The Center for Predictive Engineering and Computational Sciences Center (PECOS) was located at the University of Texas and was funded by the Department of Energy under the Predictive Science Academic Alliance Program. The purpose of the center was to develop the next generation of advanced computational methods for predictive simulation of multiscale, multiphysics phenomena, and to apply these methods to the problem of reentry of vehicles into the atmosphere. The primary goal of the PECOS project was to computationally predict whether a space vehicle will survive the reentry process and to accurately estimate the uncertainty associated with that prediction.
CLASS was a partner with the University of Texas in PECOS. Modeling of ablation process is every complex, requiring the simultaneous solution of hypersonic fluid flow equations, radiation transport equations, and chemical kinetics equations. Faculty and student members of CLASS developed numerical methods for modeling of the infrared radiation generated in the bow shock at temperatures on the order of 11,500 degrees Kelvin. This radiation propagates to the ablation surface where it is absorbed, contributing to the ablation process.
