DEVELOPMENT OF TEST FACILITIES FOR STUDIES IN HYPERSONIC RANGE

Abstract

Hypersonic missiles re-entering the atmosphere are subjected to severe aerodynamic heating. In order to closely simulate these severe thermal conditions for testing laboratory models, a program was undertaken which consisted of the design, construction, and testing of (1) an airstabilized ac arc, and (2) a vacuum and cooling system to evacuate the high-temperature plasma generated by the arc. Stable and reliable operation was achieved with the ac powered arc, but it was relatively inefficient in utilizing the available power. The vacuum and cooling system to receive, cool, and exhaust to the atmosphere the plasma generated by a 1.5-megawatt airstabilized dc arc makes testing possible with a low-density plasma and subatmospheric stagnation pressure and permits the heat flux to be adjusted independently of the enthalpy difference. (Author)

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 01, 1960
Accession Number
AD0260222

Entities

People

  • Channon F. Price
  • Henry Halle

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aerodynamic Heating
  • Atmospheres
  • Buildings And Structures
  • Construction
  • Enthalpy
  • Heat Energy
  • Heat Flux
  • Heating
  • High Temperature
  • Hypersonic Missiles
  • Low Density
  • Research Facilities
  • Stagnation Pressure
  • Test Facilities

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Combustion and Flow Dynamics.
  • Fluid Dynamics.
  • Plasma Physics.

Technology Areas

  • Hypersonics
  • Hypersonics - Hypersonic Flow