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At least 19 records

Mechanical characteristics of filament-wound pressure vessel (burst pressure)

The finite element method is used to analyze the mechanical characteristics of a pressurized filament-wound (FW) pressure vessel, and to predict its burst pressure. The analysis takes into account the bending moment, the stretch-bend coupling effect, nonlinear stress-strain relations, and finite deflection. The analysis is based on two initial failure criteria for laminae, and two ultimate fracture criteria for laminated structures. The numerical results, obtained by applying the load incremental method to the isotensoid CFRP pressure vessel used in the launching of the Zikiken satellite, are in good agreement with the experimental burst pressure and fracture behaviors.

Iida, H.↗

NASA Requirements for Ground-Based Pressure Vessels and Pressurized Systems (PVS)

The purpose of this document is to ensure the structural integrity of PVS through implementation of a minimum set of requirements for ground-based PVS in accordance with this document, NASA Policy Directive (NPD) 8710.5, NASA Safety Policy for Pressure Vessels and Pressurized Systems, NASA Procedural Requirements (NPR) 8715.3, NASA General Safety Program Requirements, applicable Federal Regulations, and national consensus codes and standards (NCS).

Greulich, Owen Rudolf↗

Individual Pressure Vessel (PV) and Common Pressure Vessel (CPV) Nickel-Hydrogen Battery Performance Under LEO Cycling Conditions

LEO life cycle testing of Individual Pressure Vessel (PV) and Common Pressure Vessel (CPV) nickel-hydrogen cell packs have been sponsored by the NASA Aerospace Flight Battery Program. The cell packs have cycled under both 35% and 60% depth-of- discharge and temperature conditions of -5 C and +lO C. The packs have been on test since as early as 1992 and have generated a substantial database. This report will provide insight into performance trends as a function of the specific cell configuration and manufacturer for eight separate nickel-hydrogen battery cell packs.

Miller, Thomas B.↗

Evaluation of Acoustic Emission NDE of Kevlar Composite Over Wrapped Pressure Vessels

Pressurization and failure tests of small Kevlar/epoxy COPV bottles were conducted during 2006 and 2007 by Texas Research Institute Austin, Inc., at TRI facilities. This is a report of the analysis of the Acoustic Emission (AE) data collected during those tests. Results of some of the tests indicate a possibility that AE can be used to track the stress-rupture degradation of COPV vessels.

Horne, Michael R.↗

Demonstration of CFD to support the coupled analysis of a reactor pressure vessel subjected to pressurized thermal shock

The structural components that comprise nuclear reactors and their supporting structures are subjected to harsh operating environments that can challenge their integrity, especially after exposure for extended duration or under accident condition. As one of the most significant components of a reactor, the Reactor Pressure Vessel (RPV) is exposed to an aggressive environment during the operation time (e.g. more than 40 years). Aging degradation mechanisms (e.g. thermo-fatigue) could grow initial defects up to a critical size, increasing the susceptibility to failure in the RPV. The conventional methods are mostly based on simple crack and structure geometries. Very limited studies consider the real conditions of the RPV subjected to a thermal shock due to a Loss of Coolant Accident (LOCA). During a LOCA event, the most severe conditions take place when the emergency core cooling (ECC) water is injected inside the cold legs filled initially with hotter water and/or steam. The rapid cooling of the down-comer and the internal RPV surface followed probably by re-pressurization of the RPV causes large temperature gradients and variation of pressure which induces thermal-mechanical stresses. In order to develop the model for integrity assessment of a reactor pressure vessel (RPV) subjected to pressurized thermal shock (PTS), a multi-physics simulation, which includes the thermo-hydraulic, thermo-mechanical and fracture mechanics analyses is necessary. The prediction of the temperature field is achieved by using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation. In this report, a demonstration CFD standalone simulation is performed to support coupled analysis for Reactor Pressure Vessel (RPV) subjected to Pressurized Thermal Shock (PTS). The study use a simplified computational domain to represents a real RPV. The purpose of the study is to demonstrate the transient temperature response of RPV to ECC injection. The CFD model is built in a robust and efficient way for further coupled calculation. The next steps of this work, including the coupled thermal and tensor mechanics capabilities using Cardinal are expected to be complete by the end of FY21 for the demo problem. After this, into FY22, the capability will be demonstrated for a realistic RPV.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗

Experimental Validation of Exact Burst Pressure Solutions for Thick-Walled Cylindrical Pressure Vessels

