Hypersonic Materials Selection and Integration Tools

This project will develop a tool for making informed materials selection during the design of a hypersonic vehicle.MES and Lockheed Martin will collaborate in this effort.Due to advancements in propulsion systems, aerodynamics, and flight control capabilities, hypersonic vehicles are enabled to operate at high speeds.Therefore, significant new demands are placed on the materials used for constructing a hypersonic system due to the harsh environment created by the high speeds.During the design of a hypersonic vehicle its performance at multiple disciplines must be considered: trajectory; guidance, navigation, and control; aerodynamics and aerothermodynamics; thermal-structural performance; and Thermal Protection System development.Therefore, an integrated approach that considers the design and the selection of the materials simultaneously with the overall design of the vehicle will link the material properties selection to the overall performance of the vehicle.The objective of this project is the development of such a tool.The decision support environment offered by MES DS Toolkit will provide the framework for the new developments.The DS Toolkit has been employed in the past and during Phase I for hypersonic vehicle design.Case studies and an experimental verification and validation study will be conducted for solidifying the new developments.