Destructive Tests of 15CDV6 Steel Rocket Motor Cases and Their Application To Lightweight Design-Beena
Destructive Tests of 15CDV6 Steel Rocket Motor Cases and Their Application To Lightweight Design-Beena
Destructive Tests of 15CDV6 Steel Rocket Motor Cases and Their Application To Lightweight Design-Beena
strength as a basis of design makes it possible to specified E, and E,. The value of E, is substituted
achieve the lightweight design of rocket motor in eqn (1) to get (T,. With these values, eqns (3)
cases. and (4) give the secant modulus (E,) and secant
Poisson’s ratio (YJ. Using this value of Y, in eqn
(2), E, will be determined. This iteration process
has to be continued until these two unknowns, vs
BIAXIAL ULTIMATE STRENGTH and E,, satisfy both eqns (2) and (3) with the
EVALUATION desired degree of accuracy.
With the secant modulus (E,) and secant
Biaxial ultimate strength of the material can Poisson’s ratio (YJ for the measured principal
strains E[ and E*, the respective principal stresses
generally be evaluated by burst-testing of the
subscale cylindrical vessels. For hydro-burst-tests, u1 and u2 are
the stresses in the inelastic range are determined
from the post-yield strain gauges. For the
calculation of stresses from the measured strains,
11fll
1.063m
that of chromium is l-5%, and the concentrations locations away from the weldment is found to be
of molybdenum and vanadium are less than 1.5% more, compared to that at weld locations, which
each. Hence, it is a low-alloy steel, in which the may be due to higher thickness of the weld bead.
proportion by weight of all the alloying elements The variation in the stresses on either side of the
combined is less than 5 %. weld is mainly due to curvature change or
As per specification, the minimum guaranteed discontinuity, which causes bending. These
material properties are bending stresses are found to be diminishing as
Young’s modulus (E) 203557.50 X 10e6 N/m” the internal pressure increases and becomes
Poisson’s ratio (Y) O-3 negligibly small at the burst pressure. Another
Ultimate tensile observation is that, even though the peak stresses
strength (a,) 981 X 10d6 N/m* under internal pressure in the cylindrical shell
Yield strength (vJ 833435 X 10e6 N/m2 portion were observed in the parent metal,
Percentage elongation 8-12% failure was initiated near the long seam joint.
Density (p) 7850 kg/m3 This may be due to the weld efficiency (7,) being
less than 100%.
The dimensional details of the motor case The stresses in the cylindrical shell portion of
(cylindrical shell portion) are as follows:
the motor case under internal pressure are
Inner diameter (DJ 206.6 X lo-” m computed from the measured strains and the
Thickness (t) 2-6 X lop3 m stress-strain data of the material obtained from
The stress-strain data of the material obtained the tensile test coupons. The stress field in a
from the tensile test coupons corresponding to thin-walled motor case is biaxial. In the
the hardware are represented by the relationship cylindrical shell portion of the motor case, the
as given in eqn (1). 0.2% proof stress or yield hoop stress (a,) is higher than the meridional
stress (a,,) for this batch of the material is stress (a,) and the effective stress (a,,). The plot
915.27 X lop6 N/m2 and the material constants in of the hoop stress (a,) versus the hoop strain (cl)
eqn (1) are E = 203557.5 X lop6 N/m’, &o= O-005 up to the burst pressure of the motor case
and n = 3.2825. The data generated from the represents the biaxial stress-strain diagram. The
empirical relationship are plotted along with the plot of the effective stress (o,,=J versus the
actual stress-strain data in Fig. 3. effective strain (E& up to the burst pressure of
Based on the procedure explained in the the motor case follows the path of the uniaxial
previous section, stresses are computed from the stress-strain diagram of the tensile test coupon.
