Response of composite materials to the Space Station orbit environment

Abstract

Appl i e d M a t e r i a1 s Branch M a t e r i a l s D i v i s i o n Hampton. V i r g i n i a 23665-5225 ' L ABSTRACT Experimental and a n a l y t i c a l data are presented on t h e e f f e c t s o f t h e n a t u r a l space environment on s e l e c t e d m a t e r i a l s w i t h p o t e n t i a l f o r use as t u b u l a r s t r u c t u r a l members o f a Space S t a t i o n w i t h an expected l i f e t i m e o f 30 years. F i r s t a r a t i o n a l e f o r t h e s e l e c t i o n and t a i l o r i n g o f c e r t a i n m a t e r i a l s f o r study i s given. P r e l i m i n a r y r e s u l t s from a program underway a t NASA Langley Research Center t o e v a l u a t e t h e e f f e c t s o f t h e s e r v i c e e n v i ronment on thermal -mechanical p r o p e r t i e s are described. R e s u l t s are a l s o presented on t h e e f f e c t o f t h e o p t i c a l p r o p e r t i e s o f an a1 umi num/alumi num oxide c o a t i n g on t h e thermal balance o f t h e c y l i n d r i c a l s t r u c t u r a l members. The r e s i s t a n c e o f t h i s c o a t i n g t o s o l a r UV d e g r a d a t i o n i s discussed.

Thermal, mechanical and shape fixity behaviors of shape memory cyanate under γ-ray radiation

“…The orbital environmental parameter of the space station truss structure for 30 years' electron radiation is 10 4 ~10 5 Gy [25,31]. The SMCE resins were irradiated by the 60 Co radiation source, which was provided by the Heilongjiang Academy of Sciences (Harbin, China).…”

Progress of shape memory polymers and their composites in aerospace applications

“…One is the difference between the illuminated surface and the non-illuminated surface, and the other is the alternate temperature change caused by the alternately move in and out of the earth's shadow [132]. According to the NASA Langley Research Center report, the Space Station in the low earth orbit is expected to be thermally cycled about 175 000 times with an expected life of 30 years [147]. The long-term thermal cycling can result in uneven thermal stress, thermal fatigue, and microcracking of materials, leading to deterioration of physical and mechanical properties.…”

Probabilistic Methods for the Calculation of Laminate Properties

“…Properties of laminates for space struts (with calculated standard deviations in parentheses). sent candidates for use in the truss of the space station [9]. They include both high-stiffness graphite-epoxy layups, and a hybrid aluminum-clad graphite epoxy layup [10], with a unidirectional P75 core 0.1 &dquo; thick, and metal cladding 0.0099&dquo; &dquo; thick on both sides.…”