NON-DESTRUCTIVE TESTING TECHNIQUES FOR LIQUID PROPELLANTS

Abstract

The principal degradation modes for a variety of storable liquid propellants have been identified as thermal decomposition of fuels into gaseous products and tank wall interaction of the oxidizers. Non-destructive testing techniques selected to monitor the propellant degradation included strain gage instrumentation to measure pressure buildup due to decomposition of fuels, pulse-echo ultrasonic technique for corrosion and wall reduction due to oxidizer interaction, and a thermal conductivity cell to detect propellant leakage. The selected techniques were experimentally evaluated with simulated modes of degradation to develop prototype equipment which was used to monitor 27 tanks of propellant under various environmental conditions for the three months. Propellant included Compound A, MHF-5, dilute sulfuric acid to accelerate corrosion and alcohol to permit a more rigorous program of temperature shocks, vibration, and high moisture conditions to accelerate strain gage deterioration.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 01, 1967
Accession Number
AD0383676

Entities

People

  • Bruce E. Dawson

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Accuracy
  • Chemical Reactions
  • Chemical Synthesis
  • Chemistry
  • Detection
  • Detectors
  • Material Degradation Processes
  • Materials
  • Materials Laboratories
  • Materials Processing
  • Materials Science
  • Materials Testing
  • Measurement
  • Physical Properties
  • Rocket Oxidizers
  • Test And Evaluation
  • Test Methods

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Mechanical Engineering/Mechanics of Materials.
  • Rocket Propulsion.
  • Surface Coatings Technology.