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2020 AIAA Propulsion and Energy Forum
1
American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
Lightweight Thrust Chamber Assemblies using Multi-
Alloy Additive Manufacturing and Composite Overwrap
Paul R. Gradl
1
, Chris Protz
2
, John Fikes
3
, Allison Clark
4
NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, AL 35812
Laura Evans
5
, Sandi Miller
6
, David Ellis
7
NASA Glenn Research Center, Cleveland, OH 44135
Tyler Hudson
8
NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA 23681
Additive Manufacturing (AM) has brought significant design and fabrication opportunities for complex
components with internal features such as liquid rocket engine thrust chambers not previously possible. This
technology allows for significant cost savings and schedule reductions in addition to new performance
optimization through weight reduction and increased margins. Specific to regeneratively-cooled combustion
chambers and nozzles for liquid rocket engines, additive manufacturing offers the ability to form the complex
internal coolant channels and the closeout of the channels to contain the high pressure liquid propellants with
a single operation. Much of additive manufacturing development has focused on monolithic alloys using Laser
Powder Bed Fusion (L-PBF), which do not allow for complete optimization of the structure. The National
Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) completed feasibility of an AM bimetallic L-PBF GRCop-84
copper-alloy combustion chamber with an AM electron beam freeform Inconel 625 structural jacket under the
Low Cost Upper Stage Propulsion (LCUSP) Project. A follow-on project called Rapid Analysis and
Manufacturing Propulsion Technology (RAMPT) is under development to further expand large-scale multi-
alloy thrust chambers while maturing composite overwrap technology for significant weight savings
opportunities. The RAMPT project has three primary objectives: 1) Advancing blown powder Directed
Energy Deposition (DED) to fabricate integral-channel large scale nozzles, 2) Develop composite overwrap
technology to reduce weight and provide structural capability for thrust chamber assemblies, and 3) Develop
bimetallic and multi-metallic additively manufactured radial and axial joints to optimize material
performance. In addition to these primary manufacturing developments, analytical modeling efforts
compliment the process development to simulate the AM processes to reduce build failures and distortions. The
RAMPT project is also maturing the supply chain for various manufacturing processes described above in
addition to L-PBF of GRCop-42. This paper will present an overview of the RAMPT project, the process
development and hardware progress to date, material and hot-fire testing results, along with planned future
developments.
Nomenclature
AM = Additive Manufacturing
BMI = Bismaleimide
_______________________________
1
Co-Principle Investigator of RAMPT, Component Technology Branch, Senior Member, AIAA
2
Co-Principle Investigator of RAMPT, Component Technology Branch
3
Project Manager, RAMPT
4
Composite Engineer, Non-metallics Branch
5
Materials Research Engineer, High Temperature and Smart Alloys Branch
6
Composite Engineer, Ceramic and Polymer Composites Branch
7
Materials Research Engineer, High Temperature and Smart Alloys Branch
8
Composite Structural Materials Research Engineer
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BP-DED = Blown Powder Directed Energy Deposition
DED = Directed Energy Deposition
EBF3 = Electron Beam Freeform Fabrication
GCD = Game Changing Development
GRC = NASA Glenn Research Center
GRCop-42 = NASA GRC Copper-alloy (Cu-4 at.% Cr-2 at.% Nb)
GRCop-84 = NASA GRC Copper-alloy (Cu-8 at.% Cr-4 at.% Nb)
HIP = Hot Isostatic Pressing
K-lbf = thousand pound-force (thrust)
L-PBF = Laser Powder Bed Fusion
LaRC = NASA Langley Research Center
LCUSP = Low Cost Upper Stage Propulsion
LCH4 = Liquid Methane
LH2 = Liquid Hydrogen
LOX = Liquid Oxygen
MSFC = NASA Marshall Space Flight Center
NASA HR-1 = Hydrogen-resistant Superalloy (Fe-Ni-Cr-Co-Ti)
Pc = Chamber Pressure (psig)
RP-1 = Rocket Propellant-1
RAMPT = Rapid Analysis and Manufacturing Propulsion Technology
STMD = Space Technology Mission Directorate
TCA = Thrust Chamber Assembly
UTS = Ultimate tensile strength
I. Introduction
he 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 (TCA), specifically the combustion chamber and nozzle for
government and industry programs. This project addresses some of the largest, longest lead, highest cost, and heaviest
components in the liquid rocket engine system. While additive manufacturing (AM) has changed how parts are
fabricated for rocket engines, this project seeks to expand upon the prior work and provide additional solutions. An
additional outcome of RAMPT is to create a domestic supply chain and develop specialized technology vendors
available for all interested industry partners and government agencies. RAMPT’s purpose is to evolve an integrated
multi-alloy light-weight thrust chamber assembly that significantly increases scale over current additive
manufacturing technologies, reduce associated cost and schedule, and provide design options not previously possible.
This project is taking advantage of government and industry investments through public-private partnerships to
provide process development data and technology improvements across propulsion and related industries.
RAMPT is focusing on maturation and integration of the following key technology areas:
1. Blown Powder Directed Energy Deposition (DED) freeform additive manufacturing techniques to fabricate
an integrated regen-cooled channel wall nozzle structure.
2. Composite overwrap techniques to significantly reduce weight and provide structural capability for a large
Thrust Chamber Assembly (TCA), applied to both the combustion chamber and nozzle.
3. Bimetallic and multi-metallic additive manufacturing and deposition techniques, including copper-alloy to
superalloy transitions to optimize component and material performance.
4. Advance modeling and simulations of large-scale deposition techniques to obtain optimal property
predictions, material designs, and develop “smart” tool-paths to reduce distortion and provide acceptable
components.
5. Development of integrated regeneratively-cooled combustion chamber and nozzle design tools to
significantly reduce design cycles and take full advantage of additive technologies.
RAMPT is partnering with industry through a public-private partnership to design, characterize, and manufacture
component parts of the thrust chamber assembly
1
. This allows NASA and industry to co-invest in the technology,
allowing publicly available government data to aid with design and development of the processes, while process-
T
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specific data can reside at the specialty manufacturing vendors. The RAMPT project is funded under NASA’s Space
Technology Mission Directorate (STMD) Game Changing Development (GCD) Program. It is a joint effort across
NASA Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC), Glenn Research Center (GRC), Langley Research Center (LaRC), and
Ames Research Center (ARC). The public private partnerships are managed through Auburn University under an
agreement with NASA. The overall RAMPT technology concepts can be seen in Figure 1. The concept and
development under the RAMPT project is to amalgamate and evolve several advanced manufacturing techniques to
allow for a full integrated thrust chamber assembly. The overall concept starts with the GRCop copper-alloy
combustion chamber as the core with integral channels fabricated using Laser Powder Bed Fusion (L-PBF). DED
technology is then used to deposit manifold weld land preparations so that a forward manifold can be welded to the
chamber. Following interim machining, a blown powder DED integral channel nozzle is deposited onto the aft end of
the chamber. Following this operation and heat treatments, the TCA is composite overwrapped using a carbon-fiber
polymeric matrix composite (PMC) overwrap
2
,
3
,
4
. Development, fabrication, and test of this hardware along with
future hardware and test plans in RAMPT are discussed in this paper.
Figure 1: RAMPT Technology Overview.
