Abstract: A reusable phase change material (PCM) heat shield is disclosed. The heat shield comprises: a thermally conductive casing, PCM, thermally conductive open cell foam, and heat pipes. The heat flows through the casing and open cell foam into the PCM, heating it up. The PCM changes phase twice, from solid to liquid. During the solid liquid phase change, heat pipes begin to draw heat away from the PCM to a secondary location that re-radiates the heat away. The open cell foam serves to help channel hear into the PCM. In one embodiment, the PCM heat shield can be used for thermal protection of an atmospheric entry vehicle (ARV). In another, the PCM heat shield may be applied to an aircraft engine to transfer extracted heat to preheat incoming air. In another, the PCM heat shield is integrated into the structure of a spacecraft, and used to both carry loads and protect against high temperatures.

Abstract: A method for reducing drag, for a truck using a deturbulating device is disclosed, with the preferred form of the deturbulator being a flexible composite sheet.

Abstract: A method for reducing drag, increasing lift and heat transfer using a de-turbulating device is disclosed, with the preferred form of the deturbulator being a flexible composite sheet. The flexible composite sheet comprising a membrane, a substrate coupled to the membrane, and a plurality of ridges coupled between the membrane and the substrate, wherein a vibratory motion is induced from the flow to at least one segment of a membrane spanning a distances, wherein the vibratory motion is reflected from at least one segment of the membrane to the flow, and; wherein a reduction in fluctuations is caused in the flow pressure gradient and freestream velocity U at all frequencies except around f, where f>>U/s.

Abstract: A system to detect and control steady and unsteady boundary layer separation is provided. The system uses an array of transducers under a flexible wall over which the flow occurs. The system operates in two modes: a sensor mode and an actuator mode. In the sensor mode, transducers in the array are used as sensors to obtain a flow-induced wall pressure fluctuation signal characteristic to the incipient separation process. A controller uses the spatial location and frequency content of the sensed signals to determine the location and frequency of excitation needed to delay or defer the flow separation. In the actuator mode, transducers selected by the controller are excited at the aforementioned frequencies, typically immediately upstream of the separation point. This reattaches a separated flow or arrests the progression of separation from its incipient stages.