Burst pressure is one of the critical strength parameters used in the design and operation of pressure vessels because it represents the maximum pressure that a vessel can withstand before failing. Historically, the Barlow formula was used as a design base for estimating burst pressure. However, it does not consider the plastic flow response for ductile steels and is applicable only to thin-walled cylinders (i.e., the diameter to thickness ratio D/t ≥ 20). A new multiaxial plastic yield theory was developed to consider the plastic flow response, and the associated theoretical (i.e., Zhu–Leis) solution of burst pressure was obtained and has gained extensive applications in the pipeline industry because it was validated by different full-scale burst test datasets for large-diameter, thin-walled pipelines in a variety of steel grades from Grade B to X120. The Zhu–Leis flow theory of plasticity was recently extended to thick-walled pressure vessels, and the associated exact flow solution of burst pressure was obtained and is applicable to both thin and thick-walled cylindrical shells. Many full-scale burst tests are available for thin-walled line pipes in the pipeline industry, but limited pressure burst tests exist for thick-walled vessels. To validate the newly developed exact solutions of burst pressure for thick-walled cylinders, this paper conducts a series of burst pressure tests on small-diameter, thick-walled pipes. In particular, six burst tests are carried out for three thick-walled pipes in Grade B carbon steel. These pipes have a nominal diameter of 2.375 inches (60.33 mm) and three nominal wall thicknesses of 0.154, 0.218, and 0.344 inches (3.91, 5.54, and 8.74 mm), leading to D/t = 15.4, 10.9, and 6.9, respectively. With the burst test data, comparisons show that the Zhu–Leis flow solution of burst pressure matches well the burst test data for thick-walled pipes. Thus, these burst tests validate the accuracy of the Zhu–Leis flow solution of burst pressure for thick-walled cylindrical vessels.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Three-Dimensional Digital Image Correlation of a Composite Overwrapped Pressure Vessel During Hydrostatic Pressure Tests

Ambient temperature hydrostatic pressurization tests were conducted on a composite overwrapped pressure vessel (COPV) to understand the fiber stresses in COPV components. Two three-dimensional digital image correlation systems with high speed cameras were used in the evaluation to provide full field displacement and strain data for each pressurization test. A few of the key findings will be discussed including how the principal strains provided better insight into system behavior than traditional gauges, a high localized strain that was measured where gages were not present and the challenges of measuring curved surfaces with the use of a 1.25 in. thick layered polycarbonate panel that protected the cameras.

Revilock, Duane M., Jr.↗

Composite Tanks and Pressure Vessel Development

Pressure vessels and tanks are vital to NASA missions. Tanks need to be lightweight and perform under the operational environments. Design and material limitations make it difficult to contain the fuels and oxidizers. Recent interest in 90% Hydrogen Peroxide adds to the challenge of containment. The majority of current tank technologies are not easily adaptable to conformal shapes. The cost of tooling-up for large tanks are magnified by sudden design changes. New launch vehicle concepts may require tanks and pressure vessels of a non-standard configuration. Scaled versions of new tanks have been fabricated and testing has begun. Second and third generation launch vehicles decisions will effect the path of research and development.

DeLay, Thomas K.↗

Simulation and Analysis on Reactor Pressure Vessel (RPV) subjected to Pressurized Thermal Shock (PTS) under SBLOCA scenario by using Cardinal to support the fracture mechanics analyses

