The Effect of Intense Nuclear Radiation Damage on the Mechanical Properties of Reentry Vehicle-Like Materials
Abstract
The ability of a reentry vehicle to sustain the radiation effects of a near nuclear burst and to successfully complete its mission depends to a large measure on the resulting damage to the loadbearing structural shell. To determine what changes in mechanical properties resulted from the exposure of copper-aluminum alloys to the intense radiation of a nuclear device, the yield strength dislocation densities, changes in strain-rate, Young's Modulus, strain- rate sensitivity factor, Cottrell-Stokes ratio, and work hardening mechanisms were studied as a function of radiation damage in single crystals of these alloys, which were tensile tested after nuclear exposure. The results of this program could influence input information used in our future prediction capabilities of fratricide against our own vehicles and in suggesting new hardening concepts which can increase the survivability of our future reentry vehicles.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 1976
- Accession Number
- ADA026554
Entities
People
- Charles Stein
Organizations
- Air Force Research Laboratory