Thrust termination of solid rocket motor

Abstract

Rocket motors are engines that create the necessary thrust for the rocket motion. There are different types of rocket motors based on the propellant state, such as solid propellant rocket motors, liquid propellant rocket motors, and hybrid propellant rocket motors. One of the biggest disadvantages of solid propellant rocket motors, in comparison to liquid and hybrid propellant rocket motors, is that they are extremely difficult to extinguish, necessitating the use of specific devices. This paper reviews various ways for thrust termination such as fluid injection, rapid increase in throat area, and sudden opening of an additional port at the forward section of the motor, which increases the depressurization rate (dp/dt) required for extinguishing. The rate of depressurization varies depending on propellant components, combustion pressure, and exhaust pressure, and may be investigated using experimental approaches. The change in the critical area for a motor can be predicted by using MATLAB code to ensure the complete extinguishing by decreasing the pressure under the deflagrationlimit with high depressurization rate.