A feasibility study of the use of microwaves to measure radical and differential burning rates in solid propellant rockets

The subject investigation demonstrated that it is feasible to use the microwave technique to measure radial burning rates ,and differential burning rates in solid propellant rocket motors. A simulator, consisting of a spiral rotating in an oil bath, was used to represent the curved burning surface of a tubular grain of propellant with the outer surface and ends restricted. The radial movement of the spiral, simulating radial burning, was detected by recording the phasor difference of the reflected microwaves from the reflecting surface of the spiral and the reflected microwaves from a stationary reference surface. The reflected microwaves changed in phase relation producing successive minimum values in the detected signal for each one-half of a microwave wavelength in oil displacement of the spiral. The displacement rates were calculated as average rates for a displacement of one-half of a microwave wavelength in oil. The curved reflective surface did not present a measurement problem. The differential displacement rates were detected by recording the phasor difference of the reflected signals from two spirals. The reflected signals changed in phase relation, if the reflecting surfaces were moving at different rates, producing a beat frequency in the detected signal. The differential displacement rate was determined from the number of beat frequency cycles, the one-half microwave wavelength in oil, and the time. The addition of the aluminum powder to the oil simulating aluminized propellants did not prevent detection of the moving surface. The results indicated that the microwave technique can be applied to aluminized propellants.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.S.

Level thesis:degree_level

masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Mechanical Engineering

Department dc:contributor.department

Mechanical Engineering

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Polytechnic Institute

Year dc:date.issued

1967

Author dc:creator

• Cauley, Lanier Stewart

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/10919/106216

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/106216