., Jr.↗

Predicting lifetime of cast parts

Life expectancy of cast aluminum machine parts can be predicted accurately from fatigue tests at 78 K on notched specimens of aluminum alloy. Method was developed for rocket engine turbopump parts made of high strength, heat treatable alloy with high silicon content; however, technique is applicable to other aluminum casting alloys.

Cooper, R. A.↗

Creep Strength of Stabilized Wrought-aluminum Alloys

Rohn-type equipment has been mounted on rubber blocks, for the purpose of damping the vibrations of the ground and of rendering the plastic yielding of the test bars less subject to outside interferences. New equipment also included three shockproof creep-testing machines with the Martens mirror instruments for recording the strain curve of the fatigue-tested specimens.

Muller, W↗

Nondestructive Determination of Bond Strength

Current projects include loading adhesive bond in shear in MTS machine, ultrasonic tests with shear waves, shear-fatigue adhesive bonding, and use of ultrasound to detect onset of nonlinearity.

Berndt, Tobias P.↗

Detailed Microstructural Characterization of the Disk Alloy ME3

The advanced powder metallurgy disk alloy ME3 was designed using statistical screening and optimization of composition and processing variables in the NASA/General Electric/Pratt & Whitney HSR/EPM disk program to have extended durability for large disks at maximum temperatures of 600 to 700 C. Scaled-up disks of this alloy were then produced at the conclusion of that program to demonstrate these properties in realistic disk shapes. The objective of the present study was to assess the microstructural characteristics of these ME3 disks at two consistent locations, in order to enable estimation of the variations in microstructure across each disk and across several disks of this advanced alloy. Scaled-up disks processed in the HSR/EPM Compressor/Turbine Disk program had been sectioned, machined into specimens, and tested in tensile, creep, fatigue, and fatigue crack growth tests by NASA Glenn Research Center, in cooperation with General Electric Engine Company and Pratt & Whitney Aircraft Engines. For this study, microstructures of grip sections from tensile specimens in the bore and rim were evaluated from these disks. The major and minor phases were identified and quantified using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Particular attention was directed to the .' precipitates, which along with grain size can predominantly control the mechanical properties of superalloy disks.

Gabb, Timothy P.↗

Disk Alloy Development

The advanced powder metallurgy disk alloy ME3 was designed using statistical screening and optimization of composition and processing variables in the NASA HSR/EPM disk program to have extended durability at 1150 to 1250 "Fin large disks. Scaled-up disks of this alloy were produced at the conclusion of this program to demonstrate these properties in realistic disk shapes. The objective of the UEET disk program was to assess the mechanical properties of these ME3 disks as functions of temperature, in order to estimate the maximum temperature capabilities of this advanced alloy. Scaled-up disks processed in the HSR/EPM Compressor / Turbine Disk program were sectioned, machined into specimens, and tested in tensile, creep, fatigue, and fatigue crack growth tests by NASA Glenn Research Center, in cooperation with General Electric Engine Company and Pratt & Whitney Aircraft Engines. Additional sub-scale disks and blanks were processed and tested to explore the effects of several processing variations on mechanical properties. Scaled-up disks of an advanced regional disk alloy, Alloy 10, were used to evaluate dual microstructure heat treatments. This allowed demonstration of an improved balance of properties in disks with higher strength and fatigue resistance in the bores and higher creep and dwell fatigue crack growth resistance in the rims. Results indicate the baseline ME3 alloy and process has 1300 to 1350 O F temperature capabilities, dependent on detailed disk and engine design property requirements. Chemistry and process enhancements show promise for further increasing temperature capabilities.

