SURFACE CATALYTIC RECOMBINATION ON CARBON-BASED TPS MATERIALS
Abstract
Hypersonic vehicles that travel through the atmosphere are subject to very high temperatures and require thermal protection systems (TPS) to withstand high heat loads during flight. The accurate prediction of surface heating and surface temperature along a vehicle flight path is especially crucial for state-of-the-art leading edge materials which are performance-optimized for specific environmental conditions. Heating due to exothermic catalytic recombination reactions accounts for a significant portion of the total heat load on vehicle surfaces, and also acts as a chemical source-sink in boundary layer chemistry, thus playing a pivotal role in multiple aspects of hypersonic vehicle design. This work proposes a combined theoretical-experimental approach to study and quantify surface catalytic recombination of oxygen on carbon material surfaces. The theoretical approach involves quantification of surface catalytic processes through a novel recombination-desorption model for carbon-based TPS materials, using inputs from validated analytic potentials to describe collision dynamics (recombination) and fluctuations (desorption) at the surface. A newly developed experimental reactor will be used for gas-surface interaction measurements under controlled conditions. Variable chamber pressures allow for the study of pressure effects on recombination and oxidation processes. The proposed research program will provide a comprehensive framework to identify key mechanisms responsible for catalytic recombination.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Mar 07, 2023
- Source ID
- FA95502210055
Entities
People
- Kelly Stephani
Organizations
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research
- United States Air Force
- University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign