~ FFieIAL USE ONLY

Fie 52.55 / 8

AIR SERVICE INFORMATION CIRCULAR

CH EAVIER-THAN-AIR)
PUBLISHED BY THE CHIEF OF AIR SERVICE, WASHINGTON, D. C.

Vol. II October 30, 1920 No. 121

REPORT OF TESTS ON SHOCK ABSORBER CORD

SUBMITTED BY VARIOUS FLYING FIELDS
AND GENERAL SUPPLY DEPOTS
( MATERIAL SECTION REPORT)

Prepareci by Engineering Division, Air Service

McCook Field, July 3, 1920
n Otaughon
6
Ra\~" ~~:R~R'l

t:,.?R u3 7.0f\
oeposi\or'4 .
I\Uburn Un\vets\\'l

WASHINGTON
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
1920
REPORT OF TESTS ON SHOCK ABSORBER CORD SUBMIT-
TED BY FL YING FIELDS AND SUPPLY DEPOTS.

PURP OSE. in storage at the station was sent b y all flying fields and
supply depots to McCook Field for test.
The purpose of this investigation was to t est and de- In a few cases second samples had to be requested, due
termine the value for service of all rubber shock absorber to confusion as to what lot the sample represented.
cord in storage at va:·i ous flying fields and general supply
depots. Where possibl e, the direct effect of storage con- METHOD OF PROCEDURE.
ditions upon the cord was studied.
Inspection .- A section from each sampl e submitted was
CONCLUSIONS. cut open and thf thread and rubb er strand count carefully
Thi rteen poin ts submitted sampl es for test. Of these taken. Condition of the rubber and of the fabric adjacent
only five flying fields and three aviatio11 general supply to the rubber was noted, and the rubb er cross section was
depots submitted cord of more recent manufactme. The obtained with an Eimer & Amend thickness gauge measur-
remainder submitted cord which was very old and in some ing in thousandths of an inch . The ini tial tension of the
cases almost ready to decay. Four flying fields submitted rubber ' was noted by removing the fabric casing from a
some of the older cord as well as the new . 4-inch length of cord and observing the final length of the
It was found that considerable of the old cord with black rubber strand .
outer covering was still in storage . This was manufactured Physical tests.-Each piece of cord was tested in tension
to meet old speci fications which have been obsolete for in a H enry L. Scott fabric testing machine wi th 300 pounds
over two years. It is recommended that all black shock capacity. Special knurl ed jaws were provided which
absorber cord, except that ordered for the Handley-Page, would continue to grip the cord satisfactorily with the
be rejected for further use. decreasing cross section. In this test , loads were read at
In a period of 18 months (so far as is known) tha cord 15 and 100 per cent extension , which is the real test of the
has su ffered a loss of approximately 50 per cent in strength, cord.
and i t is seen from Tables I and II that storage condition5 In addi tion, destruction tests were made upon a few
have a great influence over the life of rubb er cord . Where samples in order that types of failure, togethe~ wi th ulti-
the storage has been improper, such as too much light, mate loads of elongations, might b e studied upon good and
heat, or moisture, the cord gaYe poor results. bad cord. For this test, it was necessary to fasten one end
The Handley-Page cord with oversi ze rubber thread has to th e floor and apply the load by m eans of a chain hoist _
had good storage and shows good preservation through fastened to the ceiling. This was fastened to loops i n the -
little less than 18 months. This cord is still serviceable. ends of the cord. -
The meri ts of oversize rubb er thread are being studied . DISCUSSION OF RESULTS.
The French cord submitted by aviation general supply
depot, Richmond, Va., and shown in Table I u nder mark 'rabies I and II show all information obtai ned froni the
of SC-7 A, was only about eight m onths old, and was in tests. -j
very good condi tion. The rubb er strands were u nder The curves on Plate I show :relative performance of
greater initial tension than was gi ven t o the American various cords submitted.
cord. It was not_possible to analyze the rubber. The curves on Plate II ar.e typical for repeated tests on
- rubber, showing effect of repeated loads and the relative
MATERIAL.
h ysteresis loss.
Under instructions from the Director of Air Service Incomplete information as to storage forbids a proper
dated September 25, 1919, 3-foot samples of all ! inch cord calc ul ation of the life of the cord.
14320-20 (~)
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 ( ('

TABLE !. -Test data black shock-absorber cord.

