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IMENS/IMENS+

The IMENS nosecap model for measurement of thermo-mechanical deformation . Temperature distribution on the IMENS control surface model measured with an infrared camera . Simulation of the tests on the control surface model with TAU-ANSYS-coupling (A. Mack & R. Schäfer)

„Integrated multidisciplinary design for hot structures”

The thermo-mechanical behaviour of spacecraft components under high loads could only be predicted insufficiently. Therefore, high safety factors must be considered at the design stage. The coupling of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) codes and structure tools enable a realistic capture of thermo-mechanical fluid-structure-interactions and can thus remarkably improve the effectiveness and reliability of a simulation.

The coupled simulation models developed in the IMENS project were successfully validated in experiments on two generic configurations (control surfaces, nose cap). In addition, the follow-on project IMENS+ addresses the current problem areas “active cooling“ and “time accurate coupled simulation“.

Project objectives

• To develop a numerical simulation environment for coupled simulations of high enthalpy flow and structure. 
• To validate the simulation environment with dedicated experiments.
• To analyse flight configurations with coupled, numerical simulations.

Participating institutions

• DLR Institute for Aerodynamics and Flow Technology, Wind tunnel Department, Cologne (Project management, validation experiments)
• DLR Institute for Aerodynamics and Flow Technology, Spacecraft Department, Göttingen/Braunschweig
• DLR Institute for Structures and Design at Stuttgart
• DLR Department Simulation and Software Technology, Cologne-Porz /Braunschweig
• Institute of Aircraft design and light-weight structures, TU Braunschweig
• Institute of Fluid Mechanics, TU Braunschweig