An acoustical comparison of sub‐scale and full‐scale.

Abstract

Recently, members of the Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) Fluid Dynamics Branch and Wyle Labs measured far‐field acoustic data during a series of three reusable solid rocket motor (RSRM) horizontal static tests conducted in Promontory, UT. The test motors included the Technical Evaluation Motor 13 (TEM‐13), Flight Verification Motor 2 (FVM‐2), and the Flight Simulation Motor 15 (FSM‐15). Similar far‐field data were collected during horizontal static tests of sub‐scale solid rocket motors at MSFC. Far‐field acoustical measurements were taken at multiple angles within a circular array centered about the nozzle exit plane, each positioned at a radial distance of 80 nozzle‐exit‐diameters from the nozzle. This type of measurement configuration is useful for calculating rocket noise characteristics such as those outlined in the NASA SP‐8072 “Acoustic Loads Generated by the Propulsion System.” Acoustical scaling comparisons are made between the test motors, with particular interest in the overall sound power,...