Initiation Mechanisms of Solid Rocket Propellant Detonation.
Abstract
The purpose of this study is to identify mechanisms responsible for several accidental detonations of high-energy solid rocket propellant motors. Simple models were used to predict transient gas pressures within burning propellant cracks following arrival of a stress wave. Stress waves are considered to be initiated by the propagation of a crack into a cavity containing gas at much higher pressure than that initially within the crack. Two factors were found important in creating gas pressures of similar magnitude and duration as needed to initiate propellants by impact. Namely, the generation of melt or foam that sustains accelerated burning; and the production of stress waves that accelerate the burning by partially collapsing cracks and subsequently lessen crack expansion while the pressures continue to rise before decaying. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 1978
- Accession Number
- ADA065582
Entities
People
- A. N. Takata
Organizations
- IIT Research Institute