{"id":259,"date":"2026-05-26T08:42:02","date_gmt":"2026-05-26T08:42:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.he-icarus-project.eu\/?p=259"},"modified":"2026-05-26T08:42:03","modified_gmt":"2026-05-26T08:42:03","slug":"arcjet-test-dlr-c","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.he-icarus-project.eu\/index.php\/2026\/05\/26\/arcjet-test-dlr-c\/","title":{"rendered":"Arcjet test @ DLR-C"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In the frame of the work package dedicated to the design and development of a sensor suite for in-flight measurements <\/strong>(HMS) for the ICARUS re-entry demonstrator, DLR<\/em> (Deutsches Zentrum f\u00fcr Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V.), in collaboration with DEMCON<\/em> and Pangaia Grado Zero<\/em> (PGZ<\/em>), executed the Arcjet test campaign<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This dedicated test effort, performed at the premises of DLR Supersonic and Hypersonic Technologies Department in the Arc-Heated Wind Tunnel L2K<\/strong> in Cologne, aimed to characterize innovative strain gauges (PGZ<\/em>) and Fibre Bragg Grating temperature sensors (DEMCON<\/em>) in relevant aerothermal environment, as well as evaluate the temperature distribution in the material and around the sensors measured by thermocouples installed on the ICARUS test article under representative high-enthalpy conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The test outcomes support the validation of thermal models, the refinement of the Health Monitoring System design, and the confirmation of the design solutions adopted within the ICARUS project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Arc-Heated test<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  • Evaluate the thermal response of the ICARUS test article, focusing on the temperature evolution measured at selected locations.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

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    Aerothermal test setup<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    • L2K arc-heated wind tunnel test;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • ICARUS representative test article instrumented with thermocouples positioned at the outer surface in the internal layers;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Infrared and visible-spectrum cameras;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • High-enthalpy flow conditions representative of re-entry environment.
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      STG-Patch<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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      FBG Temperature sensor<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Test<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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      • The test article was exposed to high enthalpy flow conditions in the arc heated wind tunnel L2K to reproduce realistic thermal loads.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • Temperature data were acquired with the thermocouples, enabling time-resolved monitoring of the thermal response at critical points. The outer surface temperature was acquired with IR cameras.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • Measurements were conducted with the innovative straing gauges and FBG sensors, and correlated with the classic thermocouple readings.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • Influence of a possible debris-caused probe perforation on the temperature and sensor survivability was investigated.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

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        Outcome<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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        • The measured temperature data provided valuable insight into the thermal behaviour of the system under high-enthalpy conditions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • Results are being used to correlate numerical simulations and improve the predictive capability of thermal models.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • The thermocouples and the innovative sensors showed a regular and consistent behaviour, successfully withstanding the extreme temperatures experienced during the test.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • The campaign confirmed the effectiveness of the instrumentation strategy for future in-flight measurements.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n