Characterizing Ablator Properties – Review of Some Techniques and Challenges in Obtaining Meaningful Data
Start Date
1-3-2011 2:45 PM
Description
Adequately characterizing the ablative Thermal Protection System (TPS) of an entry vehicle is critical to TPS model development and vehicle design. Understanding the nature of the ablative TPS, it’s inherent construction and variability, are crucial prerequisites to obtain accurate and meaningful property data. Some examples of ablator systems and the inherent challenges they pose to characterization will be reviewed. The question of how to obtain properties for char will also be addressed. Techniques for measuring thermal conductivity and enthalpy will be presented, and the uncertainties, advantages and challenges in applying these techniques to various ablator systems will be discussed.
Characterizing Ablator Properties – Review of Some Techniques and Challenges in Obtaining Meaningful Data
Adequately characterizing the ablative Thermal Protection System (TPS) of an entry vehicle is critical to TPS model development and vehicle design. Understanding the nature of the ablative TPS, it’s inherent construction and variability, are crucial prerequisites to obtain accurate and meaningful property data. Some examples of ablator systems and the inherent challenges they pose to characterization will be reviewed. The question of how to obtain properties for char will also be addressed. Techniques for measuring thermal conductivity and enthalpy will be presented, and the uncertainties, advantages and challenges in applying these techniques to various ablator systems will be discussed.