AN EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION OF PENETRATIONS AND CLOSURES FOR GLASS-REINFORCED-PLASTIC PRESSURE HULLS WITH TITANIUM JACKETS

摘要

Four models were tested under hydrostatic pressure to determine the structural behavior of ring-stiffened glass-reinforced-plastic hulls with such structural details as small cylinder penetrations and end closures. Two models, incorporated cylinder penetrations; two had hemispherical end closures, one each of titanium and GRP. The results of the tests indicate that such details might be used in composite GRP hulls without a severe weight penalty. However, fatigue tests of small-scale models and further static and cyclic investigations of large-scale and complete unit models are required to fully establish the feasibility of these structures for deep-submergence applications.