Ablation behaviour of carbon fibre ultra-high temperature composites at oblique angles of attack

Oxyacetylene torch testing was performed at a range of angles of attack on C-f/ZrB2-SiC-Y2O3 composites, from 10 degrees to 90 degrees. The ablation behaviour was studied in-situ with thermography, and the postablation morphologies investigated optically and with elemental analysis. Significantly lower surface temperatures were observed at oblique angles of attack leading to less damage in terms of both oxidation extent and material removal. Rudimentary modelling of a gas stream impinging on a perfect surface showed that the angular variation also led to a significant drop in pressure at more oblique angles of attack, with a commensurate increase in shear stress. The surface oxide formed during testing seemed mainly to correspond to the temperature distribution and was apparently more susceptible to damage from higher impinging pressure than shear stress. This study elucidated some interesting aspects of a modified ablation test and showed some new parameter ranges which may be useful in targeted material screening. (C) 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Automated summary

During oxyacetylene torch testing on C-f/ZrB2-SiC-Y2O3 composites at various angles of attack, it was found that lower surface temperatures at oblique angles led to less damage in terms of oxidation extent and material removal. The study also showed a significant drop in pressure and increase in shear stress at more oblique angles of attack, affecting the surface oxide formation and susceptibility to damage.