Hyperbaric Advanced Development Environmental Simulator 9HADES0

The overall objective of this DoD proposal is to develop an advancedmaterials and coatings test rig for the gas turbine industry for thepurpose of understanding how hot gas path materials and coatings willperform under advanced turbine operating conditions. Emerging missions suchas deep strike as supported through the VAATE program are being designed tooperate at high overall pressure ratios, high turbine temperatures, and forextended periods of time. Therefore, a low-cost test facility that canreproduce those conditions is required to test the combustor and turbinematerials and thermal barrier (TBC) coatings that will satisfy operatingparameters. The specific objectives of this SBIR Phase I proposal are tofabricate a prototype rig test section, and conduct a demonstration test ofthe test section along with an existing combustor. This demonstration testwill validate the test section design, analysis, and fabrication concepts,and will identify any technical barriers that could impact the ability toachieve test conditions on the specimens or cooled test section. There is a strong desire for the industrial gas turbine and military aero engine manufacturers to develop advanced turbine thermal barrier coatings. Both applications require accurate representation of turbine engine pressures, temperatures, and airvelocities in order to confidently evaluate candidate coatings. The proposed rig will enable versatile and accurate testing in a very affordable and efficient manner to support designs.