Damage localization effects of the regeneratively-cooled thrust chamber wall in LOX/methane rocket engines

To investigate the damage localization effects of the thrust chamber wall caused by combustions in LOX/methane rocket engines, a fluid-structural coupling computational methodology with a multi-channel model is developed to obtain 3-demensioanl thermal and structural responses.Heat and mechanical loads are calculated by a validated finite volume fluid-thermal coupling numerical method considering non-premixed combustion processes of propellants. The methodology is subsequently performed on an LOX/methane thrust chamber under cyclic operation. Results show that the heat loads of the thrust chamber wall are apparently non-uniform in the circumferential direction. There are noticeable disparities between different cooling channels in terms of temperature and strain distributions at the end of the hot run phase, which in turn leads to different temperature ranges, strain ranges, and residual strains during one cycle. With the work cycle proceeding, the circumferential localization effect of the residual strain would be significantly enhanced. A post-processing damage analysis reveals that the low-cycle fatigue damage accumulated in each cycle is almost unchanged, while the quasi static damage accumulated in a considered cycle declines until stabilized after several cycles. The maximum discrepancy of the predicted lives between different cooling channels is about 30%.

Thermal-structural analysis of regeneratively-cooled thrust chamber wall in reusable LOX/Methane rocket engines

To predict the thermal and structural responses of the thrust chamber wall under cyclic work,a 3-D fluid-structural coupling computational methodology is developed.The thermal and mechanical loads are determined by a validated 3-D finite volume fluid-thermal coupling computational method.With the specified loads,the nonlinear thermal-structural finite element analysis is applied to obtaining the 3-D thermal and structural responses.The Chaboche nonlinear kinematic hardening model calibrated by experimental data is adopted to predict the cyclic plastic behavior of the inner wall.The methodology is further applied to the thrust chamber of LOX/Methane rocket engines.The results show that both the maximum temperature at hot run phase and the maximum circumferential residual strain of the inner wall appear at the convergent part of the chamber.Structural analysis for multiple work cycles reveals that the failure of the inner wall may be controlled by the low-cycle fatigue when the Chaboche model parameter c3= 0,and the damage caused by the thermal-mechanical ratcheting of the inner wall cannot be ignored when c3〉 0.The results of sensitivity analysis indicate that mechanical loads have a strong influence on the strains in the inner wall.

Thermo-structural analysis of regenerative cooling thrust chamber cylinder segment based on experimental data

To evaluate the structural failure risk of the regenerative cooling thrust chamber cylinder segment,a Finite Element Method(FEM)based on experimental data was developed.The methodology was validated and utilized to reveal the thermal response and the nonlinear deformation behavior of the cylinder segment phase by phase.The conclusions of the research are as follows:The 2 D heat flux distribution caused by the injector determines the uneven temperature distribution on the gas-side wall and leads to the temperature disparity between various cooling channels;The reason for the accumulation of residual strain is that the tensile strain generated in the post-cooling phase is greater than the compressive strain produced in the hot run phase;Through the single-cycle simulation,two potential failure locations with conspicuous deformations were found,but it is difficult to determine which point is more dangerous.However,the multi-cycle thermo-structural analysis gives the evolution of the stress-strain curve and gradually discloses that the low-temperature corner of a particular channel is the most likely location to fail,rather than the maximum residual strain point of the gas-side wall.The damage analysis for dangerous point indicates that the quasistatic damage accounts for the majority of the total damage and is the main factor limiting the service life.

Numerical Analysis and Modelling of a 100 N Hypergolic Liquid Bipropellant Thruster

This study focuses on the stepwise procedure involved in the development of a numerical model of a bi-propellant hypergolic chemical propulsion system using key features and performance characteristics of existing and planned (near future) propulsion systems. The study targets specific impulse of 100 N delivery performance of thrust chambers which is suitable for primary propulsion and attitude control for spacecraft. Results from numerical models are reported and validated with the Rocket Propulsion Analysis (RPA) computation concept. In the modelling process, there was proper consideration for the essential parts of the thruster engine such as the nozzle, combustion chamber, catalyst bed, injector, and cooling jacket. This propulsion system is designed to be fabricated in our next step in advancing this idea, using a combination of additive manufacturing technology and commercial off the shelf (COTS) parts along with non-toxic propellants. The two non-toxic propellants being considered are Hydrogen Peroxide as the oxidiser and Kerosene as the fuel, thus making it a low-cost, readily available and environmentally-friendly option for future microsatellite missions.

