Abstract:
We will discuss unique experiments using synchrotron X-ray micro-tomography that resolved for the first time the carbon fiber ablation process with temporal and spatial resolution. We will discuss how these experiments help us understanding oxidation regimes experienced by thermal protection systems during hypersonic flight and how they enable developing physics-based models for ablative materials.
About the speaker:
Francesco Panerai is an Assistant Professor in Aerospace Engineering. Prior to Illinois, he was a research scientist at NASA Ames and a PhD student at VKI. His research concentrates on watching how things burn at very high temperatures.