Structural response analysis of a solid rocket motor with HTPB propellant grain under vertical storage condition

Abstract

Aiming at the structural response characteristics of solid rocket motor (SRM) under vertical storage conditions, the creep tests of HTPB propellant under different stress levels were carried out, and the creep constitutive model of the propellant was fitted. Then the creep model of the HTPB propellant was used to analyze the structural response of a solid rocket motor with HTPB propellant grain. At the same time, a two-week vertical storage experiment was conducted for the SRM with HTPB propellant grain, and the creep displacement of the front and rear end of the propellant grain was measured and compared with the simulation results. The results show that the creep model of the HTPB propellant can well simulate the structural response of the propellant grain under vertical storage condition. During the storage process, the position near the root of the front artificial relief flaps is the high stress area of propellant grain. After 1 year of vertical storage, the axial sinking displacement at the rear end face of propellant grain is about 1.38 mm.