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At least 271 records · Page 15

An Assessment of a Titanium Alloy for Supersonic Transport Operations

An assessment is given of the materials problems and implications regarding the use of Ti-8Al-1Mo-IV alloy sheet for the skin of a supersonic transport. Although the assessment of this alloy in the duplex annealed condition is generally favorable, several questions remain unanswered and new ones continue to arise. The seriousness of the salt stress corrosion problem at 500 F and above under flight conditions cannot be predicted on the basis of current laboratory corrosion tests. A new potential stress corrosion problem at ambient temperatures in the presence of cracks and salt water requires investigation. The ability to withstand a 30,000-hour exposure at 550 F without undue degradation of the material or welds will remain doubtful until more long-time data are available. The substitution of a more corrosion-resistant and stable titanium alloy in the tension critical areas of the structure may prove advisable.

Heimerl, George J.↗

Modeling of the Multiparameter Inverse Task of Transient Thermography

Transient thermography employs preheated surface temperature variations caused by delaminations, cracks, voids, corroded regions, etc. Often, it is enough to detect these changes to declare a defect in a workpiece. It is also desirable to obtain additional information about the defect from the thermal response. The planar size, depth, and thermal resistance of the detected defects are the parameters of interest. In this paper a digital image processing technique is applied to simulated thermal responses in order to obtain the geometry of the inclusion-type defects in a flat panel. A three-dimensional finite difference model in Cartesian coordinates is used for the numerical simulations. Typical physical properties of polymer graphite composites are assumed. Using different informative parameters of the thermal response for depth estimation is discussed.

Plotnikov, Y. A.↗

The Rossi X-Ray Timing Explorer (XTE) Solar Array Anomaly

The XTE was launched December 30, 1995. Shortly after launch, it become apparent that the solar array was not performing as expected. On leaving shadow, the array exhibited many discontinuous drops in current output. The size of each of these drops was consistent with the loss of a part of a sell. The current decreases could not be caused by the loss of an entire circuit. This meant that the array may have had numerous cracked solar cells that opened as array got warmer. Studies performed on the array's qualification panel suggest that the cell cracks may have been cased by extensive tap testing performed on the array and that these cracks were undetectable at room temperature using usual inspection method.

Gaddy, Edward M.↗

Hydrogen Sensors Boost Hybrids; Today's Models Losing Gas?

Advanced chemical sensors are used in aeronautic and space applications to provide safety monitoring, emission monitoring, and fire detection. In order to fully do their jobs, these sensors must be able to operate in a range of environments. NASA has developed sensor technologies addressing these needs with the intent of improving safety, optimizing combustion efficiencies, and controlling emissions. On the ground, the chemical sensors were developed by NASA engineers to detect potential hydrogen leaks during Space Shuttle launch operations. The Space Shuttle uses a combination of hydrogen and oxygen as fuel for its main engines. Liquid hydrogen is pumped to the external tank from a storage tank located several hundred feet away. Any hydrogen leak could potentially result in a hydrogen fire, which is invisible to the naked eye. It is important to detect the presence of a hydrogen fire in order to prevent a major accident. In the air, the same hydrogen-leak dangers are present. Stress and temperature changes can cause tiny cracks or holes to form in the tubes that line the Space Shuttle s main engine nozzle. Such defects could allow the hydrogen that is pumped through the nozzle during firing to escape. Responding to the challenges associated with pinpointing hydrogen leaks, NASA endeavored to improve propellant leak-detection capabilities during assembly, pre-launch operations, and flight. The objective was to reduce the operational cost of assembling and maintaining hydrogen delivery systems with automated detection systems. In particular, efforts have been focused on developing an automated hydrogen leak-detection system using multiple, networked hydrogen sensors that are operable in harsh conditions.

