DECELERATION AND MASS CHANGE OF AN ABLATING BODY DURING HIGH-VELOCITY MOTION IN THE ATMOSPHERE,
Abstract
The paper examines the factors affecting the dynamics and mass loss of ablating bodies during high-velocity motion. The classic meteor case, where the flow is assumed to be of the free-molecule type with constant heattransfer and drag coefficients, is reviewed and presented in terms of general dimensionless parameters which allow application to cases other than that of meteor atmospheric entry. This solution indicates a finite mass remaining after the deceleration, the magnitude of the mass relative to the initial mass depending on the 'efficiency'. An analytic solution is obtained for the specific variation of the heat-transfer coefficient corresponding to a sphere with laminar convective heating in hypersonic flight at a constant altitude. In this case, the increase of dimensionless heat-transfer coefficient due to decreasing body size (thus effectively increasing the 'efficiency') can result in a complete loss of mass during the deceleration process. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 01, 1964
- Accession Number
- AD0604058
Entities
People
- Carl Gazley Jr.
Organizations
- RAND Corporation