Accession Number:

AD0753666

Title:

Nuclear Thermal Vulnerability of Honeycomb Radome Materials.

Descriptive Note:

Master's thesis,

Corporate Author:

AIR FORCE INST OF TECH WRIGHT-PATTERSON AFB OHIO SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING

Personal Author(s):

• Bell,Michael V.

Report Date:

1972-12-01

Pagination or Media Count:

85.0

Abstract:

The thermal vulnerability levels of honeycomb sandwich radome panels were determined by using quartz iodide lamps to irradiate the panels in a wind tunnel. The lamps and wind tunnel simulated a thermal pulse on a flying aircraft. The radome panels were tested with lampblack, neoprene, and polyurethane coatings. The pulses delivered the thermal energy of up to 29.9 cal per square cm.sec peak flux and 94.3 cal per square cm total fluence. The double honeycomb panel with polyurethane coating withstood a thermal pulse of 94.3 cal per square cm total fluence before the polyurethane coating had ablatted and the top layer of the radome panel had delaminated. The double honeycomb panel was still structurally sound, and the radar signal transmission was not seriously retarded. The single honeycomb radome panel withstood a thermal fluence of 59.9 cal per square cm. The effects of this pulse were the same as the double honeycomb panel. A COMPUTER CODE USING TEMPERATURE INDEPENDENT PROPERTIES WAS PROGRAMMED AND COMPARED WITH THE EXPERIMENTAL TESTS. This code predicted the materials temperatures to within 5 UNTIL THE MATERIAL REACHED TEMPERATURES WHICH MELTED THE PANELS RESINS. Author-PL

Descriptors:

• *RADOMES
• VULNERABILITY
• THERMAL STABILITY
• HONEYCOMB CORES
• NUCLEAR EXPLOSION DAMAGE
• THERMAL RADIATION
• COATINGS
• CARBON BLACK
• SYNTHETIC RUBBER
• ISOCYANATES
• THESES
• COMPUTER PROGRAMS

Subject Categories:

• Aircraft
• Active and Passive Radar Detection and Equipment

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE