← All publications

Vascular Transpiration in a Carbon-Carbon Composite Leading Edge

Olima M, Latheef MA, LePage W, Ramsurn H, Keller MW

AIAA AVIATION 2026 Forum (2026)

Version of recordDownload PDF

Underlined names indicate AMDG researchers.

Abstract

Carbon-carbon (C/C) composites are among the few structural materials capable of surviving the aerothermal environment of hypersonic flight, yet integrating active cooling into a monolithic C/C leading edge without thermal expansion mismatch, assembly complexity and flow impingement has not previously been demonstrated. Heat pipe embedded C/C structures are constrained by coefficient of thermal expansion mismatch, while porous transpiration-cooled designs exhibit poor coolant outflow at the stagnation point, which is the region of highest heat flux. This paper presents the fabrication of a 2D laminate C/C composite leading edge incorporating integrated vascular coolant channels and engineered interconnected porosity within a 3 mm shell for dual mode active cooling. The 0.4 mm diameter vascular channels were formed using a Vaporization of Sacrificial Component (VaSC) approach and survived densification cycle without blockage. Schlieren imaging under argon flow at 1000 psi supply pressure on a representative piece demonstrated a continuous coherent surface film, with a steady 400 psi outlet pressure confirming sustained transpiration through the porous matrix.

BibTeX

@inproceedings{2026_olima_vascular_transpiration,
  title     = {Vascular Transpiration in a Carbon-Carbon Composite Leading Edge},
  author    = {Olima M and Latheef MA and LePage W and Ramsurn H and Keller MW},
  booktitle = {AIAA AVIATION 2026 Forum},
  year      = {2026},
  doi       = {10.2514/6.2026-4436},
}

Vancouver

Olima M, Latheef MA, LePage W, Ramsurn H, Keller MW. Vascular Transpiration in a Carbon-Carbon Composite Leading Edge. AIAA AVIATION Forum. 2026. doi:10.2514/6.2026-4436

Version and rights

The file posted here is the accepted manuscript — the peer-reviewed text, before the publisher's copyediting and typesetting. Its content matches the version of record; its appearance does not. Please cite the version of record at the DOI above.

Copyright © 2026 by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Inc. This is the accepted version; the Version of Record is available at https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2026-4436.