Hydraulic ram effect on composite fuel entry walls.
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Authors
Duva, Alfred Nicholas
Subjects
Advisors
Ball, R.E.
Date of Issue
1976
Date
March 1976
Publisher
Monterey, CA; Naval Postgraduate School
Language
en_US
Abstract
Catastrophic failure of a partially filled aircraft fuel
cell due to impact and penetration by a high speed projectile
often occurs due to a phenomenon known as hydraulic ram. The
structural response of the fuel tank walls to hydraulic ram
should be of vital concern to the designers of aircraft fuel
cells. Considerable research has been conducted to determine
the effects of hydraulic ram on metallic fuel cells, but very
little attention has been given to fuel cells' made with the
new advanced composite materials. The purpose of this research
is to examine the various effects of hydraulic ram on
a graph ite/epoxy wall when subjected to penetration by a .222
caliber projectile. Eight hydraulic ram tests are made on a
clamped 11-inch square plate 0.06? inches thick at projectile
velocities between 2600 and 2800 fps . The engineering properties
of the laminate are determined both analytically and
experimentally. The low velocity shots caused only slight
damage to the plate. At the higher velocities, the hydraulic
ram caused considerable damage, including total severance of
the plate from its clamped support over much of the outer
perimeter. The results of this research illustrate the importance
of the method of attachment of the com.posite wall at
its boundaries.
Type
Thesis
Description
Series/Report No
Department
Department of Aeronautics
Organization
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Identifiers
NPS Report Number
Sponsors
Funder
Format
Citation
Distribution Statement
Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.