The RAMPT project is improving upon manufacturing technologies for propulsion components, and it builds on
the technologies developed under NASA’s GCD Program’s Low Cost Upper Stage Propulsion (LCUSP) project as
well as on other technology development projects
5
. LCUSP developed L-PBF of GRCop-84 (Cu-8 at.% Cr-4 at.%
Nb) and Electron Beam Free Form Fabrication (EBF3) with Nickel Alloy Inconel 625 manufacturing technologies to
produce a rocket combustion chamber within a shorter schedule and at a lower cost than conventionally manufactured
components
6
,
7
,
8
. The LCUSP technology elements and a picture from hot-fire testing are shown in Figure 2. The initial
LCUSP chamber completed hot-fire testing at 35K-lbf thrust class using Liquid Oxygen/Liquid Hydrogen
(LOX/LH2). The LCUSP program successfully completed process development, characterization, and hot-fire testing
of various additively manufactured bimetallic chambers at chamber pressures over 1,400 psig. Additionally, the
LCUSP chamber demonstrated greater than 50% reduction in fabrication schedule and substantial cost savings over
traditional manufacturing techniques. Further costs and schedule improvements are being shown under the RAMPT
project.
•Develops commercial supply chain
•Optimizes weight based on selective
material deposition
•Reduces costs
•Evaluating DED and solid state AM
processes
•Significantly reduces weight for
high chamber pressure TCA’s
•Reduces distortions caused by
bimetallic cladding
•Reduces overall cost and fabrication
schedules
•Builds upon prior composite
overwrap pressure vessel (COPV)
technology
•Proven Technology for GRCop alloys
•Expand to GRCop-42
•Advances and expands commercial
supply chain
•Selected Blown Powder Directed
Energy Deposition (DED)
Demonstrate integral channels
using DED process
•Demonstrate coupled chamber
and nozzle configuration to
reduce weight
•Reduces complexity
•Significantly increases scale for
AM processes for regen-cooled
components
Integrated Large Scale DED
Freeform Manufacturing Deposition
Regen-Cooled Nozzle
L-PBF AM Copper
Chamber
Bimetallic Deposited Manifolds
and Nozzle Interface
Composite Overwrap
Thrust Chamber Assembly
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Figure 2: LCUSP Technology and Hot-fire Testing. A) L-PBF of GRCop-84 2-piece chamber, B) L-PBF
GRCop-84 Chamber with EBF3 Inconel 625 Jacket, C) Bimetallic Joint, D) Hot-fire testing of LCUSP.
While LCUSP demonstrated all technical manufacturing and test objectives, there were several lessons learned
that indicated potential for improvements to be made. A challenge in the bimetallic alloy deposition for chambers was
the shrinkage experienced through distortion in the axial and radial directions. This was about 3-4% on overall length
and about 7-10% in the throat region. This shrinkage from bimetallic cladding was also observed in smaller chambers
and repeatable. An image of this shrinkage observed can be seen in Figure 3 comparing it directly to a composite
overwrap chamber being developed under RAMPT. Both chambers shown in the figure were GRCop-84 L-PBF liners
with integral coolant channels. They were identical designs that started off at identical heights, thus the need to develop
a jacket process that minimizes distortion is visually compelling. While the recent development efforts to fabricate
chambers with AM techniques have shown that, while the techniques are faster and function in relevant environments,
current capabilities have effects on chamber geometry and leave residual stresses.
Another reason to improve upon the LCUSP development is the need to reduce weight. At the start of LCUSP, the
material properties and printing feasibility of GRCop alloys were uncertain. Since the AM development has since
been proven that copper-alloys could be fabricated using L-PBF with channels that are fully closed out, this provides
the case for new supplemental technology. The composite overwrap does not need to close-out the coolant channels
independently and only needs to provide structural support to react various thrust chamber loads. This provides a
significant weight savings opportunity using a higher strength to weight material such as the carbon-fiber composite.
A composite overwrap for weight savings has been studied in several U.S. and international programs for rocket thrust
chamber assemblies
9
,
10
. Many of these studies did not provide any further information regarding successful application
in a test environment. Overwraps were applied successfully on the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Fastrac (MC-
1) engine over an ablative chamber assembly and hot-fire tested
11
,
12
. Other subscale TCA’s have demonstrated heritage
composite materials including Metal Matrix Composite (MMC) and Ceramic Matrix Composites (CMC) for use as a
jacket
13
.
Under the RAMPT project, composite overwrap is being advanced as the structural support/jacket of the chamber
liner. The copper liner with coolant channels remain as a fully AM L-PBF part. Additional developments have been
made with the L-PBF GRCop-alloys though with the advancement of GRCop-42 (Cu-4 at.% Cr-2 at.% Nb) as a higher
conductivity high strength alloy. Copper alloys are desirable for chamber liners for their high thermal conductivity,
which allows for effective wall cooling to keep the chamber hot wall in a high strength temperature region.
Composites offer much higher strength-to-weight than the traditional metals utilized for structural support jackets in
chambers. The LCUSP project developed the ability to produce closed wall copper alloy liners. Composite
formulations that can sustain temperatures spanning from cryogenic upwards of 450 °F make composites a viable and
desirable choice for chamber jackets.
AB
C D
A
B
CD
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Figure 3: (Left) Composite overwrap chamber compared to (Right) DED bimetallic jacket chamber
showing shrinkage. Both liners started off at the same height with identical GRCop-84 liners.
While composite overwrap trades well for a structural jacket, the RAMPT project has continued to maintain focus
on AM bimetallic development as it is still necessary for materials transitions for the welded manifolds. This enables
optimized material selection using high strength-to-weight metals for manifolding that can be machined easily for
inlets and instrumentation. The manifolds are ideally made from a non-copper alloy such as a Superalloy or stainless
material. This bimetallic AM allows for local deposition using various alloys should a combination of multi-alloys
and composite overwrap help react all the structural and dynamic loads in a TCA. The bimetallic development is being
developed for both radial and axial directions in the TCA to further optimize the weight by using the most appropriate
alloy in discrete locations
14
. The axial bimetallic joint enables a channel-cooled nozzle to be incorporated for a material
that is non-copper as heat fluxes are significantly reduced and a higher strength-to-weight material can be
accommodated. In some applications, this also permits continuous coolant channels between the chamber and the
nozzle, which further reduces weight by eliminating manifolds.
The blown powder DED (BP-DED) is one of the key technologies being evaluated under RAMPT as it has been
proven in early studies for rapid fabrication of integrated channel wall nozzles
15
. The L-PBF AM technique has been
shown to be limited in scale for use on many liquid engine components for larger thrust class engines. The BP-DED
has a much larger build volume and only limited by the robotic arm or gantry system available. The specific
developments using BP-DED under RAMPT is to demonstrate integrated channel deposition at large scales. This
allows for the entire nozzle to be formed with all channels eliminating the need for closeout operations such as brazing,
plating, laser welding, or laser wire direct closeout
16
,
17
,
18
,
19
,
20
. The advantages of this are numerous since it
demonstrates the potential for significantly reduced parts and operations to form a regeneratively-cooled nozzle. A
secondary objective is to provide a new AM material for use on channel-cooled nozzles and other components, which
is NASA HR-1. NASA HR-1 is a high strength hydrogen resistant alloy for higher temperature operations such as
liquid rocket nozzles and is suitable for use with several AM techniques.
