Abstract
An experimental study was carried out to understand the role of inhibitor flexibility on the flow–acoustic coupling characteristics of simulated solid rocket motors. Sub-scale experiments are conducted using an axial cold flow model with inhibitors made of elastomers simulating the obstacle vortex shedding mechanism at the segment interfaces. The cold flow setup replicates the geometry inside the solid rocket motor at the instance of maximum pressure oscillations noticed during full-scale static tests, with the similarity of the Mach number inside motor’s port being maintained. In the region of flow–acoustic coupling, the role of inhibitor flexibility is investigated by varying the thickness and material for a specified set of diameter ratios. Results show dependence of inhibitor flexibility on the time of occurrence of peak oscillations. Also, the experiments done with inhibitors having natural vibration frequencies in a close match with the first acoustic mode show heightened oscillations demonstrating the effect of fluid–structure interaction.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Blomshield FS (2006) Lessons learned in solid rocket combustion instability. In: Proceedings of American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Missile Sciences Conference, ADM202095, Monterey, CA, November 2006
Flandro GA, Jacobs HR (1973) Vortex generated sound in cavities, AIAA Paper 73-1014, October 1973
Dotson KW, Koshigoe S, Pace KK (1997) Vortex shedding in a large solid rocket motor without inhibitors at the segment interfaces. J Propulsion Power 13(2), March–April 1997
Anthoine J, Lema MR (2009) Passive control of pressure oscillations in solid rocket motors: cold-flow experiments. J Propulsion Power 25(3), May–June 2009
Ramanaiah V, Kali Prasad VASN Kallakunta, Ananda Raj J, Seshagiri Rao V , Prasad MYS , Dathan MC (2013) Investigation of thrust oscillations in large segmented solid rocket motors during ground tests, Paper No 21005, National Propulsion Conference (NPC-2013) at IIT Madras, Feb 2013
Rockwell D (1983) Oscillations of impinging shear layers. AIAA J 21(5):645–664
Stubos AK, Benocci C, Palli E, Stoubos GK, Olivari D (1999) Aerodynamically generated acoustic resonance in a pipe with annular flow restrictors. J Fluids Struct
McWhorter B, Ewing ME, Bolton DE, Albrechtsen KU, Earnest TE, Noble TC, Longaker M (2003) Real-time inhibitor recession measurements in two space shuttle reusable solid rocket motors, AIAA 2003–5107, 39th AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference and Exhibit. Huntsville, Alabama
Leissa AW (1969) Vibration of plates, NASA SP-160, Washington DC
Acknowledgements
The authors thank the management of SDSC SHAR and ISRO for their support to this R&D study and constant encouragement.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2021 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.
About this paper
Cite this paper
Kallakunta, K.V.A.S.N., Sathiyavageeswaran, S., Chakravarthy, S.R. (2021). Role of Inhibitor Flexibility in the Mitigation of Pressure Oscillations in Large Solid Rocket Motors. In: Prabu, T., Viswanathan, P., Agrawal, A., Banerjee, J. (eds) Fluid Mechanics and Fluid Power. Lecture Notes in Mechanical Engineering. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-0698-4_39
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-0698-4_39
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore
Print ISBN: 978-981-16-0697-7
Online ISBN: 978-981-16-0698-4
eBook Packages: EngineeringEngineering (R0)