Pressure Cycling Fatigue Tests of F-111 Crew Module Glass Transparencies

Abstract

The F-111 Crew Module Transparencies Fatigue Test Program was initiated to resolve questions on the effects of complete pressure reversals combined with thermal cycling on the fatigue life of the transparencies. A ship- set of transparencies were mounted in a crew escape module and subjected to a simulated flight heating, cooling and pressure environment. The test specimens successfully completed four lifetimes of testing and had residual static strength in excess of the design ultimate load of the escape module. An ambient temperature fatigue test was added to the program to investigate the propagation characteristics of debonded areas in the transparency edge members which were occurring in service. A ship-set of transparencies with debonded areas large enough to require replacement under applicable technical orders were mounted in an escape module and subjected to simulated subsonic flight usage. The test specimens successfully completed four life times of testing with no failures of the glass and only very small growth of some of the debonded areas.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 01, 1977
Accession Number
ADA049625

Entities

People

  • George R. Holderby

Organizations

  • Flight Dynamics Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Ground and Sea Platforms
  • Human Systems

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Air Force Facilities
  • Control Systems
  • Fatigue Life
  • Fatigue Tests (Mechanics)
  • Flight
  • Government Procurement
  • Governments
  • Heat Exchangers
  • High Pressure
  • Impact Tests
  • Instrumentation
  • Internal Pressure
  • Materials Laboratories
  • Pressure Transducers
  • Subsonic Flight
  • Test Facilities

Fields of Study

  • Engineering

Readers

  • Aviation Science / Aeronautics.
  • Combustion science or combustion engineering.
  • Structural Health Monitoring of Composite Structures.