SSME Cooling

[corentin]

Hello<br /><br />I am making a finite element simulation of the heat transfert in the space shuttle main engine.<br /><br />I would like to know precisely how is the nozzle built : how many cooling tubes, which dimensions, any stiffeners, and so on.<br /><br />Thank you very much!

 

[docm]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Shuttle_Main_Engine <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[corentin]

Yes thank you, of course I have seen this Wikipedia article. But it is not providing enough details. I would need the *precise* geometry of the cooling tubes, all the dimensions, with thickness, and so on. I would also need the exact locations of the stiffeners, etc. In brief, I am looking for a clear and detailed plan of the SSME nozzle.<br /><br />Thank you!

 

[jimfromnsf]

You are talking about details that would be covered by ITAR

 

[corentin]

Hey, thank you for your answers. The thing is, I am french... so I do not understand everything. What do you mean by "burnthrough" ? I understood that Kim and "others" are guys that could give me all those details (I guess they are specialists?!) but they are not on the forum right now... Am I right? May be could I get their email adress? Thanks a lot!

 

[bobw]

Kim is the Korean looney tune. I think Newsartist was trying to say the rocket engine cooling system is a secret, blueprints are not on the interwebz. Nobody wants to help Kim make his rocket nozzles quit melting. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[strandedonearth]

The secret to not allowing the rocket nozzle to melt is to liberally coat the inside with thick porridge. Once charred during the ignition sequence, it's the best ablative known to mankind <img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" /><br /><br />Gee, I hope ITAR doesn't come after me for this. Do they have jurisdiction over us Canucks too?

 

[docm]

<font color="yellow">it's the best ablative known to mankind</font><br /><br />Neh, that's my mother-in-laws meat loaf <img src="/images/icons/tongue.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[propforce]

<blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr /><p>The thing is, I am french... so I do not understand everything.<br /><br />I am making a finite element simulation of the heat transfert in the space shuttle main engine. .... I would need the *precise* geometry of the cooling tubes, all the dimensions, with thickness, and so on. I would also need the exact locations of the stiffeners, etc. In brief, I am looking for a clear and detailed plan of the SSME nozzle. <p><hr /></p></p></blockquote><br />I don't think being French is the problem, having a lack of understanding on trade secret, export of defense technologies, and ITAR... is. Try to get the same information on the Vulcain 2 nozzle and I think you will get the same response from SEP.<br /><br />One also has to ask *why* you are building a FE model of the SSME nozzle? You did not identify yourself as a university student <<wink wink />> so one also has to question your motive for asking this question.<br /><br />Besides, if you're building a "... heat transfer model...", using the finite element method is not the right approach and you'll need a lot more information than you've listed above. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[propforce]

<font color="yellow">Gee, I hope ITAR doesn't come after me for this. Do they have jurisdiction over us Canucks too? </font><br /><br />You're a non-U.S. citizen so you fall under the *I* of ITAR <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /><br /><br />Besides, it's not the ITAR police that will get you. It's another government agency with a 3-letter acronym. <img src="/images/icons/cool.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[CalliArcale]

Strictly speaking, foreigners are clear -- but you might be asked how you got that information, so they could prosecute the people who exported the information to you. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#666699"><em>"People assume that time is a strict progression of cause to effect, but actually from a non-linear, non-subjective viewpoint it's more like a big ball of wibbly wobbly . . . timey wimey . . . stuff."</em>  -- The Tenth Doctor, "Blink"</font></p> </div>

 

[trailrider]

ITAR is the law passed by the U.S. Congress (and maybe by other governments to "prevent" technology transfer to potential enemies (and sometimes even friends). Under this law, persons and companies cannot disclose high-tech information about designs, processes, etc., which could allow others to catch up to or leap ahead of U.S. technology.<br /><br />In point of fact, ITAR can sometimes cause problems for our own interests, such as when it may be necessary to pass interface information to the Russians, etc., for designs that must be compatable with our own on, say, the ISS.<br /><br />Frankly, I question just how effective some of this is, but that IS U.S. law!<br /><br />Wait about 4 years and you might be able to pick up surplus SSME's on E-Bay...cheap! <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /><br /><br />Ad Luna! Ad Ares! Ad Astra!

 

[propforce]

<font color="yellow">Strictly speaking, foreigners are clear -- but you might be asked how you got that information, so they could prosecute the people who exported the information to you. </font><br /><br />Yes, that's where the part about "... another government agency..." comes in <img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>