High Temperature Universal Test System for Advanced Materials
Abstract
The U.S. is developing critical component technology to support the rapid development of systems to address current and emerging capability gaps created by the growing threat of adversarial hypersonic long-range weapons. A nationally integrated hypersonics strategy will enable the development of an ecosystem that leverages expertise and collaboration with universities across the country. Universities have the ability to play a critical role in not only strengthening this ecosystem of hypersonics capabilities and expertise, but also to train and develop a new generation of technicians and engineers that will be equipped with the skills needed to carry out a nationally integrated strategy to produce warfighting capability using hypersonic technologies. Recent hypersonic research and development programs have identified the need for materials andstructures that can consistently perform under extreme environments to carryout critical missions. Thermal protection systems (TPS) and hot structures are needed for a wide a range of hypersonic vehicles including the joint Army Navy Common Hypersonic Glide Vehicle [1], as well as other vehicles both in Earth and non-Earth atmospheres [2]. Due to the processing complexity and sensitivity of constituent behavior on final microstructure, inserting these high temperature materials into hypersonic applications is not easily accomplished. Despite significant research in this area, there remains a gap in the knowledge and understanding of the processing-propertyperformancerelationship for these materials at various temperatures and environments. Inaddition, analysis methods that are often used to support physical tests lack the fidelity needed to perform accurate predictions. In order to improve the accuracy of thermal-structural simulations, material characterization data by standardized test methodologies is essential. Evaluating materials at a wide range of temperatures up to the max service temp is essential to fully characterizing a material. While certain components of a hypersonic vehicle can be exposed to temperatures up to 5000F in service, commercial off the shelf test equipment only enables testing up to approximately 3000F. Principal investigators are currently engaged in Department of Defense projects related to characterization of emerging materials for high speed missile applications, including hypersonics. A custom made High Temperature Thermo-Mechanical TestSystem (TMTS) capable of testing up to 5000F in an inert environment will allow for fullmechanical characterization of emerging materials, including carbon/carbon and ceramic matrix composites. Test data generated with the TMTS for these research programs will support the development of validated databases and a better understanding of the processing-propertyperformance relationship, which will be beneficial for design, fabrication, and maintenance of future DoD hypersonic applications. Furthermore, the knowledge gained through the High Temperature Thermo-Mechanical Test System will enhance researchers/students understanding of material behavior and will be helpful for future proposal developments.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jun 09, 2021
- Source ID
- N000142112527
Entities
People
- John Tomblin
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy
- Wichita State University