Numerical simulation of the thermoelastic response of metallic thermal protection panels is presented. The panels, which are being designed for use on the windward surface of the X-33 ight test vehicle, deform into convex and concave bowed surfaces due to thermal gradients caused by aerodynamicheating. Three numerical models, for the ow eld, for the in-depth heat transfer, and for the thermoelastic deformation, are coupled in sequence to yield the transient response of the metallic panel. The aerothermal loads are derived from computational uid dynamic solutions and are prescribed as a distributionfunction with maximumbow height as the governing parameter. Finite element models are used to simulate the thermal and structural responses. The coupled simulation is compared to a single-pass uncoupled solution. Results show negligible feedback between the structural deformation and the deformation-induced perturbation of the aerothermal heat load. Nevertheless, signi cant temperature variations on the surface of the panel are produced. The deformations induce lateral temperature gradients that increase the thermal stress within the panel. Finally, it is shown that panel bowing does not appreciably alter the trajectory integrated heat load. Nomenclature A = panel surface area A edge , A 1 , A 2 = distribution function parameters D 1 , E 1 , E 3 = distribution function parameters m end , m max , m min = correlation parameters q = heat ux N q = ratio of bowed surface heat ux to unbowed r = distribution function t = time, s a , b = distribution function continuity locations d = panel bow height, in. g = cross ow panel surface coordinate n = streamwise panel surface coordinate Subscripts bowed = deformed surface center = streamwise panel centerline edge = streamwise panel edge nominal = undeformed surface