Hardware-in-loop simulation on hydrostatic thrust bearing worktable pose

A controllable hydrostatic thrust bearing was presented to improve rigidity. The bearing worktable poses were controlled by coupling oilfilm thickness of four controllable chambers. The chamber flow can be regulated by electro hydraulic servo valve-control variable pump according to the surface roughness, load, cutting force, and thermal effects of worktable. The mathematical models of the controllable chamber flow, servo variable mechanism and controller were built. The pose control model was established, which contained the kinematics positive and negative solution and control strategy of feedforward and hydraulic cylinder position feedback. Hardware-in-loop simulation experiment was carried out on the electro hydraulic servo test bench by means of the non-linear relation of film thickness and hydraulic cylinder displacement. Hardware-in-loop simulation experiment results show that the controllable bearings exhibit high oilfilm rigidity, the rising time is 0.24 s and the maximum overshoot is 2.23%, and can be applied in high precision heavy machine tool.

姿控推力室隔热框断裂故障分析及改进

针对某姿控动力系统推力室在力学环境试验过程中发生的隔热框断裂故障,对故障部位进行断口分析和结构强度分析,发现在高量级随机振动条件下隔热框支撑肋根部存在严重的应力集中,导致发生疲劳断裂。通过改进隔热框支撑肋结构,经强度分析和推力室力学环境试验验证,隔热框未再发生类似故障,表明改进措施方案可靠有效。

重复使用火箭发动机推力室疲劳寿命研究进展

再生冷却推力室内壁的热-机械疲劳失效严重影响重复使用液体火箭发动机的可靠性和使用寿命,疲劳分析在内壁损伤机理研究、寿命预测和结构优化设计中具有重要作用。简要回顾了推力室再生冷却结构热-机械疲劳分析方法的发展历程,重点围绕材料本构关系、热-力响应计算和疲劳寿命模型,对比梳理已有方法,讨论其特点及应用。基于研究进展与工程需求,从全服役周期瞬态载荷环境、材料本构关系、热-机械损伤模型及验证、基体与涂/镀层耦合失效分析和基于有限数据的工程方法等方面给出了进一步研究的方向和建议。

液体火箭发动机热试车启动中导流锥对燃气管路流动特性影响研究

双推力室液体火箭发动机启动过程中,若出现两支管流量分配不均等现象,极易引起点火失败,造成重大损失。因此,燃气管路分叉处内部流动特性和在分叉处布置导流锥对改善流动特性影响的研究具有重要意义。本文针对某双推力室液体火箭发动机热试车启动过程中的燃气管路,以试验数据作为边界条件,开展了瞬态流动数值仿真研究。结果表明,火箭发动机热试车启动过程中,燃气管路流动呈现出4个典型阶段,分别为点火前的平稳期、点火后的一次上升期、下降期和二次上升期。在启动过程中,无导流锥时,导流罩进口存在预旋回流区、一侧出口存在滞止回流区,导流罩与燃气支管衔接处内侧存在转弯回流区,三者相互作用是造成两支管间压力分布不对称及出口质量流量分配不平衡的主要原因;有导流锥时,预旋回流区被导流锥约束而缩小,滞止回流区消失。有导流锥与无导流锥时相比,在启动过程中约0.2 s与0.6 s时刻,两支管对称测点压差均值分别降低约80.0%与80.0%,两支管出口质量流量差值分别降低约55.0%与80.8%。导流锥有效改善了流动特性,使得两支管压力分布的对称性提高,流量分配平衡性增强。导流锥对双推力室液体火箭发动机稳定性提高有重要作用。

