CFRP composite fuel tank for aerospace applications Vaishnavi Butleya Shri. Guru Gobind Singhji Institute of Engineering and Technology Vishnupuri, Nanded (431606) Abstract: Space-shuttles are the types of automobiles basically used for the purpose of space travelling. The space shuttles are constantly got evolved from the day it has been discovered and put in use for various purpose. One of the main and dangerous parts of space shuttle is its fuel tank. Herewith in this paper the replacement of fuel tank made up with the conventional material with the carbon fiber composite is highlighted. The newly discovered design, its composition and manufacturing process for the required carbon composite is mentioned. The improvement in properties such …show more content…
Introduction: Carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) is an extremely strong and light fiber-reinforced plastics or polymer which contains carbon fibers. CFRPs can be expensive to produce but are commonly used in applications like aerospace, automotives, civil engineering, sports goods and an increasing number other technical application where high strength and rigidity required.. The CFRPs are mainly composed of by binding thermo-set resin such as epoxy, but other thermo-set or thermoplastic polymers, such as polyesters, vinyl esters or nylon are sometimes used. The composite may contain other fibers, such as an aramid, aluminum, ultra high molecular weight polyethylene or glass fibers, as well as carbon fiber. Type of additives and binding mixture can also decides the final properties of the CFRP. 2. Requirement of CFRP fuel tank in aerospace: In space vehicles, weight is having more importance than size. Taking a payload and other assemblies to the space with aid of launching vehicles requires less weight and more size. Lightweight and strong composite materials are already deployed in many applications, such as launch vehicle bodies, fairings and payload …show more content…
The process was first used at NASA to weld super lightweight external tank foe the Space Shuttle. Today FWS is used to join structural components for Delta IV, Atlas IV and Falcon IX rockets as well as the Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle. A current focus of FSW research is to extend the process to new materials which are difficult to weld using conventional fusion techniques. Since FSW occurs below the melting point of the work piece material, hence the deleterious phase is absent here. FSW characterizes the effect of process parameters such as spindle speed, traverse rate, length of joint on the wear
Other materials used for the Canadarm are aramid fibers [1] such as Kevlar [7]. This aerospace material is also used in bulletproof vests [12]. These aramid fibers are fibers in which the chain molecules are highly oriented along the fiber axis, so the strength of the chemical bond can be exploited [1]. Kevlar is also flame resistant [12] which bolds well in space due to the extreme heat from the solar winds. Kapton is another one of the materials used by spacecrafts. This material has the ability to sustain itself and be stable in many different temperatures such as -269 to 400 °C. Since Space is a vacuum the temperature is intense, therefore this material is well suited for counter...
Friction Stir Welding facilitates welding of plate to plate joints for several applications. This process is chosen for the welding of AA 6082-T6 (Al-Mg-Si alloy) of various thicknesses. This alloy finds use in structural and other industrial applications. FSW process is especially well suited to butt and lap joints in aluminium. Production of aluminium alloy components is not very complex but joining of these materials can sometimes
The Carbonization process used to create carbon fiber is called pyrolysis, which uses nitrogen gas and heat as a catalyst to increase the vibrational energy of atoms. The pyrolysis breaks the bonds between carbon atoms and nitrogen atoms as well as the bonds between carbon atoms and oxygen atoms. As a result, the polymer structures formed during cross-links stabilization is converted into hexagonal carbon structures. Non carbon atoms such as oxygen, and nitrogen are removed as gas through the atmosphere. The final carbon content is over 90 % after carbonization and the temperature range of carbonization is from 900 to 1600 °C in an inert atmosphere. Heat treatment, optimum tension, completion of the reactions, and keep the molecular orientation of the precursor fiber are vital variables to produce a crystalline structure aligned more perfectly and improve the tensile strength of the
The Orbiter Vehicle (OV) is "the brains and heart of the Space Transportation System" ("The Orbiter," par. 1). Also called the fuselage, it has a cabin for the crew, a large cargo bay and three Space Shuttle Main Engines (SSMEs). The forward part of the orbiter is the crew cabin; it is where the cockpit and living quarters can be found and where mission experiments are performed. The middle part of the orbiter is large open bay and it i...
