Recent Advances in Research on Solid Rocket Propulsion

Fabignon, Yves; Anthoine, J.; Davidenko, Dmitry; Devillers, Rodolphe; Dupays, Joel; Gueyffier, Denis; Hijlkema, Jouke; Lupoglazoff, Nicolas; Lamet, Jean-Michel; Tessé, Lionel; Guy, Andrew; Eradès, Charles

doi:10.12762/2016.al11-13

“…Solid rocket motors have superior characteristics, including a simple structure and high specific impulse. Accordingly, these motors are widely used in the aerospace field [1][2][3]. With the rapidly increasing demand for large-scale solid rocket motors, large propellant charges may affect the combustion chamber so unstable combustion frequently occurs in rocket motors.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Investigating the Acoustic Response Characteristics of a Solid Rocket Motor Combustor in High‐Temperature and High‐Pressure Environments

Chen

¹

,

Zhang

²

,

Xu

³

et al. 2022

Propellants Explo Pyrotec

1

0

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With the rapid development of aerospace technologies, coupling of pressure oscillations and unstable combustion in solid rocket motors has become a research hotspot in the past few years. In the present study, an experimental system is designed to investigate high-pressure flows subjected to acoustic excitation. Then cold flow experiments and numerical simulations are carried out with different acoustic excitation frequencies, different background pressures, and different ambient temperatures. The pressure oscillation characteristics and the acoustic response characteristics of the combustion chamber in a high-temperature and high-pressure combustion chamber are analyzed. It is found that the frequency of the pressure oscillation inside the combustion chamber and the output excitation frequency of the signal generator are the same. When the excitation frequency is in the range of 50-200 Hz, the sound pressure amplitude corresponding to each test temperature increases with the increase of the frequency. Moreover, when the background pressure is in the range of 0-0.6 MPa, the sound pressure amplitude increases with the increase of the pressure. Meanwhile, there is no clear correlation between the sound pressure amplitude of the combustion chamber and temperature when the chamber temperature is in the range of 293-363 K. The obtained results from the numerical simulation are consistent with the experimental data and the relative error is less than 5.9 %, which verifies the accuracy of the model. The simulated sound pressure amplitude in the combustion chamber at high temperatures and high pressures is a cubic function of pressure and temperature. The present study is expected to provide an innovative way to investigate pressure oscillations and combustion instability of the propellant in the combustion chamber of solid rocket motors at high temperatures and high pressures.

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“…As hypersonic missiles begin to emerge, an arms race is inevitable and new propulsion technology is needed for both offense and defense against this new capability. Nations will therefore strive to acquire robust missile defense capability [8][9][10][11][12]. Solid propellants will be increasingly harnessed for commercial access to earth orbit and beyond.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Composite Solid Rocket Propellant Aging: Multi Parameter Statistical Analysis

Biggs

2022

Int J Aeronaut Aerosp Eng

0

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The invention of composite solid propellants enabled close packing of fuel and oxidizer particles, leading to modern propellants. The superior mechanical properties of the polymer matrix allowed more propellant to be placed in a rocket motor pressure vessel through case bonding (bonding propellant directly to the vessel case). Propellants are often stored for periods of up to 20 to 40 years during which time they can degrade under the action of environmental conditions. This may eventually be manifested through formation of surface cracks. Degradation over time, or aging, is therefore important.Aging is a complex mechanical and chemical process, involving multi-scale, multidisciplinary mechanisms, from atomic, molecular scale to micro-and macro-scale events. Many of its intimate details are poorly understood, making aging prediction a challenge. Our research has shown that a mechanical property, tangent modulus, is a key aging indicator. Data base analysis showed a connection with strain rate, ambient storage time, gel fraction of the matrix polymer, matrix cross link density, molecular weight of the polymer sol, and propellant density may exist. A dimensionless ratio containing these parameters was formed to predict propellant failure. Statistical analysis showed that HTPB iodine number and normalized absorbance also correlate with tangent modulus.

show abstract

“…As hypersonic missiles begin to emerge, an arms race is inevitable and new propulsion technology is needed for both offense and defense against this new capability. Nations will therefore strive to acquire robust missile defense capability [8][9][10][11][12]. Solid propellants will be increasingly harnessed for commercial access to earth orbit and beyond.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Untitled

2022

Int J Aeronaut Aerosp Eng

0

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The invention of composite solid propellants enabled close packing of fuel and oxidizer particles, leading to modern propellants. The superior mechanical properties of the polymer matrix allowed more propellant to be placed in a rocket motor pressure vessel through case bonding (bonding propellant directly to the vessel case). Propellants are often stored for periods of up to 20 to 40 years during which time they can degrade under the action of environmental conditions. This may eventually be manifested through formation of surface cracks. Degradation over time, or aging, is therefore important.Aging is a complex mechanical and chemical process, involving multi-scale, multidisciplinary mechanisms, from atomic, molecular scale to micro-and macro-scale events. Many of its intimate details are poorly understood, making aging prediction a challenge. Our research has shown that a mechanical property, tangent modulus, is a key aging indicator. Data base analysis showed a connection with strain rate, ambient storage time, gel fraction of the matrix polymer, matrix cross link density, molecular weight of the polymer sol, and propellant density may exist. A dimensionless ratio containing these parameters was formed to predict propellant failure. Statistical analysis showed that HTPB iodine number and normalized absorbance also correlate with tangent modulus.

show abstract

Recent Advances in Research on Solid Rocket Propulsion

Cited by 3 publications

References 25 publications

Investigating the Acoustic Response Characteristics of a Solid Rocket Motor Combustor in High‐Temperature and High‐Pressure Environments

Investigating the Acoustic Response Characteristics of a Solid Rocket Motor Combustor in High‐Temperature and High‐Pressure Environments

Composite Solid Rocket Propellant Aging: Multi Parameter Statistical Analysis

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