SYMPOSIA PAPER Published: 01 January 1976
STP28639S

Application of Fracture Mechanics to the Thermostructural Failure of Graphite

Source

Thermostructural failure of materials used in reentry vehicles is an important problem. This paper is an experimental and analytical study of a testing facility in which these materials are thermostructurally evaluated. Radio frequency energy is used to induce a steep, radial temperature gradient in a disk-shaped specimen. A KI solution for this specimen is developed by a semiempirical procedure; it is used to analyze the experimental data. Experiments were performed on ATJ-S (WS) graphite. Comparison of the results from the KI solution are compared to contemporary KI values for this graphite. Currently, the KI solution is inadequate for design purposes; however, it shows the potential of providing a better understanding of the thermostructural fracture process.

Author Information

Starrett, HS
Analytical Mechanics Section, Southern Research Institute, Birmingham, Ala.
Cull, AD
Analytical Mechanics Section, Southern Research Institute, Birmingham, Ala.
Irwin, GR
University of Maryland, College Park, Md.
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Details
Developed by Committee: E08
Pages: 86–108
DOI: 10.1520/STP28639S
ISBN-EB: 978-0-8031-4676-1
ISBN-13: 978-0-8031-0318-4