Preliminary design of a high enthalpy plasma tunnel for atmospheric re-entry research

The following thesis discusses the conceptual design of the Plasmatron One wind tunnel at the Center for Hypersonics and Entry Systems Studies (CHESS) at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign (UIUC). The centerpiece of the facility is an Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP) torch capable of recreating flow conditions similar to what reentering spacecraft experience when passing through the atmosphere. The purpose of this facility is to experimentally study the physics of plasma flows, their interactions with a downstream sample of thermal protection material, and the response of the material as it is exposed to high reactive, high-temperature flow. The data collected from the experiments conducted at the facility will be used to verify computer models as well as material performance characteristics. This thesis describes the preliminary design process and its respective considerations as well as the goals of the facility and how they were achieved through various design features.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.S.

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Aerospace Engineering

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2021

Author dc:creator

• Czop, Matthew Mark

Contributors dc:contributor

• Panerai, Francesco

• Atmospheric Re-entry
• Inductively Coupled Plasma
• Thermal Protection System
• Material Testing

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2021 Matthew Czop

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/110605

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/110605