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)
[1211] [Ref. 3/7-79 1 of
6] Joint leak Observed Near 59 sec. (event common to scenarios 3, 4,
5 and 6)
JOINT LEAK OBSERVED HEAR 59
SEC.
(EVENT COMMON TO SCENARIOS 3, 4, 5 AND
6)
FAILURE MECHANISM
- POSTULATED MECHANISMS FOR SCENARIOS 3, 4,
5, OR 6 LEAD TO VISIBLE PLUME EMANATING FROM JOINT AT
APPROXIMATELY 59 SEC. TWO POSSIBILITIES EXIST:
- LEAK CONTINUOUS FROM NEAR IGNITION
(OBSERVED SMOKE PUFF)
- INITIAL LEAK CAUSED DAMAGE TO JOINT AND
LOADS IMPOSED ON JOINT NEAR 59 SEC. RESULTED IN FAILURE
ASSESSMENT METHOD
- FLOW, THERMAL AND STRUCTURAL ANALYSES TO
EVALUATE JOINT CAPABILITY WITH CONTINUOUS LEAK PATH
- SUBSCALE MOTOR TESTS TO EVALUATE JOINT
CAPABILITY WITH INDUCED LEAK PATHS
- STRUCTURAL/DYNAMIC ANALYSIS OF JOINT WITH
RECONSTRUCTED LIFTOFF AND FLIGHT LOADS
[Ref. 3/7-79 2 of 6]
Thermal Analysis of Flow Thru Clevis.
Back