Composite Service Life Prediction via Fiber Bundle Testing. Evaluation of Testing Equipment and Data Acquisition System

摘要

The objective of this thesis is to investigate the problem of the safe service life prediction of graphite composite structures such as pressure vessels used in the pilot ejection seats, rocket motor cases and space shuttle energy storage compartments. The basic data required for life prediction is the stress-rupture life, i.e., the composite life under constant load and it has to be recognized that extensive testing over long periods of time is required to produce statistically meaningful data. The contribution of this investigation is focused on identifying the characterization methodology for efficient data generation (to minimize cost and time), the appropriate theoretical models for correlation of the data (to translate data to applications) and in evaluating the limitations of the available testing (lower bound response speed) and data acquisition equipment (upper bound recording rate) thereby enhancing future experimental planning and testing.