Modeling and Validation of Thrust Prediction of Underwater Solid Rocket Motor

The solid rocket motor driven system is one of the common ways for submarines to launch underwater missiles. It has significant advantages in improving the missile’s water exit speed, anti-interference capability, and enemy striking power. The prediction of the underwater loading is a preliminary factor for the power system design of the underwater vehicle. This paper presents a rapid prediction method and validated by the experimental study for the underwater thrust of the solid rocket motor. Based on the potential flow assumption of the water field, a model of the bubble and a one-dimensional quasi-steady model of the nozzle are established to directly solve the flow status of the nozzle. The aerodynamic thrust and hydrodynamic thrust have been calculated and analyzed. The calculation results are within 5% error of the experimental results. Moreover, a design platform to predict the underwater thrust of the solid rocket motor has been developed based on Python and the PyQt library, which shows excellent system adaptability and computational efficiency.

Study on Instable Combustion of Solid Rocket Motor with Finocyl Grain

The instable combustion or oscillation combustion which occurs in three high capacity solid rocket motors using high energy composite propellant with finocyl grain is studied. The reasons of the acoustic combustion instability are also discussed. Three engineering methods that can eliminate combustion instability are proposed and discussed. The study shows that the combustion instability mainly depends on the propellant grain shape and nozzle structure. Some measures to reduce the acoustic energy and mass generation rate of combustion gas can be adopted. The test results indicate that the modified rocket motors can significantly eliminate the instable combustion and improve the motor internal ballistic performance.

The properties of Sn-Zn-Al-La fusible alloy for mitigation devices of solid propellant rocket motors

The Al and La elements are added to the Sn9Zn alloy to obtain the fusible alloy for the mitigation devices of solid propellant rocket motors. Differential scanning calorimetry(DSC), metallographic analysis,scanning electron microscopy(SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy(EDS), tensile testing and fracture analysis were used to study the effect of Al and La elements on the microstructure, melting characteristics, and mechanical properties of the Sn9Zn alloy. Whether the fusible diaphragm can effectively relieve pressure was investigated by the hydrostatic pressure at high-temperature test. Experimental results show that the melting point of the Sn9Zn-0.8Al0·2La and Sn9Zn-3Al0·2La fusible alloys can meet the predetermined working temperature of ventilation. The mechanical properties of those are more than 35% higher than that of the Sn9Zn alloy at-50°C-70°C, and the mechanical strength is reduced by 80% at 175°C. It is proven by the hydrostatic pressure at high-temperature test that the fusible diaphragm can relieve pressure effectively and can be used for the design of the mitigation devices of solid propellant rocket motors.

Research on the Initial Ignition of the Underwater Launching Solid Rocket Motor

The aim of this investigation is to research the initial ignition of the underwater-launching solid rocket motor.The MIXTURE multiple-phase model was set to simulate the initial ignition.The water vaporization was researched and the energy transfer was added to the energy equations.The flow field and the vaporization were calculated coupled.The initial ignition process of the underwater solid rocket motor is obtained and the vaporization influence to the underwater launching is analyzed.The ＂neck＂,＂inverted jet＂ and ＂eruption＂ phenomenon of the bubble are observed.The bubble increases more rapidly because the steam mass added to the fuel.The temperature is lower considering the vaporization because the steam enthalpy is lower than the fuel enthalpy and the flow field of the initial ignition of the underwater-launching solid rocket motor is accordant well to the reference.

Influence of Solid Rocket Motor Slag on the Space Debris Environment

The resulting slag particles from solid rocket motor( SRM) firings are an important component of space debris environment. Slag sizes as large as 1 cm have been witnessed in ground tests,and comparable sizes have been also estimated via observations of sub-orbital tail-off events. We achieve slag initial data based on MASTER slag model and SRM historical launch data,and propagate slag long-term orbital evolution taking into account the zonal harmonics J2,atmospheric drag,solar radiation pressure and luni-solar attraction to discuss the slag size distribution and orbital characteristics. Finally,future slag debris environment is evaluated based on two different launch rate assumptions. The result shows that current launch frequency will make the slag population sustain growth and the population will not decrease at once even if there are no more launches in the future.

