Numerical Analysis and Wind Tunnel Validation of Low-Temperature Ablators undergoing Shape Change

•Low-temperature ablators can be used for the design of re-entry capsule thermal protection systems.•Camphor is preferred over naphthalene due to its thermophysical properties which prevent melting and maximize shape change.•The validated numerical approach couples CFD analysis with model ablation and mesh evolution.•The Phoebus capsule geometry is chosen as reference for the experimental test campaign through a numerical trade-off.•Numerical rebuilding of experimental results with H-3 blow-down hypersonic wind tunnel conditions is satisfactory.