Numerical Simulation for Thermal Shock Resistance of Thermal Protection Materials Considering Different Operating Environments

Weiguo Li,Dingyu Li,Ruzhuan Wang,Daining Fang

doi:10.1155/2013/324186

Weiguo Li, Dingyu Li + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1155/2013/324186

Copy DOI

Abstract

Based on the sensitivities of material properties to temperature and the complexity of service environment of thermal protection system on the spacecraft, ultrahigh-temperature ceramics (UHTCs), which are used as thermal protection materials, cannot simply consider thermal shock resistance (TSR) of the material its own but need to take the external constraint conditions and the thermal environment into full account. With the thermal shock numerical simulation on hafnium diboride (HfB2), a detailed study of the effects of the different external constraints and thermal environments on the TSR of UHTCs had been made. The influences of different initial temperatures, constraint strengths, and temperature change rates on the TSR of UHTCs are discussed. This study can provide a more intuitively visual understanding of the evolution of the TSR of UHTCs during actual operation conditions.

Highlights

Ultrahigh-temperature ceramics (UHTCs) is a family of materials that have melting points higher than 3000∘C and can be potentially used at temperatures above 2000∘C in an oxidizing environment
The current experiment is difficult to simulate the thermal environment and external constraint conditions suffered by the UHTCs in the actual operation and difficult to reveal the changes of the thermal shock resistance (TSR) of the thermal protection materials in the operating process
This paper provides some possible ways for the application design, improving the TSR and reliability of the thermal protection materials

Summary

Introduction

Ultrahigh-temperature ceramics (UHTCs) is a family of materials that have melting points higher than 3000∘C and can be potentially used at temperatures above 2000∘C in an oxidizing environment. The current experiment is difficult to simulate the thermal environment and external constraint conditions suffered by the UHTCs in the actual operation and difficult to reveal the changes of the TSR of the thermal protection materials in the operating process. Such experiments cannot meet the demand of comprehensively understanding the TSR of materials. The Scientific World Journal thermal environment on the TSR of the UHTC in detail through numerical simulation, due to the restrictions of current experiments and the lack of theories. This paper provides some possible ways for the application design, improving the TSR and reliability of the thermal protection materials

Finite Element Analysis Model

Results and Discussion

Conclusions