The RAMPT project is maturing the manufacturing technologies and the integration of these technologies with
various scales of hardware. This allows for early lessons to be learned on subscale hardware and progressing towards
larger scale and increased chamber pressures as thermal and structural loads become more challenging. RAMPT is
demonstrating hardware as both a coupled configuration, integrally manufactured AM chamber and nozzle, and de-
coupled, which is a bolted configuration that allows for early lessons learned. While the ultimate goal of RAMPT is
to evolve the fully integrated AM designs, it is recognized that many future applications could make use of the
technologies independently as well. The variations in scale of hardware under RAMPT demonstrate different test
objectives. The RAMPT thrust-class hardware is shown in Figure 4 and progress of components will be shown
throughout this paper. Early hot-fire testing was completed on de-coupled hardware, which included composite
overwrap chambers and a BP-DED nozzle with integral channels. This demonstrated feasibility with temperatures
approaching 250 °F on the composite overwrap. De-coupled hardware is also being developed for the 7K-lbf and 40K-
lbf thrust-classes and will undergo hot-fire testing with a bolted joint between the L-PBF chamber and BP-DED nozzle.
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Figure 4. Various thrust classes of RAMPT hardware being developed.
II. Manufacturing Process Development
Several manufacturing technologies have advanced over the last few decades that are enabling RAMPT to further
mature and integrate these into an integrated TCA. The manufacturing technologies being developed are:
1. Freeform BP-DED with integral coolant channels
2. Composite overwrap
3. Bimetallic additive manufacturing
4. L-PBF of copper-alloys, specifically GRCop-42 and GRCop-84
While various thrust-class chambers are being fabricated, the general manufacturing sequence is similar for all the
TCA’s being developed and tested. A generic manufacturing flow can be seen in Figure 5. The core of the RAMPT
TCA starts with a L-PBF GRCop copper-alloy combustion chamber. This allows all other features to be fabricated
and integrated onto the combustion chamber. While the LCUSP project developed GRCop-84, the RAMPT project
has invested in GRCop-42, allowing for higher conductivity
21
. The chamber is fabricated with integral channels that
are fully closed-out to a thickness determined for each thrust-class of design. After successful fabrication and post-
processing of the L-PBF chamber, it is prepared for deposition of a radial bimetallic interface. This radial bimetallic
interface is not required on all chambers and mostly being demonstrated on the 40K-lbf TCA. DED technology is then
used to deposit manifold weld land preparations to allow for welding of a forward manifold to the chamber. Following
interim machining and processing operations, a blown powder DED integral channel-cooled nozzle is deposited onto
the aft end of the GRCop-42 chamber. The nozzle deposition creates a bimetallic axial joint between the nozzle and
the chamber. In some of the configurations the channels are aligned between the chamber and nozzle allowing for
continuous cooling, which solves some design challenges and interface issues with bolted designs. Following this
operation and subsequent post-processing, the TCA is composite overwrapped using a carbon-fiber polymer matrix
composite (PMC) overwrap.
2K-lbfDecoupled 2K-lbfCoupled 7K-lbfCoupled 40K-lbfCoupled
LOX/RP-1
Room Temp Fuel
Testing Completed
LOX/LH2
Demonstrates Cryogenic
through elevated temps
Axially bimetallic
deposition
LOX/LCH4
Cryogenic through elevated
temps at larger scale
Axially bimetallic deposition
LOX/LH2
Cryogenic through high temp, High Pc
Axial and Radial Bimetallic Interfaces
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Figure 5. Generic manufacturing process flow of the RAMPT thrust chambers.
Process development has been completed in each of these areas and continues to progress rapidly. The GRCop-42
L-PBF alloy has sufficient maturity and significant materials characterization and hot-fire testing. Several U.S.
domestic suppliers have developed the material build parameters using L-PBF and have abilities to fabricate parts up
to 15.6 inch (400mm) diameter. The maturity of the GRCop-alloys was an enabling core technology for RAMPT since
it requires a high density material with fully closed-out internal coolant channels. The maturity of the GRCop-42 L-
PBF also allowed for further development of the multi-alloy deposition processes providing a reasonable backer
material for radial and axial depositions or cladding. The development and evaluation of the GRCop alloys using L-
PBF has been discussed in prior papers6,7,8,21.
The various thrust-class RAMPT chambers fabricated with GRCop-42 L-PBF have been completed (Figure 6).
These chambers were fabricated across various suppliers, while obtaining additional material properties. Many of the
prior challenges with powder removal and post-processing has improved with the GRCop-alloys as the powder and
fabrication supply chain has evolved. While the GRCop-alloys have been considered the most mature in the process,
there were several new design features attempted under RAMPT that proved to be successful providing additional
performance benefits.
Figure 6. GRCop-42 RAMPT chambers following AM L-PBF, prior to machining.
[Chambers fabricated at 3DMT, AME, and Elementum 3D]
L-PBF GRCop-42
Chamber Liner
Manifolds applied using
bimetallic AM DED Blown Powder DED of Regen-
nozzle directly on chamber Composite Overwrap of TCA
2K-lbfCoupled 7K-lbfCoupled 40K-lbfCoupled
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Several challenges exist in the integration of the various processes and often competing requirements and trades
must be made in the designs. For instance, the optimal heat treatments (namely homogenization and solutioning) for
the manifold weld preparations using superalloys require a higher temperature than the GRCop-42 is capable of. This
requires some impact to the material properties. Other challenges experienced in the integration is the sequence of
operations, where the composites are limited in temperature and most welding and machining operations must be done
prior to the overwrap to avoid any damage. The process developments continue in these areas and lessons being
captured along with proper risk management.
A. Large-Scale Directed Energy Deposition
BP-DED was selected for RAMPT since it traded well in resolution of features, deposition rates, and ability to
scale. However, each of these attributes needed many improvements to be able to demonstrate the large scale channel
wall nozzle fabrication and integral nozzle deposition. While BP-DED cannot compete with the resolution of L-PBF,
it has demonstrated the ability to build the channel sizes necessary for engine applications.
The BP-DED fabrication technique uses a coaxial or multiple nozzle deposition head and centered laser energy
source. The powder is injected with an inert carrier gas into a melt pool at a focal plane on the part or substrate. The
melt pool is created by the central laser energy source causing a bead of material to be deposited. The powder is
accelerated, or blown, into the melt pool using an inert carrier gas and a central inert gas is also supplied to minimize
oxidation. The deposition head system, with integrated focus optics and blown powder nozzle is attached to a gantry
system that controls a toolpath defined by the CAD model. A gantry system is necessary to fabricate the resolution of
features for integrated nozzles that a robotic arm cannot achieve. The BP-DED head can be contained in an inert gas
chamber or operated with the local central purge. The blown powder and gantry system allows for complex freeform
structures to be built with small integral features, such as thin-walls and channels. An example of the BP-DED
fabrication can be observed in Figure 7 along with a 40k-lbf de-coupled nozzle fabricated from JBK-75.
