An experimental investigation of unstable combustion in solid propellant rocket motors
- Creators
- Brownlee, W. Grant
- Marble, Frank E.
- Other:
- Summerfield, Martin
Abstract
Unstable combustion in solid propellant rocket motors is characterized by high frequency chamber pressure oscillations, often accompanied by changes in the mean burning rate. Experiments with casebonded, cylindrically perforated motors using a polysulfide, ammoniumperchlorate propellant were reproducible as a result of careful manufacturing control and extended propellant curing time. In these motors the oscillations were in the fundamental standing tangential mode and were accompanied by increases in the average burning rate. At sufficiently high pressure levels all firings were stable. Reduction of the operating level led to mild instability. A sufficient further reduction produced a sudden change to maximum instability. Continued reduction in pressure level from this point resulted in a gradual decrease in the degree of instability but it could not be experimentally verified that a low pressure stable region existed. The levels at which these events took place were frequency dependent and generally increased as the tangential frequency was reduced. At a given operating leve1, the instability became less severe when the grain length was reduced below a critical value. Increasing the length above the critical value did not affect the level at which the motors became stable. The pressure levels for stability and for maximum instability moved to lower values with decreases in the propellant grain temperature in a manner not entirely accounted for by the effect of grain temperature on burning rate. Stable, mildly unstable and severely unstable operation was observed throughout the range -80°F to 180°F. The maximum instability decreased with grain temperature.
Additional Information
© 1960, AIAA.Attached Files
Accepted Version - 122_Brownlee_WG_1960.pdf
Files
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Additional details
- Eprint ID
- 21697
- Resolver ID
- CaltechAUTHORS:20110111-110838368
- Created
-
2011-01-31Created from EPrint's datestamp field
- Updated
-
2021-11-09Created from EPrint's last_modified field
- Caltech groups
- Guggenheim Jet Propulsion Center
- Series Name
- Progress in astronautics and rocketry
- Series Volume or Issue Number
- 1
- Other Numbering System Name
- Guggenheim Jet Propulsion Center