Acrylic Plastic Hemispherical Shells for NUC Undersea Elevator.
Abstract
Free-formed, flanged, acrylic hemispherical shells with a nominal 27-in. median radius have been experimentally evaluated for service as external pressure hulls with a nominal 56-ft depth. Because the free- forming fabrication technique produces hemispheres with significant variation in thickness and sphericity, uneven stress distribution results during external hydrostatic loading. As a result, extreme care must be exercised when utilizing free- formed acrylic hemispheres because their elastic instability pressure and magnitude of stresses cannot be predicted on the basis of equations for ideal acrylic spheres. Using an experimental approach to the evaluation of 54-in.-median-diameter hemispheres, it was found that nominally 1- in.-thick acrylic plate stock is adequately thick for free-forming of shells that will be utilized as pressure hulls for an operational depth of 56 ft. (Author-PL)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 1972
- Accession Number
- AD0749029
Entities
People
- J. D. Stachiw
Organizations
- Naval Undersea Warfare Center