Figure 7. (Left) Example of BP-DED process fabricating integral channels, and
(Right) 40k-lbf nozzle fabricated using BP-DED. [Fabricated at RPM Innovations]
NASA along with industry partners have developed the process to enable the thin-walled channels. Some examples
of channels demonstrated in BP-DED can be seen in Figure 8. These channels demonstrated possible design options,
various toolpath strategies, and determined geometry limitations of the process. Another focus of the early process
development was to demonstrate fabrication of the material NASA HR-1. The NASA HR-1 material was ultimately
selected as the best option across several applications, although initial trials were completed with Inconel 625 and
JBK-75, which had immediate availability in powder. Details of the BP-DED process for nozzles and subscale testing
was discussed in prior publications for the Inconel 625 and JBK-75 materials15,31.
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Figure 8. Examples of various integrated channel wall structures.
Under the RAMPT project, NASA traded and eventually selected development with the NASA HR-1 material.
The NASA HR-1 material provides a good trade between thermal conductivity, high yield strength, low cycle fatigue,
elongation, density, and hydrogen resistance over other superalloys
22
. It provides advantages over several alternate
materials when traded amongst these key nozzle requirements. Additive manufacturing technologies provided a
critical method for fabrication of the NASA HR-1 affordably and a simplified powder and fabrication supply chain
compared to the prior processing required using Vacuum Induction Melting (VIM) and Vacuum Arc Remelt (VAR)
methods. This material has been discussed in more detail in prior publications by Katsarelis and Chen
23
,
24
.
Under the RAMPT project, NASA and industry partners completed parameter development and optimization for
the NASA HR-1 material demonstrating high density deposits in thin-wall geometry. A series of metallography,
mechanical test coupons, harvest boxes and other witness samples have been produced for characterization, heat
treatment optimization, and mechanical and thermophysical testing. As previously discussed in the NASA HR-1 paper
by Katsarelis, the deposition rate, based on spot size and laser power, has a strong influence on the grain size and
response to heat treatments23. Based on this, the witness samples and mechanical test data should match closely the
geometry of the actual part. Early process development work completed nozzle structures sans channels and
transitioned to the integral channels. In addition to the integrated channel development work, the blown powder DED
process is being used for other components across RAMPT including manifolds. This has further demonstrated the
scale and the reduction of many process steps. This replaces the need for a casting or forging and significantly reduces
the final machining time required.
An integrated manufacturing demonstrator chamber was completed with a direct JBK-75 BP-DED nozzle applied
to the aft end of a GRCop-84 L-PBF chamber. GRCop-84 and JBK-75 were used at the time of this demonstration
due to availability of these materials, namely powder. The chamber included a bimetallic joint produced with L-PBF
based on the layer of Inconel 625 required for the GRCop-42 to adhere to the build plate7,21. This manufacturing
demonstrator showed the feasibility of combining these processes with a complex joint. Several lessons were learned
that required some redesign of the joint to allow for adequate stock material and avoid excess heating. Following this
manufacturing demonstrator and hardware fabrication for monolithic (de-coupled) NASA HR-1 nozzles, the team
moved to the development for the coupled bimetallic thrust chamber assembly. This hardware can be seen in Figure
9 with the 2K-lbf coupled NASA HR-1 nozzle to a GRCop-42 L-PBF chamber. This design incorporated continuous
coolant channels in the nozzle and chamber and eliminated the manifold at the joint. This was designed to optimize
the weight based on appropriate material selection based on heat flux. The project is continuing to develop and
fabricate the 7K-lbf and 40K-lbf larger scale coupled nozzle and chambers at the time of this publication.
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Figure 9. Coupled BP-DED nozzle with L-PBF chamber development. A) GRCop chamber with bimetallic
joint prepared for BP-DED, B) BP-DED process of coupled manufacturing demonstrator, C) Completed
coupled BP-DED/L-PBF bimetallic demonstrator, D) 2K-lbf coupled hardware for hot-fire testing.
Another objective of the RAMPT project was to demonstrate the scale of the BP-DED process for integral channel
nozzles. A series of manufacturing demonstrators and de-coupled (bolted) test articles were fabricated at the 7K-lbf
and 40K-lbf thrust-classes. These nozzles all demonstrated successful fabrication meeting the geometric tolerances,
ability to remove any excess powder, minimal distortion, and a developed the build and toolpath strategies. The team
decided based on these successes to move to a large scale technology demonstrator about 12 months ahead of schedule.
The large scale BP-DED integral channel demonstrator was designed with various size channels and transitions at 40
in (1016 mm) diameter and 38 in (965 mm) length (Figure 10). The nozzle deposition time was approximately 30
days, which is a greater than ten times schedule reduction compared to a traditionally manufactured nozzle of this
scale. Following deposition and post-processing, the nozzle completed 3D scanning that showed less than 0.02 in (0.5
mm) deviations from the nominal geometry. This integral channel configuration significantly reduces the number of
operations and parts compared to a traditionally manufactured assembly.
The BP-DED process has demonstrated a series of manufacturing demonstrators and test hardware under the
RAMPT project for integral channel nozzles. Additionally, the process has shown feasibility for bimetallic and multi-
alloy deposition for fully integral thrust chamber assemblies. Subscale and full scale hardware has been fabricated and
continuing to be fabricated at evolving scales. BP-DED has demonstrated a significant reduction in build schedules
and a feasible technology for channel-cooled nozzles. Additional development work is required at larger scale, which
NASA is currently working with industry partners under supplemental funding through the NASA Space Launch
System (SLS) program. There are some challenges that remain with the BP-DED process including higher than desired
surface roughness. Research is being conducted to evaluate polishing techniques for the channels and DED materials.
Characterization work continues on the BP-DED NASA HR-1 material to optimize the heat treatment and collect
mechanical and thermophysical properties.
BC D
A
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Figure 10. Integral channel NASA HR-1 BP-DED nozzle at 40 in (1016 mm) diameter and
38 in (965 mm) length. [Fabricated at RPM Innovations]
B. Composite Overwrap
The second key technology is the composite overwrap, which mainly focused on the combustion chamber as a
light-weight structural jacket. Since the channels are already closed out using the L-PBF process, the overwrap is used
to react loads during hot-fire. The composite overwrap was filament wound at MSFC and GRC with surface
preparation and base plies performed at MSFC, GRC, and LaRC. Filament winding at MSFC employed a resin bath
and doctor blade for fabrication whereas GRC utilized brush application of resin onto dry carbon fiber as it was wound
over the chamber. Multiple resins, wind patterns and bonding approaches were evaluated. Process developments and
testing was completed for the decoupled 2K-lbf chambers and further overwrap development completed on the 2K-lbf
and 7K-lbf coupled chambers. There are several areas of the composite processing that require development including
surface preparation, resin selection and application, and overwrap manufacturing process steps.
1. Surface Preparation
Initial designs required a strong bond between the thrust chamber and composite. The chamber surface was
inherently rough due to the additive manufacturing process, however to encourage bonding with the composite the
part was grit blasted, washed in a mild (3-5%) phosphoric acid solution, then rinsed with ethanol, as shown in Figure
11. Two film adhesives were evaluated, AF121 from 3M® and EA9696 from Hysol®. The adhesive was applied to
a subset of test chambers prior to filament winding (Figure 11). Alternatively, fiber/resin was applied directly to the
remaining chambers following surface preparation. Since these initial tests, it has been determined that an unbounded
surface is more beneficial. Meaning, the fiber will be wound directly over the copper chamber with a mold release
agent applied.
