Active Dual Thrust Modulation of a Solid Rocket Motor

Abstract

Based on a combustion characteristic that some propellants cannot burn in an intermediate pressure range while they can burn at lower and higher pressure, an active thrust modulation system was developed. The motor changed its thrust in dual combustion mode. It chose alternately high and low thrusts during combustion. The transitions from the low mode to the high mode were attained by a secondary ignition system, and those from the high mode to the low mode were done by a brief gas release system. Up to three times mode transitions were successfully demonstrated. Required time for the mode transitions and the effects of the thrust modulations on the thrust performance were evaluated. On the present motor scale, the transition time from the low mode to the high mode ranged from 0.12 s to 0.23 s, and that from the high mode to the low mode was from 0.19 s to 0.38 s. The thrust variable range was adjustable by the throat area. The ratio of the low-mode thrust to the high mode thrust was variable from 3 to 5. Specific impulse was decreased from 195 s to 175 s, when the number of thrust modulations was increased.