Instrumented Hypervelocity Research Tunnel Nozzle
Abstract
The Department of Defense has defined explicit goals in developing reliable hypervelocity flight systems. Prediction and control of viscous and thermal loads under the associated extreme aerothermochemical environments has proven to be a major technological difficulty. To help meet this need, the PI, under DoD support, is installing a new large-scale, clean-air, hypervelocity basic research tunnel (HXT) facility within the Texas A&M University National Aerothermochemistry Laboratory (NAL) to provide a venue for fundamental studies. The objective of this DURIP proposal is to significantly improve the scientific impact of this facility by adding an instrumented exit nozzle for uniform flow. The nozzle exit will be of sufficient size to enable resolution of the boundary layer flow on test articles using laser based diagnostics, and instrumented to provide detailed nozzle flow characterization including nozzle boundary layer spectral content, which appreciably improves scientific interpretation of experimental results. In terms of impact, the proposed nozzle: (1) significantly enhances current national hypervelocity research capabilities, which impacts four DoD projects (three currently funded and one newly awarded); (2) directly supports current important DoD missions in hypervelocity flight, and (3) considerably enhancesTexas A&M University and the Nation’s ability to educate future scientists and engineers in disciplines important to DoD missions. Under recent DoD suggestion, the NAL actively encourages collaboration with DoD researchers and other universities, which significantly increases the national scope of this DURIP proposal.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Apr 09, 2018
- Source ID
- FA95501710403
Entities
People
- Rodney D W Bowersox
Organizations
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research
- Texas Engineering Experiment Station
- United States Air Force