The Rapid Analysis and Manufacturing Propulsion Technology (RAMPT) project is maturing novel design and manufacturing technologies to increase scale, significantly reduce cost, and improve performance for regeneratively-cooled thrust chamber assemblies, specifically the combustion chamber and nozzle for government and industry programs.
There are three key technologies:
RAMPT is an integrated NASA/private industry partnership developing and integrating modern manufacturing techniques into a single thrust chamber assembly, characterizing these specialty manufacturing processes, disseminating material/process design data, and completing hot-fire testing to demonstrate a multi-metallic additive-based composite overwrap thrust chamber assembly.
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RAMPT benefits include: Reduced cost, manufacturing schedule, scale and improved performance of a regeneratively-cooled thrust chamber assembly (combustion chamber and nozzle) for government and industry propulsion applications.
Freeform blown powder nozzle: The first key technology being matured under RAMPT is the freeform blown powder deposition additive manufacturing of the large scale regen-cooled nozzle structure. The goal of this process development is to advance the blown powder deposition for large scale thin-walled structures to net shape or near-net shape to significantly reduce the time required for nozzle fabrication.
Composite overwrap structural jacket: The second key technology being developed under RAMPT is the composite overwrap of the thrust chamber assembly (TCA). The TCA includes the combustion chamber liner manufactured from a GRCop84/42 copper-alloy based material and the freeform nozzle manufactured using super alloy materials. This technology offers the potential to substantially decrease weight up to 70 percent over metallic jacket structural supports.
Bimetallic radial deposition for manifolds: The third key technology area is the development of the bimetallic deposition for manifold land and/or integrated manifold to the GRCop84/42 combustion chamber.
Modeling and analysis tools for additive and regenerative design: The fourth key technology area is the development of congruent design and analysis tools that help optimize the overall design and fabrication process. This includes tools for process modeling and design tools that integrate various codes and analysis subroutines to allow for optimization of complex regenerative-cooled combustion devices components.
Organizations Performing Work | Role | Type | Location |
---|---|---|---|
Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) | Lead Organization | NASA Center | Huntsville, Alabama |
Additive Manufacturing & Engineering | Supporting Organization | Industry | Huntsville, Alabama |
Addup | Supporting Organization | Industry | France |
Aerojet Rocketdyne 3D Material Technologies (3DMT) | Supporting Organization | Industry | |
Ames Research Center (ARC) | Supporting Organization | NASA Center | Moffett Field, California |
Auburn University | Supporting Organization | Academia | Auburn, Alabama |
DM3D Technology | Supporting Organization |
Industry
Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB)
|
Auburn Hills, Michigan |
EB Welding at PTR | Supporting Organization | Industry | |
Glenn Research Center (GRC) | Supporting Organization | NASA Center | Cleveland, Ohio |
Heat Treating at Solar Atmospheres | Supporting Organization | Industry | Souderston, Pennsylvania |
Keselowski Advanced Manufacturing | Supporting Organization | Industry | Statesville, North Carolina |
Kord Technologies | Supporting Organization | Industry | Huntsville, Alabama |
Langley Research Center (LaRC) | Supporting Organization | NASA Center | Hampton, Virginia |
Magna Machining | Supporting Organization | Industry | |
Material Testing at Stresstech | Supporting Organization | Industry | |
Pinson Valley Heat Treating | Supporting Organization | Industry | |
Precision Cleaning at TMC | Supporting Organization | Industry | |
Quadrus Corporation | Supporting Organization |
Industry
Minority-Owned Business,
Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB)
|
Huntsville, Alabama |
RPM Innovations | Supporting Organization |
Industry
Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB)
|
Rapid City, South Dakota |
Stratasys | Supporting Organization | Industry | |
Surface Polishing at Rem Chem | Supporting Organization | Industry | |
VRC Metal Systems | Supporting Organization |
Industry
Veteran-Owned Small Business (VOSB)
|
Box Elder , South Dakota |
Westmoreland Mechanical Testing and Research | Supporting Organization | Industry | Youngstown, Pennsylvania |
Co-Funding Partners | Type | Location |
---|---|---|
Commercial Spaceflight Development Division | NASA Other | |
Exploration Systems Development Division | NASA Program | |
Game Changing Development (GCD) | NASA Program |