DISTINCTIVE FEATURES OF SLM TECHNOLOGY APPLICATION FOR MANUFACTURING OF LPRE COMPONENTS

Abstract

In view of the growing competition in the modern market for rocket and space technology products, the issue of maximizing the cost reduction of the process of its production is urgent. In particular, the rocket engine is traditionally one of the costliest and technologically demanding rocket units, which basically reduces the problem of reducing the cost of rocket production to the development of new, more technologically advanced and less costly, approaches to manufacturing LPRE components. Thus, it is of increased interest to use a relatively young method for producing parts by layer-by-layer melting of thin layers of metal powder by exposing it to high-power laser radiation. This method is a part of the methods of additive technologies and is called SLM (Selective Laser Melting). In order to assess the influence of the main features of the production of components, the study of hydraulic channels manufactured with the additive SLM technology was carried out, and a load-bearing element of the fastening structure was manufactured which geometry was obtained by applying topological optimization methods. The aim of the work is to determine the main hydraulic characteristics of inner channels of typical LPRE’s elements, as well as the limits of the technology applicability in terms of liquid-propellant rocket engines. The possibility of manufacturing elements, including hydraulic paths, was investigated: regeneratively cooled cylinders, throat inserts of a liquid-propellant engine, as well as experimental designs of film cooling rings were adapted to be produced by means of SLM. The possibility of producing thrust frame, the shape of which was obtained by the method of topological optimization, was investigated. Samples of designs of typical hydraulic channels, as well as the constituent elements of the design of the rocket engine chambers, were manufactured. The main hydraulic characteristics of the typical hydraulic channels, as well as the distinctive features of their production using the method of additive technologies SLM, were determined. The thrust frame, which geometry was obtained by means of topology optimization, was successfully manufactured.