The philosophy of verification tests of the Ariane 5 launcher program is already established. It corresponds to the development and the ground and flight qualification phases for both unmanned and manned launches. The different types of test are outlined for the system, booster, main core and upper structures, allowing the identification of the associated test facilities which are described

Gonzalez, A. L.

Vedrenne, M.

English

NASA Technical Reports Server

N89-12611
ARIANE 5 VERIFICATION AND ASSOCIATED TEST FACILITIES
M. Vedrenne and A. L. Gonzalez
ESA Headquarters - Paris
ABSTRACT
The philosophy of verification tests of the Ariane 5 launcher programme is already established. It corre-
sponds to the development and the ground and flight qualification phases for both unmanned and manned
launches. The different types of test are outlined for the system, booster, main core and upper structures,
allowing the identification of the associated test facilities which are then described.
INTRODUCTION
The development of the Ariane 5 launcher is now beginning but a preliminary phase has been performed to
establish the basis of both a sound configuration as well as its verification programme. A major part of this
verification programme concerns testing and due to specific facilities foreseen and long delivery times, an
early definition has been established.
In this paper, the test programme of the Ariane 5 is presented. First the tests classification is established to
mention briefly the different tests proposed in each area and in a second part the test facilities are
identified.
ARIANE 5 TESTING
The launcher tests can be classified with respect to their programmatic objectives in the following categories:
- Environmental definition (external, internal)
- Development
- Qualification
Alternatively, tests can be classified in relation to the launcher assemblies, giving the following groups:
- System
- Booster
- Main core
- Upper stage and structures
This second classification is used in the following descriptions making reference to the programmatic ob-
jectives involved.
SYSTEM TESTS
The following system tests are foreseen:
Reduced Scale Tests
The purpose of these tests is to define the external environment of the launcher: Aerodynamic, thermal
and acoustic tests are included. They are performed with reduced models in appropriate existing facilities.
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Functional Tests in Europe
The main objectives are in the development and qualification of the launcher guidance and control func-
tions. To run these tests a functional simulation installation (ISF: Installation de Simulation Fonctionnelle)
will be set up at Les Mureaux near Paris.
Structural Tests
They will include the dynamic testing of the booster, main core and upper structures. The dynamic tests of
the booster will be performed in the French Guiana test installations (see booster testing below). For the
dynamic testing of the main core a specific facility will be installed in Europe.
Validation Tests in French Guiana
Mechanical integration of the launcher as well as electrical verifications will be performed in CSG (Centre
Spatial Guyanais).
BOOSTER TESTING
The booster testing comprises: Preliminary tests; Testing in nominal the configuration.
The preliminary tests will allow evaluation of the different technologies to be used, manufacturing process,
functioning aspects like internal pressure build up behaviour, segment joints, etc .... Different types of
models will be used, some of them being at reduced scale and using teststands.
Ten firing tests will be performed in nominal configuration in the test facilities prepared in CSG. Three
types of tests are to be distinguished.
Tests B
The purpose of two tests is to evaluate the internal functioning with a reinforced structure to avoid the in-
herent risk of using a non fully developed structure.
Tests M
These tests correspond to the development of the integrated booster. Four tests are foreseen, the first two
will be used to verify the compatibility between the different elements of the booster. The other two will
examine extreme environmental conditions.
Tests Q
The functioning of the booster will be verified in four tests. The last two being associated in the same con-
figuration as are the two flight units for the same launcher.
MAIN CORE TESTING
Testing of this stage is broken down as follows:
Tank
Adjacent structures
Engine
Stage
