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Project # 48
Aerothermal Analysis and TPS Sizing of High-Speed Aerospace Vehicles
| Team Lead: | Austen Smith |
| Other Team Members: | |
| Faculty Advisor(s): | Dr. Bernd Chudoba |
| Department: | MAE |
| Project Type: | REU |
| Title: | Aerothermal Analysis and TPS Sizing of High-Speed Aerospace Vehicles |
| Abstract: | Throughout the history of high-speed flight, thermal protection systems (TPS) have shaped the survivability and design of aerospace vehicles. From the ablative materials on the X-15 and the first satellites, to the reusable ceramic tiles of the Space Shuttle, and now to the metallic and ceramic composite shielding on SpaceX’s Starship, TPS technology has evolved in response to extreme convective and radiative heating environments. Any aerospace vehicle traveling at supersonic, hypersonic, or orbital velocities must balance weight, cost, and risk in its TPS strategy. This project will explore that history while developing a methodology to evaluate TPS performance. The methodology will be verified against Shuttle and Starship data and ultimately integrated into the AVD Laboratory’s Aerodynamic Vehicle Design Synthesis (AVDS) to assist conceptual vehicle design. |
| Poster: | View Poster #48 (PDF) |
| Judges Scoring: | Submit Evaluation (judges only) |