Ultrasonic Inspection of Seat-Back Ejection Rocket Motors.

Abstract

Ultrasonic methods are described for detecting unbond regions between the steel casing and solid propellant in seat-back ejection rocket motors. Feasibility tests on motors filled with a propellant simulant have demonstrated that at least two techniques are viable: (1) a resonance of the steel casing at a specific ultrasonic frequency, and (2) monitoring the acoustic energy losses produced by the air gaps in regions of steel-propellant unbond. The resonance technique holds more promise since it does not depend on the internal rocket propellant geometry, whereas the second technique does. Recommendations based on results obtained to date are given for developing a nondestructive testing technique suitable for the 100% assembly line inspection of these rocket motors. The envisioned systems, besides being inexpensive, would be independent of operator judgment errors.

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 01, 1975
Accession Number
ADA024379

Entities

People

  • Gerald V. Blessing

Organizations

  • Naval Ordnance Laboratory

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Gaps
  • Assembly
  • Assembly Lines
  • Ejection
  • Frequency
  • Inspection
  • Nondestructive Testing
  • Propellants
  • Resonance
  • Rocket Engines
  • Rocket Propellants
  • Rockets
  • Solid Propellants
  • Ultrasonic Frequencies
  • Ultrasonic Inspection

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Rocket Propulsion.
  • Structural Health Monitoring of Composite Structures.
  • Systems Analysis and Design