On the Analysis of Full-Spectrum k-Distribution Databases for Thermal Radiation in Shock Waves Within CO₂-Rich Atmospheres

Future interplanetary missions encourage the investigation of fast and reliable methods to estimate the radiative heat loads on space vehicles for a better design of their thermal protection systems. Shock waves around entering blunt bodies cause highly nonhomogenous fields under thermal non-equilibrium conditions. The calculations of such radiative flows imply large computational times, often forcing the reduction of the analysis to one dimension. Investigations propose the k-distribution approach as an improvement in calculation times while delivering reliable results, allowing full flow field calculations. This work presents an approach of the method to thermal non-equilibrium regimes at entry conditions into Mars atmosphere. The full-spectrum k-distribution method and its coupling with the NSMB flow solver are briefly described. A description of the k-distribution database and its particularities for shock wave applications is given. A first sensitivity analysis of the database parameters shows good results compared to exact methods, which motivate future investigations on its applications.