Endo-Atmospheric Aero-Thermal Debris Survival and Ground Prediction Model

Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI) is pleased to submit an innovative proposal aimed at incorporating a novel aero-thermal algorithm into an existing debris trajectory model that contains the ability to take a high-fidelity derived debris model and propagate it to ground impact location providing range safety assessment. The aero-thermal algorithm for complex, faceted shapes is based upon validated hypersonic convective heating models as well as thermal response models for heating, mass loss and structural demise that have been developed over many years at PSI. An extensive material physical and structural property database supports the algorithm development since many diverse materials from metals to composites to ablators are found in interceptor-threat impact participants. The objective of the Phase I will be to demonstrate the effect of including aero-thermal effects on debris residual mass loss and ultimate ground impact location. The Phase II will emphasize the continued development and assessment of the new code with application to actual debris fields.