Experimental investigation on the effects of acceleration on the combustion characteristics of an aluminized composite propellant

The investigation shows that the effects of acceleration on a solid propellant is a particular dynamic process at the beginning. Various pits of different shapes can be observed on the burned propellant surface after extinguishment which are caused by the agglomerated aluminum particles remaining on the surface, and it is those pits that cause an increase in the heat feedback to the propellant, and as a result, both the burning rate and the area of burning surface increase. On this basis, three expressions on the increment of heat effect (burning-rate), augmentative area effect, and pressure effect were obtained which can be utilized to quantitatively predict the motor performances in an acceleration environment.