Dynamic Combustion of Functionally Graded Additively Manufactured Composite Solid Propellant
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Authors
McClain, Monique S.
Afriat, Aaron
Montano, Brandon J.
Rhoads, Jeffrey F.
Gunduz, I. Emre
Son, Steven F.
Subjects
Advisors
Date of Issue
2021
Date
Publisher
American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Inc.
Language
Abstract
Typically, the burning surface of a composite solid propellant is controlled through grain geometry and
formulation. However, combustion studies of grains constructed from different propellant formulations at fine
scales (nominally 1 mm) are not readily accessible in open literature. With additive manufacturing, such
configurations can be investigated easily. Propellants with a faster burning inner layer (enhanced with either
1 wt.% iron oxide or 5 wt.% nanoaluminum) were 3D printed between two layers of slower burning 85 wt.%
ammonium perchlorate/hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene propellant. The dynamic combustion behavior of the
layered propellant was investigated at pressures ranging from 3.45 to 10.34 MPa. Overall, an increase in the burning
surface area, without interlayer delamination, was observed. The driving force behind the propellant surface area
increase was the difference in the burning rate between the layers. In addition, the nanoaluminum propellant layer
had a more stable burning rate exponent than the cast nanoaluminum propellant. Overall, only a small addition of
catalyzed propellant was needed to increase the burning rate of the bulk material. The results of this study lay the
foundation for functionally grading propellant grains, which could tailor the thrust profile of solid rocket motors and
gun propellants.
Type
Article
Description
17 USC 105 interim-entered record; under review.
The article of record as published may be found at http://dx.doi.org/10.2514/B38282
The article of record as published may be found at http://dx.doi.org/10.2514/B38282
Series/Report No
Department
Organization
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Identifiers
NPS Report Number
Sponsors
NASA Space Technology Research Fellowship
Funder
80NSSC17K0176
Format
8 p.
Citation
McClain, Monique S., et al. "Dynamic Combustion of Functionally Graded Additively Manufactured Composite Solid Propellant." Journal of Propulsion and Power (2021): 1-8.
Distribution Statement
Rights
This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.