Thermal Technologies

Mission

The Mission of Thermal Technologies Area is to develop a physics-based understanding of the effects of directed energy weapons, high speed flight, and atmospheric reentry on materials and aerospace structures.

Core Competencies

Core competencies include solid state physics, aerodynamics, heat transfer, chemistry, fluid flow, and visible and IR radiation sensor design

Current Research Thrusts Include:

• Directed Energy Weapon Lethality

- Sponsors: Navy, Air Force, Army, Joint Technology Office

- Objectives: Obtain effects data and develop modeling and simulation skills to analyze military and infrastructure targets.


• Modeling of Hypervelocity Flow around Reentering Bodies

- Sponsors: Navy, Air Force, Army, Joint Technology Office

- Objectives: Design of new reentry concepts.


• Laser Simulation of Severe Thermal Environments

- Sponsors: Navy, Air Force, Army, NASA

- Objectives: Test and evaluate new radome materials and solve material failure issues on aerospace vehicles.

Area Leadership

Dr. Hart Legner

The Thermal Technologies Area is currently being led by Dr. Hart Legner. Dr. Legner is a Senior Principal Research Scientist at PSI with over 39 years of experience in f luid and aerodynamics, heat transfer, materials research, directed energy effects and computer modeling.  In recent years, he has led the development of unique computer models such as the Directed Energy Weapon Analysis Tool (DEWAT), and its algorithm-based generalizations: LEWAT and RFWAT, to evaluate the effects of high-energy lasers and high-power microwaves on infrastructure and aerospace targets.  He has also utilized his expertise in flow physics and turbulence modeling to guide research in fragment tumbling aerodynamics, marine flow control and direct skin friction measurements utilizing optical coherence tomography (OCT).

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