Engine Test Stand Design Constraints Expert System, Phase I

Propulsion test stands are designed for thermal and pressure loads for certain classes of engines. These plume induced loads are: radiative heating, acoustics and direct impingement convective heating and pressure loads. Existing test stands will be used to test a wide variety of new propulsion systems, engines and engine components which will require the evaluation of the test stand design to handle loads that are a function of engine location, chamber pressure history and gimbaling. Existing models require large numbers of individual calculations to evaluate the various engine operating parameters. The Phase I effort will utilize existing models to develop a PC based test stand design constraints model that automatically determines engine operating limits for existing facilities. The Phase I effort will establish test stand design data base requirements, modify existing test stand environments models to automatically cycle through the entire range of engine operating parameters for a single design variable, and demonstrate the model for an existing stand. The Phase II effort expands the models capabilities for all design constraints and develops a CAD module for importing test stand design information. This effort is innovative in that it will greatly reduce the cost/time for testing new engine designs.

This is a mature technology (TRL 7+) — the realistic path in is usually NASA's Technology Transfer Program: licensing an existing NASA patent, or a Space Act Agreement to use NASA facilities/expertise directly. NASA also runs a startup licensing program with no upfront fee for companies formed to commercialize a specific NASA technology.

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