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At least 181 records · Page 10

Measurements of the stress supported by the crush zone in open hole composite laminates loaded in compression

Measurements of the stress supported by the crush zone in open hole specimens loaded in compression were carried out on two composite laminates, AS4/PEEK and IM6/HST-7, containing circular holes of three different diameters. Compression tests were conducted in a specially designed high-axial-alignment material test system machine. Results indicated that the local stress supported in the crush zone is much less than the stress required to initiate the crush, providing the reason for the finding of Guynn et al. (1987) that the Dugdale model does not accurately predict the load-damage size relationship of open hole composite specimens loaded in compression.

Guynn, E. Gail↗

A detailed investigation of the micromechanisms of compressive failure in open hole composite laminates

Micromechanisms responsible for compressive failure in open-hole composite laminates were investigated. Specimens containing circular center holes were loaded in compression to failure at a slow rate, and the surface damage development during loading was monitored. Several coupon compression tests were interrupted prior to catastrophic failure to allow for the assessment of fiber shear crippling and/or fiber microbuckling by NDE techniques. From these sectioning studies, the extent and mode of failure were determined, and a three-dimensional schematic of the shear crippling zone was developed. Results show that the majority of the damage in compression-loaded open-hole composite laminates is shear crippled or microbuckled 0-deg fibers; in many cases, however, the shear crippling damage within the 0-deg plies produced shear strains and damage in the adjacent off-axis plies.

Guynn, E. Gail↗

Design, Fabrication, and Testing of Ceramic Joints for High Temperature SiC/SiC Composites

Various issues associated with the design and mechanical evaluation of joints of ceramic matrix composites are discussed. The specific case of an affordable, robust ceramic joining technology (ARCJoinT) to join silicon carbide (CG-Nicalon(sup TM)) fiber-reinforced-chemically vapor infiltrated (CVI) silicon carbide matrix composites is addressed. Experimental results are presented for the time and temperature dependence of the shear strength of these joints in air up to 1200 C. From compression testing of double-notched joint specimens with a notch separation of 4 mm, it was found that the apparent shear strength of the joints decreased from 92 MPa at room temperature to 71 MPa at 1200 C. From shear stress-rupture testing in air at 1200 C it was found that the shear strength of the joints decreased rapidly with time from an initial shear strength of 71 to 17.5 MPa after 14.3 hr. The implications of these results in relation to the expected long-term service life of these joints in applications at elevated temperatures are discussed.

Singh, Mrityunjay↗

Toward an Improved Hypersonic Engine Seal

High temperature, dynamic seals are required in advanced engines to seal the perimeters of movable engine ramps for efficient, safe operation in high heat flux environments at temperatures from 2000 to 2500 F. Current seal designs do not meet the demanding requirements for future engines, so NASA s Glenn Research Center (GRC) is developing advanced seals to overcome these shortfalls. Two seal designs and two types of seal preloading devices were evaluated in a series of compression tests at room temperature and 2000 F and flow tests at room temperature. Both seals lost resiliency with repeated load cycling at room temperature and 2000 F, but seals with braided cores were significantly more flexible than those with cores composed of uniaxial ceramic fibers. Flow rates for the seals with cores of uniaxial fibers were lower than those for the seals with braided cores. Canted coil springs and silicon nitride compression springs showed promise conceptually as potential seal preloading devices to help maintain seal resiliency.

Dunlap, Patrick H., Jr.↗

Orthotropic elasto-plastic behavior of AS4/APC-2 thermoplastic composite in compression

Uniaxial compression tests were performed on off-axis coupon specimens of unidirectional AS4/APC-2 thermoplastic composite at various temperatures. The elasto-plastic and strength properties of AS4/APC-2 composite were characterized with respect to temperature variation by using a one-parameter orthotropic plasticity model and a one-parameter failure criterion. Experimental results show that the orthotropic plastic behavior can be characterized quite well using the plasticity model, and the matrix-dominant compressive strengths can be predicted very accurately by the one-parameter failure criterion.

Sun, C. T.↗

Space Shuttle Crawler Transporter Truck Shoe Qualification Tests and Analyses for Return-to-Flight

A vital element to Launch Complex 39 (LC39) and NASA's Kennedy Space Center (KSC) mobile launch transfer operation is a 3 million kilogram behemoth known as the Crawler Transporter (CT). Built in the 1960's, two CT's have accumulated over 1700+ miles each and have been used for the Apollo and the Space Shuttle programs. Recent observation of fatigue cracks on the CT shoes led to a comprehensive engineering, structural and metallurgical evaluation to assess the root cause that necessitated procurement of over 1000 new shoes. This paper documents the completed dynamic and compression tests on the old and new shoes respectively, so as to certify them for Space Shuttle's return-to-flight (RTF). Measured strain data from the rollout tests was used to develop stress/loading spectra and static equivalent load for qualification testing of the new shoes. Additionally, finite element analysis (FEA) was used to conduct sensitivity analyses of various contact parameters and structural characteristics for acceptance of new shoes.

