New Instrumentation Technologies for Testing the Performance of Solid Rocket Motor Nozzles

Analysis and Measurement Services Corporation (AMS)

Knoxville, TN

New technology for testing the attachment of sensors to solid materials

• In the past radiography was used to verify the attachment of sensors to solid materials; however, this was not an effective method for testing the sensors that are installed in large aerospace systems or remote and inaccessible areas. The Loop Current Step Response (LCSR) test was adapted for this purpose. The test was used to qualitatively measure the dynamic characteristics of sensors attached to or embedded in solid materials and thereby verifies the attachment of the sensors

• Contractual talks are underway with a nuclear utility to evaluate the attachment of surface mounted resistance temperature detector’s (RTD) used in a pressurized water nuclear reactor to insure that measurements recorded from the sensors are accurate
• Commercial in-plant testing has been performed by AMS in a nuclear power plant in Europe to verify the installation of fuel thermocouples in the core of the reactor and to ensure that excessive fuel temperature is detected in a timely manner to avoid accidents

• Testing the attachment of thermocouples used in testing the performance of composite materials in SRM nozzles
• Testing of thermocouples embedded in solid materials used for the lining of blast tubes in solid rocket boosters in Space Shuttle and other aerospace vehicles
• Verifying the bonding of skin-mount RTD’s used on the fuel and oxidizer lines of Space Shuttle for detecting leaks from the valves in the lines
• Determining the attachment of strain gages used for load and vibration measurements in Space Shuttle Main Engine

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