An improved model for the combustion of AP composite propellants

Abstract

This paper presents several improvements in the Beckstead-Derr-Price model of steady-state burning of AP composite solid propellants. The Price-Boggs-Derr model of AP monopropellant burning is incorporated to represent the AP. A separate energy equation is written for the binder to permit a different surface temperature from the AP. The discussion includes an analysis of the sharing of primary diffusion flame energy and a correction in treating the binder regression rate. A method for assembling component contributions to calculate the burning rates of multimodal propellants is also presented. Results are shown in the form of representativ e burning rate curves, comparisons with data, and calculated internal details of interest. Ideas for future work are discussed in an Appendix.