Filament-Reinforced Metal Composite Pressure Vessel Evaluation and Performance Demonstration.
Abstract
Advantages of filament overwrapped metal composite pressure vessels for future flight vehicles and the technology readiness of the vessels for the application were verified in this full scale hardware demonstration program. Two different Kevlar-49 filament reinforced metal sphere designs were developed, and six vessels of each type were fabricated and subjected to performance tests consisting of fatigue cycling, sustained loading, and hydrostatic burst. The 61 cm (24 inch) diameter Kevlar-49/cryoformed 301 stainless steel pressure vessels demonstrated the required pressure cycle capability, burst factor of safety, and a maximum pressure times volume divided by weight (pV/W) performance of 210 J/g (834 000 in-lb/lbm) at burst; this represented a 25-30% weight saving over the lightest weight comparable, 6Al-4V Ti, homogeneous pressure vessel. In addition to these capabilities of the Kevlar/stainless steel spherical vessels, both the Kevlar/stainless steel design and the 97 cm (38 inch) diameter Kevlar-49/2219-T62 aluminum sphere design demonstrated the anticipated safety characteristics of composite vessels consisting of non-fragmentation and controlled failure mode features when pressure cycled to failure at operating pressure; when failure occurred during pressure cycling, the mode was localized leakage and not catastrophic. Kevlar/stainless steel vessels utilized a unique conical boss design, and Kevlar/aluminum vessels incorporated a tie-rod to carry port loads; both styles of polar fittings performed as designed during operational testing of the vessels.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 1976
- Accession Number
- ADA307616
Entities
People
- R. E. Landes