SUBMITTED BY VARIOUS FLYING FIELDS AND SUPPLY DEPO'l' S.

Rubber strands. Cord load. Cord failure, stress, and strain.

Rubber Thread
Mark. R eceived Size. count and Remarks.
from- Exten- 15 per 100 per condition. strength.
Number. D~!;.n- sion to Orig inal cent ex- cent ex- Outer. Inner. Maximum.
rupture. tension. tension. tension.
- - - --1- - - ---1---- - - - - - - - - _____,_____ - - - - - - - -
I nch. Per rent . Pounds. Pounds.
4 .45
SC-lA . .... {San Antonio, }
rrex. t 120 0.044 671 4"- 2t 25 48 . .. ..... ... .. . ............. . ··········· ··· . ........ . ... . e-481- 32 4 .24

SC-4 .... ... {Ba rr o n} 190 .033 720 ···- · ······· 24 58

{No rupture:
} {237 per cent, F r esh-no e-32
1 o o cf. s ............. 400pounds.
4 .2 }Lire and storage condltions unknown.
Field, 'l'ex.
SC-5 ....... {Houston,
'l'ex:. }
' ~ 190 .031 785 4"-2fi 19
sllppe .
41 Not tested .. ····· ···· ·· ··· ···· ···· ·· · · · ·
talc.
{'l'alc-g
life.
o o d
1- 48
{0-72
1-32
4 .6
4 .2
4 .5, l""' "'"' '" -, '""""'~· ,-,oo,
old at least., more is uncertain.
5 Shlpped ln from other fields. Ligh t,
SC-6A .•... Dallas, 'l'ex . ~ 192 .031 750 4"-2!! 38 .... . do .... ... ... . .. .. ... .. . ....... . ...... {Ba talc.
d-n 0 e-47
1- 32 .5 .4 clry, and moderately cool storage.
SC-8 .... .. . r et roit,}
Mich. 2 120 .046 710 · · · · · · ···- ·· 28.5 58-70 {150percent, {155 per cent, }
220 pounds. }155 per cent. 240 pouncls. ............. l- 32
e-48 5.5
4 .4
18 months old. Packed ln boxes. Con-
dltlon of storage unknown.
A.G. S. 0., } 5.25 }very little old cord in stock.
120 .04<1 790 4"- -n 27 58 Not tested .. --·-········· · .. ............ Good ... .. ... e-48
'
SC-9a .... .. Litt I e ? ' t- 32 5
Rock,Ark.
4 .5
SC>9b ...... ... .. do .. .... . ~ 120 . 044 750 ··· · ·· ·· -·· · 28 68 ··· · ····· · ···· .............. Looks good . . e-48 }
1-32 4.35
Do .

SC-9c . ... .. . .... do ....... ii 120 . 043 720 . . ... . .. .. . . . 28 64 Not tested .... ............ :::: ::::: :::::1 Fair ... .. .. .. e-48 }5.2
1-32 4.9
Do .
4 .4
SC-9d .... .. ..... do ....... ! 200 . 028 725 ····· ·· · · · · · 17 34 . . ... .. .. . .. .. ·· ·· ··· ··· · ·· · ...... .. . . .... Stale ... ..... e-48 }
1-36 4 .8
Do .

lt
e-48 4 .7 Do .
SC-9e .... .. ..... do ....... 198 . 028 775 ····· ···· ··· 17 37 ·········· ·- · · .... . .. . ...... ·· ·· ··· - · ····· · · ·······-··· · 1- 36 5.2
3 .2 Do.
SC-9f.. ..... ..... do ...... . ! 200 .028 715 ............ 21 50 ···· ··· ·· ····· --·-···· ······ ············ · · Good .... .... e-52 1- 37 5 .43
800 ············ 17 . ..... . . .. .... {Stuck- not e-48 4 .74 Do.
200 .028 34 ·· ····· · · · ···· ··--· --· ·· · ···
SC-9al.. . .. .. .. . clo .......
' 165 .032 750 4"-2k 22 42 Loops 3llpped ... ... . . . . . ... {225per
bad. 1- 36 4.24
ce.nt, }'.l'alc-falr .. . t48 4 .2 Do .
SC-9bl.. ... . .... do .......
SC-9cl. .. .. ..... do ...... . ........ ' 200 .027 700-300 ············ 18 37
335pounds.
. . . . .... . ....... . . ... .... .. . ..... . .. ... . .. Bad .... ..... e-48
1-32 4 .7
3. 7
1- 36 4.8 Do .

