Hypersonics
Hypersonic vehicles travel faster than five times the speed of sound (about 3,500 mph) and are used to deliver tactical and strategic payloads. The very high speed generates physical phenomena that are unique to hypersonic vehicles such as chemistry, plasma, and ablation. NSI hypersonic research capabilities involve a suite of computational tools for analysis of:
- High enthalpy flows and gas-phase chemistry including plasma, turbulence, and radiation
- TPS material response including detailed surface chemistry processes such as ablation
- Thermal management approaches covering both passive and active cooling concepts
- Complex flow structure modeling such as shock-shock or jet-flow interactions
- Trajectory optimization
- Propulsion and energy systems
- Electromagnetic vehicle signatures and communications blackout
Missions: Strike, defense, ISR
Challenges: Strongly coupled physics materials, testing, validation
CU Strengths: Aerothermodynamics, high-temperature materials, structures, GNC