Overview

The ultimate goal for the fin preforms is to incorporate a phenolic leading edge with a low mass, high stiffness fin core material. Per precedent from USC RPL a phenolic edge is only necessary on the leading side of the fin.

Image shows the USC fin preform before their tip to tip layup. Note phenolic on one side. USC has a fin cross section shown below, with two beveled pieces of G10 bonded to form a grove to receive a phenolic leading edge.

 

The proposed Rocket Team design is as follows, a honeycomb core inside of a G10 structure with a phenolic leading edge. This implies two critical adhesive joins, attaching the honeycomb to the G10 and attaching the Phenolic to the G10.

This has several possible fabrication techniques, detailed below. Overall, the risk of part scrap is higher with the made on assembly honeycomb panels. There is a risk of the face panels either not bonding well, or not curing flat (like the S'18 test honeycomb preforms). Using the MoA technique would allow for the elimination of the grove joint without risking the leading edge falling off, a very distinct possibility with attempting to butt-join the phenolic edge.

 

Open Questions

  • Layup the center honeycomb to shape, or layup panel then cut Unknown User (hmturner@mit.edu)
  • What adhesive to use between the honeycomb and G10
  • How to bond the phenolic to the G10 (tongue and groove? adhesive? butt join?)
  • Order of operations for assembly

 

Tabled Trades

  • Geometry - use Hermes I
  • Thickness - use Hermes I
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