Hierarchical Theoretical Methods for Understanding and Predicting Anisotropic Thermal Transport Release in Rocket Propellant Formulations

Abstract

We summarize a two-year effort to achieve theoretical understanding and predictive capability regarding anisotropic thermal transport and energy release in advanced rocket propellants. The ultimate goal is a practical capability for the a priori design of advanced propellant materials in which structure optimization is used to yield desired energy transport and burn characteristics. Our vision is to exploit anisotropy at three levels: 1) Intrinsic anisotropy at the molecular up to the continuum microscale for pure constituents; 2) Manufactured nano- and microscale anisotropy via manufacture specifications of the composition; 3) Mesoscale anisotropy persistence during physico-chemical structural decomposition, mixing, and reactive processes, templated by item 2). The overall goal was to combine information from atomic simulations, continuum mesoscopic models of interfaces and interphases, and microstructure-resolved representative volume element simulations. Atomic simulations were carried out for energetic materials to predict thermomechanical and transport properties, phase diagrams, and interfacial structure. Mesoscopic models were developed that directly employ.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 08, 2016
Accession Number
AD1023810

Entities

People

  • D. Scott Stewart
  • Donald L. Thompson
  • Michael Ortiz
  • Moshe Matalon
  • Thomas D. Sewell

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Burning Rate
  • Chemical Reactions
  • Chemistry
  • Combustion
  • Composite Materials
  • Energetic Materials
  • Materials Laboratories
  • Materials Processing
  • Materials Science
  • Materials Testing
  • Mechanics
  • Molecular Dynamics
  • Phase Diagrams
  • Phase Transformations
  • Rocket Propellants
  • Thermal Conductivity
  • Transport Properties

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Combustion science or combustion engineering.
  • Computational Modeling and Simulation
  • Materials Science and Engineering.