Ablation Radiation Coupling Investigation in Earth Re-entry Using Plasma Wind Tunnel Experiments

Abstract

An overview of a comprehensive experimental study to investigate ablative materials in a high enthalpy air plasma flows including radiation effects is given. Through the application of surface thermometry, in-situ recession measurements with photogrammetry, optical emission spectroscopy from vacuum-ultraviolet (120 nm) to near infrared wavelengths (950 nm), pyrometry and thermography, a complete set of data for the investigation of ablation radiation coupling has been acquired. The paper presents the background of this project, the suite of experimental setups and first results for a carbon preform sample and a cooled copper sample. All systems acquired data and first comparisons to chemical equilibrium calculations have been assessed.