A RESEARCH STUDY TO ADVANCE THE STATE OF THE ART OF SOLID PROPELLANT GRAIN DESIGN
Abstract
A research study is being conducted to advance the state of the art of solid propellant grain design and consists primarily of theoretical and applied analyses of solid propellant grain designs, considering in particular heat transfer effects, propellant slump, and the effect of strain on burning rate. An analytical study is being undertaken to develop a two-dimensional heat transfer analysis for solid propellant motors subjected to a nonlinear external thermal environment. The application of this analysis to the Advanced Grain Design Computer Program is also being investigated to determine thermal effects upon ballistic characteristics. The programming of the two-dimensional heat transfer analysis was completed, and several test cases were evaluated. A severe stability requirement is imposed on the solution resulting from the consideration of a thin case wall having a relatively higher thermal diffusivity. The effect of strain on the burning rates of several propellants increases as the deviation from incompressible behavior increases. The analysis of propellant slump involved a preliminary analysis of a finite length, cylindrical grain having a spherical head end and under acceleration in the longitudinal direction.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 26, 1963
- Accession Number
- AD0406883