Download or read book Thermal Structures Technology Development for Reusable Launch Vehicle Cryogenic Propellant Tanks written by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and published by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform. This book was released on 2018-06-11 with total page 28 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Analytical and experimental studies conducted at the NASA, Langley Research Center (LaRC) for investigating integrated cryogenic propellant tank systems for a reusable launch vehicle (RLV) are described. The cryogenic tanks are investigated as an integrated tank system. An integrated tank system includes the tank wall, cryogenic insulation, thermal protection system (TPS) attachment sub-structure, and TPS. Analysis codes are used to size the thicknesses of cryogenic insulation and TPS insulation for thermal loads, and to predict tank buckling strengths at various ring frame spacings. The unique test facilities developed for the testing of cryogenic tank components are described. Testing at cryogenic and high-temperatures verifies the integrity of materials, design concepts, manufacturing processes, and thermal/structural analyses. Test specimens ranging from the element level to the subcomponent level are subjected to projected vehicle operational mechanical loads and temperatures. The analytical and experimental studies described in this paper provide a portion of the basic information required for the development of light-weight reusable cryogenic propellant tanks.Johnson, Theodore F. and Natividad, Roderick and Rivers, H. Kevin and Smith, Russell W.Langley Research CenterCRYOGENICS; PROPELLANT TANKS; REUSABLE LAUNCH VEHICLES; STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS; THERMAL PROTECTION; TEST FACILITIES; TECHNOLOGY UTILIZATION; SINGLE STAGE TO ORBIT VEHICLES; LIQUID OXYGEN; HONEYCOMB STRUCTURES; BUCKLING; SYSTEMS INTEGRATION