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Viscoelastic rocket grain fracture analysis

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Abstract

A viscoelastic fracture analysis has been developed for rocket grain fracture predictions. The fracture analysis uses a stress intensity factor technique to predict crack velocity histories under thermal and pressurization loading conditions. The theory is compared with two-dimensional pressurized tests of two typical rocket motor geometries using the viscoelastic material, Solithane 113.

Résumé

On a développé une méthode d'analyse de la rupture viscoélastique, en vue de prédire la rupture d'éléments de combustibles de fusée. L'analyse fait appel à la notion du facteur d'intensité des contraintes pour présager de l'évolution de la vitesse de propagation sous des conditions définies de sollicitations thermiques et de pressurisation.

La théorie est comparée avec les résultats d'essais bidimensionnels de mise sous pression de deux configurations géométriques typiques de moteur à fusée utilisant un matériau viscoélastique, le Solithane 113.

Zusammenfassung

Eine zähflüssigelastische Bruchanalyse wurde zur Bruchvoraussagung von Raketentreibstoff entwickelt. Die Bruchanalyse wendet ein Verfahren von Spannungsintensitätsfaktoren an, um den Ablauf der Rißgeschwindigkeit unter thermischer und Druckbelastungs-Bedingungen vorauszusagen. Die Theorie wird mit zweidimensionalen Druckversuchen für zwei typische Geometrien von Raketenmotoren die das zähflüssige Material Solithane 113 benützen, verglichen.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. United Technology Center, Sunnyvale, California, (U.S.A.)

    E. C. Francis (Supervisor of Propellant properties Evaluation)

  2. United Technology Center, Sunnyvale, California, (U.S.A.)

    C. H. Carlton (Head of Mechanical Properties Research Group)

  3. United Technology Center, Sunnyvale, California, (U.S.A.)

    R.E. Thompson (Research Engineer)

Authors
  1. E. C. Francis
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  2. C. H. Carlton
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  3. R.E. Thompson
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Francis, E.C., Carlton, C.H. & Thompson, R. Viscoelastic rocket grain fracture analysis. Int J Fract 10, 167–180 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00113924

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00113924

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