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MAE 4262: ROCKETS AND MISSION ANALYSIS

Overview of Solid Propellant Rockets



Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department
Florida Institute of Technology

D. R. Kirk
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SOLID PROPELLANT ROCKETS
Solid fuel rockets rely on controlled explosion of a mixture of substances
Nearly a homogeneous material that is burned
Similar to gunpowder ~ (75% potassium nitrate, 10% carbon, and 15% sulfur)
Example: STS Solid Rocket Boosters:
Contain ammonium perchlorate as an oxidizer and aluminum as a fuel
Rest of mixture devoted to bonding two reactants
Once a solid rocket is ignited, can not be turned off

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OVERVIEW: SOLID ROCKET COMPONENTS
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SPACE SHUTTLE SOLID ROCKET BOOSTERS
SRBs are largest solid propellant motors ever
flown and first designed for reuse
Diameter = 12.17 ft
Length = 149.16 ft
Sea Level Thrust: 3,300,000 lb
Weight
With propellant: 1,300,000 lb
Inert: 192,000 lb
Provide ~ 71% of thrust at lift-off and ascent
Propellant mixture by weight
Ammonium perchlorate: 69.6%
Aluminum: 16%
Iron oxide (catalyst): 0.4%
Polymer binder: 12.04%
Epoxy curing agent: 1.96%
Propellant is 11 point star shape in forward
motor segments and double truncated cone in aft
segments

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ADDITIONAL EXAMPLES
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MINUTEMAN SOLID ROCKET
Minuteman first stage motor
Minuteman missile systems, operated by Air Force Combat Command are long-range,
solid-fuel, three-stage intercontinental ballistic missiles capable of carrying single
or multiple nuclear warheads. The program began in 1958 and is one of Boeing's
longest military contracts.
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PEGASUS SOLID ROCKET
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GRAIN DESIGNS
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GRAIN CROSS-SECTIONAL GEOMETRIES
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SOLID PROPELLANT ROCKETS
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DIMENSIONS SUMMARY OF CURRENT SRBs
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MASS SUMMARY OF CURRENT SRBs
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PERFORMANCE SUMMARY FOR CURRENT SRBs
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SOLID ROCKET FUEL DATA
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SOLID ROCKETS AND NOZZLE FLOW
Special issue with solid propellants that use powdered metals as a fuel additive

Adding aluminum to formation of solid propellant increases gas temperature, but
incurs performance penalties related to solid particles that are generated
Aluminum burns with oxygen to form Al
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O
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particles
Particles are initially liquid and solidify during expansion process
Also tend to agglomerate to become large particles
Large particles do not accelerate as quickly as the gas surrounding them
These particles may constitute as much as 10-25% of total mass
Need to consider this in nozzle design, which must account for two-phase flow

Simplified models exist for analysis of performance:
Results indicate that large particle sizes are a detriment
However, for small particles, there is an optimum amount of Al to add
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ROCKET FUEL SELECTION GUIDE
Desirable Physical Properties
Low freezing point
High specific gravity (dense propellant)
Stability (with time)
Heat transfer properties
Pumping properties (low vapor pressure, low viscosity)
Small variation in physical characteristics with temperature
Ignition, combustion, and flame properties

Performance of Propellants
Economic Factors
Physical Hazards (Explosion, Fire, Spills)
Health Hazzards
Corrosion

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HYBRID ROCKETS
Solid Fuel, Liquid Oxidizer Example