• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.321-328
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• 2021

This paper derives numerically new buckling Knockdown factors for the lightweight design of the composite propellant tanks for space launch vehicles. A nonlinear finite element analysis code, ABAQUS, is used for the present postbuckling analysis of composite cylinders under compressive loads. Various thickness ratios (R/t) and slenderness ratios (L/R) are considered and Single Perturbation Load Approach is applied to represent the geometric initial imperfection of the composite cylinder. For the composite cylinder with thickness ratio of 500 and slenderness ratio of 2.04, the buckling Knockdown factor derived in this work is higher by 84.38% than NASA's previous buckling design criteria. Therefore, it is investigated that a lightweight design is possible when the present Knockdown factors are used for the design of composite propellant tanks. In addition, it is shown that global buckling loads and buckling Knockdown factors decrease as the thickness ratio or slenderness ratio of composite cylinders increases.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.75-82
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• 2022

Nondestructive method to predict buckling load for the propellant tank of launch vehicle should be evaluated. Vibration correlation technique can predict the global buckling load of unstiffened cylindrical structure with geometric initial imperfection using correlation of natural frequency and compressive load from compressive test below the buckling load. In this study, vibration and buckling tests of a thin metal unstiffened propellant tank model subjected to internal pressure and compressive loads were performed and the test results were used for VCT to predict global buckling load. For the vibration test of thin structure, non-contact excitation method using a speaker was used. The response was measured with piezoelectric polymer(PVDF) sensor. Prediction results of VCT were compared with the measured buckling load in the test and the nondestructive global buckling load prediction method was verified.