A model for radiation driven ablation of carbon under low pressures

A model is presented for the prediction of carbon mass loss rates and surface temperatures subjected to extreme radiative heating conditions. The model incorporates translational nonequilibrium gas flow at the surface, sonic outflow constraint at the equilibrium gas phase state away from the surface, and in-depth heat conduction. The effects of surface irreversibilities and sonically limited transfer rates are incorporated into a new code which generates input for existing one- and two-dimensional in-depth ablation-conduction programs. Comparison of predictions with some experimental data confirms the accuracy of the model in predicting the surface temperature and recession for carbon at an intensity of 5 kW/sq cm.