Application of Ultrasonic Technique for Measurement of Instantaneous Burn Rate of Solid Propellants .

Desh Deepak; R. Jeenu; P. Sridharan; M.S. padmanabhan

doi:10.14429/dsj.48.3899

Desh Deepak Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Thiruvananthapuram
R. Jeenu Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Thiruvananthapuram
P. Sridharan Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Thiruvananthapuram
M.S. padmanabhan Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Thiruvananthapuram

DOI: https://doi.org/10.14429/dsj.48.3899

Keywords: Burn rate measurements, ballistic evaluation, Post test data processing, Propellant specimens, Aluminised composite solid propellants, Ultrasonic pulse echo technique

Abstract

The ultrasonic pulse-echo technique has been applied for the measurement of instantaneous burnrate of aluminised composite solid propellants. The tests have been carried out on end-burning 30 mmthick propellant specimens at nearly constant pressure of about 1.9 MPa. Necessary software forpost-test data processing and instantaneous burn rate computations have been developed. The burnrates measured by the ultrasonic technique have been compared with those obtained from ballisticevaluation motor tests on propellant from the same mix. An accuracy of about +- 1 per cent ininstantaneous burn rate measurements and reproducibility of results have been demonstrated byapplying ultrasonic technique.

Author Biographies

Desh Deepak, Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Thiruvananthapuram

Dr Desh Deepak is Section Head, Combustion R&D Section of Propulsion Group at VikramSarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) Thiruvananthapuram. He obtained his PhD from Gorakhpur University in 1977. During 1979-85, he worked at South ampton University, Edinburgh Universityand Imperial College of Science & Technology, London, Atomic Energy Research Establishment,Harwell, UK, for post-doctoral research. He has published a number of research papers. His areas ofresearch include solid propulsion, solid propellant ignition/combustion, hybrid propulsion,air-breathing propulsion and laser-based diagnostic techniques for fluid flow measurements andcombustion research.

R. Jeenu, Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Thiruvananthapuram

Dr R Jeenu obtained his BTech (Chemical Engineering) from Calicut University in 1984 and PhDfrom Indian Institute of Technology, Chennai, in 1992. Hyderabad. Hejoined the Combustion R & DSection of VSSC, Thiruvananthapuram in 1992. Currently, he is on post-doctoral assignment at the School of Aerospace Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology, USA. His areas of research include solid propulsion and solid propellant combustion.

P. Sridharan, Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Thiruvananthapuram

Mr P. Sridharan obtained his BE (Mechanical Engineering) from Anna University in 1986 and MTech (Refrigeration & Cryogenic Engineering) from Kerala University in 1989. He joined VSSC,pTrhoirpuevlalannat ntchoampubruasmtio n.in 1990. At present, he is working at the Combustion R & D Section on solid Propellant combustion.

M.S. padmanabhan, Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Thiruvananthapuram

Dr M s Padmanabhan received his BE ( Mechanical Engineering) from Bangalore University'1969, ME (Aeronautics) from Indian Institute of Science 1971 and PhD (Aerospace Engineering)from Georgia Institute of Technology, USA 1975. After post-doctoral research at Princeton University, he joined VSSC in 1979, His areas of research are solid motor performance, propulsion,combustion and fluid mechanics. At VSSC, he has been involved in the design and development ofvarious solid rocket motors being used in ISRO's satellite launch vehicles. Currently, he is the Head,Fluid Mechanics and Internal Ballistics Division in the Propulsion Group at VSSC.

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