SEMI-RIGID OR NON-RIGID STRUCTURES FOR RE-ENTRY APPLICATIONS. PART 1. EVALUATION AND DESIGN
Abstract
This study, fabrication and test program was undertaken to determine the most suitable structural design, using available materials, for inflatable re-entry vehicles and space structures, to develop suitable manufacturing processes and techniques, and to perform tests on the resulting components of a typical re-entry paraglider. The results are applicable to other types of structures. This final technical report covers the period 15 January 1963 to 15 January 1967. Materials system development was conducted in conjunction with re-entry, aero-thermodynamic studies and vehicle structural design. A two-ply, ultra-fine, multifilament, nickel-chromium metal fabric, impregnated and coated with two different types of silicone rubber, was chosen as the basic structural and inflatable membrane of the re-entry vehicle. Major areas of technology advancement included development of manufacturing and processing techniques for the utilization of ultra-fine metal filament in the manufacture of special metal fabrics; stress analysis, and confirmation by test, of structures constructed of anisotropic woven materials; design and construction of a special, deep-throat, semi-automatic metal fabric welder capable of producing flexible, welded seams of approximately 90 percent efficiency in two through five layers of metal fabric; techniques for thorough impregnation and coating of metal fabric with high-temperature and ablative silicone elastomers, and fabrication methods for the construction of expandable space structures.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 1967
- Accession Number
- AD0822519
Entities
People
- Jesse F. Keville