Ground Testing Expertise
Kratos SRE has more than two decades of experience in testing hypersonic materials and structures, offering support to various industries including the Department of Defense, NASA, and prime contractors. Their skilled engineers specialize in creating tailored tests for candidate materials, ensuring they meet the specific research requirements of clients. The company covers an extensive range of ground testing activities to evaluate thermal and ablative responses in thermal protection systems (TPS) materials and hot structures. These include program planning, facility selection, test method development, custom test configurations, and model designs, among others. With capabilities such as precision metrology, CFD analysis, and precision instrumentation, Kratos ensures high-quality and efficient ground testing support for hypersonic vehicles.
Comprehensive Analyses and Post-Test Support
Kratos also conducts thorough evaluations during ground tests, utilizing various facilities like arc jet and wind tunnels. Their strong relationships with facilities such as the U.S. Air Force LHMEL Laser enable coordination and technical support for customers. Post-test analyses are crucial in determining materials' performance, including parameters like temperature, pressure, flow, and mass loss. These analyses provide essential data for Modeling and Simulation (M&S) to create material response models. The company investigates char structure, mass loss, density profiles, surface topography, and microstructure to offer benchmark data for further development. Additionally, Kratos performs non-destructive and destructive material testing, ensuring a deep understanding of material responses under different conditions.
Specialized Capabilities and Services
Aside from ground testing, Kratos SRE offers specialized services like thermal properties characterization, mechanical properties characterization, specialty machining, and computational fluid dynamics. Their expertise in precision metrology and variable atmosphere temperature pressure simulation sets them apart in supporting hypersonic vehicle development. By working with Kratos, clients can access state-of-the-art facilities and a team of experienced engineers capable of providing comprehensive solutions across various testing scenarios. The company's dedication to delivering high-quality data, analysis, and support ensures efficient material evaluation and hypersonic vehicle advancements.