Development of CMC Body Flaps for Future re-Entry Vehicles
- Paper number
IAC-07-C2.4.01
- Author
Mr. Armin Steinacher, MT Aerospace AG, Germany
- Coauthor
Mr. Stefan Weiland, MT Aerospace AG, Germany
- Coauthor
Dr. Harald Lange, MT Aerospace AG, Germany
- Year
2007
- Abstract
For the purpose of active flight control future re-entry vehicles are often designed to be equipped with moveable body flaps. Since several years MT Aerospace pushes forward the development of such kind of control surfaces made of C/SiC (carbon fiber reinforced silicium carbide), that is a promising structural material to sustain the expected high thermal loads leading locally to temperatures up to 1800°C. For the example of the currently developed application for the PRE-X vehicle the paper addresses principle items that drive the design and justification of C/SiC flaps. Firstly general design characteristics are discussed including appropriate concepts for the mechanical interfaces to the vehicle, the rotational support of the flap and the lay-out of the flap structure itself. Secondly critical items concerning the justification are outlined. These primarily concern the risk of material degradation due to passive and active oxidation as well as the fulfil of both mass and stiffness requirements. Thirdly the presently favoured design is assessed with respect to the currently achieved technology readiness levels of the involved technologies which comprise e.g. manufacture, high temperature bearings, seals and fasteners. Finally the future development and qualification approach that is envisaged to achieve flight readiness of the hardware is described
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-07-C2.4.01.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
To get the manuscript, please contact IAF Secretariat.