Composite Airframes based on Structural Ceramics

Mide is proposing to develop an airframe that will result in a low-cost, high-performance hypersonic airframe with an integrated thermal protection system. Phase II will focus on the development of a multi-layered airframe where alternating layers of a high strength ceramics and carbon-carbon composites are used to thermally protect the airframe and to ensure that the nose tip will ablate symmetrically when the airframe is exposed to severe thermal loads. The design has a high strength ceramic “plug” between the nose tip and the rest of the Maraging steel airframe to reduce heat flow from the nose. The Maraging Steel will be covered with a ceramic sleeve to reduce the heat flux into the airframe. The base effort will review and update the airframe requirements, develop a first order model to assess the impact of ablation, generate material properties over the range of expected temperatures and verify or update thermal and strength performance models using simple layered coupon tests. The first option will focus on the feasibility demonstration of the airframe through testing a prototype in a high temperature oven. The second option will examine the ablation control ability of the layered nose cone through testing of prototype nose cones in an arc jet facility.