Materials compatibility in vacuum environment.
Polymeric materials, metals and lubricant compatibility with vacuum environment, considering radiation damage and thermal control effects
MATERIAL TESTING↗
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Results for “Thermal damage”
Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.
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Strengthening silicon carbide by quenching
Quenching was used to form compressive surface layers in hot-pressed silicon carbide. The presence of the compressive stresses was verified by slotted rod tests. The slotted rod tip deflection was retained at temperatures to at least 1380 C, showing that the stresses are not relieved immediately at elevated temperatures. The flexural strength and impact resistance of specimens quenched from moderate temperatures (2000 C) were increased. Frequently, specimens quenched from higher temperatures were weakened by thermal shock damage.
Gruver, R. M.↗
Tungsten wire-nickel base alloy composite development
Further development and evaluation of refractory wire reinforced nickel-base alloy composites is described. Emphasis was placed on evaluating thermal fatigue resistance as a function of matrix alloy composition, fabrication variables and reinforcement level and distribution. Tests for up to 1,000 cycles were performed and the best system identified in this current work was 50v/o W/NiCrAlY. Improved resistance to thermal fatigue damage would be anticipated for specimens fabricated via optimized processing schedules. Other properties investigated included 1,093 C (2,000 F) stress rupture strength, impact resistance and static air oxidation. A composite consisting of 30v/o W-Hf-C alloy fibers in a NiCrAlY alloy matrix was shown to have a 100-hour stress rupture strength at 1,093 C (2,000 F) of 365 MN/square meters (53 ksi) or a specific strength advantage of about 3:1 over typical D.S. eutectics.
Brentnall, W. D.↗
Long duration exposure facility - A multipurpose free-flying experiment carrier
The Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF) is being developed to accommodate, using the Shuttle, a class of technology, science, and applications experiments which do not require a sophisticated or dedicated satellite. The LDEF is a simple reusable structure approximately 4.3 m in diameter and 9 m in length. The basic LDEF consists of a structural framework whose cross section is a 12-sided regular polygon. A facility description is provided, taking into account the structure, aspects of attitude stabilization, the experiment trays, the experiment exposure control canister, the environment monitoring system, and Shuttle bay environment measurements. Missions and questions of experiment selection are discussed, giving attention to orbits, dynamic motions, a space debris damage experiment, thermal coating experiments, the solar cells and arrays experiment, and the active optical components experiment.
Kinard, W. H.↗
Evaluation of axial lock-up of space shuttle main engine bearings from high pressure oxygen turbopump
The mainshaft support bearings of long life turbopumps for use on the space shuttle were evaluated to determine possible causes of failure. Specific aspects examined include the sensitivity of 15 degree versus 25 degree contact angle bearings with regard to heat damage and thermal runaway, the L/D aspects of the turbine end bearing pair with regard to hang-up due to cocking, the hang-up required to support a 44.5 KN axial load without cartridge slipping, the outer race growth as a result of a 44.5 KN axial load, and bearing torque as a function of axial load. Results indicate that hang-up of the cartridge due to bearing heating is a serious problem especially if poor lubrication of the bearing occurs and that race growth due to axial load can contribute to cartridge lock-up. The experimental evaluation of bearing performance under axial loads indicates that the bearing torque is a strong function of surface lubrication.
Kannel, J. W.↗
Ceramic and coating applications in the hostile environment of a high temperature hypersonic wind tunnel
A Mach 7, blowdown wind tunnel was used to investigate aerothermal structural phenomena on large to full scale high speed vehicle components. The high energy test medium, which provided a true temperature simulation of hypersonic flow at 24 to 40 km altitude, was generated by the combustion of methane with air at high pressures. Since the wind tunnel, as well as the models, must be protected from thermally induced damage, ceramics and coatings were used extensively. Coatings were used both to protect various wind tunnel components and to improve the quality of the test stream. Planned modifications for the wind tunnel included more extensive use of ceramics in order to minimize the number of active cooling systems and thus minimize the inherent operational unreliability and cost that accompanies such systems. Use of nonintrusive data acquisition techniques, such as infrared radiometry, allowed more widespread use of ceramics for models to be tested in high energy wind tunnels.
Puster, R. L.↗
Survey of Spaceflight Safety Systems /Survey period: July 1981 June 1982/
Information from the Survey of Spaceflight Safety Systems considered most applicable to present and future spaceflight activities is summarized. Mission reports for the first three Shuttle Orbiter flights discuss all anomalies which occurred and their resolution, such as the solid rocket booster ignition overpressure spike, and thermal tile damage. Two emergency rescue systems for orbiting space stations are proposed: a dish type rescue capsule and a reusable orbit vehicle. Prebreathing and stage decompression are considered as means of protecting astronauts against decompression effects. The Spacelab Space Sled experiments are described, as is a test program on the assembly of large space structures completed in mid-1981. Finally, collision hazards for space missions are estimated, and operational procedures for minimizing these hazards are discussed.
