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Rotating Arc Jet Test Model: Time-Accurate Trajectory Heat Flux Replication in a Ground Test EnvironmentThough arc jet testing has been the proven method employed for development testing and certification of TPS and TPS instrumentation, the operational aspects of arc jets limit testing to selected, but constant, conditions. Flight, on the other hand, produces timevarying entry conditions in which the heat flux increases, peaks, and recedes as a vehicle descends through an atmosphere. As a result, we are unable to "test as we fly." Attempts to replicate the time-dependent aerothermal environment of atmospheric entry by varying the arc jet facility operating conditions during a test have proven to be difficult, expensive, and only partially successful. A promising alternative is to rotate the test model exposed to a constant-condition arc jet flow to yield a time-varying test condition at a point on a test article (Fig. 1). The model shape and rotation rate can be engineered so that the heat flux at a point on the model replicates the predicted profile for a particular point on a flight vehicle. This simple concept will enable, for example, calibration of the TPS sensors on the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) aeroshell for anticipated flight environments.
Document ID
20110013229
Acquisition Source
Ames Research Center
Document Type
Extended Abstract
Authors
Laub, Bernard (NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA, United States)
Grinstead, Jay (NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA, United States)
Dyakonov, Artem (NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA, United States)
Venkatapathy, Ethiraj (NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA, United States)
Date Acquired
August 25, 2013
Publication Date
June 6, 2011
Subject Category
Aircraft Propulsion And Power
Report/Patent Number
ARC-E-DAA-TN3214
Meeting Information
Meeting: 8th International Planetary Probe Workshop (IPPW-8)
Location: Portsmouth, VA
Country: United States
Start Date: June 6, 2011
End Date: June 10, 2011
Sponsors: Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech., Idaho Univ.
Funding Number(s)
WBS: WBS 599489.02.07.01.04.21.21
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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