Thermal/vibration joint experimental investigation on lightweight ceramic insulating material for hypersonic vehicles in extremely high-temperature environment up to 1500 °C

Abstract Conducting a ground thermal/vibration joint test of thermal protection materials in extremely high-temperature environments is important for the safety and reliability design of hypersonic vehicles. This study establishes a joint high-temperature and vibration environment and attempts to solve the problem of accurately measuring and controlling the surface temperature of lightweight porous insulating materials under strong vibrations. By employing a water-cooled insulation device to protect the expensive vibration excitation equipment, a joint heat/vibration test of lightweight thermal protection materials for hypersonic vehicles in a high-temperature environment of 1500 °C is conducted. The fracture morphology and cracked section properties of the non-metallic insulating ceramic fibreboard are obtained. The material is subsequently improved based on test results, such as apparent and microscopic changes in the material and changes in the internal binder before and after the test. After a simulation test, the material demonstrated that it satisfied the usage requirements. The thermal/vibration joint test system and test results under an extremely high-temperature environment of 1500 °C provide important support for evaluating the anti-vibration capability, determining the thermal insulation effect, and improving the material properties of thermal protection materials for long-range hypersonic vehicles.