Defining the coupled effects of cryogenic, space-radiation, and hypervelocity impact damamge on COPV's

The intent of the proposed effort is to investigate the detailed composite overwrapped pressure vessel (COPV) performance characteristics after being subject to irradiation, hypervelocity micro-meteor impact, and cryogenic environments. This will result in a safer, more reliable design for high performance COPVs. This intent will be achieved via empirical characterization of composite raw materials subsequent to exposure of the aforementioned environments. Phase I of this effort (NASA contract #NNM06AA56C) demonstrated a significant reduction in structural performance following exposure to various combinations of the aforementioned environments. This reduction in structural performance would seriously compromise the structural performance of any composite structure to be utilized in deep space applications. The data proposed in this effort would be extremely useful to NASA in what might be used in the upcoming CEV and CONSTELLATION missions. The aerospace and the commercial communities have shown significant interest in using filament wound COPVs for cryogenic applications. In addition there is serious consideration for using COPVs in deep space exploration which would sustain significant radiation exposure and possible impact damage. Constituent raw materials and existing COPV designs have not been characterized for the coupled effects of these applications and as such the safety margins for these applications are undefined. Therefore, the reliability of such usage is unknown.