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Figure 11. (Left) Decoupled 2K-lbf Chamber following Surface Preparation, (Right) Film Adhesive was
Applied to the Chamber Surface (prior to filament winding)
2. Resin
The thermal requirements of the composite material and resin vary by chamber design configuration for the 2K-
lbf, 7K-lbf, and 40K-lbf. The initial development on the 2K-lbf decoupled chamber ranged from room temperature
through 250°F (121°C). The continued development at larger scales, 7K-lbf, and 40K-lbf, are based on the regenerative
cooling propellant fuel temperatures from cryogenic through elevated up to 450°F ( 232 °C), based on the application.
To accommodate both the elevated and lower temperature extremes, the resins evaluated included, 5250-4 toughened
bismaleimide (BMI) and EP2400 toughened epoxy, both from Solvay®.
A quantity of resin calculated to equal 40 wt.% of the total composite weight was applied to the dry fiber
throughout the wind. To reduce viscosity throughout the manufacturing process, the resin was heated on a hotplate
and the chamber was kept warm with mounted hot-air guns to maintain a reduced resin viscosity during fabrication
(Figure 12). The resin temperature was selected based on vendor provided rheology curves.
Figure 12. Heat guns used at GRC to maintain proper viscosity.
3. Composite Fabrication
The composite overwrap was manufactured using IM7, 6K tow carbon fiber from Hexcel® with candidate resin
materials in a filament winder. The carbon fiber was wound on a McClean Anderson®, 4-axis filament winder with a
small amount of tension applied. The wind pattern followed a helical orientation with an approximately 40-degree
fiber angle relative to the chamber axis as seen in Figure 13A. Figure 13B shows closers to a 35-degree fiber angle
being used as the wind pattern. The helical tows covered the chamber as a first ply. The chamber was hoop wound
over the helical (Figure 13C and D) and this pattern was repeated to yield a total of four plies.
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Figure 13. Overwrap of 2K-lbf chambers. A) Helical tows wound over the chamber with adhesive (GRC), B)
Helical tows wound over chamber without adhesive or base plies (MSFC), C) Hoop layer wound over a layer
of helical fibers (GRC), D) Hoop layer of helical fibers (MSFC).
There were some variations of the baseline helical-hoop fiber architecture evaluated. In-service compressive loads
on the part drove fiber orientation parallel to the chamber axis and pressure loads required the hoop wind. Chambers
were wound which included (1) first layer of Hexcel® IM7/8552 uni-directional tape (Figure 14) and (2) first ply of
Hexcel® SGP196P/8552 woven fabric (Figure 14). These initial layers were over-wrapped according to the helical-
hoop profile outlined above. The dry fiber of those helical-hoop layers were impregnated with EP2400 toughened
epoxy.
Figure 14. (Left) Uni-directional tape and (Right) plain-weave prepreg fabric.
B
C D
A
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The curing process on the chambers varied at each of the NASA centers and was based upon available facilities.
The GRC procedure included an initial application of shrink-wrap to the uncured composite, to ensure a smooth
surface finish (Figure 15). The part was vacuum bagged and autoclave cured according to the vendor recommended
cure cycle. The 5250-4 BMI required a free-standing post cure to increase glass-transition temperature.
Figure 15. Shrink wrap was wound over the part prior to vacuum bagging to ensure a smooth part surface.
MSFC utilized an oven rotisserie cure, as seen in Figure 16 (left). After cure, each part was visually inspected for
dry spots or resin pooling. Figure 16 (right) shows a fully cured composite overwrapped combustion chamber.
Figure 16. (Left) 2k-lbf chamber being placed in oven for rotisserie cure and
(Right) cured composite overwrap of a 2K-lbf thrust chamber.
Plastic 3D printed models have been a significant part of the composite overwrap process development. These
low-cost versions of the surface profile provided a realistic practice mandrel to wind over before getting the metal
chamber in the lab. One of the main challenges facing the composite overwrap is the manifolds. This model allows
the team to evaluate many different winding patterns on the chamber without risk of damage to the real part. Figure
17 show the 7K-lbf thrust chamber plastic model with a helical and hoop pattern.
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Figure 17. (Left) 7K-lbf plastic thrust chamber helical dry fiber layer (MSFC) and (Right) 7K-lbf plastic
thrust chamber hoop and helical dry fiber layer (MSFC).
C. Bimetallic Development
The third key technology development of the RAMPT project is bimetallic additive manufacturing. This allows
for materials to be added locally for weight optimization based on component requirements. The bimetallic
development is focused on the joining of copper-alloys, specifically GRCop-42 or GRCop-84, and a superalloy. While
this was demonstrated under the LCUSP project using the EBF3 process, additional development was deemed
necessary to further evaluate alternatives and also develop a commercial supply chain. The bimetallic development is
focused on radial deposition for application of manifold weld preparations, while this could also be used for deposition
of a fully deposited metal AM structural jacket. The second aspect of the bimetallic deposition development is the
axial joint between the chamber and BP-DED nozzle. While the process for the nozzle is baselined, some alternatives
are being considered how to create this joint, such as the discussion in the BP-DED section and shown in Figure 9.
The main objective of the axial deposition development is characterization and defining proper interface materials, as
needed.
Several techniques are being evaluated for the bimetallic deposition with the GRCop-alloys and superalloys. These
techniques include gas cold spray, blown powder DED, and laser hot wire cladding. These techniques all have different
advantages and disadvantages including heat input and potential for distortion, ability to deposit on complex surfaces,
material overspray/usage, bonding strength, supply chain, and feedstock availability. These characteristics must be
traded for the particular thrust chamber application and post-processing requirements to determine the most optimal
process. Analysis of the bimetallic joint in the LCUSP program demonstrated the formation of deleterious
intermetallics at the interface, and techniques investigated under RAMPT are being tuned to mitigate these effects.
Computational modeling has also been performed to predict intermetallics at the interfaces formed at high
temperatures
25
. Model predictions of deleterious intermetallics at the GRCop and superalloy interface necessitated
investigations into a variety of interlayer materials to prevent formation of potential weakening phases.
Cold spray is a high-energy solid-state coating and powder consolidation process. The technique uses a compressed
high velocity supersonic gas to accelerate unmelted powder onto a substrate
26
. Material deforms and is built up on the
surface upon impact through kinetic energy and creates a bond of solid material. The cold spray bonding mechanism
is a combination of mechanical interlocking and metallurgical bonding from re-crystallization at highly strained
particle interfaces
27
. Cold spray has an advantage since it is not melting material, so reduces potential for thermal
residual stresses, intermetallic formation, oxidation, and distortion from heat input compared to the other processes.
The high-pressure carrier gas used to accelerate the powder can also be pre-heated as necessary for certain
applications
28
. The lack of heat input from melting may limit the full fusion with the base material that some of the
other processes can provide: further experiments are planned to fully evaluate the bond integrity via materials testing
and characterization. The source powder, cold spray, and substrate preparation parameters are tuned to achieve pure
optimized interfaces, surfaces, and feature build-up. Figure 18 demonstrates early trials of cold sprayed NASA HR-1
and Nickel onto L-PBF GRCop surfaces.
