Improvement of Model Axial Control System for Ablation Rate Testing of Missile Nose Tips in RENT Facility.

摘要

This paper describes the functions, design and operation of the axial model positioning system for the Air Force Flight Dynamics Laboratory's Fifty Megawatt Re-Entry Nose Tip (RENT) Test Facility. This memorandum includes all improvements made to date. The axial model positioning system consists of five servo driven hydraulically operated model platforms which allow axial movement of the nose tip models. Several modes of operation are available including fixed position, heat sensor control and fixed velocity control. This system has proven itself to be most valuable in maintaining the position of the nose tip of an ablating model within the test rhombus at the nozzle exit of the arc heated flow. It is also used to simulate flight conditions as a function of time, for a reentry flight path by use of the ramp mode.