Solid-Propellant General Deformations and Their Effects on Motor Performance
Abstract
A simplified analysis of the propellant strains in solid-propellant rocket motors with circular perforated grains is presented. The analysis extends the work of Vandenkerckhove to include flexible motor cases. Each of the propellant strains is assumed independent of axial position along the propellant grain. Strains calculated from this analysis are compared with the axially varying strains obtained from the finite element analysis of Brisbane. The axial and radial strain comparisons show poor agreement for the strains predicted by this theory, however, the tangential strain correlation is excellent over a large portion of the propellant grain. This analysis for tangential propellant strain is used to determine general propellant deformations and their effects on rocket motor internal ballistics performance predictions. Performance predictions with these deformation effects are compared with experimental data on two rocket motors. In both cases, the performance predictions with the propellant deformation effects are closer to actual motor performance than are the predictions without the deformation effects.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 09, 1976
- Accession Number
- ADA061612
Entities
People
- David F. Smith
Organizations
- Air Force Institute of Technology