A Gas-Surface Interaction Model based on Accelerated Reactive Molecular Dynamics for Hypersonic Conditions including Thermal Conduction
Abstract
Vehicles traveling through an atmosphere at hypersonic speeds generate strong shock waves. These shock waves generate extremely high gas temperatures within the shock layer between the shock itself and the surface of the vehicle. As the gas reaches such high temperatures, its vibrational degrees of freedom become excited and diatomic and polyatomic molecules dissociate into reactive atomic species. At high altitudes characteristic of hypersonic flight where the free-stream density is low, these reactive species diffuse through the boundary layer and may chemically react with the vehicle s thermal protection system (TPS). Many TPS materials act as a catalyst for the heterogeneous recombination of dissociated species back into molecules. Such exothermic surface reactions transfer additional energy to the vehicle surface and thus contribute to the heat flux and overall heat load that the TPS must withstand. For example, studies have shown that surface catalysis can contribute up to 30% of the total heat load for Earth reentry [1].
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 28, 2012
- Accession Number
- ADA567529
Entities
People
- Ellad B. Tadmor
- Ioana Cozmuta
- Thomas E. Schwartzentruber
Organizations
- University of Minnesota