ASTM E822-92(2003)
(Practice)Standard Practice for Determining Resistance of Solar Collector Covers to Hail by Impact With Propelled Ice Balls
Standard Practice for Determining Resistance of Solar Collector Covers to Hail by Impact With Propelled Ice Balls
SCOPE
1.1 This practice covers a procedure for determining the ability of cover plates for flat-plate solar collectors to withstand impact forces of falling hail. Propelled ice balls are used to simulate falling hailstones. This practice is not intended to apply to photovoltaic cells or arrays.
1.2 This practice defines two types of test specimens, describes methods for mounting specimens, specifies impact locations on each test specimen, provides an equation for determining the velocity of any size ice ball, provides a method for impacting the test specimens with ice balls, and specifies parameters that must be recorded and reported.
1.3 This practice does not establish pass or fail levels. The determination of acceptable or unacceptable levels of ice-ball impact resistance is beyond the scope of this practice.
1.4 The size of ice ball to be used in conducting this test is not specified in this practice. This practice can be used with various sizes of ice balls.
1.5 The categories of solar collector cover plate materials to which this practice may be applied cover the range of:
1.5.1 Brittle sheet, such as glass,
1.5.2 Semirigid sheet, such as plastic, and
1.5.3 Flexible membrane, such as plastic film.
1.6 Solar collector cover materials should be tested as:
1.6.1 Part of an assembled collector (Type 1 specimen), or
1.6.2 Mounted on a separate test frame cover plate holder (Type 2 specimen).
1.7 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in parentheses are for information only.
1.8 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
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Designation:E822–92(Reapproved 2003)
Standard Practice for
Determining Resistance of Solar Collector Covers to Hail by
Impact With Propelled Ice Balls
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E822; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision.Anumber in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the Department of Defense.
1. Scope 2. Significance and Use
1.1 This practice covers a procedure for determining the 2.1 In many geographic areas there is concern about the
abilityofcoverplatesforflat-platesolarcollectorstowithstand effect of falling hail upon solar collector covers. This practice
impact forces of falling hail. Propelled ice balls are used to maybeusedtodeterminetheabilityofflat-platesolarcollector
simulate falling hailstones. This practice is not intended to covers to withstand the impact forces of hailstones. In this
apply to photovoltaic cells or arrays. practice,theabilityofasolarcollectorcoverplatetowithstand
1.2 This practice defines two types of test specimens, hail impact is related to its tested ability to withstand impact
describes methods for mounting specimens, specifies impact from ice balls. The effects of the impact on the material are
locations on each test specimen, provides an equation for highly variable and dependent upon the material.
determiningthevelocityofanysizeiceball,providesamethod 2.2 This practice describes a standard procedure for mount-
for impacting the test specimens with ice balls, and specifies ingthetestspecimen,conductingtheimpacttest,andreporting
parameters that must be recorded and reported. the effects.
1.3 This practice does not establish pass or fail levels. The 2.2.1 The procedures for mounting cover plate materials
determination of acceptable or unacceptable levels of ice-ball and collectors are provided to ensure that they are tested in a
impact resistance is beyond the scope of this practice. configuration that relates to their use in a solar collector.
1.4 The size of ice ball to be used in conducting this test is 2.2.2 The corner locations of the four impacts are chosen to
not specified in this practice. This practice can be used with represent vulnerable sites on the cover plate. Impacts near
various sizes of ice balls. corner supports are more critical than impacts elsewhere. Only
1.5 Thecategoriesofsolarcollectorcoverplatematerialsto asingleimpactisspecifiedateachoftheimpactlocations.For
which this practice may be applied cover the range of: test control purposes, multiple impacts in a single location are
1.5.1 Brittle sheet, such as glass, not permitted because a subcritical impact may still cause
1.5.2 Semirigid sheet, such as plastic, and damage that would alter the response to subsequent impacts.
1.5.3 Flexible membrane, such as plastic film. 2.2.3 Resultant velocity is used to simulate the velocity that
1.6 Solar collector cover materials should be tested as: may be reached by hail accompanied by wind. The resultant
1.6.1 Part of an assembled collector (Type 1 specimen), or velocity used in this practice is determined by vector addition
1.6.2 Mounted on a separate test frame cover plate holder ofa20m/s(45mph)horizontalvelocitytotheverticalterminal
(Type 2 specimen). velocity.
1.7 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the 2.2.4 Iceballsareusedinthispracticetosimulatehailstones
standard. The values given in parentheses are for information because natural hailstones are not readily available to use, and
only. ice balls closely approximate hailstones. However, no direct
1.8 This standard does not purport to address all of the relationship has been established between the effect of impact
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the of ice balls and hailstones. Hailstones are highly variable in
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- properties such as shape, density, and frangibility. These
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica- properties affect factors such as the kinetic energy delivered to
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. the cover plate, the period during which energy is delivered,
and the area over which the energy is distributed. Ice balls,
withadensity,frangibility,andterminalvelocityneartherange
ofhailstones,arethenearesthailstoneapproximationknownat
These test methods are under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E44 on
Solar, Geothermal and Other Alternative Energy Sources and is the direct respon-
sibility of Subcommittee E44.05 on Solar Heating and Cooling Systems and
Materials.
Current edition approved March 10, 2003. Published June 1993. Originally Gokhale, N. R., Hailstorms and Hailstone Growth, State University of New
approved in 1981. Last previous edition approved in 1996 as E822–92(1996). York Press, Albany, NY, 1975.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
E822–92 (2003)
this time. Perhaps the major difference between ice balls and
hailstones is that hailstones are much more variable than ice
balls. However, ice balls can be uniformly and repeatedly
manufactured to ensure a projectile with known properties.
