Reentry Col John e Keesee MIT Dept of Aeronautics and Astronautics November 25 2003
Reentry Col John E. Keesee MIT Dept of Aeronautics and Astronautics November 25, 2003
Background An ICBM with a range of 6500 miles has a stagnation temperature of 12, 000F, 2000 of hotter than the surface of the sun Calculations showed that the optimum design for structural strength, resistance to heating, and free flight stability was a long, needle nosed reentry body But it would vaporize during reentry
Background • An ICBM with a range of 6500 miles has a stagnation temperature of 12,000 ºF, 2000 ºF hotter than the surface of the sun • Calculations showed that the optimum design for structural strength, resistance to heating, and free flight stability was a long, needle nosed reentry body – But it would vaporize during reentry
Background Harry julian allen proposed an alternate solution, using pencil and paper Contradicted 50 years of research Suggested a blunt body would better put more of the heat the air and less into the body Strong bow shockwave
Background • Harry Julian Allen proposed an alternate solution, using pencil and paper – Contradicted 50 years of research – Suggested a blunt body would better put more of the heat the air and less into the body – Strong bow shockwave
Background Still needed unusual materials to survive the extreme heating conditions Heat sinks Copper, tungsten, molybdenum, beryllium · Shuttle ablators Teflon, nylon, fiberglass Mercury, Gemini, apollo, IcBMs
Background • Still needed unusual materials to survive the extreme heating conditions – Heat sinks • Copper, tungsten, molybdenum, beryllium • Shuttle – Ablators • Teflon, nylon, fiberglass • Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, ICBMs
Thermal barrier KE=-my2 2 Material Energy to Melting Vaporize Temperature BTU/b R Tungsten 1870 6500 Titanium 3865 3700 Beryllium oxide13, 400 2900 Graphite 28,700 6800
Thermal Barrier 2 2 1 2 2 c c V m Q KE mV Q = = = Material Energy to Vaporize BTU/lb Melting Temperature ºR Tungsten 1870 6500 Titanium 3865 3700 Beryllium oxi d e 13,400 2900 Graphite 28,700 6800