Thermal Control Investigations on Separation Zone of Ceramic Thermal Protection System

Abstract

Ceramic thermal protection system (TPS) is bonded to the skin of a hypersonic vehicle through a strain isolation pad, and the separation of the TPS will affect the safety of the vehicle. In this paper, the aeroheating of the separation zone for the ceramic TPS is studied and compared with that of the intact TPS. The intact TPS mainly considers the aeroheating of the gap. The heat flux increases sharply in both the gap and separation zone, especially on the windward wall. The difference of peak heat flux between the windward and leeward walls in the separation zone is much larger than that in the gap, and the heat flux away from the gap and separation zone gradually returns to the normal heat flux of the TPS. The heat flux in the gap only exists in the small zone of the upper part, whereas that in the separation zone is widely distributed on the side walls. The heat flux on the bottom of the gap approaches zero, whereas that of the separation zone is high in the middle and low at ends, and the heat flux in the middle reaches 55% of the normal heat flux of the TPS. In addition, an analysis of influencing factors is conducted.