Design and optimization of a hypersonic test facility for sub-scale testing

Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited === The Rocket Propulsion and Combustion Laboratory at the Naval Postgraduate School was evaluated to determine if the currently installed systems could support the operation of a subscale hypersonic test stand. Trait analysis of existing lab...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: O'Kresik, Stephen R.
Other Authors: Sinibaldi, Jose O.
Published: Monterey, California. Naval Postgraduate School 2012
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/10945/6154
Description
Summary:Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited === The Rocket Propulsion and Combustion Laboratory at the Naval Postgraduate School was evaluated to determine if the currently installed systems could support the operation of a subscale hypersonic test stand. Trait analysis of existing lab support sub-systems was performed and an envelope of operation, defined by flight altitude and flight Mach number was determined. Calculations revealed that if the air supply volume was doubled to 160 ft3, a hypersonic blow-down facility could generate conditions to perform testing in the dynamic pressure window of 500 to 2000 psf, from Mach 5 to 7.5 with a maximum system mass flow rate variation from 3 to 45 lbm/s. Additionally, a dynamic design process was outlined to assist other designers in producing similar test stands. Finally, a software analysis package was developed to analyze proposed changes in the support system architecture.