About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
2026 TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition
|
| Symposium
|
Advanced Materials for Reusable Rocket Engines
|
| Presentation Title |
Frictional Ignition Testing of Metals in Oxygen up to 24.1 MPa |
| Author(s) |
Tim Wabel, Fabio Bendana, Vincent Phong, Andres Garcia Jimenez, Zachary Cordero |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Tim Wabel |
| Abstract Scope |
Friction-induced ignition of metals in high-pressure oxygen is a significant risk for liquid-propellant rocket engines. The OXygen Frictional Ignition Research Experiment was developed at The Aerospace Corporation to provide data to assess ignition risks due to frictional heating. The apparatus consists of an optically-accessible oxygen-safe test chamber with a 68.9 MPa (10,000 psi) pressure rating. Within the chamber, two cylindrical samples, one stationary and one rotating at 17,000 rpm, are contacted and axially loaded. The contact load between the samples is increased linearly until either ignition or structural failure (i.e., fracture or plastic deformation) of the sample(s) occur. The relative ignition sensitivity of each material is determined from the product of the contact pressure and sliding surface velocity at ignition. Frictional ignition of several common aerospace alloys has been evaluated over a range of pressures from 3.45 to 24.1 MPa (500 to 3,500 psi) in pure oxygen. |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Planned: |
| Keywords |
Environmental Effects, Iron and Steel, |