Development of Oxidation Protection Coatings for Gamma Titanium Aluminide Alloys
Metallic material systems play a key role in meeting the stringent weight and durability requirements for reusable launch vehicle (RLV) airframe hot structures. Gamma titanium aluminides (gamma-TiAl) have been identified as high-payoff materials for high-temperature applications. The low density and good elevated temperature mechanical properties of gamma-TiAl alloys make them attractive candidates for durable lightweight hot structure and thermal protection systems at temperatures as high as 871 C. However, oxidation significantly degrades gamma-TiAl alloys under the high-temperature service conditions associated with the RLV operating environment. This paper discusses ongoing efforts at NASA Langley Research Center to develop durable ultrathin coatings for protecting gamma-TiAl alloys from high-temperature oxidation environments. In addition to offering oxidation protection, these multifunctional coatings are being engineered to provide thermal control features to help minimize heat input into the hot structures. This paper describes the coating development effort and discusses the effects of long-term high-temperature exposures on the microstructure of coated and uncoated gamma-TiAl alloys. The alloy of primary consideration was the Plansee alloy gamma-Met, but limited studies of the newer alloy gamma-Met-PX were also included. The oxidation behavior of the uncoated materials was evaluated over the temperature range of 704 C to 871 C. Sol-gel-based coatings were applied to the gamma-TiAl samples by dipping and spraying, and the performance evaluated at 871 C. Results showed that the coatings improve the oxidation resistance, but that further development is necessary.
Thermomechanical Performance of Bio-Inspired Corrugated-Core Sandwich Structure for a Thermal Protection System Panel
A skin structure for thermal protection is one of the most interesting components that needs to be considered in the design of a hypersonic vehicle. The thermal protection structure, if a dense structure is used, is heavy and has a large heat conduction path. Thus, a lightweight, high strength structure is preferable. Currently, for designing a lightweight structure with high strength, natural materials are of great interest for achieving low density, high strength, and toughness. This paper presents bio-inspired lightweight structures that ensure high strength for a thermal protection system (TPS). A sinusoidal shape inspired by the microstructure of the dactyl club of Odontodactylus scyllarus, known as the peacock mantis shrimp, is presented with two different geometries, a unidirectionally corrugated core sandwich structure (UCS) and a bidirectionally corrugated core sandwich structure (BCS). Thermomechanical analysis of the two corrugated core structures is performed under simulated aerodynamic heating, and the total deflection and thermal stress are presented. The maximum deflection of the present sandwich structure throughout a mission flight was 1.74 mm for the UCS and 2.04 mm for the BCS. Compared with the dense structure used for the skin structure of the TPS, the bio-inspired corrugated core sandwich structures achieved about a 65% weight reduction, while the deflections still satisfied the limits for delaying the hypersonic boundary layer transition. Moreover, we first fabricated the BCS to test the thermomechanical behaviors under a thermal load. Finally, we examined the influence of the core thickness, face-sheet thickness, and emittance in the simulation model to identify appropriate structural parameters in the TPS optimization. The present corrugated core sandwich structures could be employed as a skin structure for metallic TPS panels instead of the honeycomb sandwich structure.
Neutron Residual Stress Measurements on Rail Sections for Different Production Conditions
Rail sectioning with subsequent neutron diffraction experiments has been used to assess residual stresses in the rails. In this study we present the results of neutron stress measurements performed at the NIST Center for Neutron Research (NCNR) on rail sections from rails that were produced under various conditions. Specifically, these are air-cooled, air-cooled and roller-straightened, head-hardened and head-hardened and roller-straightened. More significantly, a head-hardened and roller-straightened rail was also studied after service to elucidate evolution of the service-induced residual stresses. In the latter case both a transverse-cut slice and the central region of a 0.53 m long piece were studied. Measurements on this piece are the first in which triaxial stresses have been determined for an intact rail. Neutron strain measurements with 3×3×3 mm3 spatial resolution were successfully employed for transversally cut slices to verify the difference in the stress state depending on the production process. Although examination of slices allows determination of only two-dimensional stresses in the plane of the slice, additional measurements on obliquely-cut slices, which were also carried out, and utilization of FEM gives the possibility of reconstructing the full triaxial stress distribution. Together, these approaches provide a better understanding of rail fabrication and the possibility of improving the durability and safety of rails in the future.Copyright © 2004 by ASME