The Space Shuttle Columbia Accident Investigation Board recommended that NASA develop, validate, and maintain a modeling tool capable of predicting the damage threshold for debris impacts on the Space Shuttle Reinforced Carbon-Carbon (RCC) wing leading edge and nosecap assembly. The results presented in this paper are one part of a multi-level approach that supported the development of the predictive tool used to recertify the shuttle for flight following the Columbia Accident. The assessment of predictive capability was largely based on test analysis comparisons for simpler component structures. This paper provides comparisons of finite element simulations with test data for external tank foam debris impacts onto 6-in. square RCC flat panels. Both quantitative displacement and qualitative damage assessment correlations are provided. The comparisons show good agreement and provided the Space Shuttle Program with confidence in the predictive tool.
Test-Analysis Correlation for Space Shuttle External Tank Foam Impacting RCC Wing Leading Edge Component Panels
2008
23 pages
Report
Keine Angabe
Englisch
Unmanned Spacecraft , Manned Spacecraft , Accident investigation , Carbon-carbon composites , Correlation , External tanks , Foams , Leading edges , Wing panels , Columbia(Orbiter) , Damage assessment , Displacement , Finite element method , Yield point , Cracking(Fracturing) , Spacecraft breakup , Stress-strain relationships , Fabrication , Ultrasonics , Space debris , Nose cones
Dynamic Impact Tolerance of Space Shuttle Orbiter Wing Leading-Edge Panels
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