In the frame of the work package fully dedicated to the design and development of the flexible thermal protection system (F-TPS) for ICARUS re-entry demonstrator, CIRA (Italian Aerospace Research Center), design authority of the F-TPS, executed the Furnace test campaign.
This dedicated test effort, performed at CIRA premises in Spring 2025, aimed at the verification of the thermal properties and performances of the various F-TPS layup materials adopted in the design configuration. Test outcomes allowed to refine the numerical modelling and confirm the design solutions adopted in the ICARUS project.
Furnace tests
- Evaluate the insulating performances and degradation of actual F-TPS stack up at high temperature and room pressure.
Furnace setup
- The Furnace: a high-performance device designed and built at CIRA specifically for this type of test on HT insulating materials.
- The Test article produced by Insul.Tecno Group (https://insultecno.com/).
- External data acquisition system:
- Omega thermocouples data acquisition system;
- Infrared thermal camera.
Furnace (left) – Test article (right)
Test
- A total of nine tests were carried out to evaluate the insulating capability of the stack-up and to assess the reaction of the F-TPS layer under different sample configurations.
- The test campaign explored multiple material combinations and thicknesses, including Nextel (as outer heat protecting layer), Sigratherm (as insulation layer), Kevlar, Kapton, and Silicone as representative of the underneath inflatable structure.
Outcomes
- Thermal testing up to 600-700°C confirmed the robust performance and stability of the F-TPS with only minor changes in appearance and mechanical properties.
- Here below video-footages of the behaviour of the material layup reaction to the heating ramp-up.
Test #6
Test #9
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