The program to advance inflatable decelerators for atmospheric entry (PAI-DAE) will conduct a set of ground tests (wind-tunnel and ballistic range), materials development studies, and system trade…

The program to advance inflatable decelerators for atmospheric entry (PAI-DAE) will conduct a set of ground tests (wind-tunnel and ballistic range), materials development studies, and system trade studies to advance various aspects of the inflatable decelerator technology. The PAI-DAE program is currently funded by the hypersonics project of the fundamental aeronautics program at NASA, to conduct research and development necessary to demonstrate the inflatable aerodynamic decelerator (IAD) technology as both an entry systems technology and a supersonic decelerator technology. Task order title: flexible material systems testing 1. Purpose, objective, and background of work to be performed: the purpose of this task is to build layups to test in high temperature testing planned for fiscal year 2010, provide a woven silicon carbide fabric to include in the high temperature testing, and conduct mechanical behavior testing of zero-porosity fabric systems. This testing is part of the materials development and testing aspect of the project, to provide data that will enable different options for IAD bladder and thermal protection system (TPS). 2. Description of the work to be performed: the contractor shall perform the following task requirements: 3.1 build layups to test in high temperature testing. This task includes: 3.1.1 material coupons provide 48 TC instrumented quilted (6X6 inch) lay-up samples as defined in the following table, and permeability testing of AF-14, BF-20, UC100 materials. 3.1.2 provide three samples of each material to be tested at four different testing pressures. 3.1.3 weigh samples with and without thermocouples, and provide mass of each (and areal density, if possible). 3.2 woven fabric. This task includes: 3.2.1 provide a woven silicon carbide fabric. 3.2.2 provide three different weaves of two denier of sufficient quantity to complete permeability testing and fabrication of samples. 3.3 conduct mechanical behavior testing of the following fabrics: 1. Zero-porosity parachute nylon (commonly referred to as F-111 parachute nylon) 2. Silicone-coated plain-weave nomex O at least 2 different sample thicknesses shall be tested. 3. Silicone-coated plain-weave kevlar O at least 2 different sample thicknesses shall be tested. 4. Silicone-coated unbalanced-weave fabric (e.g. twill-weave) the material thickness, prior to coating, for all samples shall be within 0.004 inches to 0.040 inches. 3.3.1 mechanical behavior testing details all material samples shall be tested using the following 4 test methods. 1. Uniaxial test method [1] 2. Trellis-frame testing [2] 3. Bias extension testing [3] 4. Cylindrical biaxial testing [4] each test shall be conducted at least 3 times. Testing shall be conducted with and without mechanical conditioning [5].