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Completed TRL 2 (started at 2, targeting 3)
The proposed research analyzes the fracture toughness of amorphous carbon and develops the material through atomic-scale modeling in order to improve the fracture properties. The main cause of structural failure in PICA heat shields is in the binder between carbon fibers, which is an amorphous carbon material. Thermal protection systems must withstand intense thermal effects as well as shear and normal forces, all while minimizing weight. Therefore, it is desirable to develop amorphous carbon materials, which are lightweight and possess good thermal properties, and improve upon their structural characteristics to minimize failure. The proposed work includes verification of the simulated material, followed by comprehensive fracture analysis to determine fracture toughness, as well as the structural characteristics which correspond to crack initiation and propagation. Once fracture of the amorphous carbon is fully understood, the simulation will be scaled from nanoscale to experimental sizes, and real effects and realistic geometries will be analyzed. Additional methods of increasing fracture toughness will also be explored, such as introducing impurities, like silicon, to the carbon structure. The goal of this research is to be able to predict the mechanical response of amorphous carbon in PICA and ultimately prevent failure from occurring during ascent through or entry into an atmosphere.
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