Coupled Multi-Physics Tool for Analysis of Structural Profile Disruption Effects of Aerovehicles

High speed air vehicles operate at material strength performance limits and are at significant risk when subjected to additional localized heating that can result in softening, pitting and burn-through the material and potentially change the vehicle structural profile. These effects degrade aerodynamic performance. The team of CFDRC and UDRI proposed to develop, validate and deliver a comprehensive multiphysics framework that employ predictive damage models coupled with aerothermal effects to predict aero-thermo-mechanical interactions and effects that can lead to degradation in performance of high-speed aerostructure. In Phase I, UDRI developed mechanical damage models based on theoretical models initially developed by AFRL scientists, while CFDRC demonstrated the feasibility of the proposed framework to compute aeroelastic, aerothermal and aerothermoelastic interactions with prescribed damage effects. Phase II plans include a) completion of development and implementation of damage models, b) fabrication of CMC test articles and experimentation to calibrate and validate damage models, c) improvement of framework by addition of relevant continuum structural dynamics and ablation solvers, and d) demonstration the capabilities on a relevant high-speed vehicle configuration. The proposed effort will deliver a coupled multiphysics framework verified and validated with the experimental data obtained during Phase II.