Thermal erosion test device and method for testing thermal protection materials of solid propellant thrusters

1. A thermal erosion test device for testing thermal protection material for use in a solid propellant thruster, the device comprising means for holding a plate made of the thermal protection material for testing so that the plate faces a face of a block of solid propellant, a space between the plate and the face of the propellant block defining a combustion chamber of a substantially rectangular shape, said combustion chamber extending along said plate and opening out into a nozzle.

2. A device according to claim 1 , further including means for adjusting a distance between the block of solid propellant and the plate of thermal protection material for testing so as to adjust a level of aerodynamic stresses in the combustion chamber as a function of said distance.

3. A device according to claim 1 , wherein the plate of thermal protection material for testing includes a plurality of temperature-measurement sensors disposed along said plate.

4. A device according to claim 3 , wherein the plate of thermal protection material for testing includes a plurality of groups of temperature-measurement sensors spaced apart from one another along said plate, each sensor in a group of sensors being implanted at a determined depth in the thickness of the plate.

5. A device according to claim 1 , including means for measuring a variation in the degradation and a retreat of the surface of the plate of thermal protection material for testing.

6. A device according to claim 5 , including a plurality of ultrasound sensors disposed along the plate of thermal protection material for testing, said sensors being coupled with said plate by a coupling material.

7. A device according to claim 5 , including a plurality of plasma capacitance gauges disposed along the plate of thermal protection material for testing.

8. A device according to claim 1 , including a cylindrical shell having an inside volume in which there are placed the plate of thermal protection material for testing, and the block of solid propellant.

9. A device according to claim 8 , comprising a tube for receiving the cylindrical shell, said tube being closed at its ends by a front end wall and a rear end wall, respectively, the rear end wall including a nozzle connected to the combustion chamber defined by the space between the plate and the face of the facing block of propellant.

10. A device according to claim 8 , wherein the faces of the block of solid propellant other than the face facing the plate of thermal protection material for testing are covered in an inhibitor material.

11. A thermal erosion test device for testing thermal protection material for use in a solid propellant thruster, the device comprising:

a substantially rectangular plate made of said thermal protection material being tested, said material plate having a substantially rectangular first material face;

a substantially rectangular block of solid propellant having a substantially rectangular first propellant face sized about a same size as said first material face; and

a support structure coupled to said material plate and arranged to position said first material face opposite, and spaced apart from, said first propellant face,

wherein a combustion chamber of a substantially rectangular shape is defined between said first material face and said first propellant face.

12. The thermal erosion test device according to claim 11 , wherein:

a nozzle is provided at one end of said combustion chamber.

13. The thermal erosion test device according to claim 11 , further comprising:

a plurality of temperature-measurement sensors disposed along said plate.