Correlation and analysis of elevon seal test results

Abstract

The heating rate and pressure distributions in and around the elevon coves were correlated. An analytical approach incorporating such a correlation into a thermal structure computer code to examine the elevon seal and cover structure in flight was developed. Emphasis was placed on the design of a thermal model that predicts gas and wall temperatures in the cove area. The elevon cove area was modelled analytically by a parallel plate flow channel, incorporating effects of axial wall conduction, axial and environmental radiant energy exchanges, and effects of laminar and turbulent convection entrance regions. Comparisons were made between computed and measured values of (1) cove wall temperatures; (2) local gas temperature within the cove; and (3) local heating rates.