Failure properties of a PBAN propellant in multiaxial stress fields

Abstract

Experimental data have been obtained which duplicate the stress and strain field in a solid-propellant rocket-motor grain under pressurization. Development of a hollow ellipsoidal specimen has made possible the acquisition of these data. This test also allows a more thorough evaluation of the failure mechanism in multiaxial stress and strain fields. Failure data were obtained in the tensile-tensile-compressive (++−) stress and biaxial tensile-compressive (+−) strain octants by applying pressure to the internal surface of an ellipsoidal specimen. Data were obtained in the triaxial compressive (−−−) stress and biaxial tensile-compressive (+−) strain octants by simultaneous application of pressure to both internal and external surfaces of the ellipsoidal specimen and a gradual reduction of external pressure until failure. A stress analysis of the specimen is presented and data-reduction techniques are discussed. Data obtained with a hollow spherical specimen and with the newly developed hollow ellipsoidal specimen are compared. These data are obtained in the same stress and strain octants; however, the relative magnitudes of the parameters and, therefore, the positions within the stress and strain octants are different. This results in a change in the magnitudes of the failure parameter. Data from uniaxial specimens of the same propellant also are presented.