Publications Details

Development of the steel/aluminum composite gate for the modified auxiliary closure

Chin, Richard F.

The propulsion working fluid for the containment closure used at the Nevada Test Site consists of a mixture of a driver gas and the hot detonation products from the shaped charge that cuts the wall of the storage vessel. Nitrogen had always been used as the driver gas. However, helium gas, because of its superior propulsion characteristics, has enabled us to design considerably heavier and stronger gates. Operational times can be equal to or less than operational times when nitrogen gas was used. Assume, maintaining the same functional time, that an appreciably stronger steel/aluminum composite gate is designed and developed. The gate consists of two 3/4-in.-thick, high-strength 4340 circular steel plates imbedded in the two sides of the 7075-T73 aluminum forging. Mechanical circular keys are used to ensure the effective transfer of horizontal shear loads from aluminum to steel. Three point bending experiments on small composite beams were conducted to determine the effectiveness of the mechanical keying system. Also explored was structural adhesive used as a bonding and shear transfer mechanism. 4 refs., 8 figs., 1 tab.