Laser-Induced Particle Impact Testing in High-Pressure Oxygen Environments

Abstract

Particle impact ignition is an important source of metal fires in the high-pressure oxygen environments found in the turbines of oxygen-rich turbopumps. Understanding of particle impact ignition has been hindered by experimental challenges in reproducing this phenomenon under controlled laboratory conditions. This study addresses these challenges through the development of a specialized particle impact rig that integrates laser-induced particle impact testing (LIPIT) into an oxygen-compatible pressure vessel, thus enabling precise control over environmental conditions (target temperature, oxygen pressure) as well as impact variables (particle size/shape, impact velocity). This thesis describes the design of the oxygen-compatible pressure vessel, emphasizing considerations such as stress analysis, materials selection, oxygen-compatibility, and integration with the LIPIT system. The thesis concludes with pathfinding experiments successfully demonstrating particle ignition in a prototype rig, providing in situ images of single particle ignition events using application-relevant materials and particle sizes. Future work will use this rig to characterize the effects of operating conditions and material choices on susceptibility to particle impact ignition with a view toward developing more durable oxygen-compatible hardware for next-generation staged combustion rocket engines.