Hybrid composites in reusable space vehicles wing structures

Abstract

Abstract The study is dedicated to the solution of a complex problem – development of an optimal thermal design of the tourist class reusable space vehicle (RSV TC) wing structure. The complexity of the problem resides in the necessity to consider critical factors of the suborbital flight and in a number of nesting tasks,that need to be solved. The authors implemented a multiscale modeling approach covering design of hybrid composite material thermal properties (i.e. mesoscale level), determination of thermal loads and thermal state analysis of a composite wing (i.e. macroscale and structural scale levels). Analysis of thermal fields demonstrated the necessity of thermal protection (TP) application for the wing structure. Consequently, optimal from the weight efficiency point of view TP thicknesses were determined. Summing up, the results of a RSV TC wing structure development are presented in the current paper.