measured strains at various pressure levels. Table Figure 5 shows the comparison of uniaxial and
1 gives the stress analysis results at the maximum biaxial stress strain diagram for the motor case
stressed location (No. 3). near the long seam joint at which the failure of
Figures 4(a) and (b) shows the variation of the motor case was initiated. The biaxial ultimate
hoop stresses with internal pressure, at different strength of the motor case is worked out to be
locations identified in Fig. 1. The hoop stress at 1164.45 X 10e6N/m2. One interesting phenome-
non observed from these curves is the reduction
of ductility in the biaxially stressed cylinder as
compared to that obtained in the uniaxial
specimen. Because of loss of ductility in the
biaxial field, material discrepancies such as flaws,
- Eq.(1) local embrittlement and porosities will be more
DWPDT~S~
critical in causing premature failure in a vessel,
MATER!AL CONSTANTS
than in a uniaxial specimen. This may be the
E = 203557.5 x lo-' N/m'
reason that the maximum effective stress in the
" = 3.2825
motor case (a,) is 1010.43 X 10W6N/m’, which is
= 0.005
c.
less, compared to the ultimate strength
(1030.10 x 10-6-1079.10 X 10e6N/m’) of the ten-
sile test coupons. The weld efficiency (nW) is
worked out to be 93.5-98%. The strain E,
STRAIN, L ( Y lo-') corresponding to the maximum effective stress is
Fig. 3. Stress-strain curve for 15CDV6 steel. O-01623. If the motor case is not weld-free
Destructive tests of 15CDV6 steel rocket motor cases 317
Table 1. Stresses and strains at the maximulm stressed location (No. 3) in the burst-tested motor case (see Fig. 1)
construction, the weld efficiency (7~~) has to be 1010.43 N/m2, E, = 0.01623 and vSv,,= 0.439, in
considered on the ultimate tensile strength (a”) eqns (6)-(g) are given in Table 2.
of the parent material while evaluating the burst In order to verify the reliability and perfor-
pressure. Otherwise, the prediction of the burst mance reproducibility of the 15CDV6 steel motor
pressure will be unconservative. cases, another hardware was subjected to
From Fig. 5, the biaxial gain (ratio of hydro-burst-pressure test. The failure of the
maximum principal stress in the cylindrical shell motor case was initiated in the long seam joint
to the uniaxial tensile stress) is found to be and a classical hoop failure was observed. The
17.9% at the 0.2% proof stress level, whlereas it recorded burst pressure of the motor case is
is 15.4% at the ultimate stress. 29.59 X 10e6N/m2. The closeness of the two
The pressure at which yield is initiated I(&) and hydro-burst-tests amply testifies the reliability of
the burst pressure (Pb) for the tested motor case the motor cases made of 15CDV6 steel.
obtained by using the data, Oi = 206.6 X 10v3 m, The biaxial strength of the hydro-burst-tested
t = 2.6 X low6 m, uYS= 915.27 X 1O-6 N/m”, u, = motor case (1164-45 X lop6 N/m*) evaluated from
318 A. P. Beena et al.
(X lO~‘N/m’) (X lO’N/m’)
b
pressure vessels made of 15CDV6 steel. How-
- 600 ever, the pressure value given in eqn (8) being
more conservative, it is preferred for use in
design.
APPLICATION TO LIGHTWEIGHT
DESIGN
0
STRAIN, E ( Y lo-')
The efficetive stress ueff in the weld-free diameter rocket motor case. Reducing propor-
cylindrical shell is tionally, the evaluated biaxial strength of the
burst-tested 15CDV6 steel motor case, and
tiPD
u eff =-- (13) equating to the hoop stress ((PD/2t)K,) in the
4 t long seam joint of the cylindrical portion of the
From eqns (12) and (13), the stress colncentra- large diameter (2.8m) rocket motor case, the
tion factor K, in the long seam weld joint of the minimum burst pressure is worked out to be
cylindrical vessel due to weld mismatch of 6 is 8.05 x lop6 N/m2. Usage of biaxial strength to
assess the structural integrity of a motor case is
K, = 2
K: + K; - K1K2 “’
3 1 (14) thus simple and accurate.