Source record↗

Polyimide-Foam/Aerogel Composites for Thermal Insulation

Composites of specific types of polymer foams and aerogel particles or blankets have been proposed to obtain thermal insulation performance superior to those of the neat polyimide foams. These composites have potential to also provide enhanced properties for vibration dampening or acoustic attenuation. The specific type of polymer foam is denoted "TEEK-H", signifying a series, denoted H, within a family of polyimide foams that were developed at NASA s Langley Research Center and are collectively denoted TEEK (an acronym of the inventors names). The specific types of aerogels include Nanogel aerogel particles from Cabot Corporation in Billerica, MA. and of Spaceloft aerogel blanket from Aspen Aerogels in Northborough, MA. The composites are inherently flame-retardant and exceptionally thermally stable. There are numerous potential uses for these composites, at temperatures from cryogenic to high temperatures, in diverse applications that include aerospace vehicles, aircraft, ocean vessels, buildings, and industrial process equipment. Some low-temperature applications, for example, include cryogenic storage and transfer or the transport of foods, medicines, and chemicals. Because of thermal cycling, aging, and weathering most polymer foams do not perform well at cryogenic temperatures and will undergo further cracking over time. The TEEK polyimides are among the few exceptions to this pattern, and the proposed composites are intended to have all the desirable properties of TEEK-H foams, plus improved thermal performance along with enhanced vibration or acoustic-attenuation performance. A composite panel as proposed would be fabricated by adding an appropriate amount of TEEK friable balloons into a mold to form a bottom layer. A piece of flexible aerogel blanket material, cut to the desired size and shape, would then be placed on the bottom TEEK layer and sandwiched between another top layer of polyimide friable balloons so that the aerogel blanket would become completely encased in an outer layer of TEEK friable balloons. Optionally, the process could be further repeated to produce multiple aerogel-blanket layers interspersed with and encased by TEEK friable balloons.

Williams, Martha↗

Retention of Compressive Residual Stresses Introduced by Shot Peening in a Powder Metal Disk Superalloy

The fatigue lives of disk superalloys can be increased by shot peening their surfaces, to induce compressive residual stresses near the surface that impede cracking there. As disk application temperatures increase for improved efficiency, the persistence of these beneficial stresses could be impaired, especially with continued fatigue cycling. The objective of this work was to study the retention of residual stresses introduced by shot peening, when subjected to fatigue and high temperatures. Fatigue specimens of powder metallurgy processed nickel-base disk superalloy ME3 were prepared with consistent processing and heat treatment. They were then shot peened using varied conditions. Strain-controlled fatigue cycles were run at room temperature and 704 C, to allow re-assessment of residual stresses.

fatigue↗

The influence of hold times on LCF and FCG behavior in a P/M Ni-base superalloy

The relative importance of creep and environmental interactions in high temperature fatigue behavior has been investigated for as-HIP Rene 95. Strain-controlled low cycle fatigue and load-controlled fatigue crack growth tests were performed at elevated temperatures in argon, followed by fractographic analyses of the fracture surfaces by scanning electron microscopy. Fatigue lives were drastically reduced and crack growth rates increased one hundred fold as a result of superposition of hold times on continuous cycling. A change in fracture mode with hold time also was noted. Chromium oxide was detected on the fracture surface by Auger electron spectroscopy. The drastic changes in fatigue resistance due to hold times were attributed primarily to environmental interactions with fatigue processes.

Choe, S. J.↗

Leakage Currents in Low-Voltage PME and BME Ceramic Capacitors

Introduction of BME capacitors to high-reliability electronics as a replacement for PME capacitors requires better understanding of changes in performance and reliability of MLCCs to set justified screening and qualification requirements. In this work, absorption and leakage currents in various lots of commercial and military grade X7R MLCCs rated to 100V and less have been measured to reveal difference in behavior of PME and BME capacitors in a wide range of voltages and temperatures. Degradation of leakage currents and failures in virgin capacitors and capacitors with introduced cracks has been studied at different voltages and temperatures during step stress highly accelerated life testing. Mechanisms of charge absorption, conduction and degradation have been discussed and a failure model in capacitors with defects suggested.

base metal electrode capacitor (BME)↗

Elevated temperature fracture of RS/PM aluminum alloy 8009

The fracture behavior of advanced powder metallurgy Al-Fe-V-Si alloy 8009 (previously called FVS0812) is being characterized under monotonic loads, as a function of temperature. Particular attention is focused on contributions to the fracture mechanism from the fine grained dispersoid strengthened microstructure, dissolved solute from rapid solidification, and the moist air environment. Time-dependent crack growth is characterized in advanced aluminum alloys at elevated temperatures with the fracture mechanics approach, and cracking mechanisms are examined with a metallurgical approach. Specific tasks were to obtain standard load crack growth experimental information from a refined testing system; to correlate crack growth kinetics with the j-integral and time dependent C(sub t)(t); and to investigate the intermediate temperature embrittlement of 8009 alloy in order to understand crack growth mechanisms.