Laminar and Turbulent Characteristics of the Acoustic/Fluid Dynamics Interactions in a Slender Simulated Solid Rocket Motor Chamber

In this paper,analytical,computational,and experimental studies are integrated to examine unsteady acoustic/vorticity transport phenomena in a solid rocket motor chamber with end-wall disturbance and side-wall injection.Acoustic-fluid dynamic interactions across the chamber may generate intense unsteady vorticity with associated shear stresses.These stresses may cause scouring and,in turn,enhance the heat rate and erosional burning of solid propellant in a real rocket chamber.In this modelling,the unsteady propellant gasification is mimicked by steady-state flow disturbed by end-wall oscillations.The analytical approach is formulated using an asymptotic technique to reduce the full governing equations.The equations that arise from the analysis possess wave properties are solved in an initial-boundary value sense.The numerical study is performed by solving the parabolized Navier–Stokes equations for the DNS simulation and unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes equations along with the energy equation using the control volume approach based on a staggered grid system with the turbulence modelling.The v2-f turbulence model has been implemented.The results show that an unexpectedly large amplitude of unsteady vorticity is generated at the injection side-wall of the chamber and is then penetrated downstream by the bulk motion of the internal flow.These stresses may cause a scouring effect and large transient heat transfer on the combustion surface.A comparison between the analytical,computational,and experimental results is performed.

On the Transient Numerical Simulation of Solid Rocket Motor by Coupling Quasi One⁃Dimension Internal Flow with Three⁃Dimension Propellant Grain Burnback

The quasi one⁃dimension compressible flowfield coupled to the three⁃dimension propellant grain regression solved by the level⁃set method was used to simulate the transient internal ballistics of solid rocket motor.One⁃dimension flowfield instead of three⁃dimension can save computational cost on the premise of calculation accuracy because the radial and azimuthal variations parameters have little contribution to the internal flowfield.The grain regression in real⁃time could provide accurate geometrical information for simulation.A combination of flowfluid solver and grain regression can reappear in a relatively real internal ballistic flowfield,so it is good for further studying the instability of solid rocket motor.For level⁃set equations,the total variation⁃diminishing second⁃order Runge⁃Kutta method for temporal derivatives and a fifth⁃order weighted⁃essentially⁃non⁃oscillatory scheme for spatial derivatives were used.The total variation⁃diminishing MacCormack method was used to discrete the Euler equations in flowfield solver.Two modules of this code were tested in this study:one is the burning rate module and the other is the nozzle erosion module.Results show that the burning rate influenced the solid rocket motor efficiency,and the velocity profile in the chamber was affected by the nozzle shape,and the nozzle erosion could influence the head⁃end pressure spike.

Experimental and Theoretical Research Review of Hybrid Rocket Motor Techniques and Applications

A hybrid rocket motor combines components from both solid fuel and liquid fuel rocket motors. The fuel itself is a solid grain, (often paraffin or hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene, known as HTPB) while the oxidizing agent is liquid (often hydrogen peroxide or liquid oxygen). These components are combined in the fuel chamber which doubles as the combustion chamber for the hybrid motor. This review looks at the advances in techniques that have taken place in the development of these motors since 1995. Methods of testing the thrust from rocket motors and of measuring the rocket plume spectroscopically for combustion reaction products have been developed. These assessments allow researchers to more completely understand the effects of additives and physical changes in design, in terms of regression rates and thrust developed. Hybrid rocket motors have been used or tested in many areas of rocketry, including tactical rockets and large launch vehicles. Several additives have shown significant improvements in regression rates and thrust, including Guanidinium azotetrazolate (GAT), and various Aluminum alloys. The most recent discoveries have come from research into nano-particle additives. The nano-particles have been shown to provide enhancements to many parameters of hybrid rocket function, and research into specific areas continues in the sub-field of nano-additives for fuel grains.

China's Civil Solid Rocket Motors

China develops solid fuelrocket technology completely de-pending on its own strength.Since the late 1950s,variouskinds of solid rocket engines de-veloped by the 4th Academy ofChina Aerospace Corporation(CASC)have been used intomany positioning and recoveringtests of various satellites and over100 flight tests of various missileswith a 100％ successful rate.InOctober,1982,especially,Chinasuccessfully launched a solid fuelrocket from a submarine underwater,which reflected China’shigh level in this field.China’scivilian solid rocket engines are asfollows:

Development of Solid Rocket Motor for Manned Launch Vehicle Escape System

The solid rocket motors for the escape system of China’s LM-2 F manned launch vehicle are described,the key technologies and technical innovations utilized are summarized.The technical features and development of foreign manned launch abort systems are also presented.The development trends of the solid rocket motor for future Chinese manned launch vehicle escape systems are proposed,which can provide a reference for the future development of manned launch vehicle escape systems.

Study on the Multi-Component Test Technology of Solid Rocket Motors

This paper presents a calculation method, and composition of a five-component force test device, to resolve the requirement for solid rocket motor multi-component force test. It compares the difference between two classical algorithms, and summarizes the structure and practical usage of the solid rocket motor multi-component force using soft connection structure measurement. The decoupling method of test data is described, and a reasonable research method for solid rocket motor multi-component force is also given in this paper.

