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Development of a Multifunctional Hot StructureHeat Shield concept has initiated with the goal to provide advanced technology with significant benefits compared to the current state of the art heat shield technology. The concept is unique in integrating the function of the thermal protection system with the primary load carrying structural component. An advanced carbon-carbon material system has been evaluated for the load carrying structure, which will be utilized on the outer surface of the heat shield, and thus will operate as a hot structure exposed to the severe aerodynamic heating associated with planetary entry. Flexible, highly efficient blanket insulation has been sized for use underneath the hot structure to maintain desired internal temperatures. The approach was to develop a preliminary design to demonstrate feasibility of the concept. The preliminary results indicate that the concept has the potential to save both mass and volume with significantly less recession compared to traditional heat shield designs, and thus provide potential to enable new planetary missions.

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Development of an Earth entry vehicle and the methodology created to evaluate the vehicle's impact landing response when returning to Earth is reported. NASA's future Mars Sample Return Mission requires a robust vehicle to return Martian samples back to Earth for analysis. The Earth entry vehicle is a proposed solution to this Mars mission requirement. During Earth reentry, the vehicle slows within the atmosphere and then impacts the ground at its terminal velocity. To protect the Martian samples, a spherical energy absorber called an impact sphere is under development. The impact sphere is composed of hybrid composite and crushable foam elements that endure large plastic deformations during impact and cause a highly nonlinear vehicle response. The developed analysis methodology captures a range of complex structural interactions and much of the failure physics that occurs during impact. Numerical models were created and benchmarked against experimental tests conducted at NASA Langley Research Center. The postimpact structural damage assessment showed close correlation between simulation predictions and experimental results. Acceleration, velocity, displacement, damage modes, and failure mechanisms were all effectively captured. These investigations demonstrate that the Earth entry vehicle has great potential in facilitating future sample return missions.

A multi-species/reacting combustion study was performed. The focus of the study was to quantify the effects of variation in air extraction and power rates on flame/outlet temperatures of a General Electric (GE), Frame 5 gas turbine. The environmental contamination level due to generation of carbon monoxide was also reported. GE, Frame 5 gas turbine has been widely used around the world for power generation, and as mechanical drives. The combustion products were examined throughout a range of air extraction rates, upon which it was determined that the combustion liners were susceptible to damage at air extraction rates above 10%, and the environmental contamination level due to carbon monoxide was increased. Furthermore, the gas flow exiting the combustion liner became non-homogeneous (i.e. a pocket of relatively hot gas formed in the middle of the flow path), which would cause damage to the downstream components. In conclusion, the short-term monetary gains from using compressed air from a gas turbine do not justify the costs of down time for repairs and the replacement of expensive hot-gas-path components.