SBIR 95-1 SOLICITATION

PROJECT SUMMARY

Proposal Number:

11.01-0003

Project Title:

A NEW METHOD FOR ROCKET NOZZLE MATERIALS EVALUATION

Technical Abstract:

NASA and their contractors are currently limited in their ability to fabricate nozzle materials and design nozzles which are free of thermally induced material failures and excessive nozzle recession. Major improvements in nozzle designs will be difficult without cost effective nozzle material evaluation methods to verify acceptable material performance before building nozzles and firing rocket motors. Physical Sciences proposes a nozzle thermal environment simulation using high power laser radiation to screen candidate nozzle materials and quantify their response to the high heating rate environment. The successful development of this analog material evaluation testing method will provide a major improvement in NASA's capabilities for evaluating nozzle material performance at much lower cost than firing rocket motors.

Potential Commercial Applications:

Following the successful demonstration and proof that the laser heating simulation is a valuable test for evaluating nozzle material behavior, PSI will develop a material screening and material performance characterization testing service. We will offer this custom designed materials testing service to NASA and DoD contractors as a economical method of evaluating materials behavior and nozzle designs in support of their booster design and development programs.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Physical Sciences Inc.
20 New England Business Center
Andover, MA 01810-1077