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Figure 18. (left) Cold spray of NASA HR-1 onto a L-PBF GRCop-84 subscale chamber. (right) Cold spray
and heat treated nickel intermetallic onto a L-PBF GRCop-42 substrate [fabricated at ASB Industries]
The BP-DED process was previously described and has advantages for bimetallic since it is being applied for the
integrated channel nozzle and provides the opportunity to minimize setup and operations. This process does have
higher heat though and distortions can occur. The BP-DED process is not 100% efficient in powder usage, so
overspray powder could become lodged in channels, although early developments have shown this is not a significant
concern. Initial experiments have successfully joined a variety of superalloys to GRCop utilizing BP-DED. Further
experiments are planned to fully evaluate the bond integrity via materials testing and characterization. Some of the
initial development trials with and without intermediate interface materials is shown in Figure 19.
Figure 19. (left) BP-DED IN625 onto a L-PBF GRCop-42 substrate. (right) BP-DED CuNi intermetallic onto
a L-PBF GRCop-42 substrate. [Fabricated at RPM Innovations]
The laser hot wire process uses an off-axis wire feed where the wire is preheated to an elevated temperature just
below melting point and fed into a melt pool on the substrate, or part, created by a laser
29
. Advantages include complete
utilization of the source wire as well as less heat going into the part directly since less thermal energy is required with
the wire being at elevated temperatures. This has advantages for reduced distortion over the BP-DED process, but
does still impart heat into the part. Laser hot wire can provide high deposition rates, low dilution, thermal stability,
and general metallurgical control in additive manufacturing applications
30
. Early experiments have successfully joined
and mechanically tested a variety of superalloys to GRCop utilizing laser hot wire. Some examples of the bimetallic
interfaces can be seen in Figure 20.
0.002 in
0.0005 in
0.0005 in
0.0005 in
0.005 in
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Figure 20. (left) Laser hot wire IN625 onto a GRCop-84 substrate. (right) Laser hot wire Techalloy-99
intermetallic onto a L-PBF GRCop-84 substrate. [Fabricated at Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc.]
Initial bimetallic characterization was performed through microtensile testing of the GRCop-84 and superalloy
joints (Figure 21). Joints are considered of sufficient strength if failures occur in the weaker GRCop or at an average
ultimate tensile strength (UTS) consistent in magnitude with wrought and L-PBF GRCop-84 [~430 MPa (62 ksi)].
Fracture surfaces should also exhibit clear evidence of ductile failure, with cup and cone correlation. Preliminary laser
hot wire and BP-DED interfaces have been mechanically tested and evaluated. Even with the presence of brittle facets
of intermetallics, tested samples had an average UTS as expected. Samples with failures at the interface revealed a
combination of brittle facets and Cu-rich ductile regions, while samples that failed in the GRCop demonstrated ductile
cup-and-cone failure and microvoid coalescence. Further development of the bimetallic interface is underway to
determine an optimum additive technique, interlayer, and heat treatments for consistent failure away from the interface
in standard tensile samples. It should be noted that different bimetallic AM techniques may be utilized based on the
component application.
Figure 21. (left) Laser hot wire IN625/Techalloy 99/GRCop-84 microtensile data
(right) BP-DED JBK-75/L-PBF IN625/L-PBF GRCop-84 microtensile data.
Following initial bimetallic development, further evaluations were completed to baseline radial deposition on a
full scale component. A 40K-lbf combustion chamber was fully cladded using Inconel 625. Shrinkage was observed
in this chamber, similar to the prior subscale and LCUSP chamber. This deposition had fairly significant build up
including in the areas for the manifolds and structural jacket throat support to fully react loads from testing. While this
is not the final goal of the RAMPT project, it provided an intermediate step for the bimetallic development. This
chamber also provided a baseline for weight comparisons with the composite overwrap chamber. Based on the fully
cladded chamber with the design for the 40K-lbf composite overwrap chamber, a weight savings of approximately
50% is possible. The cladded chamber can be seen in Figure 22.
GRCop-84 UTS
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
0 0.005 0.01 0.015 0.02 0.025 0.03 0.035 0.04
Stress (ksi)
Displacement (in)
L-PBF GRCop-84/L-PBF IN625/BP-DED JBK-75
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Figure 22. Bimetallic chamber cladding. (Left) 40K-lbf L-PBF GRCop-42 chamber,
B) Chamber after BP-DED Inconel 625 jacket was applied.
[Fabricated at DM3D]
III. Hot-fire Testing
NASA has completed several hot-fire test series that demonstrate some of the key technologies under the RAMPT
project. These early development tests established feasibility to continue to the fully integrated multi-alloy and
composite overwrap chambers. There were three test series that included the key technologies of a composite overwrap
combustion chamber and an integral channel BP-DED nozzle. All testing was completed at NASA MSFC Test Stand
115 (TS115) at chamber pressures above 1,100 psig generating approximately 2,000 lbf of thrust at the highest
pressure. The propellants used in these test series were Liquid Oxygen/Kerosene (LOX/RP-1) and Liquid
Oxygen/Gaseous Hydrogen (LOX/GH2). The testing initially used water cooling to characterize the total heat load of
the chamber and nozzles and eventually transitioned to full regenerative cooling using GH2 or RP-1, depending on
the test series. A DED JBK-75 nozzle was tested in LOX/GH2 and a DED Inconel 625 was tested in both LOX/GH2
and LOX/RP-1. The nozzle configurations and test statistics for these can be seen in Table 1.
Table 1. Summary of Hardware Configuration and Accumulated Test Time.
Propellant
Chamber & Material
Nozzle
Material
Starts
Time (sec)
LOX/GH2
GRCop-42 L-PBF w/ Slip Jacket
BP-DED
JBK-75
114
4,170
LOX/GH2
GRCop-42 L-PBF w/ Slip Jacket
BP-DED
Inco 625
1
15
LOX/RP-1
GRCop-84 L-PBF w/ Composite Overwrap
BP-DED
Inco 625
17
617
LOX/RP-1
GRCop-84 L-PBF w/ Bimetallic Jacket
BP-DED
Inco 625
10
440
Initial testing was conducted using Inconel 625 and JBK-75 superalloy DED nozzles with fully integral channels
in LOX/GH2. This was prior to development of the NASA HR-1 alloy. The thrust chamber assembly used a L-PBF
additively manufactured shear coaxial injector and L-PBF additive manufactured GRCop-alloy combustion chamber
liner, specifically GRCop-42. This data was presented in prior publications15, 31. The testing used water as cooling to
initially characterize the heat load and then switched to full regenerative cooling with GH2 and showed good
performance. The conditions included chamber pressures (Pc) up to 1,140 psig and mixture ratios (MR) up to 6.5 on
the JBK-75 BP-DED. An image of the BP-DED nozzle and testing can be seen in Figure 23.
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Figure 23. Development testing of integrated channel BP-DED nozzle in LOX/GH215, 31.
A further test series was conducted with an Inconel 625 integrated channel BP-DED nozzle and several carbon-
fiber composite overwrap chambers using LOX/RP-1 propellants. This test campaign started under MSFC test
campaign PI084-1 with water-cooling and continued testing under PJ024 and PI084-2 with full regen RP-1 cooling.
These programs for LOX/RP-1 used an additively manufactured impinging injector and operated at chamber pressures
(Pc) up to 1,240 psig and mixture ratios (MR) of 2.8 to challenge wall temperatures and loading of the nozzle and
resin temperatures of the composite. The primary focus of the testing was the composite overwrap testing in the PI084
program. The nozzle was a decoupled (bolted) configuration. Details of the BP-DED integrated channel wall nozzles
were previously presented in a paper with manufacturing process and hot-fire test results
31
.
