Abstract
In aerospace industrial and commercial scenario, the reusable launch vehicles (RLV) evolution works constantly toward the lowering of payload conveyance expenses. The thermal protection system (TPS) preserves the integrity of the space vehicle surfaces exposed to huge thermal shock during the re-entry phase: its advanced design and manufacturing, aimed at both reusing and withstanding harsh space environment, result in increasing the production and maintenance charges. The present study introduces a cost-saving concept of TPS component made of carbon/carbon (C/C) tiles coated by a commercial refractory varnish reinforced with ceramic nanoparticles. Using a reliable computing method, known as inverse method, the thermophysical properties such as heat capacity and thermal conductivity of the manufactured materials are assessed in a broad range of temperatures, with the input aid of an in-house developed experimental setup. The described technique is especially suited for approaching such kind of issues, thanks to the capability of taking into account several physical variables simultaneously, with the aim of gaining a robust knowledge of materials’ thermal behavior for potential use in spacecraft TPS.
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