Numerical and Experimental Analysis of the Interactions of Carbon and Chemically Reaction Pyrolysis Gas

For extra-orbital missions, ablative materials have always been, and still remain, the primary choice for the design of atmospheric re-entry heat shields. Because of the many uncertainties associated with the usage of such material in complex aerothermal flow environments, it is important to understand and quantify the effects of the phenomena at play. This seminar presents an overview of the recent and ongoing research activities at the University of Kentucky that pertain to ablation. More specifically, the topics discussed will touch upon the combined effects of roughness and blowing on turbulence, the coupling of material response, CFD and radiation transport codes, the effects of surface catalysis, the importance of non-equilibrium chemistry on the composition of the pyrolysis gas, modeling spallation effects and the nanoscale oxidation of carbon preform matrix.