High Pressure Test Facility

High Pressure Test Facility

Simulating deep-ocean environments

The High Pressure Test Facility at the Penn State Applied Research Laboratory is a premier facility designed to simulate deep-ocean environments for rigorous testing and evaluation of submersible structures and components.

With decades of successful collaboration with the U.S. Navy and other partners, ARL brings its deep expertise to support both defense and commercial sectors, including the oil and gas machinery industry, through advanced Research, Development, Testing & Evaluation (RDT&E) services.

Facility Overview

Located on Penn State’s campus, the High Pressure Test Facility features:

  • Three cylindrical hydrostatic pressure vessels for simulating extreme underwater conditions
  • 1,100 square feet of working area, ideal for large-scale testing
  • A 20-ton overhead bridge crane to handle heavy equipment
  • On-site large machine shop for fixture fabrication and rapid prototyping

Inside Diameter

Inside Length

Maximum Operating Pressure

18 Inch Vessel

18.4"

168"

20,000 PSI

23 Inch Vessel

23"

60"

2,000 PSI

60 Inch Vessel

60"

165"

16,000 PSI

Core Capabilities

Our facility is fully equipped to conduct a wide range of high-pressure evaluations under controlled and repeatable conditions, ensuring safe, reliable, and cost-effective outcomes.

  • Operating Fluids
    • Fresh water
    • Fresh water with water-soluble oil
  • System Features
    • LabVIEW-based operating system
    • Automatic data logging
    • Pressure cycling capability
  • Instrumentation & Measurements
    • Strain gauges
    • Acoustic and sensor testing
    • Non-Destructive Inspection (NDI)
    • Health monitoring systems

Advanced Modeling & Analysis

Our team supports detailed simulations and diagnostics through:

  • Finite Element Analysis (FEA)
    • High strain rate analysis
    • Implosion and structural behavior modeling
  • Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)
    • Flow behavior and analysis
  • Materials Characterization
    • Corrosion and wear assessment
    • Physical property evaluation

Engineering & Process Services

  • Custom fixture design and fabrication
  • Cold isostatic pressing capabilities
  • Tailored process development support

Testing Programs & Applications

The HPTL is ideally suited for a wide array of testing applications, including:

  • Pressure hulls and underwater enclosures
  • Electric and hydraulic actuators
  • Propellers and subsea camera mounts
  • Deep-sea cables and high-pressure connectors
  • Underwater hydraulic equipment
  • Material behavior under pressure and instrumented buckling load testing
  • Acoustic and sonar transducer evaluations

ARL is committed to our employee’s health and well-being by supporting Penn State initiatives, local health officials, and government leaders in preventing COVID-19 in the workplace.

Our employees whose work or research can be done remotely, from home, are doing so. We have also given the opportunity of a flexible work schedule to assist our employees who have other obligations to consider. For those whose work or research requires them to be in our laboratories, offices, or on campus, we are following all protocols necessary to reduce the spread of COVID-19, including mandatory mask training, strict safety procedures, and a network of contacts for reporting any ill-feeling symptoms.

As new employees join our workforce, the above guidelines apply. 

You can be confident that we will maintain our vigilant enforcement of all COVID-19 protocols in our workplace to ensure the health and safety of everyone.

Our strength comes from our people… we are a diverse group of professionals who hail from all over this great Nation, with all kinds of experience and expertise. As a team, we will get through this together with patience, diligence, vigilance, and resilience.