Report of the PRESIDENTIAL COMMISSION
on the Space Shuttle Challenger Accident
Volume 5 Index
Hearings of the Presidential
Commission on the Space Shuttle Challenger Accident: February 26,
1986 to May 2, 1986.
MARCH 7, 1986 SESSION (part 2 of
2)
[1210] [Ref. 3/7-78 1 of
2] Failure Scenario 6.
FAILURE SCENARIO 6
FAILURE MECHANISM
- PUTTY HOLDS PRESSURE OFF AND PRIMARY AND
SECONDARY O-RINGS ARE OFF SEAT (JOINT GAP OPENING COUPLED WITH
RESILIENCY) WHEN PRESSURE APPLIED
ASSESSMENT METHOD
- ANALYSES AND TESTS TO ESTABLISH AMOUNT OF
JOINT ROTATION FOR STS 51-L CONDITIONS
- TESTS TO EVALUATE PUTTY PRESSURE HOLDING
CAPABILITY WITH VARYING GAP DIMENSIONS. ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURES
PRIOR TO ASSEMBLY AND TEST TEMPERATURES
- TESTS TO EVALUATE JOINT SEALING
PERFORMANCE WITH SPACE BETWEEN O-RING AND SEALING SURFACE
FINDINGS TO DATE
- INITIAL TESTS INDICATE THAT PUTTY PRESSURE
HOLDING CAPABILITY MY BE SUFFICIENT TO SUPPORT THIS
SCENARIO
- ADDITIONAL TESTS, INCLUDING DYNAMIC
EFFECTS OF THE JOINT, ARE REQUIRED
[Ref. 3/7-78 2 of 2]
SRM hot gas leak failure scenarios.
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