XR-1E Test Plan Transversely Stiffened Membrane (TSM) Bow Seal, Combined Extended Wear Tests and Loads and Motions Tests, Mar 1982 (0117)
Extended Wear testing for the TSM Bow Seal was initiated 31 Aug 81. Since that time the redesigned parasol has been constructed and installed on the XR-lE. The new parasol incorporates heavier web fabrics, both segmented and continuous battens fabricated from multilayer unidirectional fiberglass laminates, revised end cap design and other design changes which simplify construction and enhance durability. In addition, new instrumentation has been fabricated and installed to measure strap loads and batten accelerations. A Loads and Motions test series will permit estimation of sealed life cycle loads for future TSM Bow Seal designs.