ANALYTICAL IMPACT MODELS AND EXPERIMENTAL TESTVALIDATION FOR THE COLUMBIA SHUTTLE WING LEADING EDGEPANELS

摘要

This paper describes the analyses and the experimental mechanics program to support theNational Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) investigation of the Shuttle Columbiaaccident. A synergism of the analysis and experimental effort is required to insure that the finalanalysis is valid – the experimental program provides both the material behavior and a basis forvalidation, while the analysis is required to insure the experimental effort provides behavior inthe correct loading regime. Preliminary scoping calculations of foam impact onto the ShuttleColumbia’s wing leading edge determined if enough energy was available to damage the leadingedge panel. These analyses also determined the strain-rate regimes for various materials toprovide the material test conditions. Experimental testing of the reinforced carbon-carbon wingpanels then proceeded to provide the material behavior in a variety of configurations and strainratesfor flown or conditioned samples of the material. After determination of the importantfailure mechanisms of the material, validation experiments were designed to provide a basis ofcomparison for the analytical effort. Using this basis, the final analyses were used for testconfiguration, instrumentation location, and calibration definition in support of full-scale testingof the panels in June, 2003. These tests subsequently confirmed the accident cause.