Award Data

The proposed study aims at accelerated development of Mo-Si-B-X (X=Ti, Zr, Hf, Re, Mn) alloys with an optimized balance of properties, via an approach of integrating thermodynamic modeling with experimental study.   On the basis of the Mo-Si-B-X (X=Ti, Zr, Hf) database developed in Phase I, a thermodynamic database of the Mo-Si-B-O-X (X=Ti, Zr, Hf, Re, Mn) system will be developed using the Calp ...

The goal of this SBIR is the enhancement of the current state-of-the-art combustion instability analysis tools.  The planned enhancement is focused on capturing the effects of injection element distribution and the inclusion of substantial film cooling and diluent injection.  These characteristics are extremely important in the design of high-pressure oxygen rich staged combustion (ORSC) engines ...

ORBITEC proposes to develop the Advanced Microwave Electrothermal Thruster (AMET) for use as one of the primary thrusters in the Dual-Mode Water Rocket Propulsion system.  The AMET uses an electrodeless microwave discharge to produce thrust from water vapor propellant, delivering specific impulse in excess of 800 seconds with a highly efficient process.  Microwave energy is introduced to a reson ...

CompuTherm, LLC proposes a pilot project to develop a modeling tool that can be used to assess the durability of environmental barrier coatings (EBCs) for ceramic matrix composites (CMCs) under combustion environment. The modeling tool includes a thermodynamic database for the gas phase, a thermodynamic database for the silicate system (EBCs), and a computer software package that deals with thermo ...

Laser projection systems deliver the highest resolution, contrast ratios, color purity, and screen uniformity as compared to other display technologies used in flight simulation but suffer from an image artifact called speckle that manifests as random variations in the image intensity resulting from interference of many projected and scattered coherent laser light waves.  Contractor proposes a sp ...

Orbital Technologies Corporation and Penn State University propose to examine and characterize novel energetic formulations in solid fuels to replace conventional, low-energy, binders such as HTPB. The proposed solid fuels will provide higher enthalpy, higher density, and improved rocket engine performance. In Phase I, we will calculate theoretical rocket performance of selected materials, chara ...

ORBITEC proposes to develop a heat transfer model to predict heat transfer coefficient in bubbly flows in small tubes.  This model is intended for application to thermal management systems in a variety of propulsion systems, including both air-breathing and rocket engines.  The Phase I work will include parallel experimental and modeling work.  The experimental program will measure heat transfe ...

Air Force and NASA contractors are in need of ultra-high temperature materials with improved toughness properties for hypersonics and rocket propulsion applications.  This SBIR will make available a new technology that can significantly increase the fracture toughness of existing and emerging ultra-high temperature ceramics and composites.  Ormond, LLC has developed data that indicates cavitatio ...

ORBITEC proposes to continue the development of high-performance fuels to replace monomethyl hydrazine (MMH) and other storable fuels for in-space propulsion applications. Compounds from various chemical families were proposed in Phase I to address these needs. These families of compounds have greater heats of formation, lower volatility, and lower toxicity than MMH. Their reduced vapor pressur ...

An innovative data collection and analysis approach is proposed to enable body mount magnetometers for space application. In order to achieve high accurate magnetic field measurement in space, the magnetometer has to be located in a âmagnetically cleanâ place, where the magnetic field from spacecraft is negligible. Usually, the magnetometers are placed on deployable booms, so that the field sens ...