Non-NASA commercial applications for the research proposed would include the following: LH2 fuel cell. HEI is currently executing a contract for LH2 storage for a vehicle application. This research will aid the mobile fuel cell industry safety and reliability. Vehicular CNG storage. The research proposed herein will aid the safety and reliability of the CNG vehicle market. Marine-transport of propane. The research proposed herein will develop knowledge and data applicable to transporting propane in tanker ships. Environmentally-friendly earth-based cryogenic fluid storage. Composite structures do not react to environmental corrosion as do the typical cost efficient metals such as steel. Safer earth-based cryogenic fluid storage. Due to the high strength of composite materials, little raw material is required to perform draconian structural feats when compared to typical cost efficient metals. Therefore, the manufacturing and movement of large COPVs is much less expensive and much safer. NASA applications for the research proposed herein would include the following: Cost efficient cryogenic storage vessels. These vessels could be utilized as both earth-based and space-based cryogenic storage vessels. Habitat structures. The research proposed herein is applicable to space-based habitat and other structures manufactured with fiber-reinforced composite material. Volumetric efficient cryogenic storage vessels. HEI's high pressure storage systems are highly volumetric efficient. Reliable, long system life cryogenic storage. HEI have successfully designed, manufactured, and cycle tested COPVs with up to 20,000 cycles. Space-based cryogenic COPVs. It is probable that COPVs utilized in space will experience impact damage due to micrometeoroids and other space debris and it is certain that the COPVs will experience radiation damage. The research proposed herein will assist the COPV designer by identifying the coupled effects of hypervelocity impact damage, cryogenic temperatures, and irradiation thus developing mechanical property allowables for the designer.
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