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Full-Text Articles in Engineering

Fatigue Behavior Of An Advanced Sic/Sic Composite At Elevated Temperature In Air And In Steam, Devon T. Christensen Dec 2009

Fatigue Behavior Of An Advanced Sic/Sic Composite At Elevated Temperature In Air And In Steam, Devon T. Christensen

Theses and Dissertations

The fatigue behavior of an advanced Silicon Carbide/Silicon Carbide (SiC/SiC) ceramic matrix composite (CMC) was investigated at 1200 ˚C in laboratory air and in steam environments. The composite consisted of a SiC matrix reinforced with Boron Nitride (BN) coated Hi-Nicalon fibers woven into eight-harness-satin (8HS) weave plies. Tensile stress-strain behavior and tensile properties were also evaluated at 1200 ˚C. Tension-tension fatigue tests were conducted in both laboratory air and in steam at 1200 ˚C at frequencies of 0.1 Hz, 1.0 Hz, and 10 Hz. The tension-tension fatigue tests had a ratio of minimum stress to maximum stress of R = …


Investigation Into Contact Resistance And Damage Of Metal Contacts Used In Rf-Mems Switches, Kevin W. Gilbert Dec 2009

Investigation Into Contact Resistance And Damage Of Metal Contacts Used In Rf-Mems Switches, Kevin W. Gilbert

Theses and Dissertations

This research examines the physical and electrical processes involved in lifecycle failure of Microelectromechanical (MEMS) Radio-Frequency (RF) cantilever beam ohmic contact switches. Failures of these switches generally occur at the contact, but complete details of performance of microcontacts are difficult to measure and have not been previously reported. This study investigated the mechanics of microcontact behavior by designing and constructing a novel experimental setup. Three representative contact materials of varying microstructure (Au, Au5%Ru, Au4%V2O5) were tested and parameters of contact during cycling were measured. The Au4%V2O5, a dispersion strengthened material developed at …


Effect Of Steam Environment On Creep Behavior Of Nextel720/Alumina-Mullite Ceramic Matrix Composite At Elevated Temperature, Tolga Kutsal Mar 2009

Effect Of Steam Environment On Creep Behavior Of Nextel720/Alumina-Mullite Ceramic Matrix Composite At Elevated Temperature, Tolga Kutsal

Theses and Dissertations

The tensile creep behavior of an oxide-oxide ceramic matrix composite (CMC) was investigated at 1000 and 1100° C in laboratory air and steam. The oxide-oxide CMC studied in this research was Nextel™ 720/alumina-mullite (N720/AM). The composite consists of N720/fibers with 0°/90° fiber orientation and a porous alumina-mullite matrix. Tensile-strain behavior was investigated and tensile properties measured at 900, 1000 and 1100° C. The effect of loading rate on tensile properties of N720/AM ceramic matrix composite at 1100° C in steam was also examined. Creep-rupture tests were performed at 1100° C in laboratory air and steam, and at 1000° C only …


Creep And Fatigue Interaction Characteristics Of Pwa1484, Christian J. Pierce Mar 2009

Creep And Fatigue Interaction Characteristics Of Pwa1484, Christian J. Pierce

Theses and Dissertations

One of the main methods for predicting the service life of jet engine turbine blades is through creep analysis. A sample of the turbine blade material will be mechanically tested to characterize its creep performance. This characterization will be used to determine safe operating conditions for the material. While methods for modeling creep behavior are generally well developed, this constant load creep testing does not fully represent the loading conditions present in a jet engine due to cyclic loading caused by the mission profile and throttle movements. As the industry seeks to become more accurate in physics based modeling of …


Fatigue Evaluation Of Nanocomposites As Lightweight Electronic Enclosures For Satellites' Applications, Javier Rodriguez Mar 2009

Fatigue Evaluation Of Nanocomposites As Lightweight Electronic Enclosures For Satellites' Applications, Javier Rodriguez

