Comparison of Methods for Prediction of Solid Rocket Motor Burn Rate

Abstract

A solid rocket motor is the main workhorse for the strategic and tactical missiles. Burn rate is the most significant ballistic parameter for the performance prediction of solid rocket motors. In positive pressure exponent propellants, error in burn rate causes an error of greater magnitude in predicted ballistic performance. There are various methods for determiningpropellant burn rate such as strand burner, ballistic evaluation motor, etc. Ballistic evaluation motor (BEM) and strand burn data both are vital for composition finalization of the full-scale rocket motor. A correlation between BEM and strand burn rate provides a pathway towards performance prediction of the solid rocket motor. In this paper,burn rate of both methods for low and high burn rate compositions are analyzed and an attempt is made to establish a correlation for prediction of burn rate of a full-scale rocket motor.