IMPROVED HEAT SHIELD FOR LONG BOOST-GLIDE TRAJECTORIES

THE HIGH TOTAL HEAT FLUXES ASSOCIATED WITH HIGH L/D REENTRY VEHICLES AND BOOST-GLIDE TRAJECTORIES REQUIRE THE DEVELOPMENT OF IMPROVED HEATSHIELDS AND INSULATORS. IN THIS PHASE I PROGRAM, ULTRAMET PROPOSES TO DESIGN A REENTRY HEATSHIELD BASED ON A CERAMIC FOAM CORE COMPOSITE SANDWICH PANEL CONSTRUCTION, LOADED WITH CVI-BONDED CERAMIC MICROBALLOONS TO IMPROVE THE INSULATIVE K-FACTOR AT ELEVATED TEMPERATURES. USING A MULTILAYER-WALL 1-D TRANSIENT HEAT FLUX ANALYSIS PROGRAM, MODIFIED TO INCLUDE AEROTHERMAL HEAT LOADS DUE TO ATMOSPHERIC FRICTION IN A GIVEN TRAJECTORY, ULTRAMET WILL DESIGN A FUNCTIONALLY GRADIENT HEATSHIELD/INSULATOR BASED ON COUPON-LEVEL PROPERTY DETERMINATION. THIS PROGRAM WILL ENABLE THE PRODUCTION OF ADVANCED THERMAL PROTECTION SYSTEMS FOR REENTRY AND HYPERSONIC VEHICLES OF ALL TYPES. WEIGHT SAVINGS OF OVER 50% FROM CURRENT SYSTEMS WILL THERBY BE MADE POSSIBLE, PROVIDING GREATLY EXPANDED MISSION CAPABILITY.