SC-9dl. .. .. ..... do ....... ······ ·· 200 .028 I 720 ·· · ········ · 14 28

{Inlt lal ten-
s10n v ery
low.
}............. {1~1a';~~.u . No ta
bad.
lc- e-48 }3.9
1-36 4 .2
Do.

SC-9el. .... ..... do ...... . . .... ... 200 . 028 800 ... ......... 19 40 roo
·· ·· ········ ·· ·· ·· ···· · · ···· 280per cent, e-48
pounds . }'ralcbacl .. .. 1- 36 4.6 }3 .7 Do.

SC-911 •.... ..... do .. ..... ! 200 . 028 780 ... ...... . .. 16 34 }

187 per cent,
-···· ·· · ·· ··· · ·· · · · ···-··· · · 240 pounds. .. . .......... e-48 }4
1-36 4 .5
Do.
Jwi I bur
Wright {162 per cen t No talc- 0-48 6 .6 }At least 1-year old. No further history
SC-HA •.•.
l
Fl e Id,
Day ton,
Ohio. f
176 .034 800 4"- l ii 25 58 ······ · · · · ···· . ..... .. ...... 330pounds. bad. 1- 32 6 .6 a vailable. ·warm storage.

{Bri ghton, 146 {144percont, 550 pounds .. {Good-some t 4 8 5.3 r-yearold. MadeforHanclley-Page. In
SC-12B ... . } t 80 . 047 x.085 690 ··· ·· · · ····· 36 300pounds. }370 pounds .. boxes plied in unheated ground fl oor.
Mass.
SC-12C..... .. .. . do . .... .. ! 80 . 084 X. 049 770 4"- 11' 40 148 ...... . ..... . . ·· ····· ······ ·
talc. 1-32 5
t48
·· ············ ······· · ······ 1-32 4 .2
5.4 Bulldlng. No ex trem e heat.

SC-12D .• • . .. . .. do ..... .. ~ 120 .045 790 ............ 28

{Loops 156 Outer175per}
67 percent,215
pounds.
cent, il20
pounds.
t48
370 pounds .. Good ...... .. l-32 5.24 . 7 }18months old, but same storageas above.
SC-13 ...... ............. . 124 .042 545 ·· · ·· ·· ··- -- 22 .5 64 mo
frer cen~ · · ···· · ·· · · ·· ·
2 0 poun s
187 per cent No life-poor 0- 48 4
270 pounds., or rotten. 1-32 3
 TABLE II.-Test daw white shock-absorber cord.
SUBMITTED BY VARIOUS iFLYING FIELDS AND SUPPLY DEPOTS .

Rubber strands. C0rdload. Cord /allure, stress and strain.

