PARAMETRIC STUDY OF A FRANGIBLE-TUBE ENERGY-ABSORPTION SYSTEM FOR PROTECTION OF A NUCLEAR AIRCRAFT REACTOR

摘要

A parametric study for determining the minimum system weight was made of an omnidirectional energy absorbing system utilizing frangible tubes. The system typified that which might be applied to a nuclear airplane. Variables affecting energy absorber weight, in order of decreasing importance, are angular dependence, specific energy absorption, frontal impact velocity, deceleration rate, number of tubes, and ratio of tube diameter to franging die radius. From the parametric curves generated, a frangible-tube energy-absorption system of a particular design concept studied for a 300 MW powerplant (for a 1 to 1. 5 million lb (450 000 to 680 000 kg) nuclear airplane) would weigh at least 50 percent of the powerplant weight for impact velocities of 400 ft/sec (122 m/sec) from the front and 250 ft/sec (76 m/sec) in all other directions.