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Application of Fracture Mechanics to Space‐Shuttle Windows
Author(s) -
WIEDERHORN S. M.,
EVANS A. G.,
FULLER E. R.,
JOHNSON H.
Publication year - 1974
Publication title -
journal of the american ceramic society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.9
H-Index - 196
eISSN - 1551-2916
pISSN - 0002-7820
DOI - 10.1111/j.1151-2916.1974.tb10910.x
Subject(s) - fracture mechanics , fracture (geology) , space shuttle , stress intensity factor , materials science , composite material , fracture toughness , stress (linguistics) , mechanics , structural engineering , engineering , physics , aerospace engineering , linguistics , philosophy
The fracture properties of an ultralow‐expansion glass intended for use in windows for the Space Shuttle were characterized by strength and fracture‐mechanics techniques to provide reliable design data. Proof‐test diagrams for predicting minimum times‐to‐failure under specified service loads were developed from measurements of subcritical crack growth in water and air. Failure predictions were confirmed from strength measurements in water. In vacuum (<10 −4 torr), the fracture behavior was similar to that of other high‐SiO 2 glasses, as evidenced by the absence of subcritical crack growth and by insensitivity of the critical stress intensity factor to temperature.