STUDY OF A TRACER METHOD FOR SOLID PROPELLANTS. SPECTROSCOPIC DETECTION OF TRACER ELEMENTS IN SOLID PROPELLANT ROCKET EXHAUSTS

Abstract

The feasibility of a spectroscopic method for detection of tracer elements in the exhaust flames of solid propellant rocket engines was investigated. This technique has the possibility of being used to determine burning rates and characteristics of solid propellant grains in operating motors. This is done by relating time of appearance of specific emitted radiation in the exhaust flame with the original position of corresponding tracer salts previously incorporated within the grain. Spectrograph modification and protective measures were required for field monitoring of tracer emission in rocket exhausts of engines operating in an outdoor test installation. Suitable tracers were incorporated into solid propellant grains of two compositions--one aluminized to obtain high flame temperatures and background continuum radiation, the other without aluminum to provide lower temperatures and no background. Feasibility of the method was demonstrated with the detection of tracer emission from the aluminized propellant against the background radiation. (Author)

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Feb 01, 1962
Accession Number
AD0275805

Entities

People

  • B. Hornstein
  • W. Stark

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aluminized Propellants
  • Background Radiation
  • Burning Rate
  • Combustion
  • Detection
  • Engines
  • Exhaust Flames
  • Flames
  • Propellant Grains
  • Propellants
  • Radiation
  • Rocket Engines
  • Rocket Exhaust
  • Rockets
  • Solid Propellant Rocket Engines
  • Solid Propellants

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Molecular Photonics/Laser Physics
  • Nuclear and Radiation Engineering.
  • Rocket Propulsion.