Initial testing with water cooling and RP-1 cooling subjected the backside of the composite overwrap to
temperatures approaching 250 °F (121 °C), and later testing under the RAMPT project will push the lower and upper
temperature limits of the composite material during steady operation. Overwrapped chambers fabricated at GRC,
LaRC, and MSFC were all hot fire tested from December 2018 to February 2019. The chambers used multiple
fabrication and resin variants including filament winding, hand-layup, and tape wrapping as previously described.
Eighteen (18) hot-fire tests were completed on the various chambers and all performed well at the tested conditions.
An example of a hand-layup chamber prior to the tape wrapping overwrap chamber is shown in Figure 24. A filament
wound overwrap chamber with stochastic speckle pattern is shown in Figure 25. A Digital Image Correlation (DIC)
technique was used to obtain strain measurements during hotfire testing and also during burst testing following the
test series
32
.
Figure 24. Composite overwrap chamber at MSFC with hand-layup prior to tape wrapping.
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Figure 25. Hot-fire setup of composite overwrapped chamber with speckling for Digital
Image Correlation (DIC), along with BP-DED Inconel 625 nozzle.
Testing utilized pressurized propellant tanks with flows controlled by cavitating venturis. Water coolant flow was
also pressure fed and was controlled by a specifically sized orifice at the coolant water outlet. Ignition was achieved
by a LOX lead with Triethylaluminum-Triethylborane (TEA/TEB) injection into the chamber. Mainstage tests were
completed at chamber pressures ranging from 750 to 1,240 psia at mixture ratios from 2.2 to 2.8 with LOX/RP-1
propellants. Chamber pressures were driven from a legacy 750 psia case utilized on similar chambers. Chambers
accumulated from 80 to 180 seconds of duration and multiple starts, with coolant outlet temperatures and skin
temperatures peaking about 250°F. The skin temperatures of the composite were measured with contact type-K
thermocouples and no detrimental effects were observed on the composite overwrap during post-test inspections.
Hotfire testing began in November, 2018 with an all metal chamber to prove out the entire start and mainstage
sequencing. Testing details were presented in Protz et al
33
. All data was as expected in both the chamber and in the
additively manufactured nozzle utilized, and minor sequence changes were made to reduce RP-1 left in the chamber
post-test. The hardware was all in good condition with a thick coating of soot on the inner diameter (ID) walls and
TEA ash on the lower surface of the chamber and nozzle. Testing then proceeded to the overwrapped chambers, with
the main objectives to demonstrate the capabilities in terms of chamber pressure and in terms of liner to overwrap
interface temperature. An image from hot-fire testing of the composite overwrap is shown in Figure 26.
Figure 26. Mainstage hot-Fire testing of filament wound chamber and Inconel 625 BP-DED under PI084-2.
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All data was summarized and performance calculated for the specific set of conditions from test data. Post-test
analysis predictions were also completed to anchor models to actual hardware measurements, including hotwall
temperatures and applied stresses. The nozzle wall temperatures for the integrated channel DED nozzles were
previously reported for the RP-1 (Inconel 625) testing at ~1,350°F, and the hydrogen cooled testing (JBK-75) reached
a peak near 1,300°F. The wall temperatures peak near the forward end of the nozzle, where the heat flux is highest.
Test conditions were intentionally chosen to provide aggressive wall temperatures in order to include large thermal
strains in the coolant passage walls. The aggressive testing conditions also demonstrated survivability of the composite
resins in this dynamic environment. An image from a composite overwrap chamber post-test can be seen in Figure
27.
Figure 27. Post-test image of the a filament wound chamber - no damage was observed.
IV. Future Developments
The RAMPT project is making significant progress and has several test programs planned in 2020 and 2021 along
with the supporting hardware development. Several key milestones have been met, including the large scale blown
powder DED nozzle previously shown. Coupled hardware is currently under development and evidenced throughout
this publication along with hardware demonstrations of decoupled (bolted) hardware as seen in Figure 28. The
chambers for the various scale hardware, which will be used for the integral (bimetallic) nozzle BP-DED were shown
previously in Figure 6, and the integrated 2K-lbf chamber in Figure 9.
In order to develop and demonstrate the composite overwrap onto the L-PBF copper liner technology and the
scaling of DED nozzle technologies, three phases of hardware build and tests are in progress. These builds progress
in size and thrust levels (2K-lbf, 7K-lbf, 40K-lbf) and will utilize liquid hydrogen (LH2) with regenerative cooling,
liquid methane (LCH4) with regenerative cooling as fuels, and LH2, respectively. All test series will use LOX as the
oxidizer. The cryogenic fuels are relevant to landers applications and provide the opportunity to demonstrate the
composite interface at temperatures from liquid hydrogen temperature (~-390 °F up to the elevated outlet temperatures
up to (~450 °F). Fabrication and testing of the increasing size and cooling schemes allows for development efforts to
address risks individually and progressively.
The bimetallic development with integral BP-DED nozzle onto the L-PBF chamber was completed for the 2K-lbf
TCA and is actively being fabricated for the 7K-lbf, 40K-lbf TCA’s. There is simulation modeling to help inform build
strategies to control distortion during fabrication. Many of these simulations are limited to monolithic materials,
although bimetallic is being studied, but will require additional future development efforts to fully evolve.
The composite overwrap has been demonstrated at the 2K-lbf scale and fabrication demonstrator completed at the
7K-lbf scale. There is ongoing work to evaluate new resins that allow for a wider temperature range, focusing on the
higher temperatures up to 450 °F (232°C).
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Figure 28. Decoupled integrated channel nozzle fabrication using BP-DED. A) NASA HR-1 2K-lbf
nozzle, B) 2K-lbf NASA HR-1 nozzle after polishing, C) 40K-lbf nozzle prior to manifold welding,
D) 7K-lbf NASA HR-1 completed prior to polishing.
V. Conclusions
In order to address some of the longest lead, highest cost, and largest mass contributors to liquid rocket engines,
NASA is maturing novel design and manufacturing technologies for regeneratively-cooled thrust chamber assemblies
(TCA) under the RAMPT project. This project is maturing these technologies to increase scale of additive
manufacturing for TCA’s, significantly reduce cost and fabrication timelines, and improve performance. RAMPT is
improving upon manufacturing technologies for propulsion components, and it builds on the technologies developed
under NASA’s GCD LCUSP project as well as on other technology development projects
34
. RAMPT has three
primary objectives: 1) Advancing blown powder directed energy deposition (BP-DED) to fabricate integral-channel
large scale nozzles, 2) Develop composite overwrap technology to reduce weight and provide structural capability for
thrust chamber assemblies, and 3) Develop bimetallic and multi-metallic additively manufactured radial and axial
joints to optimize material performance. RAMPT is partnering with industry through a public-private partnership to
design, characterize, and manufacture component parts of the thrust chamber assembly.
