Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “PRESSURE VESSELS”

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.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 235 records · Page 13

Proof test criteria for thin walled pressure vessels

A proof test criterion for assuring minimum service life requirements for aerospace pressure vessels is provided. The criteria proposed are based on the results of several experimental programs conducted on surface flaw specimens fabricated from 2219 aluminum base and weld metal. A description is presented of the stable crack growth behavior of surface flaws during loading. Conclusions derived from an experimental program are discussed. It is found that significant stable crack growth under increasing load can occur prior to failure. However, significant variability in results can be anticipated even when carefully controlled laboratory procedures are employed.

Finger, R. W.↗

Strength, Fatigue, and Fracture Toughness of Ti-6Al-4V Liner from a Composite Over-Wrapped Pressure Vessel

It was demonstrated by way of experiment that Composite Over-wrapped Pressure Vessel (COPV) Ti-6Al-4V liner material can sustain the expected service loads and cycles. The experiments were performed as part of investigations on the residual life of COPV tanks being used in Space Shuttle Orbiters. Measured properties included tensile strength, compressive strength, reversed loading cycles to simulate liner proof strains, and cyclic fatigue loading to demonstrate the ability to sustain 1000 cycles after liner buckling. The liner material came from a salvaged 40 in. Columbia (orbiter 102) tank (SN029), and tensile strength measurements were made on both boss-transition (thick) and membrane regions (thin). The average measured yield strength was 131 ksi in the boss-transition and membrane regions, in good agreement with measurements made on 1970 s vintage forged plate stock. However, Young s modulus was 17.4+/-0.3 Msi, somewhat higher than typical handbook values (approx.16 Msi). The fracture toughness, as estimated from a failed fatigue specimen, was 74 ksi/sq in, in reasonable agreement with standardized measurements made on 1970 s vintage forged plate stock. Low cycle fatigue of a buckled test specimen implied that as-imprinted liners can sustain over 4000 load cycles.

Salem, Jonathan A.↗

The Safety Course Design and Operations of Composite Overwrapped Pressure Vessels (COPV)

Following a Commercial Launch Vehicle On-Pad COPV (Composite Overwrapped Pressure Vessels) failure, a request was received by the NESC (NASA Engineering and Safety Center) June 14, 2014. An assessment was approved July 10, 2014, to develop and assess the capability of scanning eddy current (EC) nondestructive evaluation (NDE) methods for mapping thickness and inspection for flaws. Current methods could not identify thickness reduction from necking and critical flaw detection was not possible with conventional dye penetrant (PT) methods, so sensitive EC scanning techniques were needed. Developmental methods existed, but had not been fully developed, nor had the requisite capability assessment (i.e., a POD (Probability of Detection) study) been performed.

Saulsberry, Regor↗

Filament wound pressure vessels with load sharing liners for Space Shuttle Orbiter applications

It is recognized that the use of overwrapped pressure vessels with load sharing liners may provide significant weight savings for high pressure gas containment in Space Shuttle Orbiter systems. The technology readiness to produce Kevlar wound vessels with load sharing liners of titanium 6Al-4V, Inconel 718 or cryoformed 301 steel has been demonstrated. It has been estimated that about 400 lbs can be saved in the Orbiter by using overwrapped vessels with load sharing liners instead of monolithic metal designs. Total weight of the composite vessels would be about 1350 lbs as opposed to about 1750 lbs for all-metal vessels.

Ecord, G. M.↗

Organic fiber/epoxy pressure vessels

We evaluated the performance of an organic fiber in an epoxy matrix by winding 20-cm diam spherical and cylindrical pressure vessels of various designs. For the spherical vessels, we used soft aluminum liners 0.76 mm thick for a double boss design and 2 mm thick for a single boss design. For the cylindrical vessels, we used both 0.5-mm rubber liners and 0.76-mm soft aluminum liners. Vessels of both types were tested for burst pressure and cyclic fatigue at room temperature and liquid hydrogen temperature. The effects of temperature and vessel shape on the vessel performance factor were negligible. Our vessel fatigue data were marred by premature failure of the liners.

Chiao, T. T.↗

A Compilation of Composite Overwrapped Pressure Vessel Research (2015–2021)

This document presents the results of a series of studies performed to develop data-driven rupture limit equations and ballistic limit equations for composite overwrapped pressure vessels. These equations can be used to differentiate between impact conditions that would result in only a small hole or crack from those that would cause catastrophic tank failure. This information would be useful in selecting tank materials to avoid catastrophic tank failure in the event of a perforating on-orbit micrometeoroid or orbital debris particle impact.

Rupture Limit Equations↗

Draft ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code Cases and Technical Bases for Use of Alloy 617 for Constructions of Nuclear Component Under Section III, Division 5