Theses and Dissertations

Existing nanocomposite materials used for satellite applications don't offer the required conductivity and electromagnetic shielding protection, requiring metal shields in order to survive in space. The AFRL Materials and Manufacturing Directorate in conjunction with the private sector have developed a material that promises to blend the attributes of nanocomposites and metal materials. The M55J/RS3 material consists of carbon fibers combined with a polyisocyanate matrix, in which Nickel nanostrandsTM are added. The research effort investigated the changes in the EMI and ESD of the material after being subjected to cyclic loads. Four configurations of a symmetric layup with fibers oriented …


Predicting Solar Protons: A Statistical Approach, Jonathan C. Spaulding Mar 2009

Predicting Solar Protons: A Statistical Approach, Jonathan C. Spaulding

Theses and Dissertations

A small fraction of solar flares are accompanied by high energy (>10 MeV) protons. These events can cause degradation or failure of satellite systems and can be harmful to humans in space or in high altitude flight. For risk management purposes, the Air Force is interested in predicting these events. Several algorithms exist to do this operationally, but none predict when these events will occur with much accuracy. Here, we analyzed 3610 M1 and greater flares including 106 with proton events from the GOES sensors from 1 Jan 1986 to 31 Dec 2004 to produce new results, including a …


Non-Destructive Evaluation Of Aerospace Composites, Jeremy D. Johnson Mar 2009

Non-Destructive Evaluation Of Aerospace Composites, Jeremy D. Johnson

Theses and Dissertations

Five methods of non-destructive material evaluation (NDE) were used to inspect various forms of damage commonly found in aerospace fiberglass composites: voids, edge and sub-surface delaminations, surface burning, and cracking. The images produced by X-ray, X-ray Computed Tomography, terahertz (THz) imaging, ultrasound, and flash IR thermography were analyzed for the detection of defects. Test results and analysis of each NDE method's capabilities provide a comparison study of conventional techniques versus the emerging technology of THz imaging for the non-destructive evaluation of aerospace composite materials. A comparison guide to the five methods' damage detection effectiveness for fiberglass composites is provided by …


Electrostatic Discharge Properties Of Irradiated Nanocomposites, Joshua D. Mcgary Mar 2009

Electrostatic Discharge Properties Of Irradiated Nanocomposites, Joshua D. Mcgary

Theses and Dissertations

Modernization in space systems requires employment of new light-weight, high performance composite materials that reduce bulk weight and increase structural integrity. This thesis explored the behavior of one such material prior to and following a 35-year simulated space radiation life-cycle. Select electrical properties of nickel nanostrandTM-carbon composites in seven configurations were characterized prior to electron irradiation via surface and bulk resistivity measurements and contact electrostatic discharge (ESD) measurements. Following irradiation at a fluence of 1016 e-/cm2 at an average energy of 500 keV, measurements were repeated and compared against pre-irradiation data. Configuration D is …


Effects Of Environment On Creep Behavior Of Nextel720/Alumina-Mullite Ceramic Composite With ±45º Fiber Orientation At 1200ºc, Muzaffer Ozer Mar 2009

Effects Of Environment On Creep Behavior Of Nextel720/Alumina-Mullite Ceramic Composite With ±45º Fiber Orientation At 1200ºc, Muzaffer Ozer

Theses and Dissertations

The present effort will investigate the off-axis creep behavior of the Nexte720/Alumina-Mullite CMC, a material system which relies on a porous alumina/mullite matrix for damage tolerance as compared to the pure alumina matrix in earlier studies. This research evaluated the creep behavior of N720/AM with a ± 45° fiber orientation at 1200°C in: laboratory air, steam, and argon environments. Creep-rupture tests at the creep stress levels of: 32, 30, 26, and 20 MPa were conducted in each environment. Additionally 35 MPa stress level examined in air and 13 MPa stress level examined both in air and steam. The N720/AM with …