Pressure-stabilized tanks
Pressure-stabilized tanks
(OP)
Hello,
I am looking for technical information on the design of pressure-stabilized tank or "balloon tank". That kind of tank was used for the propellants of the centaur upper stage rocket. I have found a few documents online but I was wondering of some people might have experience with that kind of pressure vessel and if you have literature you would recommend me to read.
Thanks
I am looking for technical information on the design of pressure-stabilized tank or "balloon tank". That kind of tank was used for the propellants of the centaur upper stage rocket. I have found a few documents online but I was wondering of some people might have experience with that kind of pressure vessel and if you have literature you would recommend me to read.
Thanks





RE: Pressure-stabilized tanks
Nanimo...
NASA/SP-2004-4230 Taming liquid hydrogen : the centaur upper stage rocket, 1958-2002
Regards, Wil Taylor
Trust Me! I'm an engineer!
Trust - But Verify!
We believe to be true what we prefer to be true.
For those who believe, no proof is required; for those who cannot believe, no proof is possible.
Unfortunately, in science what You 'believe' is irrelevant – "Orion"
RE: Pressure-stabilized tanks
RE: Pressure-stabilized tanks
Structural design of missiles and spacecraft, Abraham, Lewis H. 1962
ch. 9. Pressure stabilized structure
http://www.amazon.com/Structural-Design-Missiles-S...
http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/0070001502/...=
Regards, Wil Taylor
Trust Me! I'm an engineer!
Trust - But Verify!
We believe to be true what we prefer to be true.
For those who believe, no proof is required; for those who cannot believe, no proof is possible.
Unfortunately, in science what You 'believe' is irrelevant – "Orion"
RE: Pressure-stabilized tanks
I think they were .010" thick, maybe five-ish feet in diameter and ten-ish feet long.
The head to shell joint was reinforced a little so an external fixture could be attached to hold the shell in tension to keep it from wrinkling. The other choice for handling the tanks was to keep them pressurized to 10-ish psi.
Great care was taken to not scratch their shiny surfaces.
Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA
RE: Pressure-stabilized tanks
RE: Pressure-stabilized tanks
Regards, Wil Taylor
Trust Me! I'm an engineer!
Trust - But Verify!
We believe to be true what we prefer to be true.
For those who believe, no proof is required; for those who cannot believe, no proof is possible.
Unfortunately, in science what You 'believe' is irrelevant – "Orion"
RE: Pressure-stabilized tanks
RE: Pressure-stabilized tanks
Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA
RE: Pressure-stabilized tanks
Another interesting factor to consider with large cryogenic propellant tank structures is the significant effects of "cryo-shrinkage" when they are filled with LOx/LH2 on the launch pad.
RE: Pressure-stabilized tanks