Surface and Gas-Phase Diagnostics for Solid Propellant Combustion
Abstract
This program addresses the extremely challenging problem of direct, in situ diagnostics of the heterogeneous surface reaction zone of energetic materials combustion. Specifically, the experiments employed an optical diagnostic, Raman scattering, to provide critically-needed species-and temperature-specific information on surface and near-surface reaction zones of modem, nitramine-based propellant formulations. Experiments employed a laboratory-scale, motorized, and servo-controlled, strand burner over a range of pressure from 1-20 atm. Broadband Raman scattering from the surface layer was acquired with a spectrograph detection system and Stokes/anti-Stokes ratios were used to provide surface temperature measurements. Raman thermometry was shown to be an effective diagnostic for surface temperature measurements of RDX combustion. The temperature sensitivity of the Raman spectrum of RDX was analytically modeled and verified by experimental data. The optical properties, reflectivity and absorptivity, were measured at 532 nm during this investigation. Signal interferences and laser perturbations (laser damage threshold, laser induced heating, laser induced fluorescence) were investigated at excitation wavelengths of 355, 532 and 683 nm. The surface temperature measured with Raman thermometry was in excellent agreement with the results of microthermocouple data obtained in other laboratories.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 28, 1997
- Accession Number
- ADA332800
Entities
People
- John H. Stufflebeam
Organizations
- United Technologies Corporation