The BP-DED process has completed a series of manufacturing demonstrators and test hardware under the RAMPT
project for integral channel nozzles. Additionally, the process has shown feasibility for bimetallic and multi-alloy
deposition for fully integral thrust chamber assemblies. Subscale and full scale hardware have and are continuing to
be fabricated. BP-DED has demonstrated a significant reduction in build schedules and a feasible technology for
integral channel wall nozzles. Under the RAMPT project, NASA selected to perform this development with the NASA
HR-1 material. The NASA HR-1 material provides a good trade between thermal conductivity, high yield strength,
low cycle fatigue, elongation, density, and hydrogen resistance over other superalloys. It provides advantages over
several alternate materials when traded amongst these key nozzle requirements.
Composite overwrap structural jackets provide a significant weight savings opportunity due to the high strength
to weight ratio of the carbon-fiber composite. The advances in composite formulations can sustain temperatures
spanning from cryogenic upwards of 450 °F. This combined with the L-PBF GRCop-alloy liner technologies allow
fully closed out regenerative cooling channels to be built with high conductivity alloys and maintain low weight.
AB
C D
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Composites are a viable and desirable choice for chamber jackets. Various overwrap chamber configurations were
hot fire tested from December 2018 to February 2019. Eighteen hot-fire tests were completed at chamber pressures
up to 1,240 psia. Liner to composite interface temperature of up to 250°F was achieved. Selection of composite
material systems and winding/overwrapping strategies for the 7K-lbf and 40K-lbf thrust class hardware is continuing
under RAMPT.
While composite overwrap trades well for a structural jacket, the RAMPT project is continuing to develop AM
bimetallic development as it is still necessary for materials transitions for the welded manifolds. This enables
optimized material selection using high strength-to-weight metals for manifolding that can be machined easily for
inlets and instrumentation. The bimetallic technology is being developed for both radial and axial directions in the
TCA to further optimize the weight by using the most appropriate alloy in discrete locations. Several techniques are
being evaluated for the bimetallic deposition with the GRCop-alloys and superalloys. These techniques include gas
coldspray, blown powder DED, and laser hotwire cladding. These techniques all have different advantages and
disadvantages including heat input and potential for distortion, ability to deposit on complex surfaces, material
overspray/usage, bonding strength, supply chain, and feedstock availability. These characteristics must be traded for
the particular thrust chamber application and post-processing requirements to determine the most optimal process. A
40k-lbf bimetallic combustion chamber completed process development using BP-DED to provide a baseline of radial
deposition.
The RAMPT project is demonstrating novel manufacturing technologies and integration of these technologies
using various scales of hardware. This allows for early lessons to be learned on subscale hardware and progressing
towards larger scale and increasing chamber pressures as thermal and structural loads become more challenging. Early
hot-fire testing was completed on de-coupled hardware, which included composite overwrap chambers and a BP-DED
nozzle with integral channels. This demonstrated feasibility with temperatures approaching 250 °F on the composite
overwrap. Testing was also completed on integrated-channel BP-DED nozzles accumulating a total of 142 tests and
over 5,242 seconds. Nozzles and overwrapped chambers tested to-date have met most predictions with aggressive test
conditions. Hot-fire testing of the completed 7K-lbf and 40K-lbf chambers will be performed upon completion of
fabrication.
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank the large team involved in the RAMPT project. Thank you to our public private
partner, Auburn University National Center for Additive Manufacturing Excellence (NCAME), enabling these
beneficial partnerships. Specific thanks to Mike Ogles and Nima Shamsaei for their management and expertise. Thank
you to our key industry partners Tyler Blumenthal and team at RPM Innovations (RPMI), Bhaskar Dutta and team at
DM3D, Fraunhofer USA – Center for Laser Applications, BeAM Machines, The Lincoln Electric Company, ASB
Industries, AME, Elementum 3D, 3DMT, Rem Surface Engineering, Procam, PAC, HMI. The test team at Test Stand
115 performed outstanding test support as usual – thanks to Tal Wammen and the crew at 115. A big thanks to our
materials development team on including Po Chen, Colton Katsarelis, Will Tilson, Matt Medders, John Bili, Bob
Carter, Justin Milner, Ivan Locci, Zack Tooms, and several other material experts. Several individuals were involved
in the design, development and testing and provided critical support including Sandy Greene, Nunley Strong, Dale
Jackson, and Marissa Garcia, Dwight Goodman, Kevin Baker, Bob Witbrodt, Adam Willis, Jonathan Nelson, Matt
Cross, Will Bransdmeier, Hannah Cherry. Thank you to the EM42 team including Ken Cooper (retired), John Ivester,
Jim Lydon, Zach Jones, Megan Le Corre, Brian West for process development and structured light. We wish to
acknowledge the project offices that continue to push needs for nozzle technology and offer leadership, including
STMD GCD program including Drew Hope, Matt Melis and SLS including Steve Wofford, Mike Shadoan, Johnny
Heflin, Jessica Wood, Robert Hickman, and Keegan Jackson. Also, thank you to the many other engineers at MSFC,
GRC, Ames, Langley, commercial space companies, and industry that engage in technical discussions and that have
contributed to these various techniques.
References
1
Fikes, J., 2018. Space Technology Mission Directorate: Game Changing Development Program: Rapid Analysis
and Manufacturing Propulsion Technology (RAMPT). MSFC-E-DAA-TN61457. Space Technology Mission
Directorate (STMD) Game Changing Development Program (GCD) Annual Program Review; 25-26 September.
Cleveland, OH. (2018).
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2
Gradl, P.R., Brandsmeier, W.C., Medina, C.R., Protz, C.S. and Mireles, O., National Aeronautics and Space
Administration (NASA), 2019. Method for Fabricating Seal-Free Multi-Metallic Thrust Chamber Liner. U.S. Patent
Application 15/965,389.
3
Gradl, P.R., Brandsmeier, W.C., Medina, C.R., Protz, C.S. and Greene, S.E., National Aeronautics and Space
Administration (NASA), 2019. Seal-Free Multi-Metallic Thrust Chamber Liner. U.S. Patent Application 15/965,184.
4
Gradl, P.R., Brandsmeier, W.C., Medina, C.R., Protz, C.S. and Jackson, J.R., National Aeronautics and Space
Administration (NASA), 2019. Composite-Overwrapped Multi-Metallic Thrust Chamber Liner. U.S. Patent
Application 15/965,239.
5
Protz, C.S., W.C. Brandsmeier, K.G. Cooper, J.C. Fikes, P.R. Gradl, Z.C. Jones, C.R. Medina., D. L. Ellis, K.M.
Taminger Thrust Chamber Assembly Using GRCOP-84 Bimetallic Additive Manufacturing and Integrated Nozzle
Film Coolant Ring Supporting Low Cost Upper Stage Propulsion., 10th JANNAF Liquid Propulsion Subcommittee
Meeting, Long Beach, CA. 2018.
6
Gradl, P,R. Protz, C.S, Ellis, D.L, Greene, S.E. “Progress in Additively Manufactured Copper-Alloy GRCop-84,
GRCop-42, and Bimetallic Combustion Chambers for Liquid Rocket Engines.” IAC-19.C4.3.5x52514. Washington
D.C., United States, 21-25 October (2019).
7
Gradl, P.R., Protz, C., Greene, S.E., Ellis, D., Lerch, B., and Locci., I. "Development and Hot-fire Testing of
Additively Manufactured Copper Combustion Chambers for Liquid Rocket Engine Applications", 53rd
AIAA/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference, AIAA Propulsion and Energy Forum, (AIAA 2017-4670)
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