Star Grain Regression under Spin Induced Acceleration Effect

Abstract

Spinning is used in some of solid rocket motors to increase the flight trajectory precision or for stability requirements. The angular acceleration due to the spin effect increases the burning rate of solid propellant and changes the motor performance by increasing the operating pressure and decreasing the burning time. So it is important to know the grain regression taken place in the solid propellant rocket motor in the acceleration field. In this study, we represent the grain regression analysis of two-dimensional axis-symmetric star grain configuration of the solid propellant rocket motor under spin induced acceleration effect to study how the spin affects on the internal ballistics of the solid rocket motor. Grain regression is done by two methods - geometrical approach and numerical approach. The burning rates on the propellant surface are different with its radial distance, acceleration vector angle and surface slope when the rocket is spinning. With the different burn rates on the propellant surface, the propellant surface perimeter and port area are computed by using the numerical method, and the results are compared with that of constant burn rate.