Polymeric ablative materials play a strategic role in the whole aerospace industry: they are used to produce the Thermal Protection System (TPS) which protects vehicles during the hypersonic flight through a planetary atmosphere. Inflatable Deployable Aeroshells (IDAs) offer an alternative to rigid TPSs: IDAs are based on the use of Flexible TPSs (FTPSs). State of art FTPSs can handle heat fluxes up to approximately 20 W/cm2: however, next generation FTPSs for IADs should be able to survive heat fluxes up to 150 W/cm2. To satisfy these stringent requirements, we propose a radically brand-new concept of flexible TPS based on the use of state of art elastomeric ablatives (EPDM/Aramid) employed to produce the insulation liners for Solid Rocket Motors (SRMs). This class of ablatives is tailored to survive heat fluxes in the range of (300/1000) W/cm2. Most important, we envisioned to introduce an "Armadillo-Like" design in which a series of overlapping sacrificial movable tiles could work as a continuous flexible thermal barrier.
A new concept of flexible thermal protection system for inflatable decelerators
NATALI, MAURIZIO;RALLINI, MARCO;KENNY, Jose Maria;TORRE, Luigi
2014
Abstract
Polymeric ablative materials play a strategic role in the whole aerospace industry: they are used to produce the Thermal Protection System (TPS) which protects vehicles during the hypersonic flight through a planetary atmosphere. Inflatable Deployable Aeroshells (IDAs) offer an alternative to rigid TPSs: IDAs are based on the use of Flexible TPSs (FTPSs). State of art FTPSs can handle heat fluxes up to approximately 20 W/cm2: however, next generation FTPSs for IADs should be able to survive heat fluxes up to 150 W/cm2. To satisfy these stringent requirements, we propose a radically brand-new concept of flexible TPS based on the use of state of art elastomeric ablatives (EPDM/Aramid) employed to produce the insulation liners for Solid Rocket Motors (SRMs). This class of ablatives is tailored to survive heat fluxes in the range of (300/1000) W/cm2. Most important, we envisioned to introduce an "Armadillo-Like" design in which a series of overlapping sacrificial movable tiles could work as a continuous flexible thermal barrier.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
