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Fracture Toughness Evaluation of Space Shuttle External Tank Thermal Protection System Polyurethane Foam Insulation MaterialsExperimental evaluation of the basic fracture properties of Thermal Protection System (TPS) polyurethane foam insulation materials was conducted to validate the methodology used in estimating critical defect sizes in TPS applications on the Space Shuttle External Fuel Tank. The polyurethane foam found on the External Tank (ET) is manufactured by mixing liquid constituents and allowing them to react and expand upwards - a process which creates component cells that are generally elongated in the foam rise direction and gives rise to mechanical anisotropy. Similarly, the application of successive foam layers to the ET produces cohesive foam interfaces (knitlines) which may lead to local variations in mechanical properties. This study reports the fracture toughness of BX-265, NCFI 24-124, and PDL-1034 closed-cell polyurethane foam as a function of ambient and cryogenic temperatures and knitline/cellular orientation at ambient pressure.
Document ID
20060025024
Acquisition Source
Marshall Space Flight Center
Document Type
Other
Authors
McGill, Preston
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL, United States)
Wells, Doug
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL, United States)
Morgan, Kristin
(Lockheed Martin Michoud Space Systems New Orleans, LA, United States)
Date Acquired
August 23, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 2006
Subject Category
Composite Materials
Meeting Information
Meeting: 2006 National Space and Missile Materials Symposium (NAMMS)
Location: Orlando, FL
Country: United States
Start Date: June 26, 2006
End Date: June 30, 2006
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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