Author Topic: RCC vs PICA for shuttle leading wing edge TPS  (Read 3807 times)

Offline 8900

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RCC vs PICA for shuttle leading wing edge TPS
« on: 01/20/2009 08:15 am »
anyone has an idea whether PICA provides better mechanical strength when compared with RCC panels?

Offline tnphysics

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Re: RCC vs PICA for shuttle leading wing edge TPS
« Reply #1 on: 01/20/2009 11:40 am »
don't know, but PICA is an ablative.

Offline Jim

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Re: RCC vs PICA for shuttle leading wing edge TPS
« Reply #2 on: 01/20/2009 11:48 am »
anyone has an idea whether PICA provides better mechanical strength when compared with RCC panels?

PICA is ablative, so no

Offline Bejowawo

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Re: RCC vs PICA for shuttle leading wing edge TPS
« Reply #3 on: 01/20/2009 11:52 am »
From what I understand, RCC is compareable to ceramics, there very susceptible to bending stress (bending as well as compressive stress is induced when something hits the wing leading edge's RCC).
PICA (Phenolic Impregnated Carbon Ablator) doesn't seem to me to exhibit ceramic behaviour therefore I would think that PICA provides more mechanical strength.


Offline 8900

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Re: RCC vs PICA for shuttle leading wing edge TPS
« Reply #4 on: 01/20/2009 12:12 pm »
anyone has an idea whether PICA provides better mechanical strength when compared with RCC panels?

PICA is ablative, so no
what if the shuttle TPS was ablative? Is it possible?

Offline kevin-rf

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Re: RCC vs PICA for shuttle leading wing edge TPS
« Reply #5 on: 01/20/2009 12:48 pm »
what if the shuttle TPS was ablative? Is it possible?

They had problems with them on the X-15 program. The one they used on the X-15 charred and greatly increased the drag on the vehicle.
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Offline starbird

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Re: RCC vs PICA for shuttle leading wing edge TPS
« Reply #6 on: 01/20/2009 12:58 pm »
anyone has an idea whether PICA provides better mechanical strength when compared with RCC panels?

PICA is ablative, so no
what if the shuttle TPS was ablative? Is it possible?

They were looking at using ablative on lifting bodies, so I think it would've been possible to use on the shuttle. The problem is that your lift comes from the shape of the wings. Once the material starts to oblate, your airfoil changes, its not possible to tell exactly what you have or what you will end up with when you try to land. The leading edge of the airfoil is important to keep clean, or the air flow will trip early, resulting in loss of lift.

I guess it would be similar to having ice build up on the leading edge of a wing. Even a small amount is hazardous.


Offline mlorrey

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Re: RCC vs PICA for shuttle leading wing edge TPS
« Reply #7 on: 01/23/2009 01:53 am »
anyone has an idea whether PICA provides better mechanical strength when compared with RCC panels?

PICA is ablative, so no
what if the shuttle TPS was ablative? Is it possible?

They'd do far better to use SHARP materials (zirconium diboride and hafnium diboride) which is what is used for steering fins on MIRVs. They can handle Mach 11 at 100,000 ft and mach 7 at sea level without issues, do not have the oxidization issues RCC has, and is more structurally useful.
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