Publication Date:
2019-07-13
Description:
The Shuttle Orbiter Payload Bay Door is covered with graphite/epoxy sandwich panels. Their interaction with ground environments causes a moisture absorption of approximately 1.0% by weight at the time of launch. During the reentry phase the temperature of the outer facesheets rises to 177 C and their moisture content diminishes to 0.65%. In this condition the facesheet strength deteriorates significantly. Also, desorption of moisture produces an internal pressure in the panels of ca. 345 kPa. The paper discusses the prediction of expected moisture levels in the constituent parts of the sandwich panels. It describes further the test program necessary to assess the residual strength of the facesheets and the internal pressure capability of the sandwich panels.
Keywords:
SPACECRAFT DESIGN, TESTING AND PERFORMANCE
Type:
International Council of the Aeronautical Sciences, Congress; Sep 10, 1978 - Sep 16, 1978; Lisbon; Portugal
Format:
text
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