Analysis of fluid flow over a surface

An apparatus comprising:

• a processor unit;
• a memory;
• a storage device;
• and
• first program code for simulating a flow of a fluid over a surface of a model of a vehicle, wherein the surface has a plurality of surface elements;
• second program code for identifying heat radiated by the plurality of surface elements in response to the fluid flowing over the surface of the model;
• third program code for identifying an effect of the heat radiated by a portion of the plurality of surface elements on each other;
• and fourth program code for creating a model of the heat radiated by the vehicle using the heat radiated by the plurality of surface elements and by the effect of the heat radiated by the portion of the plurality of surface elements on the each other, wherein the first program code, the second program code, the third program code, and the fourth program code are stored on the storage device for processing by the processor unit via the memory.

A computer program product comprising:

• a computer readable storage medium;
• program code, stored on the computer readable storage medium, for simulating a flow of a fluid over a surface of a model of a structure, wherein the surface has a plurality of surface elements;
• program code, stored on the computer readable storage medium, for identifying heat radiated by the plurality of surface elements in response to the fluid flowing over the surface of the model of the structure;
• program code, stored on the computer readable storage medium, for identifying an effect of the heat radiated by at least a portion of the plurality of surface elements on each other;
• and
• program code, stored on the computer readable storage medium, for creating a model of the heat radiated by the structure using the heat radiated by the plurality of surface elements and the effect of the heat radiated by the at least a portion of the plurality of surface elements on the each other.

A method for manufacturing a thermal protection system, the method comprising:

• simulating a flow of a fluid over a surface of a model of a structure, wherein the surface has a plurality of surface elements, wherein the structure comprises the thermal protection system;
• identifying heat radiated by the plurality of surface elements in response to the fluid flowing over the surface of the model of the structure;
• identifying an effect of the heat radiated by at least a portion of the plurality of surface elements on each other;
• creating a model of the heat radiated by the structure using the heat radiated by the plurality of surface elements and the effect of the heat radiated by the at least a portion of the plurality of surface elements on the each other;
• determining whether the model of the thermal protection system has a desired response using the model of the heat radiated by the structure;
• and
• responsive to a determination that the model of the thermal protection system has the desired response, manufacturing the thermal protection system from the model of the structure.

An apparatus for identifying maintenance for a thermal protection system, the apparatus comprising:

• a processor unit configured to simulate a flow of a fluid over a surface of a model of a vehicle with the thermal protection system, wherein the surface has a plurality of surface elements;
• identify heat radiated by the plurality of surface elements in response to the fluid flowing over the surface of the model;
• identify an effect of the heat radiated by a portion of the plurality of surface elements on each other;
• create a model of the heat radiated by the vehicle using the heat radiated by the plurality of surface elements and by the effect of the heat radiated by the portion of the plurality of surface elements on the each other;
• determine whether the model of the heat radiated by the thermal protection system has a desired response;
• and identify the maintenance for the thermal protection system if the model does not have the desired response.