Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Metallurgical Analysis of Cracked Redundant Valves for Propellant Flow Control in the Attitude Orbital Control System of a Satellite

  • Case History---Peer-Reviewed
  • Published:
Journal of Failure Analysis and Prevention Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Attitude Orbital Control System (AOCS) thrusters, used in Indian satellites employ Latchable Series Redundant Valves (LSRV) for propellant flow control. The valve body has a major component called bobbin, which comprises four parts, three parts made of AISI 304L stainless steel and one part of AISI 446 stainless steel. About 150 bobbins were electron beam welded and one, from a group of thirty bobbins, developed a crack in the HAZ of one of the face welds. Detailed analysis revealed that the crack was due to stress-assisted cracking phenomenon. The stress induced by press fitting of a part in between other two parts of valve was primarily responsible for the cracking.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

Acknowledgments

The authors express their sincere thanks to Dr. P. P. Sinha, Deputy Director, VSSC (MME) for technical guidance and encouragements during the research study. They are indebted to Dr. K. Radhakrishnan, Director, VSSC for permitting us to publish the article.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Materials Characterisation Division, Materials and Metallurgy Group, Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Indian Space Research Organisation, Trivandrum, 695 022, India

    Abhay K. Jha, A. Venugopal & K. SreeKumar

Authors
  1. Abhay K. Jha
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. A. Venugopal
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. K. SreeKumar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Abhay K. Jha.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Jha, A.K., Venugopal, A. & SreeKumar, K. Metallurgical Analysis of Cracked Redundant Valves for Propellant Flow Control in the Attitude Orbital Control System of a Satellite. J Fail. Anal. and Preven. 10, 183–186 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11668-010-9349-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11668-010-9349-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation