Triton Systems proposes to develop a high-fidelity software model to simulate performance of a Thermal Protection System (TPS) for a Hypersonic Weapon with intent to integrate the software into a real-time test architecture with a hardware-in-the-loop framework. The model will be informed and validated with experimental data of a real TPS material coupon and include inputs of vehicle kinematics and TPS material properties. The software will output performance of the TPS material in a realistic hypersonic aerodynamic environment. During Phase I, Tritons approach will focus on three key objectives: developing a framework for the software simulation of a TPS in a hypersonic environment, developing a test plan for TPS materials to characterize them for input into the software simulation, and developing an integration architecture with the Navy test system. During Phase II, the software will be refined with a goal of initial interface with the Navys test system and material characterization tests will be completed on TPS coupons.
Benefit: The innovations developed under this SBIR would be useful for several applications which require accurate, rapid modeling of TPS materials in a hypersonic regime. Hypersonic platforms such as weapon systems, re-entry vehicles and test sleds would benefit from a faster and more accurate model of material behavior in realistic hypersonic aerodynamic environments. Furthermore, a test method to reliably characterize high-temperature-resistant materials will improve the efficiency of any hypersonic test platform both DoD and non DoD.
Keywords: Hardware-in-the-Loop, Hardware-in-the-Loop, System Level Test Architecture,, Hypersonics, Modeling and Simulation, software, real-time, Thermal protection system
