Simulation of Flight Conditions on A Test Facility for Rocket Engines

Abstract

The DLR test facility P5 in Lampoldshausen, Germany looks back on sixteen years of testing the ARIANE 5 main engine VULCAIN on engine level. During this period, the test facility had to fulfil quite various requirements for the engine tests. The principle task of the facility was always to simulate the conditions on the launcher to the VULCAIN engine. The environment and all interfaces of the rocket motor were adjusted to match this target. Most of the conditions during the flight of the rocket were simulated in each test, the pump inlet pressure e.g. Several conditions, the acceleration of the ARIANE 5 boosters e.g., were performed in separate test campaigns where special devices were operated. This article is a feedback of the experience which was made with various systems for simulation.