The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code currently only allows five materials for use in construction of nuclear components for high temperature service. These are: 2.25Cr-1Mo and V-modified 9Cr-1Mo steels, Types 304 and 316 stainless steels and the high nickel Alloy 800H. Since 2005, the US high temperature gas-cooled reactor program has been characterizing elevated temperature mechanical properties of Alloy 617 as the leading candidate construction material for the intermediate heat exchanger. After analysis of these experimental results, along with historical data and additional results available through the Generation IV International Forum, Very High Temperature Reactor, Materials Program Management Board Materials Handbook, a draft ASME Code Case to allow nuclear construction with Alloy 617 for temperatures up to 1750°F (954°C) has been developed. This report contains the Code Case for Low Temperature Service Construction of Section III, Division 5, Subsection HB, Subpart A, Class A and Subsection HC, Subpart A, Class B components, which has been approved in Section II, Materials, and Section III, Rules for Construction of Nuclear Facility Components. Supporting technical justification for the low temperature Code Case is also included. This Code Case allows use of Alloy 617 up to 800°F (425°C). This report also contains an updated draft of a Section III, Division 5, Subsection HB, Subpart B, Class A Code Case for Alloy 617 to qualify it for use in construction of nuclear components up to 1750°F (954°C) for service life up to 100,000 hours. The draft contained in Appendix 4, subject to editorial revision and approval by the ASME Special Task Group on Alloy 617 Code Qualification, will be submitted for approval by letter ballot by the appropriate ASME Committees. The technical justification supporting the Code Case is presented in Appendix 5 of this report. This background document is part of the information package that will be submitted with the Code Case for ballot.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

Machine learning predictions of irradiation embrittlement in reactor pressure vessel steels

Abstract Irradiation increases the yield stress and embrittles light water reactor (LWR) pressure vessel steels. In this study, we demonstrate some of the potential benefits and risks of using machine learning models to predict irradiation hardening extrapolated to low flux, high fluence, extended life conditions. The machine learning training data included the Irradiation Variable for lower flux irradiations up to an intermediate fluence, plus the Belgian Reactor 2 and Advanced Test Reactor 1 for very high flux irradiations, up to very high fluence. Notably, the machine learning model predictions for the high fluence, intermediate flux Advanced Test Reactor 2 irradiations are superior to extrapolations of existing hardening models. The successful extrapolations showed that machine learning models are capable of capturing key intermediate flux effects at high fluence. Similar approaches, applied to expanded databases, could be used to predict hardening in LWRs under life-extension conditions.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Nickel hydrogen multicell common pressure vessel battery development update

The technology background and design qualification of the multicell common pressure vessel nickel hydrogen battery are described. The results of full flight qualification, including random vibration at 19.5 g for two minutes in each axis, electrical characterization in a thermal vacuum chamber, and mass spectroscopy vessel leak detection are reviewed and 12.7 cm qualification and 25.4 cm design adaptation are discussed.

Zagrodnik, Jeffrey P.↗

On the use of charged particles to characterize precipitation in irradiated reactor pressure vessel steels with a wide range of compositions

Nuclear reactor lifetimes may be limited by nano-scale Cu-Mn-Ni-Si precipitates (CRPs and MNSPs) that form under neutron irradiation (NI) of pressure vessel (RPV) steels, resulting in hardening and ductile to brittle transition temperature increases (embrittlement). Physical models of embrittlement must be based on characterization of precipitation as a function of the combination of metallurgical and irradiation variables. Here we focus on rapid and convenient charged particle irradiations (CPI) to both: a) compare to precipitates formed in NI; and, b) use CPI to efficiently explore precipitation in steels with a very wide range of compositions. Atom probe tomography (APT) comparisons show NI and CPI for similar bulk steel solute contents yield nearly the same precipitate compositions, albeit with some differences in their number density, size and volume fraction (f) dose (dpa) dependence. Yet, the overall precipitate evolutions are very similar. Advanced high Ni (>3 wt%) RPV steels, with superior unirradiated properties, were also investigated at high CPI dpa. For typical Mn contents, MNSPs have Ni 16 Mn 6 Si 7 or Ni 3 Mn 2 Si phase type compositions, with f values that are close to the equilibrium phase separated values. In contrast, in steels with very low Mn and high Ni, Ni 2-3 Si silicide phase type precipitate compositions are observed; and when Ni is low, the precipitate compositions are close to the MnSi phase field. Low Mn significantly reduces, but does not eliminate, precipitation in high Ni steels. A comparison of dispersed barrier model predictions with measured hardening data suggests that the Ni-Si dominated precipitates are weaker dislocation obstacles than the G phase type MNSPs.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗

Environmental crack-growth behavior of high strength pressure vessel alloys

Results of sustained-load environmental crack growth threshold tests performed on six spacecraft pressure vessel alloys are presented. The alloys were Inconel 718, 6Al-4V titanium, A-286 steel, AM-350 stainless steel, cryoformed AISI 301 stainless steel; and cryoformed AISI 304L steel. The test environments for the program were air, pressurized gases of hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide, and liquid environments of distilled water, sea water, nitrogen tetroxide, hydrazine, aerozine 50, monomethyl hydrazine, and hydrogen peroxide. Surface flaw type specimens were used with flaws located in both base metal and weld metal.

Forman, R. G.↗

Plating Repair Of Nickel-Alloy Pressure Vessels

Procedure for localized electrodeposition of nickel enables repair of small damaged nickel-based pressure vessels. Electrodeposition restores weakened areas of vessel wall to at least their former strength.

Ricklefs, Steve K.↗

Overview of NASA White Sands Test Facility Composite Overwrapped Pressure Vessel Testing

This viewgraph presentation examines the White Sands Test Facility testing of Composite overwrapped pressure vessel (COPV). A COPV is typically a metallic liner overwrapped with a fiber epoxy matrix. There is a weight advantage over the traditional all metal design. The presentation shows pictures of the facilities at White Sands, and then examines some of the testing performed. The tests include fluids compatibility, and Kevlar COPV. Data for the Kevlar tests are given, and an analysis is reviewed. There is also a comparison between Carbon COPVs and the Kevlar COPVs.

Greene, Nathanael↗