Solid Rocket Motors for Launch Escape Tower Provide Safety to Astronauts

Compared with other ordinary launch vehicles, the LM-2F launch vehicle has two special systems, the fault detection processing system and launch escape system, because it is used for manned spaceflight missions. During the 10 flight missions carried out by LM-2F, only the

Research on Instantaneous Thrust Measurement for Attitude-control Solid Rocket Motor

In order to measure the instantaneous thrust of a certain attitude-control solid rocket motor, based on the analysis of the measurement principles, the difference between the instantaneous thrust and steady thrust measurements is pointed out. According to the measurement characteristics, a dynamic digital filter compensation method is presented. Combined the identification-modeling, dynamic compensation and simulation, the system's dynamic mathematic model is established. And then, a compensation digital filter is also designed. Thus, the dynamic response of the system is improved and the instantaneous thrust measurement can be implemented. The measurement results for the rocket motor show that the digital filter compensation is effective in the instantaneous thrust measurement.

Numerical and experimental research on axial injection end-burning hybrid rocket motors with polyethylene fuel

This study investigates the end-burning hybrid rocket motors with polyethylene fuel by the numerical simulation and experiment.Based on computational fluid dynamics,a numerical model is developed.The model is validated by two firing tests in this hybrid rocket motor,which uses oxygen and polyethylene as propellants.The results show that the numerical and experimental data are in good agreement,and the error of the chamber pressure is less than 2.63%.Based on the simulation mode,the blowoff limit of the end-burning hybrid rocket motors is investigated.When the nozzle throat diameter and the inner diameter of grain are large,it is more difficult for the hybrid rocket motor to achieve end-burning mode,i.e.,the flame spreading is prevented in the narrow duct.The main reason is that when the nozzle throat and the grain port are large,chamber pressure and oxidizer flow velocity are low.Therefore,the friction velocity considering the pressure and flow velocity is proposed.The critical friction velocity is about 4.054–4.890 m/s in the hybrid rocket motors.When the friction velocity exceeds the critical friction velocity,the combustion mode in hybrid rocket motors changes from the flame spreading mode to the end-burning mode.Moreover,the regression rate formula is obtained by fitting,which shows that the regression rate has a good correlation with combustion chamber pressure.The critical friction velocity and regression rate formula can provide an important reference for end-burning hybrid rocket motors.

Numerical study on ignition start-up process of an underwater solid rocket motor across a wide depth range

Solid rocket motors have important applications in the propulsion of trans-media vehicles and underwater launched rockets.In this paper,the ignition start-up process of an underwater solid rocket motor across a wide depth range has been numerically studied.A novel multi-domain integrated model has been developed by combining the solid propellant ignition and combustion model with the volume of fluid multiphase model.This integrated model enables the coupled simulation of the propellant combustion and gas flow inside the motor,along with the gas jet evolution in the external water environment.The detailed flow field developments in the combustion chamber,nozzle,and wake field are carefully analyzed.The variation rules of the internal ballistics and thrust performance are also obtained.The effects of environmental medium and operating depth on the ignition start-up process are systematically discussed.The results show that the influence of the operating environment on the internal ballistic characteristics is primarily reflected in the initial period after the nozzle closure opens.The development of the gas jet in water lags significantly compared with that in air.As the water depth increases,the ignition delay time of the motor is shortened,and the morphology evolution of the gas jet is significantly compressed and accelerated.Furthermore,the necking and bulging of the jet boundary near the nozzle outlet and the consequent shock oscillations are intensified,resulting in stronger fluctuations in the wake pressure field and motor thrust.

A comprehensive fluid-solid coupling dynamic simulation for spatiotemporal distribution of regression rate in hybrid rocket motors

The spatiotemporal distribution characteristics of the regression rate are crucial aspects of the research on Hybrid Rocket Motor(HRM). This study presents a pioneering effort in achieving a comprehensive numerical simulation of fluid dynamics and heat transfer in both the fluid and solid regions throughout the entire operation of an HRM. To accomplish this, a dynamic grid technique that incorporates fluid–solid coupling is utilized. To validate the precision of the numerical simulations, a firing test is conducted, with embedded thermocouple probes being used to measure the inner temperature of the fuel grain. The temperature variations in the solid fuel obtained from both experiment and simulations show good agreement. The maximum combustion temperature and average thrust obtained from the simulations are found to deviate from the experimental results by only 3.3% and 2.4%, respectively. Thus, it can be demonstrated that transient numerical simulations accurately capture the fluid–solid coupling characteristics and transient regression rate. The dynamic simulation results of inner flow field and solid region throughout the entire working stage reveal that the presence of vortices enhances the blending of combustion gases and improves the regression rate at both the front and rear ends of the fuel grain. In addition, oscillations of the regression rate obtained in the simulation can also be well corresponded with the corrugated surface observed in the experiment. Furthermore, the zero-dimension regression rate formula and the formula describing the axial location dependence of the regression rate are fitted from the simulation results, with the corresponding coefficients of determination(R^(2)) of 0.9765 and 0.9298, respectively.This research serves as a reference for predicting the performance of HRM with gas oxygen and polyethylene, and presents a credible way for investigating the spatiotemporal distribution of the regression rate.

