• Journal of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.115-124
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• 2018

Thermal protection materials (TPMs) are very crucial for the survival of any re-entry space vehicles. One of the systems used for rigorous validation of TPMs is an enhanced Huel type segmented arc-heated plasma wind tunnel. A 0.4 MW class arc-heated plasma wind tunnel has been constructed at Chonbuk National University which is capable of producing high enthalpy supersonic flow. In this paper we have studied the characteristics of plasma flow according to power and mass flow parameters.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.43 no.12
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• pp.1048-1053
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• 2015

Ablative materials in a thermal protection system for atmospheric re-entry suffers from the most severe heat fluxes and temperatures, which induces surface recession in the thickness direction. In this paper, a 0.4MW arc-heated wind tunnel is operated to test for ablative materials, and a non-contact three-dimensional surface measuring system is used to evaluate the different surface characteristics of them. In particular, by postprocessing the three-dimensional image data, the surface roughness and recession of ablative materials can be calculated before and after the wind tunnel test. Moreover, the surface properties are analyzed quantitatively by comparing volume and mass losses of the test specimens.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.61-70
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• 2019

A primary investigation on the underexpanded flow generated in a 0.4 MW class high enthalpy supersonic arc-heated plasma wind tunnel is conducted experimentally. The diameter and the position of the Mach disk from the nozzle exit is measured for overall pressure ratios ranging from 200 to 30. The empirical correlations for Mach disk diameter and position are determined which show very good agreement with experimental results.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2016.02a
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• pp.222.1-222.1
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• 2016

전북대학교 고온플라즈마응용센터에 구축된 0.4 MW 급 분절형 아크 가열 풍동은 초음속 비행과 우주 비행체의 지구 재진입 조건에서의 유사한 환경 모사가 가능하다. 극한상황에서의 고엔탈피 플라즈마 유동은 내열재료의 삭마 거동 연구와 고온재료의 성능평가에 중요한 역할을 수행 할 수 있다. 이러한 고엔탈피 초음속 플라즈마 유동장의 플라즈마 특성 평가 및 진단은 플라즈마와 내열재료의 상호작용 연구에 중요한 변수를 갖는다. 이를 위해 열유속 탐침, 쐐기 탐침, 고속 카메라 및 광분광기 등의 측정장비를 사용하여 열유속, 초음속 플라즈마의 속도, 플라즈마의 방전특성을 관찰하였다. 본 실험에서 사용된 분절형 아크 토치는 마하 3의 속도 유지하기 위해 토치 내부 압력 4 bar, 반응기 압력 40 mbar를 유지하였다. 토치에 공급되는 Ar(5%)+Air(95%)의 방전기체의 유량은 15 g/s 로 토치에 주입 되었다. 또한, 플라즈마 토치에 가해지는 입력전류는 200A ~ 350A로 10MJ/kg 이상의 엔탈피를 갖는 초음속 플라즈마 유동을 형성하였다.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.46 no.9
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• pp.735-741
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• 2018

In this paper, the surface recession of ablative materials was quantitatively analyzed using a high-speed camera and a three-dimensional profilometer. The ablation tests of the graphite and carbon/phenolic composite samples were performed using a 0.4 MW arc-heated wind tunnel for simulating the atmospheric re-entry environment. The real-time images during the ablation test were captured by the high-speed camera, and analyzed to calculate the surface recession and recession rate. Also, the surface data of samples were obtained using a three-dimensional profilometer, and the surface recession was precisely calculated from the difference of height between the surface data before and after the test. It is effective to complement the two measurement results in the comprehensive analysis of surface recession phenomena.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.47 no.9
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• pp.642-648
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• 2019

In this study, Image-based computational analysis using the developed models was performed to predict the degradation of effective properties by ablation. The ablation tests of carbon/phenolic composites were performed using a 0.4 MW arc-heated wind tunnel. The carbon/phenolic composite samples were scanned using the micro-computed tomography (Micro-CT) to analyze the ablation characteristics according to a duration time of the ablation test. By calibrating the scanned images, computational models were developed that reflect the actual microstructure of the ablation composites. Also, nine computational models that reflect the actual pore shape were developed using the created cross-sectional images. Image-based computational analysis using the developed models was performed to predict the degradation of effective properties by ablation and the decrease of effective properties was confirmed with increase of porosity.