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Backshell Radiative Heating on Human-Scale Mars Entry VehiclesThis work quantifies the backshell radiative heating experienced by payloads on human- scale vehicles entering the Martian atmosphere. Three underlying configurations were studied: a generic sphere, a sphere-cone forebody with a cylindrical payload, and an ellipsled. Computational fluid dynamics simulations of the flow field and radiation were performed using the LAURA and HARA codes, respectively. Results of this work indicated the primary contributor to radiative heating is emission from the CO2 IR band system. Furthermore, the backshell radiation component of heating can persist lower than 2 km/s during entry and descent. For the sphere-cone configuration a peak heat flux of about 3.5 W/cm(exp. 2) was observed at the payload juncture during entry. At similar conditions, the ellipsled geometry experienced about 1.25 W/cm(exp. 2) on the backshell, but as much as 8 W/cm(exp. 2) on the base at very high angle of attack. Overall, this study sheds light on the potential magnitudes of backshell radiative heating that various configurations may experience. These results may serve as a starting point for thermal protection system design or configuration changes necessary to accommodate thermal radiation levels.
Document ID
20170005873
Acquisition Source
Langley Research Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
West,Thomas K., IV
(NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA, United States)
Theisinger, John E.
(NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA, United States)
Brune, Andrew J.
(NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA, United States)
Johnston, Christopher O.
(NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA, United States)
Date Acquired
June 29, 2017
Publication Date
June 5, 2017
Subject Category
Fluid Mechanics And Thermodynamics
Numerical Analysis
Report/Patent Number
NF1676L-25743
Meeting Information
Meeting: AIAA Aviation Forum 2017
Location: Denver, CO
Country: United States
Start Date: June 6, 2017
End Date: June 9, 2017
Sponsors: American Inst. of Aeronautics and Astronautics
Funding Number(s)
WBS: WBS 394364.03.07.01
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
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