Firing test of solid motors with propellant voids and separations

This paper presents the effects of propellant voids, liner-propellant, and case-liner separations on the combustion behavior of scaled-down upper stage motors of NASDA. It was confirmed that the pressure trace changed as the trace change of the burning area due to defects and that the maximum chamber pressure could exceed the MEOP. The maximum chamber pressure, which was most important for catastrophic motor burst, increased by about 15 percent at the most in this test. However, this value can be dangerous for upper stage motors with lower safety factors.