Multidimensional assessment of modeling error in typical high-speed wind-tunnel heat-transfer data-reduction schemes

The modeling error induced by the combined factors of lateral high-speed wind-tunnel heal-flux distribution and multidimensional curvature for a specific geometry was investigated. A test series was conducted in the Arnold Engineering Development Center's Hypervelocity Wind Tunnel no. 9 (HVWT9) to measure laminar and turbulent conductive heat-transfer rates on a scaled model of NASA's Orion Crew Module. The surface temperature distribution is found to be visually similar to the applied heat-flux distribution. The depth to which the temperature profile has penetrated the model surface agrees qualitatively with dimensional analysis. A study of modeling-error shows that the minimum error occurs for the two acreage gauges, which is approximately ∓0.5%. The warmer substrate is found to be more resistive to heat flow than in the absence of the multidimensional conduction, thus requiring heat flux at the surface to affect the same response.