Non-destructive testing of satellite nozzles made of carbon fibre ceramic matrix composite, C/SiC
- Technische Universitaet Muenchen, ZWE, FRM-II, Forschungsneutronenquelle Heinz Maier-Leibnitz, Lichtenbergstr. 1, D-85747 Garching (Germany)
- EADS-Space-Transportation, Willy-Messerschmitt-Str.D-85521 Munich (Germany)
Carbon fibre ceramic matrix composite materials, C/SiC, are excellent candidates as lightweight structural materials for high performance hot structures such as in aerospace applications. Satellite nozzles are manufactured from C/SiC, using, for instance, the Liquid Polymer Infiltration (LPI) process. In this article the applicability of different non-destructive analysis methods for the characterisation of C/SiC components will be discussed. By using synchrotron and neutron tomography it is possible to characterise the C/SiC material in each desired location or orientation. Synchrotron radiation using tomography on small samples with a resolution of 1.4 {mu}m, i.e. the fibre scale, was used to characterise three dimensionally fibre orientation and integrity, matrix homogeneity and dimensions and distributions of micro pores. Neutron radiation tomography with a resolution of about 300 {mu}m was used to analyse the over-all C/SiC satellite nozzle component with respect to the fibre content. The special solder connection of a C/SiC satellite nozzle to a metallic ring was also successfully analysed by neutron tomography. In addition, the residual stress state of a temperature tested satellite nozzle was analysed non-destructively in depth by neutron diffraction. The results revealed almost zero stress for the principal directions, radial, axial and tangential, which can be considered to be the principal directions.
- OSTI ID:
- 21062159
- Journal Information:
- Materials Characterization, Vol. 58, Issue 10; Other Information: DOI: 10.1016/j.matchar.2006.09.010; PII: S1044-5803(06)00275-0; Copyright (c) 2006 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1044-5803
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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