Introduction to Aerospace Engineering
Lecture slides
Challenge the future 1
Temperature & environment
Material properties & degradation
Faculty of Aerospace Engineering
22-11-2011
Delft
University of
Technology
Challenge the future
Learning objectives
Student should be able to…
• Describe effects of low or elevated temperature on typical
aerospace material properties
• Explain the significance of temperature for aircraft & spacecraft
• Explain what environments may influence the properties
Environmental aspects 2 | 19
Material properties
Significance of temperatures
• Materials & structures are often operated at
• Low temperatures
• High temperatures
• High temperature ranges
• For a long time
Environmental aspects 3 | 19
Material properties
Effect of temperatures
• Material properties change with temperature (metals)
• Ultimate strength 700
• Modulus of elasticity 2024-T3
600
• Yield strength
• Elongation 500
σult,RT
Ultimate & yield strength [MPa]
400 10000 hours
σy,RT
100 hours
300
1/2 hour
200
100
0
-300 -200 -100 0 100 200 300 400 500
Temperature [Celsius]
Environmental aspects 4 | 19
Material properties
Effect of temperatures
• Material properties change with temperature (polymers)
• Modulus of elasticity
• Elongation
E
• “glass transition temperature”
Tg Tm
Environmental aspects 5 | 19
Material properties
Effect of high temperatures
• Phenomena
• Creep
• Low yield strength (easier to deform plastically)
• Thermal stresses (inhomogeneous temperature distribution)
• High temperature applications
• Turbine blades
• Thermal protection systems
Environmental aspects 6 | 19
Material properties
Effect of high temperatures
• Thermal stress
• Coefficient of thermal expansion
1 dV
α=
V dT
Environmental aspects 7 | 19
Material properties
Effect of high temperatures
Mechanical properties ⇓
Fatigue properties ⇓
Thermal stresses ⇑
Environmental aspects 8 | 19
Material properties
Effect of low temperatures
Mechanical properties ⇑
Resistance against plastic deformation ⇑
Chemical reaction & diffusion rates ⇓
Environmental aspects 9 | 19
Material properties
Effect of low temperatures
• Fracture toughness
• Example: T2 and Liberty ships
16 January 1943, S.S. Schenectady, a T2 tanker, 24 hrs old
Environmental aspects 10 | 19
Material properties
Effect of low temperatures
• Fracture toughness
• Transition from ductile to brittle fracture
• Temperature ⇓ ⇒ ductility ⇓ and notch sensitivity ⇑
Environmental aspects 11 | 19
Environmental aspects
Example environments
• Air/moisture/salt
• Space & re-entry
• Fuel
• Hydraulics
• Cleaning agents
Environmental aspects 12 | 19
Environmental aspects
Example environments
• Air/moisture/salt
• Sea
Environmental aspects 13 | 19
Environmental aspects
Example environments
• Space & re-entry
• Radiation/UV exposure
• Atomic Oxygen (O+)
• Vacuum (degassing)
Environmental aspects 14 | 19
Environmental aspects
Example environments
• Fuel
• Integral fuel tank: structure sealed during manufacturing
Environmental aspects 15 | 19
Environmental aspects
Example environments
• De-icing
• Mechanical/thermal (scraping/heating)
• Liquid chemicals (salts/alcohols/glycols)
• Cleaning compounds
• Prescribed cleaning method
Environmental aspects 16 | 19
Environmental aspects
Example environmental effect: corrosion
• In time environment affects the material & structure…
Environmental aspects 17 | 19
Environmental aspects
Example environmental effect: corrosion
• Example: Galvanic corrosion
• Bicycle in winter: road salt & mud
⇒ galvanic corrosion between
chromium plated brass spoke
nipple and aluminium rim
Environmental aspects 18 | 19
Summary
Temperature & environment
• Material properties change with temperature
• Properties may change drastically
• Glass transition temperature for polymers/composites
• Ductile to brittle transition temperature for certain steel alloys
• Environment may affect properties in time
• Air/moisture/salt
• Space & re-entry
• Fuel
• Hydraulics
• Cleaning agents
Environmental aspects 19 | 19
