Drying shrinkage, capillary water absorption and water tightness tests were performed to characterize the physical properties of the composites.
The paper concludes with a description of the required pre-qualification tests performed to SHOBU, i.e. pressure and leak tightness tests, according to the standards.
Furthermore, air tightness tests show that, due to poorly sealed joints between construction elements, windows and doors, many buildings have high infiltration rates, reaching up to 5 air changes per hour.
The main FMUs characterization results are reported (e.g. pressure resistance and helium leak tightness tests, mechanical properties and microstructure at the weld joints, geometrical characteristics of the sub-components and internal cooling channels) and the key pF/WPS steps and parameters are outlined.
Air-tightness test indicated a test chamber relief rate of 26 Pa/min, which meets the design requirements.
Each of the submitted instruments was subjected to a seal-tightness test to determine their fundamental functionality.
This entails scantling plans inspection, types of material, types of welded joints, water-tightness tests, freeboard markings, electrical systems, fire prevention detection and extinction requirements, pumping and piping systems, boilers and other pressure vessels, refrigerated cargo installations, annual and special surveys, carriage of engineering spares, machinery, and propulsion units.
After the module was constructed, gas-tightness tests were carried out using helium and the measured helium leakage was 8 × 10−5 mol m−2 s−1 at 0.7 MPa, which is the same as the value detected before diffusion bonding with a Viton O-ring.
Moderate values of reliability were observed for measures of Q-angle, tibial torsion, hip external rotation strength, lateral retinacular tightness, and test of quality of movement, which warrants some caution when interpreting the findings of these tests.