复杂力热载荷下推力室内壁失效机理研究

大推力氢氧火箭发动机在经过多次试车后,推力室内壁会产生不同程度的裂纹,严重影响发动机的工作可靠性。为了分析复杂力热载荷下推力室内壁的失效机理,本文根据发动机实际工作过程涉及预冷-工作-后冷-松弛四个阶段,分别计算了经过单次和多次工作循环的内壁应力应变情况,并针对试车分解后的内壁材料进行断貌分析和金相检查。仿真与材料分析结果表明:内壁面的失效机理为疲劳和棘轮共同作用下导致通道中心点处残余拉应变不断累积,不断向外鼓起,而内壁材料在高温下会出现晶粒粗化和再结晶现象,导致材料性能出现不可逆的下降,加速了结构失效,最终产生裂纹。

变形高温合金在液体火箭发动机中的应用进展及展望

变形高温合金以其良好的耐高温、抗氧化、抗热腐蚀性能和较好的冷、热加工性,在液体火箭发动机推力室身部、涡轮壳体、涡轮转子等热端部件中得到了广泛的应用。通过查阅文献,综述了国内外变形高温合金及热加工技术发展现状、液体火箭发动机热端构件对高温合金性能需求、变形高温合金在国内外著名液体火箭发动机中的应用情况。结合液体火箭发动机可回收、高性能、轻量化、低成本的发展趋势,总结了变形高温合金在液体火箭发动机领域的主要发展趋势,包括研发针对液体火箭发动机服役工况的高温合金材料、改进热加工工艺,从而提升高温合金性能、降低高温合金构件制造成本;研发和推广耐高温轻质金属间化合物、降低热端构件质量。

基于相场模型的再生冷却推力室热机疲劳寿命分析

为了分析再生冷却推力室在服役过程中的应力/应变情况,研究循环热力载荷下推力室的变形与疲劳失效行为,建立热-弹-塑性耦合的疲劳断裂相场模型,并计算断裂序参量的演化过程,预测推力室结构的热机疲劳寿命。通过热传导方程计算结构的温度分布及热应变,根据应力平衡方程和相场演化方程计算热循环作用下结构中应力/应变和序参量演化,根据序参量达到临界值的循环数预测结构的热机疲劳寿命。结果表明:推力室内壁下表面中心点最先断裂失效,疲劳寿命约为91次。循环温度载荷作用下,内壁下表面中心点处残余拉伸应变不断累积,导致表面塌陷及内壁变薄,最终破坏。利用相场疲劳断裂模型研究推力室结构的热机疲劳失效行为,为预测发动机推力室结构疲劳寿命及辅助发动机再生冷却通道优化设计提供了新思路与方法。

人为粗糙度强化换热机理分析及效果评估

对推力室冷却通道内的人为粗糙度强化换热机理进行了分析,讨论了影响人为粗糙度强化换热的因素。对有、无人为粗糙度的平直冷却通道内流动进行了对比数值模拟,并以某特定发动机推力室为例,初步评估了人为粗糙度的强化换热效果。计算和分析表明:在推力室喉部附近设置人为粗糙度,可使推力室气壁温平均下降约43℃,在冷却通道内合理地设置人为粗糙度有利于高室压可重复使用发动机推力室的热防护。

推力可控固体火箭发动机应用及发展

介绍了固体火箭发动机推力控制的多种技术方案及可控推力室在姿控、轨控发动机领域中的应用。

铼铱材料在高性能发动机上的应用

综述了高性能发动机用铼铱材料的基本性能、制备工艺以及应用现状。铼材料具备优异的高温力学性能,作为燃烧室基材使用,铱材料具备优异的高温抗氧化性能,作为铼基材表面防护涂层使用,许用工作温度高达2 200℃,而铱涂层失效主要由于铼扩散至表面发生氧化,因此涂层厚度及致密性是影响涂层寿命的关键因素。铼铱材料制备均有多种工艺可以实现,包括化学气相沉积、物理气相沉积、粉末冶金、熔盐电铸等,其中美国采用CVD工艺制备的铼铱材料445 N发动机R-4D-14成功应用于休斯通讯702卫星,国内采用粉末冶金和物理气相沉积制备的铼铱材料燃烧室通过了25 000 s试车考核。

冷却环带喷注结构对煤油超临界液膜的影响研究

针对液氧/煤油补燃发动机液膜冷却过程,建立了超临界条件下的液膜冷却模型,分析了冷却环带喷注结构对局部流动和冷却效果的影响.在超临界条件下,煤油和周围燃气为同种流体,用同一组方程来描述其流动与传热过程,对3种典型冷却环喷注结构的流动进行了数值模拟.结果表明:冷却环带的出口角度、台阶结构和喷射角对局部流动和传热有显著影响,出口角度小于90°的台阶式结构可减小局部回流从而有利于推力室的热防护.

