Abstract
The ability to predict with some accuracy a given solid rocket motor’s performance before undertaking one or several costly experimental test firings is important. On the numerical prediction side, as various component models evolve, their incorporation into an overall internal ballistics simulation program allows for new motor firing simulations to take place, which in turn allows for updated comparisons to experimental firing data. In the present investigation, utilizing an updated simulation program, the focus is on quasi-steady performance analysis and scale effects (influence of motor size). The predicted effects of negative/positive erosive burning and propellant/casing deflection, as tied to motor size, on a reference cylindrical-grain motor’s internal ballistics, are included in this evaluation. Propellant deflection has only a minor influence on the reference motor’s internal ballistics, regardless of motor size. Erosive burning, on the other hand, is distinctly affected by motor scale.
Highlights
With respect to the internal ballistics of solid-propellant rocket motors (SRMs), ideally one should be able to understand and quantitatively predict the behaviour of a given motor, prior to undertaking an experimental test firing
On the numerical prediction side, as various component models evolve, their incorporation into an overall internal ballistics simulation program allows for new motor firing simulations to take place, which in turn allows for updated comparisons to available experimental firing data, and a better understanding of the influence of various factors
The predicted effect of negative/positive erosive burning on the quasi-steady firing profile of a cylindrical-grain motor, as influenced by propellant surface roughness and port diameter, has been made evident by the numerical results presented in this paper
Summary
With respect to the internal ballistics of solid-propellant rocket motors (SRMs), ideally one should be able to understand and quantitatively predict the behaviour of a given motor, prior to undertaking an experimental test firing. With respect to internal ballistic analyses, one typically separates these into two main categories: (1) quasi-steady analysis, and (2) unsteady analysis. Local parameters for the most part are changing relatively slowly with time, such that the nominal main firing profile (chamber pressure, thrust, etc., as a function of time) can (usually) be readily computed With regards to the second category, certain local parameters are changing relatively rapidly with time, for example during the abovementioned ignition/filling process, or when a pressure wave disturbance has been introduced into the core flow, where one tends to focus on short periods of time within the motor firing simulation (in part due to computational limitations on simulation turnaround times). Example results are presented in this paper in order to provide the reader with some background on the sensitivities of various pertinent parameters, with the present study focusing on a reference cylindrical-grain SRM that is scaled up in size
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
