Radiator support panels

Radiator support panel in GMT-PP, from 1989 Chevrolet Corvette (courtesy GE Plastics). 

Sinee the early 1980s numerous applications have been developed, such as engine under-panels, battery trays, radiator support panels and seat backs. These are all unpainted, unseen parts, with PP as the polymer matrix. Figure 2.9 shows the radiator support panel in GMT-PP for the 1989 Corvette pictured in Fig. 2.6. GMT fabrication also lends itself to laminating with films or textile coverings. 

It is of interest primarily for very uniform ultra-thin films and coatings (0.002-5 mils) in applications such as electrical resistors, thermistors, thermocouples, stator cores, connectors, fast-sensing probes, photo cells, memory units, dropwise steam condensers for recovery of sea water, pellicles for beam splitters in optical instruments, windows for nuclear radiation counters, panels for micrometeorite detection, dielectric supports for planar capacitors, encapsulation of reactive powders, and supports in x-ray and optical work. Any significant growth would depend upon a major breakthrough in process techniques and a consequent lowering in price. 

Automobile structural components are expected to be a major growth area for advanced composites. Examples include steering column, main door frame, suspension system, and selected engine parts. An early commercial application was Ashland s Arimax 1,000 structural RRIM resin, which was used to produce the spare tire recess cover or the trunk of a number of cars built by GM s Buick-Oldsmobile Cadillac group. Other possible applications of Arimax resins include door trim panels, floor pans, package shelves, radiator supports, and motor side compartments. 

Typical vinyl ester automotive applications are body panels, firewalls, fuel cell plates, lighting components for headlamps, pickup truck cargo boxes, radiator supports, running boards for SUVs, trailer truck cab/roofs and wind deflectors, rocker covers, wheel covers, and windshield surrounds. 

The lamp was set in the test chamber, which was equipped with a temperature and radiometric control system. The specified uninsulated black panel sensor was used for measurement of temperature. The sensor was mounted on a support within the specimen exposure area so that it received the same radiation and cooling conditions as the test samples. The ambient temperature at a distance of 150 mm from the chamber was maintained within the 18°C-23°C range. Ventilation and air conditioning systems eliminated superfluous heat and humidity. 

The basic building block of the multi-channel antenna is the broadband panel radiator. The individual radiating elements within a panel are fed by a branch feeder system that provides the panel with a single input cable connection. These panels are then stacked vertically and arranged around a supporting spine or existing tower to produce the desired vertical and horizontal radiation patterns. 

The flexibility of the panel antenna allows directional patterns of unlimited variety. Two of the more common applications are shown in Fig. 13.62. The peanut and cardioid types are often constructed on square support spines (as indicated). A cardioid pattern may also be produced by side-mounting on a triangular tower. Different horizontal radiation patterns for each channel may also be provided, as indicated in Fig. 13.63. This is accomplished by changing the power and/or phase to some of the panels in the antenna with frequency. 

Furthermore, the glass ceramic used as a cooktop panel has to meet transmission specifications it has to be nearly opaque in the visible spectrum to avoid a direct view to the electric heating elements of the cooktop assembly. On the other hand, the glass ceramic should have a high transmission for infrared radiation to support the overall heating performance. 

Launch loads - Launch loads could cause a fluid loop rupture if this fluid line was not supported effectively. Greater than two loop failures would lead to mission failure. The launch loads could also debond dissimilar material joints if the bond strength or process control was insufficient. This would lead to degradation of the radiator panel effective surface area, which has limited degradation margin. 

The construction of honeycomb structure presents several challenges that would need to be addressed during the design process. Materials that can withstand the elevated radiation and temperature environment would need to be demonstrated. If the components produce large point loads, additional structural elements to transmit loads to the panels would be required. Therefore, location, orientation, and load distribution for the components and secondary support structure needs to be evaluated early in the design. An additional concern is the large surface area of the honeycomb panels. The large surface area to mass ratio results in sensitivities to vibro-acoustic excitations. 

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