Development of nondestructive testing techniques for honeycomb heat shields Annual report, 1 Jul. 1965 - 31 May 1966
Nondestructive testing techniques for Saturn honeycomb heat shields
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Nondestructive testing techniques for Saturn honeycomb heat shields
The thermal protection system (TPS), designed for incorporation with space shuttle orbiter systems, consists of one primary heat shield thermally and structurally isolated from the test fixture by eight peripheral guard panels, all encompassing an area of approximately 12 sq ft. TPS components include tee-stiffened Cb 752/R-512E heat shields, bi-metallic support posts, panel retainers, and high temperature insulation blankets. The vehicle primary structure was simulated by a titanium skin, frames, and stiffeners. Test procedures, manufacturing processes, and methods of analysis are fully documented. For Vol. 1, see N72-30948; for Vol. 2, see N74-15660.
Analysis and digital computer programs to aid in establishing structural integrity of manned spacecraft heat shields
Analysis of Apollo heat shield using mathematical models
Numerical analysis of restrained shrinkage stresses in ablation heat shields
Porous ceramic heat shields for lifting reentry vehicles, noting crack propagation resistance and load redistribution
Thermochemical and mechanical ablation mechanisms for Apollo heat shield material, comparing surface thermochemistry computer program and arc plasma tunnel data
Aluminum coatings on tantalum tungsten alloys for heat shielding
Development of low cost ablative heat shields for space shuttles
Thermal analyses were conducted to evaluate the thermal response of various individual materials and multi-layer configurations for an in-space heat shield exposed to a rocket plume during stage separation. Frequently used, readily available thermal protection materials consisting of cork, carbon cloth phenolic (CCP), and silica cloth phenolic (SCP) were selected for an initial screening analysis. SCP was chosen as the primary material for further evaluation using an updated thermal environment calculated using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) results. A multi-layer configuration consisting of SCP providing erosion resistance and a Nomex honeycomb providing thermal protection was then evaluated as a solution for more mass-efficient performance. Pyrolysis depth, bondline temperature, back-side temperature, and a thermal factor of safety were used to define the necessary material thickness profile. Adhesives were included in the analyses with considerations for maximum temperature and application method. One dimensional thermal analyses at several stations along the heat shield surface were performed for the initial screening and follow-on analyses. The methodology used standard processes and computer programs applicable to solid rocket motor internal insulation and nozzle thermal analysis such as Chemical Equilibrium and Applications (CEA), Aerotherm Chemical Equilibrium (ACE), Momentum/Energy Integral Technique (MEIT), and Insulation Thermal Response and Ablation Code (ITRAC). The baseline SCP/Nomex honeycomb multi-layer configuration thermal performance predictions satisfied the objectives with an acceptable mass estimate for the design maturity. The EA9673 film adhesive and SCP resin were the best performing bonding agents considered for the SCP/Nomex honeycomb and Nomex honeycomb/structural substrate interfaces. The baseline mass estimate was lowest when the resin was the bonding agent due to the higher maximum service temperature. These thermal analyses evaluated typical internal and external nozzle materials using a calculated thermal environment and heat loads that were lower than a typical rocket motor internal environment but greater than standard external aeroheating.
Structural and dynamic analysis of Apollo aft heat shield
Lightweight ceramic foam for thermal insulation heat shields of launch structures
Results are reported for tests of candidate heat-shield materials for outer-planet entry probes, which were conducted in two different arc-heater facilities at heating rates below those predicted for entry. One facility supplied a combined radiative-convective heating environment in air while the other provided a hydrogen/helium environment for convective heating only. Both 'infinite-slab' and 'finite-slab' models consisting of various carbon phenolic (CP) and fused silica (FS) materials were tested. The test results obtained are expressed in terms of ablation rates and surface as well as in-depth temperature variations with time for the air environment and in terms of normalized ablation rate as a function of temperature for the H/He environment. The measured values are compared with calculations based on a charring material thermal response and ablation code. For the CP models, good agreement between predicted and measured mass-loss rates is noted, surface temperatures in air are predicted within 18%, and in-depth temperature predictions are shown to be conservative in comparison with measured values. For the FS models, discrepancies are found between the predicted and measured mass-loss rates and surface temperatures.
Reports on the ablation of teflon and polyethylene heat shields for low-angle reentry
The R-512E (Si-20Cr-20Fe) fused slurry silicide coating process was optimized to coat full size (20in x 20in) single face rib and corrugation stiffened panels fabricated from FS-85 columbium alloy for 100 mission space shuttle heat shield applications. Structural life under simulated space shuttle lift-off stresses and reentry conditions demonstrated reuse capability well beyond 100 flights for R-512E coated FS-85 columbium heat shield panels. Demonstrated coating damage tolerance showed no immediate structural failure on exposure. The FS-85 columbium alloy was selected from five candidate alloys (Cb-752, C-129Y, WC-3015, B-66 and FS-85) based on the evaluation tests which have designed to determine: (1) change in material properties due to coating and reuse; (2) alloy tolerance to coating damage; (3) coating emittance characteristics under reuse conditions; and (4) new coating chemistries for improved coating life.
Jupiter atmosphere entry probes graphite ablative heat shields performance, indicating convective and radiative blockage and graphite sublimation processes in surface heat balance
An experimental program has been completed by CUBRC exploring laminar, transitional, and turbulent flows over a 7.0% scale model of the Project ORION CEV geometry. This program was executed primarily to answer questions concerning the increase in heat transfer on the windward, or "hot shoulder" of the CEV heat shield from laminar to turbulent flow. To answer these questions CUBRC constructed and instrumented a 14.0 inch diameter Project ORION CEV model and ran a range of Reynolds numbers based on diameter from 1.0 to over 40 million at a Mach number of 8.0. These Reynolds numbers were selected to cover laminar to turbulent heating data on the "hot shoulder". Data obtained during these runs will be used to guide design decisions as they apply to heat shield thickness and extent. Several experiments at higher enthalpies were achieved to obtain data for code validation with real gas effects and transition. CUBRC also performed computation studies of these experiments to aid in the data reduction process and study turbulence modeling.
Temperature and material effects on high-velocity impact craters in phenolic-nylon and elastomeric ablative heat-shield materials