Slipper Wear/Gouging Analytical Tool

This SBIR effort will develop analytical techniques that can be used to predict slipper wear patterns and gouging phenomena throughout the sled velocity regime to Mach 10. The proposed approach is to develop a new PC Window analytical software tool based on correlations of test data and other semi-empirical methods. This software tool will allow the user to input a set of initial conditions including material properties, velocity profiles and slipper geometries to predict slipper wear and gouging phenomena. Parametric analyses using this software would be used to evaluate new state-of-the-art slipper designs, materials, coatings, lubricants and slipper cooling techniques. The resulting Test Track slipper designs will provide improved test performance and reliability critical to future test programs.