A numerical study has been conducted to assess the effects of thermochemical modeling and surface catalyticity on the design of a Crew Return Vehicle reentering from Low Earth Orbit. The effects of: complexity of chemical models, kinetics of reactions, vibrational relaxation, and wall reaction mechanism on vehicle aerothermodynamics and aerodynamics, and on some flowfield features, are highlighted. Several numerical results, between perfect and non-equilibrium reacting gas approximations, are provided and compared to establish the model influence on aerodynamic performances (lift, drag, pitching moment and trim angle of attack) and aerothermodynamic performance (convective heat flux distribution on the vehicle forebody heat shield). These parameters are of primary relevance for the design of reentry trajectory and vehicle thermal protection system; for the latter, in particular, it is pointed out the role played by the surface catalyticity on the vehicle thermal load. In this framework, a possible Earth-entry scenario for the proposed capsule-type vehicle is reported and analyzed; Euler and Navier-Stokes computations have been performed, both in trajectory-based and space-based design approaches.
展开▼
