Durability of Polymer Composites in Power and Propulsion Applications

Advancements in polymer matrix composites have made them attractive to developers of power and propulsion equipment for spaceflight and aeronautic applications. However, many of these applications have very unique operational environments that are not easily found in the available design databases. Rapid insertion of these materials through prototype development and concept demonstration programs are hampered by the absence of relevant design data. In such cases, development programs conducted by the NASA Glenn Research Center have found it beneficial to employ pathfinder experimental methods designed to focus on the specific application and operational environment at hand. This chapter describes specialized experimental investigations of composite durability for applications that include flywheel energy storage, combustion chamber, and fan case structures. The experiments were designed to investigate complex thermomechanical and hygrothermal environments posed by these technologies. Beyond cycles-to-failure and residual strength, dimensional stability and stiffness degradation are key, if not primary, concerns in preserving functional capability for the cited applications.