An Experimental Investigation of Silicone-to-Metal Bond Strength in Composite Space Docking System Seals
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Case Western Reserve University School of Graduate Studies / OhioLINK
2009
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| Online Access: | http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1244237964 |
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ndltd-OhioLink-oai-etd.ohiolink.edu-case12442379642021-08-03T05:33:15Z An Experimental Investigation of Silicone-to-Metal Bond Strength in Composite Space Docking System Seals Conrad, Mason Christian Aerospace Materials Engineering Mechanical Engineering Polymers silicone bond strength seal Orion The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is currently developing a new universal docking mechanism for future space exploration missions calledthe Low Impact Docking System (LIDS). In order to successfully mate two pressurizedvehicles or structures in space, advanced seals are required at the interface to preventthe loss of breathable air to vacuum. The leading candidate LIDS main interface sealdesign is a composite assembly of silicone elastomer seal bulbs permanently moldedinto grooves in an electroless nickel-plated aluminum retainer. A composite seal of thestyle being developed has not been proven in a docking role in the history of mannedspaceflight. High adhesive loads on the seal bulbs during undocking could potentiallyovercome the strength of the molded bond between the elastomer and the metalretainer. Bond failure would jeopardize the operation of the seal and docking port,and orbital debris could be liberated. The strength of the silicone-to-metal bond is acritical consideration for the new system, especially due to the presence of small areasof disbond created by the molding process. In the work presented herein, silicone-to-metal bonds of subscale seal specimens with different sizes of intentional disbondare destructively tensile tested. Tension is applied either uniformly on the entireseal circumference or locally in a single circumferential location. Bond failure due touniform tension produces a wide scatter of observable failure modes and measuredload-displacement behaviors. Although the ideal failure mode for the silicone-to-metal bond is 100% cohesive failure of the material, the highest observed cohesionamount is 20% of bond area for the uniform loading condition. Localized tensionproduces failure either as immediate tearing of the elastomer material outside thebond region or as complete peel-out of the seal bulb in one piece. In intentionallyflawed specimens, neither load case considered shows a correlation between disbondsize and bond strength. 2009-08-03 English text Case Western Reserve University School of Graduate Studies / OhioLINK http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1244237964 http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1244237964 unrestricted This thesis or dissertation is protected by copyright: all rights reserved. It may not be copied or redistributed beyond the terms of applicable copyright laws. |
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NDLTD |
| language |
English |
| sources |
NDLTD |
| topic |
Aerospace Materials Engineering Mechanical Engineering Polymers silicone bond strength seal Orion |
| spellingShingle |
Aerospace Materials Engineering Mechanical Engineering Polymers silicone bond strength seal Orion Conrad, Mason Christian An Experimental Investigation of Silicone-to-Metal Bond Strength in Composite Space Docking System Seals |
| author |
Conrad, Mason Christian |
| author_facet |
Conrad, Mason Christian |
| author_sort |
Conrad, Mason Christian |
| title |
An Experimental Investigation of Silicone-to-Metal Bond Strength in Composite Space Docking System Seals |
| title_short |
An Experimental Investigation of Silicone-to-Metal Bond Strength in Composite Space Docking System Seals |
| title_full |
An Experimental Investigation of Silicone-to-Metal Bond Strength in Composite Space Docking System Seals |
| title_fullStr |
An Experimental Investigation of Silicone-to-Metal Bond Strength in Composite Space Docking System Seals |
| title_full_unstemmed |
An Experimental Investigation of Silicone-to-Metal Bond Strength in Composite Space Docking System Seals |
| title_sort |
experimental investigation of silicone-to-metal bond strength in composite space docking system seals |
| publisher |
Case Western Reserve University School of Graduate Studies / OhioLINK |
| publishDate |
2009 |
| url |
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1244237964 |
| work_keys_str_mv |
AT conradmasonchristian anexperimentalinvestigationofsiliconetometalbondstrengthincompositespacedockingsystemseals AT conradmasonchristian experimentalinvestigationofsiliconetometalbondstrengthincompositespacedockingsystemseals |
| _version_ |
1719421642590912512 |