Purpose
To conduct research and testing of aerospace materials subjected to significant mechanical and thermal loading in service. Examples of such applications include structure subjected to cyclic high-speed aerodynamic heating, exposure to cold high-altitude/space environments, and near-engine aircraft structure.
Equipment/Test Method
Servo-hydraulic test machines
-20-kip and 50-kip load capacities -Computer-controlled systems for automated fatigue and fracture testing -Capability to test at elevated temperature (up to 600oC) |
Environmental chambers
– Long-term storage/exposure of materials – High-temperature, cryogenic temperatures, and high-humidity environments |
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Environmental chambers
– Long-term storage/exposure of materials – High-temperature, cryogenic temperatures, and high-humidity environments |
Typical/Recent Experiments
- Generate fatigue crack growth and fracture data for aerospace materials for high-altitude service temperature environments
- Development of fracture mechanics database needed for cryogenic wind-tunnel testing
- Characterized the mechanical performance of weld-repaired cracks in Space Shuttle Main Engine cryogenic fuel line components
