Project
318 Static - IE24C engine test

Construction

• This was revision C of the IE24 engine. Four 1/4-20 steel bolts held in the nozzle assembly and eight 1/4-20 steel bolts held in the end cap assembly. The end cap was made from Pourstone poured directly over the fuel and igniter assembly after it had been covered with a thin layer of epoxy to protect it from the moisture in the Pourstone. The eight 1/4-20 x 3/8 steel bolts holding in the end cap were put in the engine casing before the Pourstone was added. This was done in an effort to restrain the end cap. The failure of this test caused substantial structural damage to the test tank and it will no longer be able to be used.

Pros

• IE24 nozzle assembly is easy to construct.
• Simplified design.

Cons

• The pressure in the engine pushed the end cap up 3/8" increasing the fuel surface burning. Pushing up the end cap also had the affect of a wedge, widening and weakening the engine casing, exposing more fuel and eventually leading to the failure of the engine.

Pictures

• An epoxy / Kno3 lug was attached to the igniter as a delay element. This idea was discarded during construction.
• Engine on test stand.
• End cap and restraining bolts.
• Pieces to be reassembled after test.
• Damage to tank wall.
• Outside view of damage to the tank wall.
• Scrape marks on the Pourstone cap showing how where it was pushed up by the pressure in the engine.
• Another view of the end cap and the scrape marks made by the bolts.
• The end cap restraining bolts in the engine casing showing burn marks 3/8" higher than the original level of the end cap.
• Pieces of the engine casing showing where the fuel burning surface was out of control.
• Fracture cracks on the nozzle assembly.
• Another view of fracture cracks on the nozzle assembly.

Video

• Video of static test.

CAD DrawingsS

• IE24C design.

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