The factor of safety (minimum) over proof
This stress concentration factor is diminished pressure is expected to be l-22.
in magnitude by local plastic flow. The plastic
stress concentration factor, K, for any type of CONCLUDING REMARKS
geometrical discontinuity, suggested in Ref. 18 is
A rocket motor case is used only for a short
K, = 1 + (K, - l)E,/E (15) duration during flight. For effectiveness of
To illustrate the use of these ideas, the vertical flight, the rocket motor case used in the
problem of designing a 2.8 m diameter rocket advanced solid propulsion system is essentially a
motor case made of 15CDV6 steel for a ;specified lightweight shell, acted upon by static internal
proof pressure of 6.48 X 10P6N/m2 is considered. pressure and dynamic and thermal loads during
Maximum permissible long seam weld mismatch flight. For practical purposes, consideration of
is assumed as 5% of thickness. Weld efficiency qw internal pressure is all that is necessary in
on the minimum guaranteed properties is investigating the structural integrity of the rocket
assumed as 94%. Using eqn (14), the elastic motor case.
stress concentration factor K,, for S = 0.03, is Experimental stress investigations are carried
obtained as 1.1505. The plastic stress concentra- out on burst tests of rocket motor cases made of
tion factor K, at the yield stress level is found to 15CDV6 steel. The biaxial strength of the motor
be 1.12. case is evaluated from the recorded strains in the
Allowing the material to yield at proof cylindrical shell portion and the applicability of
pressure, the thickness of the motor case, using the existing analytical expressions for the
eqn (6), is obtained as estimation of burst pressure is examined. It is
demonstrated that usage of biaxial strength in the
design of a large diameter motor case is quite
simple and accurate.
= 11.35 X 10M3m As a rule of thumb, the distortion energy
theory can be used for isotropic ductile materials.
The stress concentration factor K, at the While there is a well-established basis for the
ultimate strength is 1.0507, the ultimate effective effectiveness of proof testing for brittle materials,
stress and strain are the logic is not straightforward for tough ductile
CT
eff= qwa,lK, = 877.6 X 1O-6N/m2 materials which exhibit stable flaw growth.
Where possible, a fracture mechanics analysis
and E, = O-01459.
should be performed to establish the proof
Equating this ultimate effective stress for the pressure factor required to determine the
ultimate strength (T, in eqn (8), the burst pressure maximum possible flaw size, for verification of
of the motor case for the thickness of service life with respect to cyclic and sustained
11.35 X 10e3m is obtained as 7.91 X 10P6:N/m2. load history. To examine these aspects, fracture
The ultimate tensile strength (a,) of the tensile toughness and crack growth data of the material
test coupons (which were made from the motor are essential, in addition to the tensile strength
case after the burst test) was found to be! 5-10% properties.
higher than its specified value. The specified Burst tests involve enormously high cost for
minimum guaranteed strength properties of the large diameter rocket motor cases. Qualifying a
material are considered in the design of a 2.8 m new design of a rocket motor case generally
320 A. P. Beena et al.
requires, in addition to the proof tests, bursting 10. Anon., Test Report on the Qualification Test on
PSLV-Retro Chambers RSL and RS2 (Report No.
of one or more prototype motor cases. VSSC-SEG-STL-LT-79-89). Structural Testing Labora-
tory, Structural Engineering Group, Vikram Sarabhai
SpaceCentre, Trivandrum, India, 1989.
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elasto-plastic strain measured with strain gauges.
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Fundamental Aspects of Solid Propellant Rockets 12. NageswaraRao, B., A simplified procedure for stress
(AGARD No. 116). The Advisory Group for analysisin the elasto-plasticrange with the aid of strain
Aerospace Research and Development, Technical gauges.Exper. Tech., 15 (3) (1991) 38-9.
Services,Slough, UK, 1969. 13. Svensson,N. L., Bursting pressure of cylindrical and
2. James, B. H., Structural Integrity Analysis of Solid sphericalvessels.J. Appl. Mech., 25 (1956) 89-96.
Rocket Motors. Conference on Stress and Strain in 14. Marin, J. & Sharma, M. G., Design of a thin walled
Engineering, Brisbane. National Committee on Applied cylindrical vessel based upon plastic range and
Mechanics, The Institution of Engineers, Australia, consideringanisotropy. Welding Res. Council Bull., 40
1973. (1958).
3. NageswaraRao, B., Fracture of solid rocket propellant 15. Bohm, G. J., Cloud, R. L., Hsu, L. C., Pai, D. H. &
grains.Engng Fract. Mech., 43 (3) (1992)45.5-9. Reedy, R. F., Pressure Vessel and Piping-Design and
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273-308. Joint Propulsion Conference, Las Vegas, NV, USA,
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