Gabb, Tim↗

A computerized test system for thermal-mechanical fatigue crack growth

A computerized testing system to measure fatigue crack growth under thermal-mechanical fatigue conditions is described. Built around a servohydraulic machine, the system is capable of a push-pull test under stress-controlled or strain-controlled conditions in the temperature range of 25 to 1050 C. Temperature and mechanical strain are independently controlled by the closed-loop system to simulate the complex inservice strain-temperature relationship. A d-c electrical potential method is used to measure crack growth rates. The correction procedure of the potential signal to take into account powerline and RF-induced noises and thermal changes is described. It is shown that the potential drop technique can be used for physical mechanism studies and for modelling crack tip processes.

Marchand, N.↗

Fatigue Criterion for System Design

Report discusses principles of structural-life prediction. Generalized methodology developed for structural life prediction, design, and reliability, based upon fatigue criterion. Approach incorporates computed life of elemental stress volumes of complex machine elements to predict system life. Results of coupon fatigue testing incorporated into analysis, allowing for life prediction and component or structural renewal rates, with reasonable statistical certainty.

Zeretsky, E. V.↗

Influence Of Holes On The In-Plane Tensile Strength And Fatigue Durability Of A NICALON(Trademark)/Si-N-C Ceramic Matrix Composite

Effects of different sizes of holes as well as different percentages of open areas on the in-plane tensile strength and fatigue durability of the SiC/Si-N-C composite were investigated in this study. Test specimens with no holes, four different diameters of holes (1.0 to 3.2 mm), and four different open areas (20 to 35%) were machined. All mechanical testing was performed in air at a temperature of 910 C. Fatigue tests were conducted with a load ratio, R = 0.05, and a frequency of 0.33 Hz. In general, both the in-plane tensile strength of the composite and its fatigue durability decreased with an increase in the size of the hole and percentage of the open area. Reductions in the in-plane tensile strength and cyclic fatigue life of the composite were described by empirical equations with the diameter of the hole and the percent open area as the independent variables. The validity of these two empirical equations was verified with additional tensile and fatigue test data generated on the composite specimens.

Kalluri, Sreeramesh↗

Characterization of Cracking and Crack Growth Properties of the C5A Aircraft Tie-Box Forging

Detailed destructive examinations were conducted to characterize the integrity and material properties of two aluminum alloy (7075-T6) horizontal stabilizer tie box forgings removed.from US. Air Force C5A and C5B transport aircraft. The C5B tie box forging was,found to contain no evidence of cracking. Thirteen cracks were found in the CSA,forging. All but one of the cracks observed in the C5A component were located along the top cap region (one crack was located in the bottom cap region). The cracks in the C5A component initiated at fastener holes and propagated along a highly tunneled intergranular crack path. The tunneled crack growth configuration is a likelv result of surface compressive stress produced during peening of the .forging suijace. The tie box forging ,fatigue crack growth, fracture and stress corrosion cracking (SCC) properties were characterized. Reported herein are the results of laboratory air ,fatigue crack growth tests and 95% relative humidity SCC tests conducted using specimens machined from the C5A ,forging. SCC test results revealed that the C5A ,forging material was susceptible to intergranular environmental assisted cracking: the C5A forging material exhibited a SCC crack-tip stress-intensity factor threshold of less than 6 MPadn. Fracture toughness tests revealed that the C5A forging material exhibited a fracture toughness that was 25% less than the C5B forging. The C5A forging exhibited rapid laboratory air fatigue crack growth rates having a threshold crack-tip stress-intensity factor range of less than 0.8 MPa sup m. Detailed fractographic examinations revealed that the ,fatigue crack intergranular growth crack path was similar to the cracking observed in the C5A tie box forging. Because both fatigue crack propagation and SCC exhibit similar intergranular crack path behavior, the damage mechanism resulting in multi-site cracking of tie box forgings cannot be determined unless local cyclic stresses can be quantified.

