Preliminary tests for an intelligent thermal protection system for space vehicles

Antonio Paolozzi; Ferdinando Felli; Teodore Valente; Michele Arturo Caponero; Mario Tului

doi:10.1117/12.424402

6 April 2001 Preliminary tests for an intelligent thermal protection system for space vehicles

Antonio Paolozzi, Ferdinando Felli, Teodore Valente, Michele Arturo Caponero, Mario Tului

Proceedings Volume 4234, Smart Materials; (2001) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.424402
Event: Smart Materials and MEMS, 2000, Melbourne, Australia

Abstract

Re-entry in planetary atmospheres is one of the most challenging environments to be faced by an aerospace structure. Presently space agencies are studying and developing programs to reduce launch costs by developing a new generation reusable launch vehicles. In fact a significant portion of the launch cost, for those vehicles, is represented by maintenance, non destructive testing and personnel involved in ground operations. For instance NASA and Lockeed Martin are leading the VentureStar program, where the real time health monitoring is considered an important aspect, while ESA has now finished a preliminary analysis for different reusable launch vehicle configurations. Fiber optic sensors which can be embedded into structural components can provide an efficient means for fast and reliable structural health monitoring. In this paper the possibility of embedding fiber optic sensors into materials subjected to particularly critical thermal treatments is verified. Several specimens of metal alloys and carbide based powders with embedded optical fibers have been prepared by the high pressure high velocity oxy fuel technique. The tests have proven the feasibility of the embedding with the above mentioned technology which exposes the fibers to quite a severe environment during the deposition. Micrographic analysis and optical transmission tests have been carried out on the sprayed specimens.

Citation Download Citation

Antonio Paolozzi, Ferdinando Felli, Teodore Valente, Michele Arturo Caponero, and Mario Tului "Preliminary tests for an intelligent thermal protection system for space vehicles", Proc. SPIE 4234, Smart Materials, (6 April 2001); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.424402

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