Measurement of Thermal Expansion in Solid Propellants

Abstract

An analysis was performed to determine the sensitivity of solid rocket motor stress (Strain) analyses to a variation in thermal coefficient of linear expansion (TCLE). For the wide range of TCLE values currently utilized in the propellant industry, the stress analysis predicted an approximately 60 percent change in the maximum inner bore strain. A laser holograph technique was therefore devised to more accurately measure propellant TCLE. The interferometric holographic technique provided an accurate (resolution in the microinches) means of measuring linear thermal expansion for small temperatures variations (1.0 to 3.6 deg F). Irregularities resulted in the interference fringes when the temperature change was greater than 4.0 deg F. For the limited data taken, measured TCLE values were well within the currently acceptable range, but this initial effort did not narrow this range appreciably.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 01, 1973
Accession Number
AD0761815

Entities

People

  • James A. Mckinnis

Organizations

  • Air Force Research Laboratory

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Air Force Facilities
  • California
  • Climate Change
  • Contracts
  • Engineering
  • Lasers
  • Measurement
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Physical Properties
  • Propellants
  • Rocket Propulsion
  • Solid Propellants
  • Standards
  • Stress Analysis
  • Thermal Expansion
  • Three Dimensional

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Image Processing and Computer Vision.
  • Mechanical Engineering/Mechanics of Materials.
  • Rocket Propulsion.

Technology Areas

  • Directed Energy