1. The first goal of the Space Shuttle program was to provide NASA with an efficient, reusable method of
The available material for the propellers in the market consists of three main choices: nylon, plastic and carbon fiber.
(1) The development of carbon-embedded plastics, otherwise called “composits,” is an important new technology because (2) it holds the key for new aircraft and spacecraft designs. This is so because (3) these composits are not only stronger than steel but lighter than aluminum.
Space exploration has changed and developed since the first man was sent into space. Advanced rockets, new computer technology, and remote controlled robots are only a few of the things that made space travel possible. Even though this technology was efficient, it was not cheap. When a rocket was sent into space, only the capsule holding the astronauts returned to space. This expensive way of space travel was forever changed with the creation of the space shuttle. The Columbia space shuttle was important to space exploration because it used new technology that changed space travel, completed missions that other spacecraft could not, and brought new people into space.
As humans our desire to visit space has never ceased, but our scientific advances have so far only allowed manned visits to the moon. There are many political factors that influence the ongoing attempts to engineer space tourism and future missions to Mars, which has been in the works since the twentieth century. High costs and risks involved in spaceflight due to the longevity in space and the effects of cosmic rays have been many of the setbacks in making it a reality. The United States is currently unable to conduct human spaceflight after losing its capability to launch upon the retirement of the space shuttle in 2011. China National Space Administration and Russia Federal Space Agency are the only two government facilities that continue sending humans to space. Should spaceflight agencies continue manned missions to outer space? I believe that many people are not aware of all the knowledge we have gained from sending trained professionals into outer space in the past. Global issues amongst many other problems have been improved due to necessary collaborations made in the name of science and exploration.
Von Braun, Wernher & Fredrick I. Ordway III. History of Rocketry & Space Travel. (New York: Thomas Y. Crowell Company, 1975
Now it is feasible to weld, starting from thin metal sheets of fraction of mm to very thick plates of virtually any thickness. The quality of welding is not restricted only to work done by the welder but depends on many other factors, viz. welding technique and its parameters, welding equipment, shielding medium, working environment, etc. The heat input rate is one of the most important variables in fusion welding, since it governs heating rates, cooling rates and weld pool size. In the welding of steel, this is important relationship since increased cooling rates increase the risk of hydrogen-induced cracking.
The purpose of this report is to better understand one of the most catastrophic events in the history of space aviation, which occurred on February 1, 2003. A structural failure resulted in the space shuttle Columbia breaking apart upon re-entry into the earth’s atmosphere [1]. This report will try to explain the engineering failures that led to this tragic accident, and examine the resulting improvements in the field of space travel in order to prevent an accident of such magnitude in the future. The fuel tanks of a shuttle contain liquid oxygen and a hydrogen propellant that is stored at an extremely cold temperature. The design engineers of the shuttle knew that the tank was not insulated properly.
Carbon-fiber-reinforced-polymer (CFRP) is a composite polymer made up of carbon fibers and a binding polymer. The binding polymer can be a thermoset resin or thermoplastic polymer(s). Examples of thermoplastic polymers that can bind with carbon fiber to make CFRP are polyester, nylon, or vinyl ester. A thermoset resin that can combine with the carbon fiber to make CFRP is epoxy. The combination of the carbon fibers and a thermoset resin or thermoplastic polymer producing CFRP results in a light weight fiber-reinforced plastic that is tremendously strong. Depending on the binding polymer, CFPRs have a wide range of applications and are used when a light weight material with high rigidity and strength are required.
(Source K) Flowers, Sarah. “Understanding: Space Travel.” Rev. of Understanding: Space Travel. PoQuest. N.p., Aug. 2000. Web. 12 Mar. 2012. .
The suitable alternative material in place of Carbon Fiber for the rear spoiler is Fiber Glass. It has similar properties as compared to Carbon Fiber. It is also a type of fiber reinforced plastic but here the reinforcement fiber is glass fiber. Fiber Glass is a strong lightweight material. But Fiber-glass is not as strong as Carbon fiber, it is less brittle, and its raw materials are cheaper. The bulk strength of Fiber-glass and weight are better when compared to metals and it can be more readily moulded into complex shapes. Other names for Fiber-glass are Glass-reinforced