THE IONIZED FLOW FIELD OVER RE-ENTRY BODIES
Abstract
The prediction of communication through the ionized flow field about a re-entry body requires the knowledge of the detailed distribution of electron density. Results are presented for obtaining the characteristics of the chemically reacting boundary layer and viscous layer with finite reaction rates on sharp and blunt conical re-entry vehicles with the inclusion of the effects of mass transfer from ablation products and surface reactions. It is found that the effect of a small bluntness at the nose creates a dominant number of electrons and these effects of a small nose radius on re-entry body characteristics and electron density are discussed and comparisons are made with those of a sharp cone. In addition, the results of the investigation include the effects of alkali metal seeding, mass transfer of hydrocarbon ablation products, and catalytic surface characteristics on the electron density distributions.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 1967
- Accession Number
- AD0826301
Entities
People
- H. G. Lew
Organizations
- General Electric