Numerical study on similarity of plume infrared radiation between reduced-scale solid rocket motors

This study seeks to determine the similarities in plume radiation between reduced and full-scale solid rocket models in ground test conditions through investigation of flow and radiation for a series of scale ratios ranging from 0.1 to 1. The radiative transfer equation (RTE) considering gas and particle radiation in a non-uniform plume has been adopted and solved by the finite volume method (FVM) to compute the three dimensional, spectral and directional radiation of a plume in the infrared waveband 2-6 mu m. Conditions at wavelengths 2.7 mu m and 4.3 mu m are discussed in detail, and ratios of plume radiation for reduced-scale through full-scale models are examined. This work shows that, with increasing scale ratio of a computed rocket motor, area of the high-temperature core increases as a 2 power function of the scale ratio, and the radiation intensity of the plume increases with 2-2.5 power of the scale ratio. The infrared radiation of plume gases shows a strong spectral dependency, while that of Al2O3 particles shows spectral continuity of gray media. Spectral radiation intensity of a computed solid rocket plume's high temperature core increases significantly in peak radiation spectra of plume gases CO and CO2 center dot Al2O3 particles are the major radiation component in a rocket plume. There is good similarity between contours of plume spectral radiance from different scale models of computed rockets, and there are two peak spectra of radiation intensity at wavebands 2.7-3.0 lm and 4.2-4.6 lm. Directed radiation intensity of the entire plume volume will rise with increasing elevation angle. (C) 2016 Chinese Society of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Production and hosting by Elsevier Ltd.

Design and optimization of variable thrust hybrid rocket motors for sounding rockets

Besides safety and low-cost,the start/shutdown/restarting and throttling ability are the other two significant advantages of hy-brid rocket motors(HRMs) compared with liquid and solid ones.In this study,a two-stage variable thrust and non-toxic 98%HP/HTPB hybrid rocket motor(VTHRM) is designed and applied in a sounding rocket,and the design parameters of the motor are analyzed and optimized.A computational program is developed to design the motor system structure,to predict the interior ballistics and the ballistic trajectory.A star grain and a wheel grain are compared.The design of experiment(DOE),variance analysis and the main effect analysis are employed to investigate the influence of the main design parameters on mo-tor performance.The multidiscipline feasible(MDF) approach is applied to establish the optimization procedure after analyz-ing the system design structure matrix.A modified differential evolution algorithm is employed to maximize the load mass.The results indicate that the wheel grain could obtain a larger load mass and a lower length to diameter ratio,and that throttling markedly meliorates the motor and rocket performance.The conclusions drawn from the analysis and optimization could pro-vide instructive guide and theoretical basis for engineering designs.

Numerical and experimental investigation on the effects of aft mixing chamber diaphragm in hybrid rocket motor

This paper focuses on the investigation of an aft mixing chamber diaphragm in a hybrid rocket motor. Both numerical and ex- perimental researches are carried out to study its effects on the motor performances. The hybrid rocket motor with star fuel grain is utilized. The 90% hydrogen peroxide （HP） oxidizer and hydroxyl terminated polybutadiene （HTPB） based fuel are adopted as propellants. The diaphragm configuration settled in the aft mixing chamber includes four circular-holes with a uni- form circumferential distribution. For both motors with and without the diaphragm, three-dimensional numerical simulations with gaseous combustions considered are carried out to study the flow field characteristics and motor performances. The com- parison results show that the diaphragm can improve the mixing of the oxidizer and fuel. It has evident effect on increasing the motor efflciencies. Two firing experiments are conducted with full scale motors to investigate the effects of the diaphragm. The diaphragm used in the test is composed of a central steel framework and a closed thermal insulation layer. With the dia- phragm employed, the combustion efficiency increases from 93.9% to 97.34% and the specific impulse efficiency increases from 80.77% to 87.28%, which verifies the positive effect of the diaphragm. Both numerical and experimental studies indicate that the scheme of the aft mixing chamber diaphragm proposed in the paper can improve the efficiencies of the hybrid rocket motor obviously.