16.

512, Rocket Propulsion

Prof. Manuel Martinez-Sanchez
Lecture 15: Selection of Propellant Mixtures

Solid Propellant Rocket Fundamentals

Solid Propellants Rockets

Read Sutton ch.11 → basic performance

⎛•⎞
Surface regression rate ⎜ r ⎟ , empirically correlated to gas pressure as
⎝ ⎠

• • Pc A t
r = apnc m = ρp a Pcn Ab =
c*
(n < 1)
1
⎛ A ⎞ 1− n
Pc = ⎜ ρp a c* b ⎟ n<1 for stability
⎝ Ad ⎠

Booster motor

Space Engine (IUS)

Tactical motor

16.512, Rocket Propulsion Lecture 15

Prof. Manuel Martinez-Sanchez Page 1 of 2
B. Double – bore propellants: Homogenous, Nitroglicerine/Nitrocellulose + additive

C. Composite propellants: Ammonium Per chlorate (AP) + Rubber binder (fuel) +

Aluminum

Ex. Fig 11.7 Sutton. AP-CMDB 30% AP (150 µm ) n ~ 0.4

0.4
⎛ P ⎞
r (100 atm)  1 cm/s r  0.01 ⎜ c 7 ⎟ a=1.58 x 10-5
⎝ 10 ⎠

C* = 1600 m/s ρp = 0.0636 lb/m2 = 1760 Kg/m2

Want Pc = 50 atm  5 x 106 N/m2

( )
0.6
Ab 5 × 106
= = 235 cannot use end – burn
At 1760 × 1.58 × 10−5 × 1600

Grain configuration

For Solid Rocket Components and Motor Design

Read Sutton, Chapter 14

16.512, Rocket Propulsion Lecture 15

Prof. Manuel Martinez-Sanchez Page 2 of 2