High Temperature Fracture Mechanics

This STTR research study aims to enhance and apply thermo-mechanically coupled computational models for high-temperature fracture. This topic is particularly challenging in that hypersonic flight in the atmosphere generates extreme conditions over a vehicle that can affect the strength and performance the vehicle materials, both in-flight conditions as well as for cases where the vehicle encounters projectile impacts. To address this highly challenging problem, K&C and PSU have the unique expertise and capabilities of enhancing state-of-the-art thermo-mechanically coupled Computational Solid Dynamics (CSD) and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) models that are required to understand the interaction of the high-temperature environment with the fracture associated with hypersonic vehicles. The Phase I seeks to research and extend coupled CSD/CFD codes to model the perforation of a vehicle, the resulting dynamically evolving flow-field through the opening, while retaining the essential coupling phenomenon. K&C’s existing thermo-mechanical material model for Ceramix Matrix Composites (CMCs) will be extended and calibrated to existing and new data. Armed with an increased computational capability to model thermo-mechanical coupling phenomenon with hypervelocity materials, we propose to conduct a limited suite of coupled CSD/CFD hypervelocity calculations under flight conditions (Mach 5) and under transient impact with projectiles. Approved for Public Release | 20-MDA-10398 (2 Mar 20)