Carbon phenolic roll torque measurements using a two component skin friction balance

The objective of the current effort was to evaluate the reentry roll torque performance potential of the heatshield of a ballistic vehicle which has undergone exospheric nuclear damage. This damage causes the vehicle's heatshield to be rough on one side (i.e., with a velvet-like finish caused by phenolic removal and raised carbon fibers) and smooth on the other side. Roll torque performance of the heatshield specimens was established through a series of ground tests in ablation test and supersonic wind tunnel facilities. The roll torque performance was measured with a two component skin friction balance developed as part of this program. The balance was required to simultaneously resolve a side (torque) force of a fraction of a gram and which is more than an order of magnitude smaller than the axial force. This paper will describe details of the balance design and highlights of the results of these tests.