Identification of the transient temperature and stress distribution in an atmospheric reentry capsule assuming temperature-dependent material properties

Abstract

The purpose of this work is to develop a method for solving inverse transient-state thermal and strength non-linear problems in complex shapes. Non-linearity is caused both by the material temperature-dependent properties and radiation. The proposed algorithm reconstructs the whole transient temperature and thermal stress distribution based on temperatures measured in the element selected points. Measured transient temperature values are generated during a numerical simulation of aerodynamic heating on the atmospheric reentry capsule. Both constant and temperature-dependent properties of the material are assumed. A comparison is presented between the transient temperature distributions obtained based on the material constant and temperature-dependent properties. Finally, the developed method is used to identify the transient temperature and stress distribution in the atmospheric reentry capsule assuming temperature-dependent properties of the material. The proposed approach is expected to be a good solution for improving spacecraft structures.