Piascik, Robert S.↗

Effect of Environment on Fatigue Behavior of a Nicalon(TM)/Si-N-C Ceramic Matrix Composite

The effect of environmental exposure on the fatigue life of Nicalon(TM) /Si-N-C composite was investigated in this study. Test specimens with arrays of 1.8 mm diameter holes and two different open areas, 25 and 35%, were machined. Three environmental conditions were studied: 1) continuous fatigue cycling in air, 2) fatigue cycling in air alternating with humidity exposure, and 3) fatigue cycling in air alternating with exposure to a salt-fog environment. All fatigue testing on specimens with holes was performed with a load ratio, R = 0.05, and at a temperature of 910 C. In general, fatigue lives were shortest for specimens subjected to salt-fog exposure and longest for specimens subjected to continuous fatigue cycling in air. The fatigue data generated on the specimens with holes were compared with fatigue data generated in air on specimens with no holes. Fatigue strength reduction factors for different environmental conditions and open areas investigated in the study were calculated for the Nicalon(TM) /Si-N-C composite.

Kalluri, Sreeramesh↗

Effects of High-Temperature Exposures on the Fatigue Life of Disk Superalloys Examined

Tests used to characterize the low-cycle-fatigue resistance of disk superalloys are usually performed at cyclic frequencies of 0.33 Hz or faster. However, service conditions for disks in some aerospace and land-based gas turbine engines can produce major cycle periods extending from minutes to hours and days. Over a service life, this can produce total service times near the maximum temperature that exceed 100 hr for aerospace applications and 100,000 hr for land-based applications. Such time-dependent effects of realistic mission cycles on fatigue resistance can be significant in superalloy disks, and need to be considered for accurate disk life prediction. The purpose of this study at the NASA Glenn Research Center was to examine the effects of extended exposures and extended cycle periods on the fatigue resistance of two disk superalloys. Current alloy Udimet 720 (Special Metals Corporation, Huntington, WV) disk material was provided by Solar Turbines/Caterpillar Co., and advanced alloy ME3 was provided by the NASA Ultra-Efficient Engine Technologies (UEET) Project, in powder-metallurgy-processed, supersolvus heat-treated form. Fatigue specimens were fully machined and exposed in air at temperatures of 650 to 704 C for extended times. Then, they were tested using conventional fatigue tests with a total strain range of 0.70 percent and a minimum-to-maximum strain ratio of zero to determine the effects of prior exposure on fatigue resistance. Subsequent tests with extended dwells at minimum strain in each fatigue cycle were performed to determine cyclic exposure effects.

Gabb, Timothy P.↗

Life prediction and constitutive behavior: Overview

The evolution of programs to investigate high temperature consititutive behavior and develop cyclic life prediction methods is reviewed. Contracts granted for developing and verifying workable engineering methods for the calculation, in advance of service, of the local stress-strain response at the critical life governing location in typical hot section components as well as the resultant cyclic crack initiation and crack growth lifetimes are listed. The Langley fatigue facility is being upgraded to include: (1) a servocontrolled testing machine for high temperature crack growth; (2) three servocontrolled tension/torsion machines for biaxial studies; (3) a HOST/satellite computer for data acquisition, processing, storage, and retrieval; and (4) HCV/LCF machines for cumulative damage studies.

Halford, G. R.↗

Fatigue criterion to system design, life and reliability

A generalized methodology to structural life prediction, design, and reliability based upon a fatigue criterion is advanced. The life prediction methodology is based in part on work of W. Weibull and G. Lundberg and A. Palmgren. The approach incorporates the computed life of elemental stress volumes of a complex machine element to predict system life. The results of coupon fatigue testing can be incorporated into the analysis allowing for life prediction and component or structural renewal rates with reasonable statistical certainty.

Zaretsky, E. V.↗

Fatigue criterion to system design, life and reliability

A generalized methodology to structural life prediction, design, and reliability based upon a fatigue criterion is advanced. The life prediction methodology is based in part on work of Weibull and Lundberg and Palmgren. The approach incorporates the computed life of elemental stress volumes of a complex machine element to predict system life. The results of coupon fatigue testing can be incorporated into the analysis allowing for life prediction and component or structural renewal rates with reasonable statistical certainty.

Zaretsky, E. V.↗