Thermal characterization of an epoxy-based composite sandwich nose cap design for the space shuttle solid rocket booster

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X-Ray, Spaceborne And Space Research Instruments, Apparatus, And Components, Observatories And Site Testing

Scientific paper

A recent effort was undertaken to develop an epoxy-based composite nose cap for the space shuttle solid rocket boosters (SRBs). Although this project was suspended in November 1999, a significant amount of thermal characterization testing was conducted on the design. The results from this effort are presented. The symmetric composite sandwich consisted of a core of epoxy-based syntactic foam (3M SC350G) sandwiched between composite laminates (Hexcel's AGP370-8H/3501-6). The composite laminates provide structural strength and the syntactic foam serves as a thermal barrier. Three lots of each composite material were tested as part of the material characterization in an attempt to quantify lot to lot variability. A total of ninety-one test panels were tested in the Improved Hot Gas Facility (IHGF). Some of these were pre-conditioned prior to testing in the IHGF using humidity chambers, ovens, lightning strikes, or actual beach exposure. The majority of panels were tested at simulated flight design thermal environments, but some panels were intentionally over-tested to ensure that potential failure modes were enveloped while other panels were tested to failure. During much of the testing, several layers of the heated laminate surpassed the glass transition temperature of the epoxy (Tg~464 K). Little information exists on such materials beyond Tg, and so the data presented here increase that database significantly. The results of the present study indicate that, as far as thermal requirements are concerned, a nose cap made of this sandwich and topcoated with Hypalon paint should be an adequate replacement for the aluminum nose cap that is currently being used on the SRBs. .

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