The tank testing includes the usual verification of materials, technologies, manufacturing processes, func-
tioning aspects of the anti-vortex, etc ....
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Fortheadjacentstructures,thetestsarealsothestandardstaticanddynamicones.
The enginein itself followsits own developmentsequenceanda detaileddescriptionof its testplanis out
of thescopeof thiscommunication.It shouldbementionedin generaltermsthat theenginetestingstarted
with thematerialsandprocessesverificationfollowedby seriesof testsat componentsandsubassemblies
level to finally test the wholeengine. A generaldescriptionof the teststandswill be found in the next
section.
The completestagewill be testedin FrenchGuiana,usingthe operationalfacilities: Launchintegration
building, transportplatform andlaunchpad. It will be testedin launchconfigurationsupportedby two
dummiesrepresentingtheboosters.
UPPERSTAGEAND STRUCTURESTESTING
The upperstagefollows at its level,thesametestinglogicasthe maincore: tank, structure,engineand
stagetesting.Theteststandswill bedescribedbelow.
The upperstructurescomprisethevehicleequipmentbay, the SPELTRA(StructurePorteuseExternede
LancementTriple Ariane)(Structureallowingmultiplelaunches)andthe fairing. Asfor anystructure,the
maintestswill be:
StaticTests:stiffness,strength
DynamicTests:vibrations,acoustic,separation
ARIANE 5 TESTFACILITIES
It is too earlyin the programmeto describethe test facilities,but themostimportanthavealreadyidenti-
fiedandashortdescriptionwill begivenin thissection.
BOOSTERTESTSTANDZONE
This facility will comprisea test areawith flues,a shelterstructureincludingthe technicalpremisesand
accessfacilitiesand mobilecoverof the wholearea;a mobilepart madeup of a palletandthe booster
wouldbe insertedin a solidmetalstructureintegralwith thefoundationsandhavingthehandlingfacilities
necessaryfor table/railtrack levellingadjustments.A testmonitoringzoneabout700m away,housingthe
monitoringand commandfacilitiesnecessaryfor carryingout the testsandan accessrail tracklinkingthe
boosterintegrationbuildingto the teststandandenablingthe wholemobilestructure(palletplusbooster)
to betransferred.
MAIN COREENGINETESTSTANDS
Theenginetestinginvolvesmanystands.Amongthemwecanfind thefollowingones:
Standfor testingcomponentsunderhigh-pressurepropellant(Vernon- France)to beusedfor characteris-
tizationof thegeneratorinjectionelements,dynamicsealsandbearings.
Standfor testingthe generatorand oxygenturbopump(Ottobrunn - W. Germany). Adaptationof an
existingstand.
Turbopumpteststand(Vernon). The correspondingtestswill be madeon the liquid oxygenandliquid
hydrogenturbopumpsfed either independentlyfrom a high-pressuregaseoushydrogensourceor a gas
generatorfed by high-pressuretanksor coupledwith the gasgeneratorfedwith propellantstappedat the
pumpoutlets.
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Chamberteststand(Lampoldshausen- W.Germany).Thisstandwill allowcharacterizationandqualifica-
tion testsof the enginecombustionchamberin ahorisontalpositionto be carriedout. Thechamberwill
befed fromhigh-pressurecryogenictanks.
Enginestands(VernonandLampoldshausen).Both standswill beidentical.Theywill bedesignedto sim-
ulate ascloselyaspossiblepropellantandfluid systemof the stageandto carryout testsin "stagewith
battleshiptanks"configuration.
UPPERSTAGEPROPULSIONTESTFACILITIES
Testson the engineandthe propulsionunit will bedoneon thetestsiteat Lampoldshausen.Thissitehas
variousfacilitieswherecold testscanbecarriedout for the purposeof tuning,pressuretestingandfunc-
tional testingon the componentsof the engineandthe propulsionunit. Thehot testswill becarriedout
on the followingteststands:
- Standto beusedfor short-durationchamberandenginetestsundergroundconditions.The tests
couldbeperformedwith orwithout asupersonicdiffuser.
- Standto testthepropulsionunit andtheintegratedstageundergroundconditions.
--Standfitted with avacuumchamberandastreamejector,thusmakingit possibleto runenginetests
undervacuumconditions.
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION
The Ariane 5 launcher development is starting. From the preliminary phase, the verification tests corre-
sponding to the launcher system, booster, main core, upper stage and structures, have been identified,
allowing the preliminary definition of the test facilities needed. Among them, the booster teststand in
French Guiana and the stands for testing the main engine and the upper stage engine have been outlined.
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