Nonlinear structural analysis of cylindrical thrust chambers using viscoplastic models

The results are presented of a viscoplastic stress-strain analysis of a cylindrical thrust chamber used in experiments that were designed to simulate the SSME operating conditions. The inelastic strain was calculated by using a viscoplastic model, and a quasi-three-dimensional structural analysis was performed by using a finite element program MARC. The temperatures and pressures were calculated by using the loading cycles of experiments, and these temperatures and pressures were used in the computations. The deformed shape of the component was predicted after the end of each loading cycle. The predicted shape qualitatively replicated the deformed shape of the component as observed in experiments. The results indicate that the use of viscoplastic models for structural analysis may lead to more realistic life assessments of experimental thrust chambers.