Mechanical Behavior of Balloon Films.
Abstract
Activities of a program study of the problems faced in the design and flight of free balloons are summarized. Material testing systems were made operational over temperatures ranging from plus 100 to minus 100 degrees C. Most of the testers were equiped with inert atmosphere environmental chambers and with full instrumentation necessary to monitor loading rates, stresses, strains and temperatures. Materials were subjected to stress states which include uniaxial, one-to-one biaxial and two-to-one biaxial. The rate of loading and temperature dependence of polyethylene Stratofilm was measured both by creep tests and by uniaxial testing. All the data are presented along with an analytical solution to the problem of presenting in a simple manner both the rate and temperature influence by means of master curves. A polyethylene balloon stored for twenty-two years was uncrated, dissected and tested to determine if there were detrimental aging effects during storage. (Author, modified-PL).
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 01, 1978
- Accession Number
- ADA098937
Entities
People
- L. Dale Webb
Organizations
- Texas A&M University