Mesures de contraintes en écoulement cavitant dans les pales de l'inducteur oxygène du moteur fusée Vulcain

Cavitating flow constraint measurements in the oxygen inductor blades of a Vulcain rocket engine

¹ CETIM, Nantes
² SEP, Vernon

Abstract

Readjustment of the calculation of hydraulic loads on the inductor blades is obtained from a test programme carried out at CETIM in Nantes on a rocket engine pump technological inductor on which 13 strain gauges are fitted.

In addition to the conventional measurements (height characteristics, torque, yield and NSPH depending on the flow rate), the signals of gauges and transient pressure gauge heads are recorded during NPSH drops until a hoisting height significant fall is obtained. The data processing comprises frequency analysis spectrum, transient pressure and constraint evolutions depending on the NPSH, and a correlation with the cavitation figures photographed.