Date of Award

Spring 2011

Document Type

Thesis - Open Access

Degree Name

Master of Aerospace Engineering

Department

Aerospace Engineering

Committee Chair

Dr. Bogdan Udrea

Committee Member

Dr. Yi Zhao

Committee Member

Dr. Sathya Gangadharan

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine if parts manufactured using metal selective laser sintering (SLS) exhibit the same isotropic material properties as conventionally made metal parts. This was accomplished by performing a hydrostatic pressure test (HPT) of a metal SLS manufactured propellant tank, constructed for a nano-satellite of the cubesat class. Strain measurements from twelve strain gage locations on the propellant tank were recorded. A finite element analysis (FEA) model, which assumes isotropic material properties, was generated and a FEA analysis was ran at several pressure loads. The tanks strain data at the corresponding pressure loads from the HPT was then compared to the FEA data at the same pressure loads ranging from 500 to 3000psi. The two data sets were used for comparing material properties of the metal SLS and of theisotropic FEA model of the tank.

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