Dissertation
Radiation in low density hypervelocity flows
Doctor of Philosophy, University of Queensland
2012
Abstract
This thesis investigates the radiative heat transfer encountered in rarefied, hypervelocity flow conditions such as would be experienced during an aerocapture mission to Titan. Accurate estimates of the nonequilibrium radiation involved in high speed operations such as reentry are essential in order to design these thermal protection systems more efficiently. Because the mass of the thermal protection system is a large fraction of the overall vehicle mass, there is great interest in designing lighter and more efficient systems. Flight experiments are expensive and restrictive, hence laboratory testing is needed in facilities that are capable of producing hypervelocity flow. Unfortunately, as the size of a typical flight vehicle is too large to reasonably test in experimental facilities, subscale models of the aeroshell vehicles are generally tested. The University of Queensland's expansion tube facilities - X1, X2 and X3 - have been widely used for subscale modelling of hypersonic flowfields (Morgan 2001).
Details
- Title
- Radiation in low density hypervelocity flows
- Authors
- Carolyn Jacobs (Author)
- Awarding institution
- University of Queensland
- Degree awarded
- Doctor of Philosophy
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99450997102621
- Output Type
- Dissertation
Metrics
134 Record Views