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An Overview of Combustion Mechanisms and Flame Structures for Advanced Solid PropellantsAmmonium perchlorate (AP) and cyclotretamethylenetetranitramine (HMX) are two solid ingredients often used in modern solid propellants. Although these two ingredients have very similar burning rates as monopropellants, they lead to significantly different characteristics when combined with binders to form propellants. Part of the purpose of this paper is to relate the observed combustion characteristics to the postulated flame structures and mechanisms for AP and HMX propellants that apparently lead to these similarities and differences. For AP composite, the primary diffusion flame is more energetic than the monopropellant flame, leading to an increase in burning rate over the monopropellant rate. In contrast the HMX primary diffusion flame is less energetic than the HMX monopropellant flame and ultimately leads to a propellant rate significantly less than the monopropellant rate in composite propellants. During the past decade the search for more energetic propellants and more environmentally acceptable propellants is leading to the development of propellants based on ingredients other than AP and HMX. The objective of this paper is to utilize the more familiar combustion characteristics of AP and HMX containing propellants to project the combustion characteristics of propellants made up of more advanced ingredients. The principal conclusion reached is that most advanced ingredients appear to burn by combustion mechanisms similar to HMX containing propellants rather than AP propellants.
Document ID
20000116397
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Beckstead, M. W.
(Brigham Young Univ. Provo, UT United States)
Date Acquired
August 19, 2013
Publication Date
May 1, 2000
Publication Information
Publication: JANNAF 29th Propellant Development and Characterization Subcommittee Meeting
Subject Category
Propellants And Fuels
Meeting Information
Meeting: Propellant Development and Characterization
Location: Cocoa Beach, FL
Country: United States
Start Date: May 8, 2000
End Date: May 12, 2000
Sponsors: NASA Headquarters, Department of the Navy, Department of the Army, Department of the Air Force
Funding Number(s)
OTHER: N00014-95-I-1338
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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