Morphing ceramic composite components for hypersonic wind tunnel

An apparatus comprising:

• a flexible fiber-reinforced ceramic composite, comprising:
• a fiber preform having a plurality of anchors integrally formed therein;
• and
• a ceramic matrix infused within the fiber preform, wherein the plurality of anchors extend through a thickness of the flexible ceramic matrix;
• wherein the flexible fiber-reinforced ceramic composite defines a three-dimensional flowpath having a cross-section, wherein the cross-section is variable along the length of the flowpath;
• and
• at least one actuator coupled to the plurality of anchors, wherein the at least one actuator is actuatable to vary the cross-section of the flowpath.

A variable speed wind tunnel comprising:

• an entry section configured to couple to an air source;
• an exit section comprising a testing section;
• and
• a morphable three-dimensional throat coupling the entry path and the exit path, wherein the morphable three-dimensional throat is configured to provide a continuously variable air flow speed from the entry section to the exit section, and wherein the morphable three-dimensional throat comprises:
• a flexible fiber-reinforced ceramic composite, comprising:
• a fiber preform having a plurality of anchors integrally formed therein;
• and
• a ceramic matrix infused within the fiber preform, wherein the plurality of anchors extend through a thickness of the flexible ceramic matrix;
• wherein the flexible fiber-reinforced ceramic composite defines a three-dimensional flowpath having a cross-section, and wherein the cross-section is variable along the length of the flowpath;
• and
• at least one actuator coupled to the plurality of anchors, wherein the at least one actuator is actuatable to vary the cross-section of the flowpath.