Porr, William C., Jr.↗

Surface protection of graphite fabric/PMR-15 composites subjected to thermal oxidation

Graphite fabric/PMR-15 laminates develop matrix cracks during long-term exposure in air at temperatures in the range of 500 to 600 F. This study was performed to demonstrate the effectiveness of incorporating graphite mat surface plies as a means of reducing the developing of matrix cracks. Celion 3000 graphite fabric/PMR-15 laminates were fabricated with graphite or graphite mat/325-mesh boron powder surface plies. Laminates without mat surface plies were also fabricated for control purposes. Composite flexural strength, flexural modulus, and interlaminar shear strength were determined at 288 C before and after long-term exposure (up to 1500 hr) in air at 316 C. The results of this study showed that the incorporation of graphite mat surface plies reduces matrix cracking and improves the elevated temperature mechanical property retention characteristics of the composites.

Hanson, M. P.↗

NASA Ground-based Layered Pressure Vessels Materials Report

A significant portion of Layered Pressure Vessels (LPVs) manufactured for NASA in the 1950s and ’60s are of non-code construction. These vessels were constructed to the standards of individual manufacturers rather than an industry or consensus standard and often contain legacy or proprietary materials, which have poor or no characterization. Obtaining correct material properties is the first step in assuring vessel safety and predicting life and critical failure modes before they happen. This report details the efforts of the LPV Project related to material properties and characterization. The goal in testing materials from deconstructed vessels was to provide material characterization utilizing modern test methods that would give a strong probabilistic base as an option for future analysis. ASTM E1820, Standard Test Method for Measurement of Fracture Toughness was used for fracture toughness; ASTM E1921, Standard Test Method for Determination of Reference Temperature, T0, for Ferritic Steels in the Transition Range for transition temperature; and ASTM E647, Standard Test Method for Measurement of Fatigue Crack Growth Rates for fatigue crack growth. Particular focus was placed on determination of transition temperature through evaluation of the T0 reference temperature in accordance with ASTM E1921. Transition temperature testing allows for a probabilistic analysis of vessel materials that may be operating at temperatures below the transition from ductile tearing to brittle cleavage failure. This test method was not available at the time of construction and has proved invaluable to the characterization of older ferritic steels. The values reported are specific to the largest body of materials found in the current NASA fleet, but do not claim to be all inclusive. As demonstrated in this report, some materials contain extreme lot-to-lot variability. In some cases, this can be comfortably bounded by worst case probabilistic methods, however it is always recommended that vessel specific data be collected in as much depth as possible to ensure correct assumptions and avoid unduly restricting vessel usage.

Layered Pressure Vessel↗

High Temperature Tensile Properties of Unidirectional Hi-Nicalon/Celsian Composites In Air

High temperature tensile properties of unidirectional BN/SiC-coated Hi-Nicalon SiC fiber reinforced celsian matrix composites have been measured from room temperature to 1200 C (2190 F) in air. Young's modulus, the first matrix cracking stress, and the ultimate strength decreased from room temperature to 1200 C (2190 F). The applicability of various micromechanical models, in predicting room temperature values of various mechanical properties for this CMC, has also been investigated. The simple rule of mixtures produced an accurate estimate of the primary composite modulus. The first matrix cracking stress estimated from ACK theory was in good agreement with the experimental value. The modified fiber bundle failure theory of Evans gave a good estimate of the ultimate strength.

Gyekenyesi, John Z.↗

Cyclic Oxidation of FeCrAlY/Al2O3 Composites

Three-ply FeCrAlY/Al2O3 composites and FeCrAlY matrix-only samples were cyclically oxidized at 1000 C and 1100 C for up to 1000 1-hr cycles. Fiber ends were exposed at the ends of the composite samples. Following cyclic oxidation, cracks running parallel to and perpendicular to the fibers were observed on the large surface of the composite. In addition, there was evidence of increased scale damage and spallation around the exposed fiber ends, particularly around the middle ply fibers. This damage was more pronounced at the higher temperature. The exposed fiber ends showed cracking between fibers in the outer plies, occasionally with Fe and Cr-rich oxides growing out of the cracks. Large gaps developed at the fiber/matrix interface around many of the fibers, especially those in the outer plies. Oxygen penetrated many of these gaps resulting in significant oxide formation at the fiber/matrix interface far within the composite sample. Around several fibers, the matrix was also internally oxidized showing Al2O3 precipitates in a radial band around the fibers. The results show that these composites have poor cyclic oxidation resistance due to the CTE mismatch and inadequate fiber/matrix bond strength at temperatures of 1000 C and above.

