The Test Stand for ORVEAL Series of Combined Rocket Engines

Abstract

As a part of the ORVEAL project, the brand new series of compound rocket engines MEC-80 is subjected to a line of restrictions imposed by the experiment plan, which add an extra weight to the definitely expensive phase of the experimental development of the new types of rocket engine. The direct way to reduce the development time and cost of the new powering systems was found in tediously defining the experimental plan, the variables involved, the nature of the pay-off polynomials and the technological solutions. For the specific case the technological and reliability related constraints are explored, that led to the definition of a reversed-vertical configuration of the thrust frame of the test stand and of the scale and support system of the thrust frame, with position-defined sensors for acquiring the thrust tensor value. Simplicity and reliability were the main requirements in designing and manufacturing the components of the test stand in the new environment of the recently enhanced CEZAR proving grounds of ADDA Ltd. in Fagaras, Transylvania. The ORVEAL research is granted by Romanian UEFISCDI financing authority.