Color
of Rubber Thread
Mark. Received Size. mark- count and Remarks.
from- Exten- l.\i i)er iooper condition. strength.
ing Dimen- sion to Original eent ex- cent ex- Outer. Inner. Maximum.
thread. Number. sions. rupture. tension. tension. tension.
- - - ----- - - - -
Per cent. Pounds.
SC-1. ... . .. {San Antonio, }
'!'ex .
Inch.
t 3 red . . 240 0.034 677 4'' -1}
PJ)U11,dS-
-42 139 ··· ·· ··- · ····· I........ ..... .. ...... ....... ···· -····· · ··· { 1-48
0-48 4 .8
4
{Received from Curtiss Corpo-
5 ration 8 months previous.
SC-2 ... .... Waco, '!'ex . . Red ... 212 .0336 750 -- .. -- - ----- S8 93 ·- ·-········· · ··· ·····-···· · ········ · · · ··· Fresh . . .... . { 0-72
1-45 4 "Stored according to instruc-
tions."
{Wrapped in paper . Storage
SC-3 ....... {Middletown, 149 {150 per cent, 200 per cent, Good ........ { 0-72 5 .8
• Pa. } ! 1 red .. 215 .034 800 1 4"-H 38 285 pounds. 430 pounds }430 pounds .. 1- 48 4 .7 cool and dry and in boxes .
Good preservation .
{Concrete floor. Light ancl alry
232 .034 24"-ltJ 43 Loop slipped ........ ...... {169 per cent, { 0- 48 6 at all times. Boxes unopen-
3A .... . .... ..... do .. ... .. t 3 red .. 820 125 750 pounds. w;~J"el.re· 1-48 6 ed.
{Don't know. Stored in light,
121 ···· · ········· ·············- · · ·· · ········- ······· ··· ···· { 0-48 5
SC- 6 ... .... Dallas, Tex .. t Red .. . 230 .033 790 .... --------- 42 1-48 5 cool and' dry. Just received
[rom other storage.
r 2 montl1s old . Stored in [airly
0-47 7 light and wrapped ln water-
SC- 10 ...... {Am er icus,
Ga. } ! 3 red .. 240 .034 810 24"-lli 40 150 {Loops 167, } {197 p er cent,
340 pounds. · · · · · · · · · · · · · 470 pounds. }Fresh .......
{
1-48 5 proof paper. Average 75°
temperature.
{w i 1 bur
Wright N0 , , {200 percent, { 0-48 6 -1
SC-11 ...... Field, Day-
ton, 01110.
} J; . . do ... 240 .033 700 2 4"-1·! 47 •l05 "anung. · · · ·· ·· ··· · ··· 700 potmds. } ..... do ..... 1-48 5
5
}No information.

} Ground floor o[ unheated build-

104 {204 per cent, {Diel not [ail, { 0- 48
SC-!2A . ... {Bri ghton,
Mass. } 1 .. do .. . 240 .034 790 ··--------·· 39 680 pounds. }······· ··· ··· 690 pounds .. good. 1-48 5 ing. Good preservation.
{Da yton-
SC-13I. . . .. Wright,Mo·
aine, City. } t 1 red .. 162 .039 300 '4"-2iir •Jl 140 {Failed
loops.
at
}···· ········· .............. {Rotten-
talc.
no { 0- 56
1- 35
5
3
110 {200percent, }490 d { 0-71 3
SC- 13J . .... ..... do .. .... . t .. do ... 140 .044 465 -- --··· -···- 39 _ 450 pounds. ponn s. · ··············· ········· ···· 1-32 2
30 90 {Notions.
destruc- } J 0-58 5
SC-13K .... ... ... do ...... 1 ..do ... 160 .039 485 --·-· --·--·· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · ··-··-······· ······ ······· · \ 1- 36 3
5

r· ....... . ...... 350 pounds. ·· · · ·· · · · ·· · · 0-56

{!75percent, } {
SC-13L .• ... .. ... do . . .... t .. do ... IGO .042 463 ········- · ·· 29 90 ········· ····· 1- 36 2
{Rubber is {Well packed in boxes in dark
0-48 3.7 and dry storage. About 18
SC-7 ..... . .
G.S.D.,
Richmond,
Va. } } 3 red •. 120 .043 700 4'."-2! 38 97 .... ... ....... ···· · ········· ············ ·· fs° 0
d1ut~f } 1-
cated .
72 1.5 months old. Received from
Curtlss.
4 {Built [or Handley-P a~e at Old-
SC- 7B •.... , .. . . do .. . .... t 275 .031 4"-2ls 52 88 {Loops,
per cent.
200 }·
............ 675 pounds.{225 per cent,
}············· { 0-32
1- 32 4
ham, England, and receil'ed
fro m there Mar. 25, 1919.
{Received from A. S. P. C., No.
156 {175percent, { 0- 72 4
SC-7A . .. .. 1 . . . . . do ..... .. t 3 red. ·I 268 .034 700 4'"-?-H 725 pounds . }··· ·········· 725 pounds .. Very good ... 1-80 1. 8 2. Romorantin, France, May
31, 1919.
I I
1 Before physical test. 2 After physical test.