FAA Development of Reliable Modeling Methodologies for Fan Blade Out Containment Analysis

This report summarizes the ballistic impact testing that was conducted to provide validation data for the development of numerical models of blade out events in fabric containment systems. The ballistic impact response of two different fiber materials - Kevlar 49 (E.I. DuPont Nemours and Company) and Zylon AS (Toyobo Co., Ltd.) was studied by firing metal projectiles into dry woven fabric specimens using a gas gun. The shape, mass, orientation and velocity of the projectile were varied and recorded. In most cases the tests were designed such that the projectile would perforate the specimen, allowing measurement of the energy absorbed by the fabric. The results for both Zylon and Kevlar presented here represent a useful set of data for the purposes of establishing and validating numerical models for predicting the response of fabrics under conditions simulating those of a jet engine blade release situations. In addition some useful empirical observations were made regarding the effects of projectile orientation and the relative performance of the different materials

Ballistic Impact Response of Kevlar 49 and Zylon under Conditions Representing Jet Engine Fan Containment

A ballistic impact test program was conducted to provide validation data for the development of numerical models of blade out events in fabric containment systems. The impact response of two different fiber materials - Kevlar 49 (E.I. DuPont Nemours and Company) and Zylon AS (Toyobo Co., Ltd.) was studied by firing metal projectiles into dry woven fabric specimens using a gas gun. The shape, mass, orientation and velocity of the projectile were varied and recorded. In most cases the tests were designed such that the projectile would perforate the specimen, allowing measurement of the energy absorbed by the fabric. The results for both Zylon and Kevlar presented here represent a useful set of data for the purposes of establishing and validating numerical models for predicting the response of fabrics under conditions simulating those of a jet engine blade release situation. In addition some useful empirical observations were made regarding the effects of projectile orientation and the relative performance of the different materials

Participant Satisfaction With the Mission Continues Fellowship Program for Post 9/11 Disabled Veterans

Participant Satisfaction With the Mission Continues Fellowship Program for Post 9/11 Disabled Veteran

Elevated Temperature Ballistic Impact Testing of PBO and Kevlar Fabrics for Application in Supersonic Jet Engine Fan Containment Systems

Ballistic impact tests were conducted on fabric made from both Poly(phenylene benzobizoxazole) (PBO) and Kevlar 29 which were selected to be similar in weave pattern, areal density, and fiber denier. The projectiles were 2.54-cm- (1-in.-) long aluminum cylinders with a diameter of 1.27 cm (0.5 in.). The fabric specimens were clamped on four sides in a 30.5-cm- (12-in.-) square frame. Tests on PBO were conducted at room temperature and at 260 C (500 F). A number of PBO specimens were aged in air at 204 and 260 C (400 and 500 F) before impact testing. Kevlar specimens were tested only at room temperature and with no aging. The PBO absorbed significantly more energy than the Kevlar at both room and elevated temperatures. However, after aging at temperatures of 204 C (400 F) and above, the PBO fabric lost almost all of its energy absorbing ability. It was concluded that PBO fabric is not a feasible candidate for fan containment system applications in supersonic jet engines where operating temperatures exceed this level

Fragment Size Distribution for Ice Particle Impacts on a Glass Plate

This work presents the results of an experimental study of ice particle impacts on a flat glass plate. The experiment was conducted at the Ballistics Impact Laboratory of NASA Glenn Research Center. The main objective of the experiment was to gain understanding about the modifications needed to the experimental configuration for a future parametric study at a larger range of values for particle diameters and other parameters. This was achieved by studying the effect of the velocity of an impacting ice particle on the post-impact fragment size and distribution for a reduced range of impacting particle diameters. Pre-impact particle diameter and velocity data were captured with a high-speed side camera. Post-impact fragment data were captured in a single frame with a 29-megapixel camera located above and normal to the target. Repeat runs were conducted for ice particles with diameters ranging from 1.7 to 2.9 millimeters, impacting at velocities between 39 and 98 meters per second. The fragment areas were measured, and the corresponding equivalent diameters and histogram distributions were calculated. Analysis of the data showed that the average equivalent diameter for the fragments in a run was an order of magnitude smaller than the diameter of the impacting ice particle. The histograms for equivalent diameter distribution were nonnormal with long tails, with most of the fragments having equivalent diameters concentrated toward the minimum value of the fragment size that could be resolved. Factors affecting the accuracy of the data during the digital imaging analysis were identified. Needed modifications to the setup to handle small size ice particles and other testing conditions were also identified

