Team Members & Role:

Leia Payano: Team Lead

Noah Clark: Analysis Lead

Adam Abacherli: Design Lead

Ivan Lukashev: Fabrication Lead

Hebah Alsadah: Evaluation Lead

Abstract:

Current O-rings are unable to withstand ultra-high temperatures for long enough, preventing the use of compact seals within a rocket booster. This is important because current rocket boosters are limited in their operation time and compact size by the current O-rings on the market. With the creation of our O-ring, rocket boosters will be able to be sealed without the use of thermal diffusion assemblies, and with higher confidence the seal will survive over longer periods of time. The problem has not been solved with existing technology because of the material limitations and construction process. The carbon fiber tow can withstand temperatures over double the operating temperature of a rocket booster but that is without the presence of oxygen, meaning it must be used in very high-pressure environments with very efficient burns. The interlocking methods currently used cause inconsistencies and localized weak points that may result in failure. The machinery required to effectively fabricate such rings is very expensive and involved, due to carbon fiber’s tendency to fray and shear. The team’s approach to addressing this issue is by first creating a model capable of enduring very high pressures while maintaining an effective seal. Furthermore, identifying the processes in which the material is interlocked together and trying to automate the process so that it can be standardized and consistent. The fabrication process is aimed to be improved by coating the carbon fiber in sizing, which should improve the material’s properties to facilitate its use in a machine.