Materials Applications and Structural Concepts for Hypersonic Air-Induction Systems

Typical Mach 6 hypersonic cruise vehicle data are used to define temperature, loads, and criteria, and to identify potential materials and structural concepts for air-induction systems associated with a two-dimensional variable-geometry inlet. It was found that the superalloys can be used at temperatures below 1600 F for 500 hr of life to satisfy the requirements of all air-induction system areas, by cooling with liquid hydrogen. The thermostructural concepts found to be most attractive for use in inlet designs are radiation-cooled surface panels with an insulated substructure and regeneratively-cooled plates over surface panel structures supported by an insulated substructure.