Abstract
Fiber substrate-based ablators such as Phenolic-Impregnated Carbon Ablator are composite materials comprising a fibrous substrate and a polymer matrix. This paper presents an approach for estimating selected bulk material properties for the purposes of conceptual design and manufacturing evaluations. A filamentary analog model of the substrate, using a volumetric approximation of the individual fibers, is combined with known properties of the cured resin to approximate the composite material, resulting in closed-form expressions for the virgin density, resin mass fraction, and char yield. Two variants of a low-density carbon felt/phenolic resin ablator were fabricated for comparison to the analytical approximations. Bounds on the material properties were generated from the closed-form expressions and then compared to Monte Carlo results. A linear regression analysis was then used to correlate output uncertainties to those of the input parameters to understand the drivers of material variability.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
