Hydrogen Permeability Requirements and Testing for Reusable Launch Vehicle Tanks

Robinson, Michael J.; Eichinger, J.; Johnson, Scott E.

doi:10.2514/6.2002-1418

Cited by 24 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 1 publication

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“…Even though the CFRP laminates are not mechanically loaded, thermal cycle between room temperature and cryogenic temperature induce matrix cracks in carbon fiber/toughened epoxy resin composites [4]. The continuous chain of connected matrix cracks in the CFRP laminates would cause the gas leakage [5], and the leak rate through damaged laminates is significantly higher than the diffusion rate through undamaged laminates [6,7]. The leakage through composite laminates under mechanical loads and cryogenic condition was experimentally investigated [8,9], and permeability through the damaged laminate changes with not only temperature variation but also with applied loads.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of stacking sequence on leakage characteristics through CFRP composite laminates

Kumazawa¹,

Aoki²,

Susuki³

2006

Composites Science and Technology

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of stacking sequence on leakage characteristics through CFRP composite laminates

Kumazawa¹,

Aoki²,

Susuki³

2006

Composites Science and Technology

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“…The greater temperature that the polymer composite parts throughout the structure can sustain, the less thermal protection will be required, and consequently, the more weight will be saved. So the polymer composites for these applications will likely be chosen based on a compromise between structural properties, damage resistance over a range of temperatures, and maximum service temperature [1][2][3][4].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Damage trends in cryogenically cycled carbon/polymer composites

Bechel

Kim

2004

Composites Science and Technology

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“…Equation (2) is a simple formula to predict the opening area using the degraded E 22 of the middle ply. Equations (1) and (2) imply that there is a direct relationship between the opening and the degradation of the middle ply E 22 by assuming that the TMC affect only the properties of the middle ply. As shown in Figure 3(a), the total opening area in a cracked ply increases as the crack density increases.…”

Section: Damage State and Crack Openingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prediction of Cryogen Leak Rate through Damaged Composite Laminates

Peddiraju

Noh

Whitcomb

et al. 2007

Journal of Composite Materials

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The structural weight of a cryogenic propellant tank for reusable launch vehicles (RLV) can be effectively reduced by the use of advanced composite materials. However, microscopic damage such as transverse matrix cracks (TMC) and delaminations are prone to develop in composites well below the load levels that would result in mechanical failure. This microscopic damage leads to a leakage path for the fuel. The leakage is influenced by many factors, including pressure gradients, microcrack density, connectivity of the cracks, residual stresses from manufacture, service-induced stresses from thermal and mechanical loads, and composite stacking sequence. It is expected that there is a direct relationship between leakage and damage opening but the connectivity of matrix cracks is also a major factor affecting the leakage. In this article, the leakage rate through the damage network is discussed based on earlier studies for the opening of damage paths due to TMC and delamination, including the TMC intersection area. In order to examine the leakage process, numerical simulations are performed using the computational fluid dynamics software (FLUENT) and the effective conductance of the leakage paths is estimated. A simplified model is also developed to predict the effective conductance. The flow resistance in the TMC and the resistance of the TMC intersection area are accounted for in the calculation of the effective conductance of the leakage path through the entire laminate using the simplified model. Comparisons between the numerical solution for a five-ply composite with interconnected leakage paths and the prediction of the simplified model are presented for gaseous hydrogen flow through the thickness of the composite at room and cryogenic temperatures.

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Hydrogen Permeability Requirements and Testing for Reusable Launch Vehicle Tanks

Cited by 24 publications

References 1 publication

Influence of stacking sequence on leakage characteristics through CFRP composite laminates

Influence of stacking sequence on leakage characteristics through CFRP composite laminates

Damage trends in cryogenically cycled carbon/polymer composites

Prediction of Cryogen Leak Rate through Damaged Composite Laminates

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