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Structural Testing of a 6m Hypersonic Inflatable Aerodynamic Decelerator SystemNASA is developing low ballistic coefficient technologies to support the Nations long-term goal of landing humans on Mars. Current entry, decent, and landing technologies are not practical for this class of payloads due to geometric constraints dictated by current and future launch vehicle fairing limitations. Hypersonic Inflatable Aerodynamic Decelerators (HIADs) are being developed to circumvent this limitation and are now considered a leading technology to enable landing of heavy payloads on Mars. At the beginning of 2014, a 6m diameter HIAD inflatable structure with an integrated flexible thermal protection system (TPS) was subjected to a static load test series to verify its structural performance under flight-relevant loads. The inflatable structure was constructed into a 60 degree sphere-cone configuration using nine inflatable torus segments composed of fiber-reinforced thin films. The inflatable tori were joined together using adhesives and high-strength textile woven structural straps. These straps help distribute the load throughout the inflatable structure. The 6m flexible TPS was constructed using multiple layers of high performance materials that are designed to protect the inflatable structure from heat loads that would be seen in flight during atmospheric entry. A custom test fixture was constructed to perform the static load test series. The fixture consisted of a round structural tub with enough height and width to allow for displacement of the HIAD test article as loads were applied. The bottom of the tub rim had an airtight seal with the floor. The rigid centerbody of the HIAD was mounted to a pedestal in the center of the structural tub. Using an impermeable membrane draped over the HIAD test article, an airtight seal was created with the top rim of the static load tub. This seal allowed partial vacuum to be pulled beneath the HIAD resulting in a uniform static pressure load applied to the outer surface. Using this technique, the test article was subjected to loads of up to 50,000lbs. During the test series an extensive amount of instrumentation was used to provide a rich data set, including deflected shape, structural strap loads, torus cord loads, inflation pressures, and applied static load. In this paper the 2014 6m HIAD static load test series will be discussed in detail, including the design of the 6m HIAD test article, the test setup, and test execution. Analysis results will be described supporting the conclusions that were drawn from the test series..
Document ID
20150011064
Acquisition Source
Ames Research Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Swanson, G. T. (ERC, Inc. Moffett Field, CA, United States)
Kazemba, C. D. (Science and Technology Corp. Moffett Field, CA, United States)
Johnson, R. K. (NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA, United States)
Hughes, S. J. (NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA, United States)
Calomino, A. M. (NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA, United States)
Date Acquired
June 18, 2015
Publication Date
March 7, 2015
Subject Category
Spacecraft Design, Testing And Performance
Aerodynamics
Report/Patent Number
ARC-E-DAA-TN16166
Meeting Information
Meeting: IEEE Aerospace Conference
Location: Big Sky, MT
Country: United States
Start Date: March 7, 2015
End Date: March 14, 2015
Sponsors: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, American Inst. of Aeronautics and Astronautics
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NNA10DE12C
CONTRACT_GRANT: NNA10DF26C
WBS: WBS 9008.02.TSS01.7370710
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.
Keywords
Hypersonic
Inflatable aerodynamic decelerator
structural testing

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