Delamination assessment tool for spacraft composite structures

• Type: Article in International Conference Proceedings Book
• Date: 2012

Authors

portela, p (Author) Other; preller, f (Author) Other; wittke, h (Author) Other; sinnema, g (Author) Other; camanho, p (Author) FEUP; turon, a (Author) Other

Conference proceedings International

Title: European Space Agency, (Special Publication) ESA SP

12th European Conference on Spacecraft Structures, Materials and Environmental Testing

Noordwijk, 20 March 2012 through 23 March 2012

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge

Scopus - 0 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-008-811

Abstract (EN): Fortunately only few cases are known where failure of spacecraft structures due to undetected damage has resulted in a loss of spacecraft and launcher mission. However, several problems related to damage tolerance and in particular delamination of composite materials have been encountered during structure development of various ESA projects and qualification testing. To avoid such costly failures during development, launch or service of spacecraft, launcher and reusable launch vehicles structures a comprehensive damage tolerance verification approach is needed. In 2009, the European Space Agency (ESA) initiated an activity called "Delamination Assessment Tool" which is led by the Portuguese company HPS Lda and includes academic and industrial partners. The goal of this study is the development of a comprehensive damage tolerance verification approach for launcher and reusable launch vehicles (RLV) structures, addressing analytical and numerical methodologies, material-, subcomponent- and component testing, as well as non-destructive inspection. The study includes a comprehensive review of current industrial damage tolerance practice resulting from ECSS and NASA standards, the development of new Best Practice Guidelines for analysis, test and inspection methods and the validation of these with a real industrial case study. The paper describes the main findings of this activity so far and presents a first iteration of a Damage Tolerance Verification Approach, which includes the introduction of novel analytical and numerical tools at an industrial level. This new approach is being put to the test using real industrial case studies provided by the industrial partners, MT Aerospace, RUAG Space and INVENT GmbH.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 7