Brown, N. E.↗
Space Shuttle ice prevention studies
Turbojet engine exhausts are being considered for the prevention of ice formation on the Space Shuttle External Tank (ET) when cryogenic propellants are loaded. The ice could dislodge and damage the Thermal Protection System tiles of the Shuttle Orbiter. An oil flow visualization technique was developed to quickly and inexpensively study the flowfields created by jet exhausts. The procedure can also determine the influence of geometry, jet exhausts, and wind conditions on the size and location of flow regions. A black tempra and kerosene mixture was applied to an ET model; the wind tunnel and jet flow were started; and when they stopped the flow patterns were photographed to determine which parameters had the greatest influence on the flowfields.
Porteiro, J. L. F.↗
Derivation and test of elevated temperature thermal-stress-free fastener concept
Future aerospace vehicles must withstand high temperatures and be able to function over a wide temperature range. New composite materials are being developed for use in designing high-temperature lightweight structures. Due to the difference between coefficients of thermal expansion for the new composite materials and conventional high-temperature metallic fasteners, innovative joining techniques are needed to produce tight joints at all temperatures without excessive thermal stresses. A thermal-stress-free fastening technique is presented that can be used to provide structurally tight joints at all temperatures even when the fastener and joined materials have different coefficients of thermal expansion. The derivation of thermal-stress-free fasteners and joint shapes is presented for a wide variety of fastener materials and materials being joined together. Approximations to the thermal-stress-free shapes that result in joints with low-thermal-stresses and that simplify the fastener/joint shape are discussed. The low-thermal-stress fastener concept is verified by thermal and shear tests in joints using oxide-dispersion-strengthened alloy fasteners in carbon-carbon material. The test results show no evidence of thermal stress damage for temperatures up to 2000 F and the resulting joints carried shear loads at room temperature typical of those for conventional joints.
Sawyer, J. W.↗
Collecting Hypervelocity Particles Intact
Experiments conducted to develop targets capturing micrometerorites, dust, and other small particles in outer space traveling at speed of several kilometers per second. Principal criterion for such target; must stop particles while preserving mineralogical properties for subsequent analysis. Collection concept simple: foam or other underdense medium used to remove kinetic energy gently from impinging particle. Well-designed collector decelerates and stops particle without imposing stresses beyond critical stresses that damage particle thermally or mechanically. Target technology also useful in terrestrial studies of debris for explosions.
Tsou, Peter↗
Issues related to testing of Space Station materials
Issues pertaining to the long life of Space Station materials and to the test methodology for the certification of these materials are presented. Consideration is given to atomic oxygen degradation, debris and micrometeoroid damage, and thermal cycling. It is noted that the integration of the combined effects of all of these phenomena is highly important as they cannot be viewed as separate isues.
Fowler, M.↗
Micromechanics analysis of space simulated thermal deformations and stresses in continuous fiber reinforced composites
Space simulated thermally induced deformations and stresses in continuous fiber reinforced composites were investigated with a micromechanics analysis. The investigation focused on two primary areas. First, available explicit expressions for predicting the effective coefficients of thermal expansion (CTEs) for a composite were compared with each other, and with a finite element (FE) analysis, developed specifically for this study. Analytical comparisons were made for a wide range of fiber/matrix systems, and predicted values were compared with experimental data. The second area of investigation focused on the determination of thermally induced stress fields in the individual constituents. Stresses predicted from the FE analysis were compared to those predicted from a closed-form solution to the composite cylinder (CC) model, for two carbon fiber/epoxy composites. A global-local formulation, combining laminated plate theory and FE analysis, was used to determine the stresses in multidirectional laminates. Thermally induced damage initiation predictions were also made.
Bowles, David E.↗
Startup thaw concept for the SP-100 space reactor power system
A thaw concept for a space reactor power system which employs lithium as a circulant for both the heat-transport and the heat-rejection fluid loops is presented. An exemplary thermal analysis for a 100-kWe (i.e., SP-100) system is performed. It is shown that the design of the thaw system requires a thorough knowledge of the various physical states of the circulant throughout the system, both spatially and temporally, and that the design has to provide adequate margins for the system to avoid a structural or thermally induced damage.
