Effect of propellant morphology on the acoustics of the BATES motor

Nevill, Andrew M.

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/16168 Copy

Description

Title

Effect of propellant morphology on the acoustics of the BATES motor

Author(s)

Nevill, Andrew M.

Issue Date

2010-05-19T18:39:33Z

Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)

• Jackson, Thomas L.
• Freund, Jonathan B.

Department of Study

Mechanical Sci & Engineering

Discipline

Mechanical Engineering

Degree Granting Institution

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Degree Name

M.S.

Degree Level

Thesis

Keyword(s)

• Ballistic Test and Evaluation System (BATES)
• Solid rocket motor (SRM)
• Acoustics
• propellant morphology
• fluctuations
• chamber flow
• propellant combustion
• temporal correlation

Abstract

This study shows the results of three-dimensional simulations of the chamber flow within the BATES (Ballistic Test and Evaluation System) 15 pound motor. The injection boundary conditions for the motor are defined by the velocity-temperature temporal correlations. Three different propellant morphologies are modeled and tested along with a random white noise model that represents the current surrogate for propellant modeling. The data gained from each of these simulations is compared using contour plots of the chamber flow characteristics and by performing FFT analysis on the head-end pressure histories. The study is then expanded to include analysis of the 70 pound version of the BATES motor. The analysis of one of the propellant morphologies used in the study of the smaller motor and the white noise surrogate confirm the results of the 15 pound motor. Analysis of the acoustics and the characteristics of the chamber flow correspond with what was previously found. The results from these comparisons show that propellant morphology has a significant effect on the internal chamber flow dynamics.

Graduation Semester

2010-5

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http://hdl.handle.net/2142/16168

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2010 Andrew M. Nevill

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