Study of Combustion Processes of Single-Perforated Stick Propellants

Abstract

This paper addresses flame-spreading, combustion, and grain-rupture processes associated with unslotted single-perforated stick propellants, both theoretically and experimentally. A coupled finite-difference and finite-element code was developed for solving the property variations in gas- and solid-phase regions. Tests were conducted using a windowed chamber for observation of the transient combustion and fracture phenomena. Test data indicate that higher pressurization rate causes earlier propellant ignition and faster flame- spreading rate. Critical pressure differential across the propellant ignition and grain rupture was found to increase monotonically with the internal pressurization rate. Recovered propellant samples showed that longitudinal slits were formed at low pressurization rates, while at rapid pressurization rates (higher than 3.5 GPa/a), the grains shattered into many small pieces. Depending upon the internal pressurization rates, SEM microstructure of fractured surfaces of recovered grains exhibited ductile tensile, ductile shear, or brittle- cleavage phenomena.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Aug 06, 1987
Accession Number
ADA184619

Entities

People

  • J. M. Char
  • K. K. Kuo

Organizations

  • Pennsylvania State University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Agreements
  • Cameras
  • Combustion
  • Contracts
  • Displacement
  • Engineering
  • Ignition
  • Materials
  • Mechanics
  • Military Research
  • Photographs
  • Photography
  • Pressurization
  • Propellant Grains
  • Propellants
  • Structural Mechanics
  • Universities

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Mechanical Engineering/Mechanics of Materials.
  • Rocket Propulsion.