Investigation of the Flame-Acoustic Wave Interaction during Axial Solid Rocket Instabilities

• Main Authors: Zinn, B T, Hegde, U G, Jagoda, J I, Daniel, B R
• Format: Report
• Language: English
• Subjects: ACOUSTIC WAVES; ACOUSTICS; Combustion and Ignition; COMBUSTION STABILITY; DAMPING; DIFFUSION; FLAMES; MIXING; OSCILLATION; PE61102F; RESPONSE; ROCKET ENGINES; Solid Propellant Rocket Engines; SOLID PROPELLANTS; STABILIZATION; STANDING WAVES; THEORY; VALIDATION; WUAFOSR2308A1

The major objectives of the program were (i) to determine the characteristics of solid propellant gas phase flames in rocket motors experiencing axial instabilities and (ii) to determine the validity of state of the art solid propellant response models. The program was divided into two tasks in order to achieve these objectives. In Task I, the response of sidewall stabilized premixed flames to longitudinal, standing acoustic waves (which simulate the oscillations encountered in unstable rocket motors) was studied. A premixed flame was chosen for this first phase as it eliminated the need to deal with difficulties arising from the presence of diffusion processes in the flame (these were studied in Task II of the program) while providing a flame possessing many important features of actual solid propellant flames. A theoretical model of the unsteady behavior of such flames, based upon actual solid propellant response modes, was developed. Solid propellant rocket engines, Combustion instability, Premixed flames, Diffusion flames, Acoustic driving, Damping.