Synthesis and photophysical studies of new pyrenylamino acids

Two new pyrenylamino acid derivatives were synthesized from beta-bromodehydroalanine derivatives in good yields using addition and elimination reactions. The photophysical properties of the two new pyrenylamino acids were studied in several solvents. Steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence measurements revealed that the bipyrenylamino acid undergoes excimer formation, this process being solvent dependent. Rate constants for excimer formation and dissociation were calculated. The monopyrenylamino acid exhibits a photophysical behavior similar to that of pyrene, including the sensitivity to solvent polarity. The results point to a potential use of these new pyrenyl derivatives as fluorescent probes for peptides and proteins.This work was supported by FEDER through the COMPETE Program and by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) in the framework of the Strategic Projects of CFUM [PEst-C/FIS/UI0607/2011 (F-COMP-01-0124-FEDER-022711)] and CQ/UM [PEst-C/QUI/UI0686/2011 (FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-022716)] and through the research project PTDC/QUI/81238/2006 (FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-007467). The NMR spectrometer Bruker Avance II 400 is part of the National NMR Network and was acquired with funds from FCT and FEDER. FCT is also acknowledged for the PhD grant of G.P. (SFRH/BD/38766/2007)

Reinforced Carbon-Carbon Subcomponent Flat Plate Impact Testing for Space Shuttle Orbiter Return to Flight

Following the tragedy of the Space Shuttle Columbia on February 1, 2003, a major effort commenced to develop a better understanding of debris impacts and their effect on the Space Shuttle subsystems. An initiative to develop and validate physics-based computer models to predict damage from such impacts was a fundamental component of this effort. To develop the models it was necessary to physically characterize Reinforced Carbon-Carbon (RCC) and various debris materials which could potentially shed on ascent and impact the Orbiter RCC leading edges. The validated models enabled the launch system community to use the impact analysis software LS DYNA to predict damage by potential and actual impact events on the Orbiter leading edge and nose cap thermal protection systems. Validation of the material models was done through a three-level approach: fundamental tests to obtain independent static and dynamic material model properties of materials of interest, sub-component impact tests to provide highly controlled impact test data for the correlation and validation of the models, and full-scale impact tests to establish the final level of confidence for the analysis methodology. This paper discusses the second level subcomponent test program in detail and its application to the LS DYNA model validation process. The level two testing consisted of over one hundred impact tests in the NASA Glenn Research Center Ballistic Impact Lab on 6 by 6 in. and 6 by 12 in. flat plates of RCC and evaluated three types of debris projectiles: BX 265 External Tank foam, ice, and PDL 1034 External Tank foam. These impact tests helped determine the level of damage generated in the RCC flat plates by each projectile. The information obtained from this testing validated the LS DYNA damage prediction models and provided a certain level of confidence to begin performing analysis for full-size RCC test articles for returning NASA to flight with STS 114 and beyond

Impact Testing of Aluminum 2024 and Titanium 6Al-4V for Material Model Development

One of the difficulties with developing and verifying accurate impact models is that parameters such as high strain rate material properties, failure modes, static properties, and impact test measurements are often obtained from a variety of different sources using different materials, with little control over consistency among the different sources. In addition there is often a lack of quantitative measurements in impact tests to which the models can be compared. To alleviate some of these problems, a project is underway to develop a consistent set of material property, impact test data and failure analysis for a variety of aircraft materials that can be used to develop improved impact failure and deformation models. This project is jointly funded by the NASA Glenn Research Center and the FAA William J. Hughes Technical Center. Unique features of this set of data are that all material property data and impact test data are obtained using identical material, the test methods and procedures are extensively documented and all of the raw data is available. Four parallel efforts are currently underway: Measurement of material deformation and failure response over a wide range of strain rates and temperatures and failure analysis of material property specimens and impact test articles conducted by The Ohio State University; development of improved numerical modeling techniques for deformation and failure conducted by The George Washington University; impact testing of flat panels and substructures conducted by NASA Glenn Research Center. This report describes impact testing which has been done on aluminum (Al) 2024 and titanium (Ti) 6Al-4vanadium (V) sheet and plate samples of different thicknesses and with different types of projectiles, one a regular cylinder and one with a more complex geometry incorporating features representative of a jet engine fan blade. Data from this testing will be used in validating material models developed under this program. The material tests and the material models developed in this program will be published in separate reports