Experimental Investigation of the Interaction of Electrothermal Plasmas with Solid Propellants
Abstract
We report measurements of the interaction between plasma radiation and solid propellant. We made heat flux measurements of the electrothermal plasma jet impinging on a sensor mimicking a disk of propellant. We made planar laser-induced fluorescence images of NO, a JA2 decomposition product at the propellant surface. High speed video imaging of the propellant surface and scattering of ejected particles was used to study how the propellant surface evolves during exposure to plasma radiation. During the radiation interaction scattering particles and NO appeared between 100 and 150 microseconds after the beginning of the discharge and propagated away from the propellant surface. The ejected material occurred in identifiable structures that are irregular in shape and distribution suggesting that ejection occurred at semi-discrete locations on the surface rather than uniformly. During the plasma firing the propellant surface changed markedly by forming irregularly shaped decomposition structures that grew in size over the course of the discharge. No correlation was observed between the structure of the ejected material and the decomposition structures formed on the propellant surface during the discharge. After the plasma discharge, the propellant continued to react, with bubbles forming on the surface up to 9 ms after the discharge finished.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 14, 2007
- Accession Number
- ADA483061
Entities
People
- Michael D. Ryan
- Noel T. Clemens
- Philip L. Varghese
Organizations
- University of Texas at Austin