Spatial tailoring of a metal-ceramic composite panel subjected to high-speed flow

In this paper, an optimization-based computational framework for the spatial tailoring of a metal-ceramic composite panel subjected to high-speed flow is discussed. The framework includes the modeling, evaluation, and optimization of the spatial material grading and thermostructural response of the metal-ceramic composites over a wide range of temperatures. The framework relies on micromechanics and a finite-element analysis (FEA) of representative volume elements (RVEs) to obtain the overall elastic, thermoelastic, and thermal properties of the graded microstructure as functions of temperature and spatial position. The effective thermostructural response of the airframe is analyzed using the FEA. The time-dependent thermal and structural loads are representative of a characteristic high-speed trajectory. Optimal multivariable material distribution is determined numerically using a constrained sequential quadratic programming (SQP) method of surrogate models to evaluate the response at multiple design locations efficiently. Three example cases are presented to showcase the developed framework. In all three example cases, optimal material variation and panel thickness are found such that they reduce the section mass when compared to a benchmark titanium (Ti-6Al-4V) structural skin and Acusill II thermal protection system (TPS) solution. Furthermore, these studies demonstrate that the use of metal-ceramic spatially tailored materials makes excellent material choices for operation in the high-speed environment.