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Flow Simulation of Solid Rocket MotorsPrior to selecting a proper porous material for use in simulating the internal port flow of a solid rocket motor (SRM), in cold-flow testing, the flow emerging from porous materials is experimentally investigated. The injection-flow emerging from a porous matrix always exhibits a lumpy velocity profile that is spatially stable and affects the development of the longitudinal port flow. This flow instability, termed pseudoturbulence, is an inherent signature of the porous matrix and is found to generally increase with the wall porosity and with the injection flow rate. Visualization studies further show that the flow from porous walls made from shaving-type material (sintered stainless-steel) exhibits strong recirculation zones that are conspicuously absent in walls made from nodular or spherical material (sintered bronze). Detailed flow visualization observations and hot-film measurements are reported from tests of injection-flow and a coupled cross-flow from different porous wall materials. Based on the experimental data, discussion is provided on the choice of suitable material for SRM model testing while addressing the consequences and shortcomings from such a test.
Document ID
20000019655
Acquisition Source
Marshall Space Flight Center
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Ramachandran, N.
(Universities Space Research Association Huntsville, AL United States)
Yeh, Y. P.
(Cray Research, Inc. Huntsville, AL United States)
Smith, A. W.
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL United States)
Heaman, J. P.
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL United States)
Date Acquired
August 19, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1999
Subject Category
Spacecraft Propulsion And Power
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NCC8-66
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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