Ballistic Vulnerability of Boron/Epoxy Double-Wall Drive Shafts

Abstract

Seven boron/epoxy double-wall shafts were ballistically impacted while under torque loads ranging from 7,500 to 12,300 in.-lb. Projectile velocities ranged from 1,540 to 2,500 fps. Static residual strength tests were then conducted. Three aluminum shafts were tested similarly for comparison. The residual strength of the boron/epoxy shafts was approximately 8,000 in.-lb, which is about one-third the ultimate strength of an undamaged tube. The aluminum shafts exhibited residual strengths of 22,000 to 32,000 in.-lb, which would be sufficient to carry expected flight loads. This program has shown that plus or minus 45 boron/epoxy sandwich drive shafts exhibit much lower residual strengths after ballistic damage than do the conventional aluminum shafts, and that design improvements would be required if the boron/epoxy shafts are to be acceptable in a ballistic environment.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Oct 01, 1971
Accession Number
AD0737285

Entities

People

  • Frank H. Veit
  • Robert T. Welge

Organizations

  • United Technologies Corporation

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aircrafts
  • Composite Materials
  • Contracts
  • Drive Shafts
  • Epoxy Laminates
  • Government Procurement
  • Honeycomb Cores
  • Honeycomb Structures
  • Impact Tests
  • Materials
  • Sandwich Construction
  • Shear Stresses
  • Stress Concentration
  • Stress Strain Relations
  • Stresses
  • Tensile Strength
  • Walls

Readers

  • Aerospace Engineering
  • Metallurgy
  • Nuclear Civil Defense.