RESEARCH ON SOLID PROPELLANT COMBUSTION INSTABILITY
Abstract
A search was made for predicted temperature waves using a 2-inch diameter T-burner as the source of oscillating pressure, in order to confirm the observations of Wood (9th Symposium on Combustion, p. 335, 1963), and then to measure the pertinent parameters, namely temperature, amplitude and phase. Unfortunately, no waves of the predicted type were found. However, waves similar to those of Wood were ovserved reproducibly when burning was allowed on the sides of an uninhibited test sample, i.e., in a non-one-dimensional situation, but even so these waves were much weaker than the temperature variations that were expected. Various reasons for the non-occurrence of the expected temperature waves are considered. The most likely explanation is that the model of the gas phase reaction zone originally assumed, namely, a thin one-stage reaction zone is partially in error. Instead, it appears that the gaseous zone may be composed of two portions - a thin primary zone near the surface needed in order to account for the observed burning rates, and a diffuse after - burning zone where the combustion reactions go to completion. Such a spread in the reaction zone would imply a longer total reaction time, thus introducing strong interaction phenomena that had been ruled out in the so-called 'zero- frequency' description. The conclusion to be drawn from this research is that the steady-state model used in the temperature waves is partially in error.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 01, 1966
- Accession Number
- AD0629585
Entities
People
- Martin Summerfield
- R. H. Woodward
Organizations
- Princeton University