The structural components that comprise nuclear reactors and their supporting structures are subjected to harsh operating environments that can challenge their integrity, especially after exposure for extended durations or under accident condition. As one of the most significant components of a Reactor, the Reactor Pressure Vessel (RPV) is exposed to an aggressive environment during the operation time (e.g. more than 40 years). Ageing degradation mechanisms (e.g. thermos-fatigue) could grow initial defects up to a critical size, increasing the susceptibility to failure in the RPV. The conventional methods are mostly based on simple crack and structure geometries. Very limited studies consider the real conditions of the RPV subjected to a thermal shock due to a Loss of Coolant Accident (LOCA). During a LOCA event, the most severe conditions take place when the emergency core cooling (ECC) water is injected inside the cold legs filled initially with hotter water and/or steam. The rapid cooling of the down-comer and the internal RPV surface followed probably by re-pressurization of the RPV causes large temperature gradients and variation of pressure which induces thermal-mechanical stresses. In order to develop the model for integrity assessment of a reactor pressure vessel (RPV) subjected to pressurized thermal shock (PTS), a multi-physics simulation, which includes the thermo-hydraulic, thermo-mechanical and fracture mechanics analyses is necessary. The multi-physics simulations are performed using Cardinal, a wrapping of the GPU-oriented spectral element Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) code NekRS and other multi-physics sub-modules within the MOOSE framework. Cardinal now fully supports MOOSE stochastic perturbations of NekRS models with varying boundary conditions, initial conditions, material properties, and any other quantity which is defined by a kernel (such as coefficients in a momentum source model). The implementation is designed in a flexible manner so that scalar values are sent from MOOSE into a user scratch space in NekRS, which can then be applied for any purpose within the NekRS case files (both on the host and device). When modeling PTS, several factors can impact the results significantly. In this report, the impacts of the geometry of the model, Reynolds number and buoyancy effect are investigated. Two geometry, i.e., a simplified model and a realistic RPV model, with both laminar and turbulent flow condition are adopted for the PTS simulation with and without buoyancy effect. The purpose of the investigation is to understand the impact of these factors on the prediction of temperature history of RPV. The accurate prediction on the temperature evolution, which will be exported to Grizzly code for further analyses on the progression of aging mechanisms and their effects on the integrity of RPV structures, is very crucial. Based on the understanding of these factors, a more sophisticated model is built to analysis the PTS under SBLOCA scenario. A literature survey is conducted to pick the SBLOCA scenario for the multi-physics simulation. The analysis helps to explain the form and the transformation of the cold plum when the ECC is activated under SBLOCA. This model can be can be applied to study the PTS effect for different RPV configurations. The results can help to assess structural component degradation for advanced reactors.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗

Multi physics simulation on Reactor Pressure Vessel (RPV) subjected to Pressurized Thermal Shock (PTS) by using Cardinal

The structural components that comprise nuclear reactors and their supporting structures are subjected to harsh operating environments that can challenge their integrity, especially after exposure for extended durations or under accident condition. As one of the most significant components of a Reactor, the Reactor Pressure Vessel (RPV) is exposed to an aggressive environment during the operation time (e.g. more than 40 years). Ageing degradation mechanisms (e.g. thermo-fatigue) could grow initial defects up to a critical size, increasing the susceptibility to failure in the RPV. The conventional methods are mostly based on simple crack and structure geometries. Very limited studies consider the real conditions of the RPV subjected to a thermal shock due to a Loss of Coolant Accident (LOCA). During a LOCA event, the most severe conditions take place when the emergency core cooling (ECC) water is injected inside the cold legs filled initially with hotter water and/or steam. The rapid cooling of the down-comer and the internal RPV surface followed probably by re-pressurization of the RPV causes large temperature gradients and variation of pressure which induces thermal-mechanical stresses. In order to develop the model for integrity assessment of a reactor pressure vessel (RPV) subjected to pressurized thermal shock (PTS), a multi-physics simulation, which includes the thermo-hydraulic, thermo-mechanical and fracture mechanics analyses is necessary.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗

Method of manufacturing an overwrapped pressure vessel

A pressure vessel of the type wherein a metallic liner in the shape of a cylindrical portion with a dome-shaped portion at each end thereof is overwrapped by a plurality of layers of resin coated, single fiberglass filaments. A four-step wrapping technique reinforces the vessel with overwrap material at the most likely areas for vessel failure. Overwrapping of the vessel is followed by a sizing pressurization cycle which induces a compressive prestress into the liner and thereby permits the liner to deform elastically through an increased strain range.

Beck, Emory J.↗

Designing of a Fleet-Leader Program for Carbon Composite Overwrapped Pressure Vessels

