Study of Cavity Geometry to Improve Optical Quality of Windows in Hypersonic Flow

The optical quality of the window-air system of a flight vehicle in hypersonic flow is simulated. The optical distortion of the window-air system is the metric of merit. Within the earth’s atmosphere, vehicles at hypersonic speeds may generate viscous and high-temperature thermal boundary layers. These boundary layers induce a nonuniform displacement of temperature, density, and fluid velocity over the window-sensor system leading to a degradation of optical quality of the system. The heat f lux into the system is simulated for various geometries (length-to-depth ratios). Computer-simulated flow fields and time-development of different measures of optical quality are produced using US3D. Conjugate heat transfer is used for simulation of solid temperature development, with materials Aluminum-6061 for the vehicle solid (frame) and Sapphire (Al₂O₃) for the window. Optimal window-air system configurations are discussed for a Mach 7 vehicle at 20 km.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2024

Author dc:creator

• Schofield, Matthew

Advisors dc:contributor.advisor

• Harris, Wesley
• Huang, Arthur

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted
• Copyright retained by author(s)

Licence dc:rights.uri

• https://rightsstatements.org/page/InC-EDU/1.0/

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/155422

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/155422