Margasahayam, Ravi N.↗

Correlation of deformation mechanisms with the tensile and compressive behavior of NiAl and NiAl(Zr) intermetallic alloys

To identify the mechanisms controlling strength and ductility in powder-extruded NiAl and NiAl + 0.05 at. pct Zr, tensile and compressive testing was performed from 300 to 1300 K for several grain sizes. Grain size refinement significantly increased yield stress in both alloys and, in some cases, slightly lowered the ductile-to-brittle transition temperature (DBTT), although no room-temperature tensile ductility was observed even in the finest grain size specimens. The small Zr addition increased the DBTT and changed the low-temperature fracture mode from intergranular in NiAl to a combination of intergranular and transgranular in the Zr-doped alloy. Scanning electron microscopy of compression specimens deformed at room temperature revealed the presence of grain-boundary cracks in both alloys. These cracks were due to the incompatibility of strain in the polycrystalline material, owing to the lack of five independent slip systems. The tendency to form grain-boundary cracks, in addition to the low fracture stress of these alloys, contributed to the lack of tensile ductility at low temperatures.

Bowman, R. R.↗

Development of an Input Suite for an Orthotropic Composite Material Model

An orthotropic three-dimensional material model suitable for use in modeling impact tests has been developed that has three major components elastic and inelastic deformations, damage and failure. The material model has been implemented as MAT213 into a special version of LS-DYNA and uses tabulated data obtained from experiments. The prominent features of the constitutive model are illustrated using a widely-used aerospace composite the T800S3900-2B[P2352W-19] BMS8-276 Rev-H-Unitape fiber resin unidirectional composite. The input for the deformation model consists of experimental data from 12 distinct experiments at a known temperature and strain rate: tension and compression along all three principal directions, shear in all three principal planes, and off axis tension or compression tests in all three principal planes, along with other material constants. There are additional input associated with the damage and failure models. The steps in using this model are illustrated composite characterization tests, verification tests and a validation test. The results show that the developed and implemented model is stable and yields acceptably accurate results.

finite element method↗

Current Activities in the Advanced Exploration Systems ISRU Project

Media Filter MOXIE support: completed flow performance tests and initial dust loading tests of the MOXIE HEPA filter in the Mars Flow Loop Designed and fabricated prototype full-scale scroll filter for testing of renewable filter performance Mars Flow Loop upgrades: installed more sensitive instrumentation, improved imaging, and increased run duration capability Electrostatic Precipitator (ESP) Plasma-physics based model predicts particle charge and trajectory Characterizing dust environment from fluidized-bed injection dust environment using laser sheet visualization and Fine Particle Analyzer Sabatier Design Study Defined the Sabatier design space, including reactor type, thermal management, gas recycling/separation Modeled Sabatier systems with one or two reactors with different types of thermal management Adding thermal management schemes and recycling and gas separation to model Catalyst Screening Performing compression testing on new and used catalyst pellets Performing vibration testing on different catalyst pellet types under different load conditions Preparing to test catalysts for performance and degradation

In-Situ Resource Utilization↗

Graphite/polyimide technology overview and Space Shuttle Orbiter applications

The materials, production processes, testing procedures, and repair techniques for composite structures on the Orbiter are reviewed. The Orbiter currently features graphite/epoxy payload bay doors, as well as graphite/polyimide elevons, vertical tail, and aft body flap, which can withstand up to 600 F temperatures. Graphite/polyimide is also being considered for areas of the baseline aluminum structure and the thermal protection system in order to achieve a 20-30% weight reduction, i.e., over 7.5 tons. An analysis of the allowable stresses on FRC imide thermal protection system tiles bonded directly to the structure has shown satisfactory performances in high temperature and cryogenic conditions, although failure modes are yet to be determined. Ultrasonic emissions have been used for defect detection in nondestructive evaluations, together with tension, notch, shear, and compression tests. Field repairs have not been perfected, and require the evolution of high temperature adhesives that are curable under vacuum pressure and heat blankets.

Morita, W. H.↗

Compressive Strength of Flat Panels with Z- and Hat-Section Stiffeners

Compression tests were conducted on 247 panels with Z-section stiffeners and 304 panels with hat-section stiffeners. Specimens were constructed from artificially aged Alclad 24S aluminum alloy with minimum guaranteed yield strengths of 64 and 57 ksi for stiffeners and sheet materials, respectively. Height, thickness, and spacing of stiffeners, sheet thickness, and length of specimens were varied systematically to show effects of changes in these dimensions on panel strength. Results show average stresses at buckling load and maximum load.

