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Studies on Starting Thrust Oscillations in Dual-Thrust Solid Propellant Rocket Motors

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Emerging Trends in Science, Engineering and Technology

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Mechanical Engineering ((LNME))

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Abstract

In this paper numerical studies have been carried out to examine the starting transient flow features of dual-thrust motors (DTMs) during the pre-ignition chamber conditions. Numerical computations have been carried out with the aid of a standard k-ω turbulence model. We concluded from the numerical results that in DTMs with highly loaded propellants the hot igniter gases can create pre-ignition thrust oscillations due to flow unsteadiness and recirculation. Under these conditions the convective flux to the surface of the propellant will be enhanced, which will create multiple-flame fronts leading to undesirable start-up transient. We also concluded that the prudent selection of the port geometry, without altering the propellant loading density, for damping the total temperature fluctuations within the motor is a meaningful objective for the suppression and control of instability and/or pressure/thrust oscillations often observed in solid propellant rockets with non-uniform port geometry.

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References

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Professor V.R. Sanal Kumar, Senior Member American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) and Editor International Journal of Aerospace Engineering for reviewing our work and further giving valuable guidance for improving the quality of this paper. The authors also thank the management of Kumaraguru College of Technology for extending their support for the successful completion of this paper.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Aeronautical Engineering, Kumaraguru College of Technology, Coimbatore, 641049, Tamil Nadu, India

    S. Deepthi, S. K. Kumaresh, D. Aravind Kumar & J. Darshan Kumar

  2. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Kumaraguru College of Technology, Coimbatore, 641049, Tamil Nadu, India

    M. Arun

Authors
  1. S. Deepthi
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  2. S. K. Kumaresh
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  3. D. Aravind Kumar
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  4. J. Darshan Kumar
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  5. M. Arun
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to S. Deepthi .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. J.J. College of Engg and Technology, Ammapettai, Poolangulathupatti – Post, Tiruchirappalli, 620009, India

    S Sathiyamoorthy

  2. , Dept of Electronics & Communication Engg, J.J. College of Engg and Technology, Ammapettai, Tiruchirappalli, 620009, India

    B. Elizabeth Caroline

  3. , Dept. of Computer Applications, J.J. College of Engg and Technology, Ammapettai, Tiruchirappalli, 620009, India

    J Gnana Jayanthi

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© 2012 Springer India

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Deepthi, S., Kumaresh, S.K., Aravind Kumar, D., Darshan Kumar, J., Arun, M. (2012). Studies on Starting Thrust Oscillations in Dual-Thrust Solid Propellant Rocket Motors. In: Sathiyamoorthy, S., Caroline, B., Jayanthi, J. (eds) Emerging Trends in Science, Engineering and Technology. Lecture Notes in Mechanical Engineering. Springer, India. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-81-322-1007-8_39

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-81-322-1007-8_39

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, India

  • Print ISBN: 978-81-322-1006-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-81-322-1007-8

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