Mechanical Testing of Aluminum Weldments

Abstract

The design of any airborne device requires the most efficient use of materials of construction as well as the selection of the most suitable materials. In the design of missiles this problem is made most acute by two factors: (1) every ounce of excess weight exacts a tremendous penalty in reduced performance and (2) the temperature environment, while roughly predictable, generally changes through a wide range, and very rapidly. While a great deal of data are available in the published literature with which to predict the performance of materials of construction at various elevated and low temperatures, emphasis in the past has always been on long-time exposures. Using such data for the design of a missile would most certainly mean over-design, and reduced performance because of the excess weight.