Nesbitt, James A.↗

Pre- and post-annealing of mechanical damage in silicon wafers

Basic properties of mechanical damage in silicon consisting of cracks and abrasion were studied using transmission electron microscopy. The crystallographic structure of mechanical damage was determined before and after high temperature annealing. The main findings include that stresses in silicon around crack tips are not plastically relieved at room temperature and that abrasion at room temperature introduces shear loops into the silicon. It was also found that cracks of micron size can be annealed out, specifically, if cleavage occurs on 111 planes. The healing products of such cracks are 60 deg and 90 deg dislocations. Submicron cracks transform into stacking faults during annealing. Likewise high concentrations of shear loops due abrasion were found to anneal into stacking faults. A one to one correlation between surface areas containing small cracks and stacking faults was made. Measurements of damage removal on silicon surfaces through chemical-mechanical etching techniques are presented. It is shown that silicon dioxide repolishes damaged silicon surfaces most effectively.

Schwottke, G. H.↗

Oxidation Kinetics and Strength Degradation of Carbon Fibers in a Cracked Ceramic Matrix Composite

Experimental results and oxidation modeling will be presented to discuss carbon fiber susceptibility to oxidation, the oxidation kinetics regimes and composite strength degradation and failure due to oxidation. Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) was used to study the oxidation rates of carbon fiber and of a pyro-carbon interphase. The analysis was used to separately obtain activation energies for the carbon constituents within a C/SiC composite. TGA was also conducted on C/SiC composite material to study carbon oxidation and crack closure as a function of temperature. In order to more closely match applications conditions C/SiC tensile coupons were also tested under stressed oxidation conditions. The stressed oxidation tests show that C/SiC is much more susceptible to oxidation when the material is under an applied load where the cracks are open and allow for oxygen ingress. The results help correlate carbon oxidation with composite strength reduction and failure.

Halbig, Michael C.↗

Ru(sub 2)Ge(sub 3): Crystal Growth and Come Properties

Large samples of Ru(sub 2)Ge(sub 3) were grown from Ge-rich off-stoichiometric melts at a temperature close to 1460 C by a vertical gradient freeze method in graphite and glassy carbon crucibles.

off-stoichiometric melt twinning crack formation h↗

Effects of moisture, elevated temperature, and fatigue loading on the behavior of graphite/epoxy buffer strip panels with center cracks

The effects of fatigue loading combined with moisture and heat on the behavior of graphite epoxy panels with either Kevlar-49 or S-glass buffer strips were studied. Buffer strip panels, that had a slit in the center to represent damage, were moisture conditioned or heated, fatigue loaded, and then tested in tension to measure their residual strength. The buffer strips were parallel to the loading direction and were made by replacing narrow strips of the 0 deg graphite plies with Kevlar-49 epoxy or S-glass epoxy on a 1-for-1 basis. The panels were subjected to a fatigue loading spectrum. One group of panels was preconditioned by soaking in 60 C water to produce a 1 percent weight gain then tested at room temperature. One group was heated to 82 C during the fatigue loading. Another group was moisture conditioned and then tested at 82 C. The residual strengths of the buffer panels were not highly affected by the fatigue loading, the number of repetitions of the loading spectrum, or the maximum strain level. The moisture conditioning reduced the residual strengths of the S-glass buffer strip panel by 10 to 15 percent below the ambient results. The moisture conditioning did not have a large effect on the Kevlar-49 panels.

Bigelow, C. A.↗

Grain boundary oxidation and its effects on high temperature fatigue life

Fatigue lives at elevated temperatures are often shortened by creep and/or oxidation. Creep causes grain boundary void nucleation and grain boundary cavitation. Grain boundary voids and cavities will accelerate fatigue crack nucleation and propagation, and thereby shorten fatigue life. The functional relationships between the damage rate of fatigue crack nucleation and propagation and the kinetic process of oxygen diffusion depend on the detailed physical processes. The kinetics of grain boundary oxidation penetration was investigated. The statistical distribution of grain boundary penetration depth was analyzed. Its effect on high temperature fatigue life are discussed. A model of intermittent micro-ruptures of grain boundary oxide was proposed for high temperature fatigue crack growth. The details of these studies are reported.

Liu, H. W.↗