Study of the thermal/thermodynamic performance of a bionic flat heat pipe designed to integrate thermal management and bearing capacity

When a hypersonic vehicle is flying at high speed, its rudder wing is subjected to severe aerodynamic thermal loads. In this paper, to meet thermal protection and load-bearing requirements during flight, a novel structure that integrates thermal management and carrying capacity is designed. A novel bionic flat heat pipe structure for integrating thermal management and bearing capacity requirements is designed using a beetle sheath wing as a biological template, and the thermal and mechanical performance of the structure is analysed. The interior consists of a 6061 aluminium bionic core covered with a nickel foam wick, and water is used as the working fluid. Ground tests are performed to verify the accuracy of the simulation results. The results show that the bionic flat heat pipe structure has a superior isotherm and bearing capacity, and the experimental data and finite analysis model results are in good agreement.