Back to Departmental Colloquium: Fall 2004
Departmental Colloquium
Date: Thursday, Nov 4, 2004
Time: 4:15PM
Location: JWB 335
Departmental Colloquium
Impact Testing and Modeling in Support of the Space Shuttle Columbia Investigation
Title |
Impact Testing and Modeling in Support of the Space Shuttle Columbia Investigation |
Abstract |
The Orbiter Columbia disintegrated on re-entry on Saturday, February 1, 2003. The next Monday, Southwest Research Institute was contacted about performing tests (and later analysis) to determine the plausibility of a foam impact on the left wing being the cause of the loss of the vehicle. This talk discusses the work that was performed at SwRI during the Columbia investigation, sponsored by both NASA and the Columbia Accident Investigation Board. The work included test impacts into both thermal tiles and into the reinforced carbon-carbon leading edge panels. Both impact scenarios were also computationally modeled. The presentation will include high-speed video of foam impact tests and computer animations of numerical simulations of impact. The work showed that a foam impact on the leading edge of the wing could produce significant damage. These results, combined with the forensic work of the investigation, allowed the conclusion that Columbia was lost due to the impact of external-tank insulating foam near the left wing’s RCC panel 8 during ascent. More details on SwRI’s role in the investigation (and additional photographs) can be found at http://www.swri.edu/3pubs/ttoday/fall03/LeadingEdge.htm. |
Computational Mathematics