Aerothermal databases and load predictions for Retro Propulsion-Assisted Launch Vehicles (RETALT)

Abstract The assessment of thermal loads occurring on reusable launch vehicles during the entire trajectory is essential for correct dimensioning protection system. Due to costs and limitations ground-based testing large-scale vehicles, these predictions rely intensively numerical simulations (CFD). need aero-thermal databases, as a fast-response surrogate model aero-thermodynamic heating, arises from practical impossibility performing unsteady CFD analysis over due large disparity fluid mechanical structural time scales. construction databases based representative set which cover, at minimum, flight regimes with significant loads. aim this paper analyse results both ascent atmospheric entry RETALT1 vehicle show typical flow field phenomena phases resulting heating patterns.