STRESSED SKIN - SHEETS - STRENGTH, COMPRESSIVE↗

Composite transport wing technology development

The design, fabrication, testing, and analysis of stiffened wing cover panels to assess damage tolerance criteria are discussed. The damage tolerance improvements were demonstrated in a test program using full-sized cover panel subcomponents. The panels utilized a hard skin concept with identical laminates of 44-percent 0-degree, 44-percent plus or minus 45-degree, and 12-percent 90-degree plies in the skins and stiffeners. The panel skins were impacted at midbay between the stiffeners, directly over the stiffener, and over the stiffener flange edge. The stiffener blades were impacted laterally. Impact energy levels of 100 ft-lb and 200 ft-lb were used. NASTRAN finite-element analyses were performed to simulate the nonvisible damage that was detected in the panels by nondestructive inspection. A closed-form solution for generalized loading was developed to evaluate the peel stresses in the bonded structure. Two-dimensional delamination growth analysis was developed using the principle of minimum potential energy in terms of closed-form solution for critical strain. An analysis was conducted to determine the residual compressive stress in the panels after impact damage, and the analytical predictions were verified by compression testing of the damaged panels.

Madan, Ram C.↗

Dynamic response of biological materials.

Effect of varying strain rate on physical properties of bone and muscle tissue, measuring load and time displacement with constant-velocity compression test machine

STRAIN RATE↗

Compressive behavior of titanium alloy skin-stiffener specimens selectively reinforced with boron-aluminum composite

A method of selectively reinforcing a conventional titanium airframe structure with unidirectional boron-aluminum composite attached by brazing was successfully demonstrated in compression tests of short skin-stiffener specimens. In a comparison with all-titanium specimens, improvements in structural performance recorded for the composite-reinforced specimens exceeded 25 percent on an equivalent-weight basis over the range from room temperature to 700 K (800 F) in terms of both initial buckling and maximum strengths. Performance at room temperature was not affected by prior exposure at 588 K (600 F) for 1000 hours in air or by 400 thermal cycles between 219 K and 588 K (-65 F and 600 F). The experimental results were generally predictable from existing analytical procedures. No evidence of failure was observed in the braze between the boron-aluminum composite and the titanium alloy.

Herring, H. W.↗

An experimental study of the strength and stability of thin monocoque shells with reinforced and unreinforced rectangular cutouts

Axial compression tests were run on eleven thin-walled aluminum cylinders having rectangular cutouts. Various types of reinforcement were used around the cutouts, and some tests were run with no reinforcement. The test results are compared with the cylinder buckling loads prior to installation of the cutouts (obtained without damaging the cylinder by using a buckle-capture technique), and correlated with computer-predicted failure loads. The latter were based on the use of the STAGS computer program. For thin cylinders such as these, the test and computer-based analysis shows that for small to moderate size cutouts, reinforcement of the cutout is of no benefit unless the cylinder is of extremely high (geometrical) quality. For cylinder quality and cutout size where reinforcement is beneficial, the relative merits of the various reinforcement configurations are discussed, and an empirical basis for design is proposed.

Holmes, A. M. C.↗

Compressive strength of titanium alloy skin-stringer panels selectively reinforced with boron-aluminum composite.

Description of a method of selectively reinforcing conventional titanium airframe structure with unidirectional boron-aluminum composite attached by brazing which has been successfully demonstrated based on compression tests of short skin-stringer panels. Improvements in structural performance exceeded 25% on an equivalent weight basis over the range from room temperature to 800 F, both in terms of initial buckling and maximum strengths. Room-temperature performance was not affected by prior exposure at 600 F for 1000 hours in air, or by 400 cycles between -65 and 600 F. The experimental results were generally predictable on the basis of existing analytical procedures. No evidence of failure was observed in the braze bond between the boron-aluminum composite and the titanium alloy.

Herring, H. W.↗

Thermal fatigue behavior of T-111 and ASTAR 811C in ultrahigh vacuum

The thermal fatigue behavior of the tantalum alloys T-111 (Ta-8W-2Hf) and ASTAR 811C (Ta-8W-1Re-0.7Hf-0.025C) has been evaluated using completely reversed push-pull fatigue tests conducted in ultrahigh vacuum with independently programmed temperature and strain cycles. Test results showed that cycling of the test temperature simultaneously with the mechanical strain in most cases significantly reduced the cycles to failure of both alloys compared to isothermal testing. Notched specimens had reduced lives under isothermal conditions, but the presence of a notch or use of a 1-h holdtime provided only a small further decrease in life for the temperature cycled tests. Compressive stress at the maximum temperature produced longer lives than tensile stress. ASTAR 811C was more fatigue resistant than T-111 isothermally and did not have as great a decrease in life with thermal cycling. Results are analyzed by partition of plastic strains into creep and creep-independent components and considering where each component was active in the hysteresis cycle.

Sheffler, K. D.↗