Ariane 5 P230 SRM frontal thermal protection evolution: numerical simulation

In the present work a numerical study of Ariane 5 P230 SRM frontal thermal protection (PTF) will be presented. The study is conducted by means of a methodology, called EFSI (erosive-fluid-structure-interaction). The first test and tuning of the whole methodology (EFSI) is performed on the present configuration of PTF S3 of ARIANE 5 booster in the frame of Arta ESA/CNES program. Comparison of numerical results with experimental data, deduced from bench firing tests and recovered flight motors, shows an impressive agreement both in terms of averaged values (percentage difference lower than 1%) and in terms of dispersions (percentage difference lower than 6%). Finally, the EFSI methodology has been applied for the design of a new concept of PTF, called PTF 3D. In this case the EFSI methodology allowed making a prevision of final geometrical configuration. Preliminary comparison of numerical prevision with experimental data shows an impressive agreement.