Issue 15

I. S

. Raju et alii, Fr

attura ed Integri

tà Strutturale, 1

5 (2011) 35-49

; DOI: 10.3221/I

GF-ESIS.15.05

we me

re used for thods used to

the stress an characterize

d fracture m defects in th

echanics an e panels are

alyses are de presented. F

scribed. Th inally, analys

en, the frac is results and

ture mechan findings are

ics analyses discussed.

and

W I

NG -L EADIN

G -E DGE C

ONFIGURA

TION

T

he Spac panels, T 1(c) sho

e Shuttle win -seals are in w a close-up S-shaped cu side of the 10; that side p side of eac ation bound E and is def 1(c). The RC n in Fig. 1(d ess of fabric -coating regio

g-leading edg stalled to clo and cross-se rvature are c panel is calle of the panel h panel is ca aries on the ined in Fig. C material c ). Note th ation. Then ns are comm

e (WLE) con se or cover t ctional view, alled “joggles d the “lock s is called the lled the acre outer and in 1(b), while t ontains a su at these craz a sealant is a only referred

figuration an he gap. Fig respectively, ” (see Fig. 1 ide” and is s “slip side” a age region. T ner surfaces he span dire bstrate region e cracks for pplied to bo to as coatin

d geometry . 1(a) shows of Panels 9 (c)). When T hown in Fig nd is also sh he outer mo of the WLE ction runs a and two co m in the co th the OML g layers.

are presented the Space Sh and 10 and T -seal 10 is in . 1(c). In add own in Fig. 1 ld line (OM , respectivel cross the WL nversion coa ating during and IML sur

in Fig. 1. B uttle WLE, a -seal 10. Th stalled, it is lo ition, T-seal (c). The reg L) and inner y. The chor E panels an ting regions the cool-dow faces, filling

etween adja nd Fig. 1(b) e regions of cked to a jo 10 floats ov ion between mold line (IM d direction r d T-seals an containing c n phase of the craze cra

cent and the ggle er a the L) uns d is raze the cks.

pan on jog loc are aro def cra con Th

els that have Panel 9; that gle on Panel k side and sli the configur und the WL ined in Fig. cks, as show version proc e conversion

(a) Wing

leading edge.

(b)

Panels 9 and 1

0 and T-seal 1

0.

(c) Cross-sec

tional view of

0 and T-seal 1 e Shuttle wing s (Missions S to be missi ation events

0. -leading-edge TS 1 -102 and ng from the occurred (a)

(d) C configuration STS-103) at WLE apex n after STS-10

ross-section o and geometry the NASA ear the top 3 on OV 2 -10

f slip-side jogg . Kennedy Spa of the joggle 3 Panel 8L an

le.

Panels 9 and 1 Figure 1 : Spac uttle landing ere observed he two spall

Aft are reg

er two differ as of the RC ion, as shown

ent Space Sh C coating w in Fig. 2. T

ce Center, sm in the slip d (b) after S

all side TS-

1 ST 2 O

S – Space Tran V – Orbiting V

sportation Syste ehicle.

m.

36