[SS-VehDev] Re: casing

[Ing. Roman Lev]

Matt & all,

I will help as much as I can, but for sure - are we speaking about ENGINE casing or about the transitional part of the hull between the NC & engine? Few notes indicates [ length 2x10ft ] you really have engine casing on the mind . I mean there would be no big trouble at all make just an hull section, but engine casing is something else. Until now I really tested just one impuls-engine made fully from composite [ burning time slightly over 1 sec, thrust about  500 lbs ]. I do not have any experience with thermal insulations, thermal wave delay, attachement of metal nozzle to the composite casing, sealing at such a big thing. There is lot of place for just a small mistake here. 

I believe, we can succesfully lay-up the carbon casing, but  to be succesfull, we have to know lot of small hints, solutions of details - and thats not a fun. I'm not skeptic, but did somebody of as thing like this one? If yes [ Bill?], I would say lets go into it. Richard, would you be able to calculate plies, orientations, local stress etc if we would make some samples? Is there anybody  capable of destructive mechanical testing [ composite samples, Instron machine etc ]? It would provide necessary data about real composite what we are capable of.

r+