Publication Date:
2006-02-14
Description:
Both separate and combined wind tunnel and vibration shaker tests were conducted on two structural panels representative of the Shuttle orbiter in the NASA LaRC 8-foot transonic pressure tunnel to determine the effects of combined loads on the thermal protection system (TPS). The primary objective of this test was to provide a combined full-scale load environment and realistic time history of the dynamic pressures, Mach numbers (through transonic), and dynamic structural responses of these panels. The panels were selected from orbiter locations where interactive load sources such as aerodynamic shock waves, turbulent boundary layers, strut-induced vorticity, and substrate deformation combined to provide high bonding loads between the TPS and the orbiter structure. The test panels were highly instrumented with static and dynamic pressure gages, accelerometers, deflectometers, strain gages, Schileren and high speed photography, and special instrumentation necessary to determine TPS/structure interface loads and tile motions. Two test specimens of each orbiter panel were utilized. Both were high-fidelity representations of the selected orbiter location.
Keywords:
SPACE TRANSPORTATION
Type:
Shock and Vibration Inform. Center The Shock and Vibration Bull., No. 52. Part 2; p 157-163
Format:
text