Composite Overwrapped Pressure Vessels (COPVs) are often used for storing pressurant gases on board spacecraft when mass saving is a prime requirement. Substantial weight savings can be achieved compared to all metallic pressure vessels. For example, on the space shuttle, replacement of all metallic pressure vessels with Kevlar COPVs resulted in a weight savings of about 30 percent. Mass critical space applications such as the Ares and Orion vehicles are currently being planned to use as many COPVs as possible in place of all-metallic pressure vessels to minimize the overall mass of the vehicle. Due to the fact that overwraps are subjected to sustained loads during long periods of a mission, stress rupture failure is a major concern. It is, therefore, important to ascertain the reliability of these vessels by analysis, since it is practically impossible to show by experimental testing the reliability of flight quality vessels. Also, it is a common practice to set aside flight quality vessels as "fleet leaders" in a test program where these vessels are subjected to slightly accelerated operating conditions so that they lead the actual flight vessels both in time and load. The intention of fleet leaders is to provide advanced warning if there is a serious design flaw in the vessels so that a major disaster in the flight vessels can be averted with advance warning. On the other hand, the accelerating conditions must be not so severe as to be prone to false alarms. The primary focus of the present paper is to provide an analytical basis for designing a viable fleet leader program for carbon COPVs. The analysis is based on a stress rupture behavior model incorporating Weibull statistics and power-law sensitivity of life to fiber stress level.

Murthy, Pappu L.N.↗

Carbon fiber internal pressure vessels

Internal pressure vessels were designed; the filament was wound of carbon fibers and epoxy resin and tested to burst. The fibers used were Thornel 400, Thornel 75, and Hercules HTS. Additional vessels with type A fiber were made. Polymeric linears were used, and all burst testing was done at room temperature. The objective was to produce vessels with the highest attainable PbV/W efficiencies. The type A vessels showed the highest average efficiency: 2.56 x 10 to the 6th power cm. Next highest efficiency was with Thornel 400 vessels: 2.21 x 10 to the 6th power cm. These values compare favorably with efficiency values from good quality S-glass vessels, but strains averaged 0.97% or less, which is less than 1/3 the strain of S-glass vessels.

Simon, R. A.↗

Evaluation of Data-Logging Transducer to Passively Collect Pressure Vessel p/T History

Pressure vessels owned and operated by NASA are required to be regularly certified per agency policy. Certification requires an assessment of damage mechanisms and an estimation of vessel remaining life. Since detail service histories are not typically available for most pressure vessels, a conservative estimate of vessel pressure/temperature excursions is typically used in assessing fatigue life. This paper details trial use of a data-logging transducer to passively obtain actual pressure and temperature service histories of pressure vessels. The approach was found to have some potential for cost savings and other benefits in certain cases.

Wnuk, Stephen P.↗

Long-life assessment of graphite epoxy materials for Space Station Freedom pressure vessels

Graphite/epoxy composite overwrapped pressure vessels are being considered for use on Space Station Freedom because of their light weight and high efficiency. These composite pressure vessels weigh roughly one-third of comparable all-metal aluminum pressure vessels, and could result in a 15,000-lb weight saving for the propulsion and fluid management and distribution systems. These vessels must resist failures under sustained pressure loads for crew safety considerations and adequate protection of the space structure during their 30-yr life. Weibull statistical analysis techniques have been applied, and a model developed, for predicting long-term stress-rupture behavior based on published short-term test data on composite strands and pressure vessels. Graphite/epoxy materials are calculated to have a 99.99-percent probability of surviving stress rupture for 30 yr under a sustained load of 50 percent ultimate failure strength. Stress-rupture lifetimes are predicted to increase as the size of the pressure vessels increases in support of the viscoelastic load-transfer mechanism proposed for stress rupture of fiber/epoxy composite materials.

Thomas, Donald A.↗

Application of the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code in the Design of SRF Cavities at Fermilab

Jacketed Superconducting Radio Frequency (SRF) cavities structurally comprise of an inner niobium vessel surrounded by a liquid helium containment vessels. The pressure of the helium bath and/or its volume might be such that a jacketed SRF cavity shall be considered a system of pressure vessels. Thus, methods described in the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code (BPVC) should be used to analyze the structural soundness of jacketed SRF cavities. This paper will report the use of the set of rules developed at Fermilab for the design of SRF cavities, such as jacketed 1.3 GHz cavities for LCLS-II HE and jacketed Single Spoke Resonator type~2 (SSR2) for PIP-II, to ensure a similar level of safety as prescribed by the ASME BPVC.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

Apollo experience report: Pressure vessels

The Apollo spacecraft pressure vessels, associated problems and resolutions, and related experience in evaluating potential problem areas are discussed. Information is provided that can be used as a guideline in the establishment of baseline criteria for the design and use of lightweight pressure vessels. One of the first practical applications of the use of fracture-mechanics technology to protect against service failures was made on Apollo pressure vessels. Recommendations are made, based on Apollo experience, that are designed to reduce the incidence of failure in pressure-vessel operation and service.

Ecord, G. M.↗