Abstract
A new concept of thrust modulation of solid propellant rocket motor is proposed. Some propellants cannot burn at intermediate pressure, while they can burn at lower and higher pressures. When one applies such a propellant to a motor, two combustion modes or two thrust levels are attainable without any change of the nozzle configuration. In the experiments different ignition conditions brought independent two combustion modes (low mode and high mode) in the same motor geometry. Some motors showed a natural transition from low mode to high mode. As an example, the alternative thrust levels were 50 N and 180 N. The natural transition was restricted with use of the partitioned grain. An active transition method was explored by exerting pressure perturbation through a vent hole with a ball valve. The valve system worked for the transition from high mode to low mode, but the reverse transition was not achieved well.