2.2.5 A wide range of observable effects may be produced
by impacting the various types of cover plate materials. The
effects may vary from no effect to total destruction. Some
changes in the cover material may be visible when there is no
apparent functional impairment of the cover plate material.All
effectsofeachimpactmustbedescribedinthereportsothatan
estimate of their significance can be made.
2.3 Data generated using this practice may be used: (1)to
evaluate impact resistance of a single material or collector, (2)
to compare the impact resistance of several materials or
FIG. 1 Frame Dimensions and Location of Test Impact Points
collectors,(3)toprovideacommonbasisforselectionofcover
materials or collectors for use in various geographic areas, or
mounting a solar collector cover plate material (Type 2
(4) to evaluate changes in impact resistance due to environ-
specimen) set in the cover holder.
mental factors such as weather.
3.4 Cover Holder— A rigid edging frame (see Fig. 1 and
2.4 Thispracticedoesnotstatethesize(s)oficeball(s)tobe
Fig.2)designedtoholdanapproximately860by1930-mm(34
usedinmakingtheimpact.Eitherthepersonrequestingthetest
by 76-in.) cover plate.
or the person performing the test must determine ice ball size
to be used in the testing. Choice of ice ball size may relate to
NOTE 2—Hardwood, such as oak, birch, maple, or hickory, is manda-
the intent of the testing. tory if wood is used for the cover holder.
NOTE 3—Cornerstraps,asshowninFig.3andFig.4,havebeenfound
2.4.1 If the testing is being performed to evaluate impact
useful to ensure the cover holder is rigid.
resistance of a single material or collector, or several materials
orcollectors,itmaybedesirabletorepeatthetestusingseveral
3.5 Molds, for casting spherical crack-free ice balls of
sizesoficeballs.Inthis manner the different effectsofvarious
appropriate diameter.
sizes of ice balls may be determined.
NOTE 4—Molds made from room-temperature vulcanizing rubber and
2.4.2 The size and frequency of hail varies significantly
expanded polystyrene have been found suitable.
among various geographic areas. If testing is being performed
3.6 Freezer—Adevice controlled at−12 6 5°C (106 9°F)
toevaluatematerialsorcollectorsintendedforuseinaspecific
for making and storing ice balls.
geographicarea,theiceballsizeshouldcorrespondtothelevel
of hail impact resistance required for that area. Information on
4. Test Specimen
hail size and frequency may be available from local historical
4.1 Type 1—The test specimen shall consist of a complete
weather records or may be determined from the publications
glazing assembly or a complete solar collector panel with
listed in Appendix X1.
necessary mounting brackets or fixtures.
2.5 The hail impact resistance of materials may change as
4.2 Type 2—The test specimen shall consist of a section of
the materials are exposed to various environmental factors.
solar collector cover plate material mounted in the cover
This practice may be used to generate data to evaluate
holder.
degradation by comparison of hail impact resistance data
measured before and after exposure to such aging.
5. Mounting
5.1 Type 1—Position and support the test specimen on a
3. Apparatus
suitable test base using necessary mounting brackets or fix-
3.1 Launcher—A mechanism capable of propelling a se-
tures, or both. Do not obstruct the specified impact points by
lected ice ball at the corresponding resultant velocity. The
the mounting fixtures.
aimingaccuracyofthelaunchermustbesufficienttopropelthe
ice ball to strike the cover plate within 25 mm (61 in.) ofthe
specified impact points. See Fig. 1.
NOTE 1—A launcher that has proven suitable uses a compressed air
supply, an accumulator tank, a large-diameter quick-opening valve and
interchangeable barrels to accommodate the sizes of ice balls to be used.
Barrels should be made from materials with low thermal conductivity to
reducemeltingoftheiceball.Barrelsshouldbesizedsuchthattheiceball
remains intact during loading and launching.
3.2 Velocity Meter, for measuring the ice ball velocity with
an accuracy of 62.0%.
3.3 Test Base—A structurally rigid support for mounting a
complete solar collector panel (Type 1 specimen), or for FIG. 2 Cover Holder, Empty (Section A-A of Fig. 1)
E822–92 (2003)
on the side opposite the impact surface to permit unobstructed
deflection of the cover material.
5.2.1 Lay brittle sheet cover materials, approximately 860
by 1930 mm (34 by 76 in.), on the elastomeric gasket (TypeA
durometer rating 30 to 50) of one member of the cover holder.
Put the shim in place. Lay the other member of the cover
holder on top. Tighten the bolts or C-clamp screws until the
elastomericgasketsarecompressedandtheshimisfirmlyheld,
asshownin
Fig.5.(Note5).Mountthespecimenfirmlyonthe
test base for testing.
NOTE 5—If the cover plate material will be damaged by the procedure
NOTE 1—Slotcornerasindicatedtofitsteelcornerstraps.Strapsshould
specified herein, the bolts or C-clamp screws should be tightened
be flush with surface.
sufficiently to hold the specimen in the frame, but not tightened to the
FIG. 3 Slots for Corner Straps of Cover Holder
extent that permanent deformations are made in the cover plate material.
5.2.2 Clamp semirigid sheet (plastic) cover materials in the
cover holder in the same manner as brittle sheet cover
materials.
5.2.3 Flexible Membrane:
5.2.3.1 Mountthematerialinaccordancewiththemanufac-
turer’s recommendatio
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