This paper will give a subsumption of the structural implementation of an integrated fiber reinforced rocket thrust chamber design, which took in the meanwhile more than one decade of development effort. Of particular interest in this case is a hybrid design approach showing Ceramic Matrix Composits as high temperature inner liner materials and a covering light weight Carbon Fiber Plastic Housing, whereas these principally different material components are joined by metallic flanges at the front edges in an extensively decoupled design philosophy, excluding compulsive loads as far as possible. In 2010 the long and intensive experimental work led into a test campaign at the European Research and Technology Test Facility P8 at DLR-Lampoldshausen using for the first time the fully integrated chamber design under cryogenic high performance conditions, using LOX/LH2.
In this campaign the structural concept could be proved completely under all structurally relevant parameters. With respect to the demonstration of the system efficiency under optimized operational flow parameters a further test campaign early in 2012 had been performed at the recently renewed localP6.1-test bench. The paper discusses predominantly structural design aspects. Nomenclature α = Coefficient of thermal expansion, 1/K d = Diameter, mm CMC = Ceramic matrix composites CFRP = Carbon fiber reinforced plastics C/C = Carbon fiber / carbon matrix material E = Young's modulus, MPa G = Shear modulus, MPa LH2 = Liquid hydrogen LN2 = Liquid nitrogen LOX = Liquid oxygen ν = Poisson ratio p = Pressure, bar = Density, g/cm 3 Rm, Rp = Ultimate strength, elastic strength limit, MPa s = Thickness, mm σ = Material stress, MPa t = Time, s T = Temperature, K = Coolant mass flow ratio, related to overall mass flow