Study of Space Environmental Effects on Polymer Matrix Composite Materials.
Abstract
This final report summarizes the research results on space environmental effects including vacuum, temperature, and radiation on the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE), stiffness, creep, and material damping in graphite/epoxy and Kevlar/epoxy composite laminates, obtained over the period 1 November 1981 to 31 October 1982 under AFOSR-78-3694 funding. This submission is intended to supplement the previous three annual reports and thus should be read in context with those documents. The main accomplishments in this 12 month period have been in the study of UV and electron radiation effects on composites in a thermo-vacuum environment, and the development and experimental validation of viscoelastic and laminate damping models for composites. In hard vacuum, matrix stiffness increases over a wide temperature range, matrix creep compliance and material damping decrease, and CTE changes depending on laminate configuration. Combined UV radiation in hard vacuum along with some Beta-radiation testing produced only minor variation in matrix stiffness, creep compliance, and CTE iwth exposures up to 300 equivalent solar days. Thermal-vacuum cycling resulted in matrix stiffness and tensile strength reduction, and CTE drift. Laminate models used were quite accurate in predicting CTE, damping, creep, and strength of arbitrary laminate configurations based on material property data obtained under different environmental conditions.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 01, 1982
- Accession Number
- ADA126801
Entities
People
- R. C. Tennyson
Organizations
- University of Toronto