Kirpich, A.↗
Computing Effects Of Hypervelocity Impacts On A Spacecraft
MLITEMP computer program is design software tool utilizing empirical equations to predict damage and thermal effects of impacts of hypervelocity particles on spacecraft. Three different techniques used: "inverse-R" prediction, polynomial-function prediction, and nondimensional-parameter prediction. Written in BASIC.
Rule, William K.↗
Structural Design and Analysis of a Light-Weight Laminated Composite Heat Sink for Spaceflight PWBs
In order to reduce the overall weight in spaceborne electronic systems, a conventional metallic heat sink typically used for double-sided printed wiring boards was suggested to be replaced by light-weight and high-strength laminated composite materials. Through technology validation assurance (TVA) approach, it has been successfully demonstrated that using laminated composite heat sink can not only reduce the weight of the heat sink by nearly 50%, but also significantly lower the internal thermally-induced stresses that are largely responsible for potential delamination under cyclic temperature variations. With composite heat sink, both thermal and dynamic performance of the double-sided printed wiring board (PWB) exceeds that of its counterpart with metallic heat sink. Also included in this work is the original contribution to the understanding of creep behavior of the worst-case leadless chip carrier (LCC) surface mount solder joint. This was identified as the interconnection most susceptible to thermal fatigue damage in the PWB assembly.
Fan, Mark S.↗
Thermal Fatigue Limitations of Continuous Fiber Metal Matrix Composites
The potential structural benefits of unidirectional, continuous-fiber, metal matrix composites (MMC's) are legendary. When compared to their monolithic matrices, MMC's possess superior properties such as higher stiffness and tensile strength, and lower coefficient of thermal expansion in the direction of the reinforcing fibers. As an added bonus, the MMC density will be lower if the fibers are less dense than the matrix matErial they replace. The potential has been demonstrated unequivocally both analytically and experimentally, especially at ambient temperatures. Successes prompted heavily-funded National efforts within the United States (USAF and NASA) and elsewhere to extend the promise of MMC's into the temperature regime wherein creep, stress relaxation, oxidation, and thermal fatigue damage mechanisms lurk. This is the very regime for which alternative high-temperature materials are becoming mandatory, since further enhancement of state- of-the-art monolithic alloys is rapidly approaching a point of diminishing returns.
Halford, Gary R.↗
Report of the Panel on Structures
Over the last 50 years, aeronautical structures have evolved from the wood, fabric, and wire of low-speed biplanes to supersonic aircraft fabricated with advanced metallic and nonmetallic materials. The advances made in structures technology have had significant impact on aircraft design and performance. An example is the large weight reductions being realized from the utilization of composite materials for secondary and primary structures. However, structural advances have been evolutionary, not revolutionary. Through the year 2000, there are opportunities to obtain significant new advancements in structural technology. These advances could result in considerable performance and capability payoffs such as increased payload, range, speed, maneuverability, fuel efficiency, and safety through reductions in weight, increases in strength, and the ability to make structures pliable. Also, with new manufacturing processes it is possible that reductions in production costs will be realized. Some of the structural technology areas where future major advances could be made are adaptive structures, thermal structures, damage tolerant structures, propulsion system structures, and new structural concepts.
Hyer, Michael W.↗
Damage Assessment of Stress-Thermal Cycled High Temperature
We report on the characterization of bismaleimide and polyimide carbon fiber composite, microcrack development under stress thermal cycling loading. Such cycle range from cryogenic temperatures associated with cryogenic fuel (LN, LOX) containment to high temperatures of 300 degrees associated with future hypervelocity aeropropulsion systems. Microcrack development thresholds as a function of temperature range of the thermal cycle, the number of cycles, and the applied stress level imposed on the composite are reported. We have conducted stress-thermal cycles on thin bismaleimide-woven carbon fiber foils for three temperature range cycles. The principle findings are that the full cycles from -196 degree celsius up to 250 degree celsius cause the most significant microcrack development. These observations indicate that the high temperature portion of the cycle under load causes fiber-matrix interface failure and subsequent exposure to higher stresses at the cryogenic, low temperature region results in composite matrix microcracking as a result of the additional stresses associated with the fiber-matrix thermal expansion mismatch. Our initial studies for 12 ply PMR-II-50 polyimide/M6OJB carbon fabric [0f, 90f, 90f, 0f, 0f, 90f] composites will be presented. The stress-thermal cycle test procedure for these will be described. Moisture absorption characteristics between cycles will be used to monitor interconnected microcrack development. The applied stress level will be 75 percent of the composite cryogenic -196 degree celsius ultimate strength.
Ju, Jach-Yung↗