SOLID PROPELLANT FLAME CHEMISTRY AND STRUCTURE

Abstract

The application of optical diagnostic techniques, predominantly Planar Laser Induced Fluorescence (PLIF) and UV-Visible absorption, to the study of solid propellant flame chemistry, structure, and kinetics is described. Measurements outlined include time resolved 2D images of species concentrations and flame structure during transient ignition of solid propellants, calibrated ID and 2D species profiles during deflagration of solid propellant energetic ingredients, ID and 2D temperature profiles in solid propellant flames, multi-pass absorption measurements through solid propellant flames, and 2D images of species concentrations and diffusion flame structure during ignition and deflagration of sandwiches of solid propellant oxidizers and binders. Species measured under some or all of these conditions include CN, CH, C2, OH, NH, NO, NO2, NCO, and H2CO. Temperature has been obtained from fitting rotational and vibrational population distributions for OH, CN, and NO. These studies are a useful adjunct to the overall task of understanding the mechanism of solid propellant combustion and developing a computer code for the a-priori prediction of propellant ballistic properties.