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Nondestructive examination of the TRMM RCS propellant tanksThis paper assesses the feasibility of using eddy current nondestructive examination of determine flaw sizes in completely assembled hydrazine propellant tanks. The study was performed by the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center for the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) project to help determine whether existing propellant tanks could meet the fracture analysis requirements of the current pressure vessel specification, MIL-STD-1522A and, therefore be used on the TRMM spacecraft. After evaluating several nondestructive test methods, eddy current testing was selected as the most promising method for determining flaw sizes on external and internal surfaces of completely assembled tanks. Tests were conducted to confirm the detection capability of the eddy current NDE, procedures were developed to inspect two candidate tanks, and the test support equipment was designed. The non-spherical tank eddy current NDE test program was terminated when the decision was made to procure new tanks for the TRMM propulsion subsystem. The information on the development phase of this test program is presented in this paper as a reference for future investigation on the subject.
Document ID
19950009923
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Free, James M.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Date Acquired
September 6, 2013
Publication Date
November 1, 1993
Publication Information
Publication: JHU, The 1993 JANNAF Propulsion Meeting, Volume 2
Subject Category
Quality Assurance And Reliability
Accession Number
95N16338
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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