Modeling of Solid Propellants Viscoplastic Behavior Using Evolutionary Algorithms

Abstract

Abstract: In the paper an initial attempt to the experimental analysis of viscous effects, characteristic for homogeneous solid rocket fuels is proposed. For this reason uniaxial tensile experiments, carried out on dumbbell homogeneous solid propellants have been chosen. Laboratory tests have been carried out on INSTRON tensile testing machine. Research schedule involved destructive tensile tests with various strain rates. Three different values of strain rates have been taken into consideration. Experimentally obtained hardening curves are presented in suitable diagrams. Basing on obtained results, authors confirm the viscoplastic behavior of studied materials. Essential impact of the applied strain rate on the position of experimental hardening curves is observed. Acquired results are the base for the further stage of investigations of homogeneous solid propellants – the modeling of their physical properties. Additionally, numerical modeling of studied phenomena, using the viscoplastic Chaboche’s model, identified on the basis of experimental data, is presented. The material parameters of the constitutive law are determined numerically using an evolutionary algorithm procedure. The efficiency of the model and the identification approach are discussed.