You intened to increase the tank diameter by pressure forming, but then the endcaps and tank intersection would have a lower diameter. Doesn’t that cause aerodynamic problems?
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Eva Braun
· 28th September 2020 at 2:08 pm
SpaceX also uses steel for shipbuilding for the reason it is faster to create a rocket from steel than aluminum, carbon fiber, and other materials. Yes, a carbon fiber and aluminum case will be much lighter than a steel one.
JOHN ASHCROFT
· 13th May 2021 at 3:12 pm
Stainless steel is heavier but it can be cold worked to make it much stronger (as they have done here by stretching the tank with pressurised water) and it gets stronger at cryogenic temperatures ( about twice as strong). This is useful for the LOX tanks, though not for the the fuel tanks ( unless your using liquid methane like spacex). Cold work and use at cryogenic temperatures then there isn’t much in it between aluminium or composites and stainless steel.
Stainless steel is much better at high temperatures, which is why spacex are using it for starship, but it is also cheaper and easier to work which looks like the main reason for CS to be using it.
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3 Comments
Stephan · 2nd August 2020 at 8:07 am
You intened to increase the tank diameter by pressure forming, but then the endcaps and tank intersection would have a lower diameter. Doesn’t that cause aerodynamic problems?
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(crude ASCII-art attempt)
Eva Braun · 28th September 2020 at 2:08 pm
SpaceX also uses steel for shipbuilding for the reason it is faster to create a rocket from steel than aluminum, carbon fiber, and other materials. Yes, a carbon fiber and aluminum case will be much lighter than a steel one.
JOHN ASHCROFT · 13th May 2021 at 3:12 pm
Stainless steel is heavier but it can be cold worked to make it much stronger (as they have done here by stretching the tank with pressurised water) and it gets stronger at cryogenic temperatures ( about twice as strong). This is useful for the LOX tanks, though not for the the fuel tanks ( unless your using liquid methane like spacex). Cold work and use at cryogenic temperatures then there isn’t much in it between aluminium or composites and stainless steel.
Stainless steel is much better at high temperatures, which is why spacex are using it for starship, but it is also cheaper and easier to work which looks like the main reason for CS to be using it.