液体火箭发动机推力室冷却通道传热优化计算

采用标准k-ε两方程湍流模型对液体火箭发动机推力室再生冷却通道三维湍流流动与传热过程进行了数值预测,冷却工质为氢气,其密度、导热系数、动力粘度随着温度和压力而变化,通过两种优化方案来改变推力室冷却通道的深宽比。方案一为保持冷却通道的深度及肋宽不变,通过改变推力室壁面通道个数来改变通道的深宽比,方案二为保持通道数目不变,通过增加或降低通道高度来改变通道的深宽比。以此计算在不同通道深宽比下推力室壁面的传热特性,并进行了优化分析。计算结果表明:存在着一个最佳冷却通道个数,使得推力室壁面再生冷却效果达到最佳;在相同质量流量下,降低通道高度能够强化推力室传热,但同时增加了进出口压差。

液氧煤油发动机高压推力室冷却技术

针对液氧煤油发动机高室压推力室冷却技术,讨论了多条内冷却环带、人为粗糙度、内壁铣槽结构和隔热镀层等主要技术措施。对带人为粗糙度的平直通道内流动进行了二维和三维时均流数值模拟,分析了人为粗糙度局部强化换热机理。对多条液气膜冷却环带进行了数值模拟,分析了内冷却流量对冷却的影响。研究结果表明,合理设置人为粗糙度和采用冷却环带技术可有效降低推力室局部气壁温,以煤油为冷却剂的高压推力室冷却方案应以再生冷却结合多条液气膜冷却技术为主,综合采取人为粗糙度、高导热材料、隔热镀层等技术措施。

涡流冷却推力室中涡流结构的分析与优化

涡流冷却是一种新型液体火箭发动机推力室冷却方法,可以简化推力室结构,降低成本,提高可靠性。本文首先介绍该类型推力室的工作原理,并对涡流的结构进行了理论分析,得出内外涡流的速度分布特点。通过冷流场计算,验证了涡流结构分析的正确性。由于流体的粘性,减小了内部涡流的速度及涡量强度,影响推进剂的掺混及燃烧。通过对氧化剂喷嘴入射角的优化,发现氧化剂喷嘴倾斜一定的角度,可以增加内部涡流的速度及涡量强度,将有助于提高涡流冷却推力室中推进剂的燃烧效率。

液体火箭发动机推力室冷却通道流动与传热数值研究

采用气固耦合算法对液体火箭发动机推力室再生冷却通道的流动与传热过程进行了三维湍流流动与传热数值模拟,冷却工质为氢气,其密度、导热系数、动力粘度随着温度和压力而变化。应用大涡模拟及标准k-ε双方程模型两种湍流模型分别进行数值模拟,详细揭示了再生冷却通道固体区和流体区内的速度场和温度场,并在不同的计算网格数目下对两种湍流模型的计算结果进行了对比。结果表明,在相同的网格条件下,标准k-ε双方程模型与实验数据的吻合精度比大涡模拟模型更好,且满足工程计算精度。随着网格数的增加,大涡模拟的计算精度逐渐得到改善。

液体火箭发动机氧腔流动分析及均流板设计研究

采用Navier-Stokes方程数值模拟了某型火箭发动机推力室氧腔流动,计算分析了节流板表面的总、静压分布及其畸变指数。依据压力畸变提出了氧腔均流孔板改进方法,并通过多次分析-设计循环得到了新的均流板。最后对所设计的均流板进行了详细地计算分析和实验验证。分析和验证表明新设计的均流板使氧腔出口节流板表面压力畸变降低了30.4%,显著提高了氧腔压力均匀性,进而可以大大提高燃烧效率。