Air Testing of an SSME Turbopump Using Rapid Prototyping Technology

摘要

An air test program was performed to evaluate a redesigned diffuser for use in the Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME) Large Throat Main Combustion Chamber (LTMCC). Rapid prototyping was used to fabricate many different diffuser design concepts to allow more testing than was achievable using conventional manufacturing. The rapid prototyping process proved capable of producing the consistent parts needed to evaluate small performance differences among multiple design geometries. Understanding the lessons learned at Rocketdyne from using rapid prototyping in air testing may aid others in the design verification process.