Gas-surface interaction modelling during atmospheric re-entry

Details

Supervisors

Chatelain, Philippe ; Schrooyen, Pierre

Faculty

Ecole polytechnique de Louvain

Degree label

Master [120] : ingénieur civil mécanicien, à finalité spécialisée

Abstract

The precise prediction of gas-surface interactions during atmospheric re-entry is crucial for the design of reliable thermal protection systems. This study focuses on assessing the feasibility of adapting an existing porous material model to simulate the behavior of dense materials, such as graphite, under the extreme conditions of atmospheric re-entry. The work leverages the high-performance computing capabilities of the Argo software provided by Cenaero, aiming to address the challenges posed by dense materials, including microstructural changes, low porosity, the need to model a sharp gas-solid interface, and the competition between reaction-diffusion phenomena. The adapted model is then compared with experimental data obtained from high-enthalpy flow tests conducted at the Plasmatron facility of the Von Karman Institute. These experiments involved infrared temperature mapping and surface recession measurements of dense graphite, providing a comprehensive dataset for comparison. The study emphasizes the necessity for careful calibration of material properties and interface conditions to achieve accurate simulations, although compromises are required. The results demonstrate that the feasibility of using a modified porous model to predict the thermo-chemical behavior of dense graphite during atmospheric re-entry is challenging to implement with precision. Therefore, this work concludes that it is necessary to develop a more reliable model for the recession of dense materials.