Hot test for MT-AerospaceThe thermo mechanical tests of components and structures are an essential element of component developments. Due to the development targets returning technology and thrust chamber these structures do not only undergo extreme thermo- mechanical loads, but also play a mission-decisive role (thermal safety) and accordingly must fail under no circumstances (engine). For this reason the functional verification including quality assurance are of exceedingly large importance within this particular operative range.
A thermo-mechanical load of structures and elements can be accomplished with the inductively heated test facility INDUTHERM. This facility enables a test environment of complex loads such as the qualification of a ceramic bearing including mechanical and thermal load while the environmental conditions (pressure and gas composition) are adjustable at the same time. A high quality test competence was reached in this connection due to many test activities predominantly order-financed demanded by the industry and ESA.
Beside ground tests however the structural verification within the actual use surroundings is the centre of attention. This was and it is still accomplished intensely within flight trials with samples of material (FOTON…), experiments (SHEFEX...) and hot primary structures (X-38/TETRA, EXPERT…) by returnable space transport systems. The development, execution and later integration of flight hardware on system level (X-38 Nosecap, SHEFEX) have led to large expertise within the system integration.