scope:

Description of Driving Event:

The o-ring used in the SRM case joint is critical to the sealing of the joint, yet is not designated as a critical process. The adequacy of o-ring processing and quality control is questionable even though a number of o-rings in bonded storage were thoroughly analyzed and tested as part of 51-L failure analysis effort and found to be acceptable. The manufacturing process included delivery of the final o-ring rubber material to where the material is cut to the proper lengths and a scarf joint is made. This manufacturing process is a potential problem area as seen by repairs of inclusions and voids in the rubber delivered.