Effect of Different Axial Bearing Supports on the Fatigue Life of Ceramic Pressure Housings
Abstract
The fatigue life of underwater pressure housings composed of ceramic hull components assembled with epoxy-bonded metallic joint rings is dependent upon a number of parameters. The techniques used for bonding joint rings to the ceramic bearing surfaces is one such parameter that will affect the fatigue performance of pressure housings subjected to external pressure cycles. This report summarizes recent research aimed at identifying metallic joint-ring bonding methods that improve the cyclic life of ceramic pressure-housing assemblies. Several joining methods based on using an interlayer of various gasket materials as an axial bearing support between the ceramic hull and the metallic joint ring have been shown to improve the structural performance of ceramic pressure-housing assemblies. Three of the most promising methods identified are a thin intermediate layer of epoxy between the bearing surfaces of the joint ring and the ceramic hull, a graphite fiber-reinforced thermoplastic composite gasket bonded to the bearing surface of the ceramic hull, and a ceramic ring bonded between the bearing surface of the metallic joint ring and the ceramic hull. Based on these findings, four alumina-ceramic cylinders were assembled using various axial bearing support techniques, pressure cycled, and nondestructively evaluated to determine the extent of fatigue cracking that occurred during testing. While all four ceramic cylinders survived the external pressure cycling intact, the use of a thin layer of epoxy adjacent to the bearing surface of the ceramic cylinder was found to induce the least amount of fatigue damage in the ceramic hull bearing surface region.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 1993
- Accession Number
- ADA274708
Entities
People
- J. D. Stachiw
- R. P. Johnson
- R. R. Kurkchubasche
Organizations
- Naval Command, Control and Ocean Surveillance Center