The integrity and reusability of three flight-weight metallic and RSI thermal protection systems, designed for the Shuttle entry environment, have been demonstrated. Each model successfully survived over 23 entry thermal cycles without serious degradation. The metallic systems were more tolerant of the hostile environment and provided a higher degree of reusability than did the RSI. Thermal expansion slip joints of the metallic TPS successfully prevented hot gas ingress to the substructure. The RSI demonstrated high damage tolerance and field repairs increased its reusability. Heat-transfer tests to further assess RSI gap heating indicate that stacked tile orientations may impose a penalty on tile thickness. Parameters influencing RSI impingement heating were determined, and the heating data were correlated.
Performance of full size metallic and RSI thermal protection systems in a Mach 7 environment
AIAA, ASME, and SAE, Structures, Structural Dynamics, and Materials Conference ; 1975 ; Denver, CO
1975-05-01
Aufsatz (Konferenz)
Keine Angabe
Englisch