Numerical investigation of mesoscopic volumetric ablation of 3D braided charring composites

Owing to the complex mesoscopic structures, 3D braided charring composites for the thermal protection system (TPS) have the multi-scale and multi-physical high-temperature responses. The mesoscopic features can significantly affect the volumetric ablative behavior of the braided composites, which will be essential for the TPS design. To take into account the effect of mesoscopic structures on the volume ablation response, the thermo-physical properties of constituents within the braided composites are predicted using asymptotic averaging method. The volumetric ablation model of the braided composites considering the mesoscopic structures is proposed, which is calculated by finite volume method with a tightly coupled solving process. The effect of braid angles on the volumetric ablation responses of the braided composites are investigated. The maximum back temperature and the peak inner pressure of the braided composites decrease with the increase of the braid angle. The isothermal and isobaric surfaces of the braided composites under volumetric ablation exhibit complex characteristics and are not perpendicular to the heating direction, which may induce the complex thermal stress field within the composites. The study on mesoscopic volume ablation may be helpful to accurately predicting the ablation responses and guiding the material design of the braided charring composites.