Investigation of Filament-Reinforced Plastic Deep-Submergence Pressure Hulls.
Abstract
A large number of models employing a variety of geometric concepts and fabricated from plastic reinforced with glass, carbon, and boron fibers were tested under external hydrostatic pressure. The results were evaluated to explore the feasibility of using filament-reinforced plastics (FRP) as a structural material for the pressure hulls of deep-ocean research vehicles. A concurrent theoretical study indicated that FRP offers the greatest potential for this application at depths greater than 15,000 ft. The test results to date substantiate the basic strength-to-weight advantages of FRP at these depths over other state-of-the-art metals such as HY-140 steel and HY-110 titanium. However, a number of significant problems must be solved or circumvented before this material can be considered acceptable for manned deep-submergence pressure hull applications. These problems include the lack of complete understanding of failure mechanisms; the lack of a verified analysis of the response of thick orthotropic shells of filament-wound materials, principally in regions of complex structural details; the loss of strength due to exposure of cut fibers to a high-pressure environment; the need for development of standardized fabrication procedures adaptable to quality control; and the need for development of nondestructive test techniques which can be used to reliably evaluate the structural integrity of the fabricated hull throughout its service life. A model program (including 1/3-scale models) to determine the feasibility of near-term application of unpenetrated GRP unstiffened and ring-stiffened cylinders with titanium closures has been initiated to find solutions to the above problems. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 1969
- Accession Number
- AD0876277
Entities
People
- Gerald D. Ward
- William F. Blumenburg
- William P. Couch