Oxidation of Hypervelocity Impacted Reinforced Carbon-Carbon

Results from arcjet tests conducted at the NASA Johnson Space Center on reinforced carbon-carbon samples subjected to hypervelocity impact are presented. The test specimens are representative of reinforced carbon-carbon component used on the Space Shuttle Orbiter. The arcjet testing established the oxidation characteristics of reinforced carbon-carbon when hypervelocity projectiles, simulating meteoroid/orbital debris, impact the reinforced carbon-carbon material. In addition, analytical modeling of the increased material oxidation in the impacted area, using measured hole growth data, to develop correlations for use in trajectory simulations is discussed. Entry flight simulations are useful in assessing the increased Space Shuttle reinforced carbon-carbon component degradation as a result of impact damage and the hot gas flow through an enlarging hole into the wing leading-edge cavity.