This paper focuses on investigating “combustion instability,” a phenomenon that mainly involves the interaction of the propellant flames with the acoustic oscillations prevalent in full-scale rocke...

Mean Burning Rate Variation in Composite Propellant Combustion Due to Longitudinal Acoustic Oscillations

Acoustic pressure oscillation effects on mean burning rates of plateau propellants

A study is conducted to determine the effect of acoustic field on the thermal conductivity of composite propellants based on poly- butadiene and polyurethane binders. The thermal conductivity of the propellant is determined by a specially designed equipment. The thermal conductivity measurements are made in steady state conditions and in an acoustic field of constant amplitude at various frequencies ranging from 1 kHz to 6 kHz and at different temperatures ranging from 30°C to 50°C. The results indicate that the thermal conductivities of the composite propellants increase when they are subjected to an acoustic field. The data obtained are presented in the paper. Since the burning behaviour of solid propellants is influenced also by its thermal conductivity, the present work may be of direct relevance in improving upon some of the existing burning rate and combustion models.

V. R. Gowariker

Papers

The effect of acoustic field on the thermal conductivity of composite propellants