Increased Accuracy and Efficiency of Multiphysics Simulations of Thermal Protection System Ablative Response

ATA Engineering has developed a high-fidelity multiphysics modeling framework to predict ablative response of thermal protection system (TPS) components in extreme environments. In the proposed Phase II effort, a methodology will be developed and demonstrated for cost-effective calibration of model parameters to achieve accurate predictions of ablation extensible to a variety of TPS materials and extreme environments of interest to the Air Force. Additional efforts will focus on continued enhancements to solver coupling schemes to improve the computational cost, numerical stability, and achievable exposure durations of ablative response simulations. Software development and simulation efforts will be complemented by experimental ground tests to develop supporting empirical data and enable preliminary validation of predictive capabilities.