Three-Dimensional Model for Erosion of a Hall-Effect Thruster Discharge Channel Wall

Autor:	Julian J. Rimoli, Mitchell L. R. Walker, Aaron M. Schinder
Rok vydání:	2014
Předmět:	Materials science Ion beam Mechanical Engineering Aerospace Engineering Plasma Surface finish Mechanics Microstructure Fuel Technology Space and Planetary Science Sputtering Phase (matter) Forensic engineering Surface roughness Erosion
Zdroj:	Journal of Propulsion and Power. 30:1373-1382
ISSN:	1533-3876 0748-4658
Popis:	The erosion of the channel wall in Hall-effect thrusters limits the maximum thruster operating lifetime. Hall-effect thruster channel wall materials are often binary composites of BN and SiO2. The heterogeneity of the material drives the development of complex surface features and roughness during the erosion process. A three-dimensional model of the atomic sputtering of a heterogeneous material is developed. The model investigates, through a ray-tracing technique and empirical erosion rate models of each phase, the interaction between the plasma and the material microstructure. Simulated surface profiles are compared with experimental data collected from the eroded channel wall of the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory/University of Michigan P5 Hall-effect thruster. The channel wall is composed of M26, a BN-SiO2 composite material. Simulated surface features and roughnesses for an ion incidence angle of 30 deg resemble those observed through scanning electron microscopy and optical profilometry of the P5...
Databáze:	OpenAIRE
Externí odkaz:	https://explore.openaire.eu/search/publication?articleId=doi_________::3efd8af17d48a14441becb3a1abfb970 https://doi.org/10.2514/1.b35098 Zobrazit plný text záznamu