Ballistic and thermomechanical characterisation of paraffin-based hybrid rocket fuels loaded with light metal hydrides

Rocket fuels are subjected to intense in-flight inertial, pressure and thermal loads that has drastic effect on its performance. In order to achieve optimal results, we require functionally-graded solid propellant (FGSPs), specifically designed for each flight condition. A novel series of FGSPs were...

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Main Authors: Akhter, Md Zishan, Hassan, M. A.
Other Authors: School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: 2020
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10356/144021
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author Akhter, Md Zishan
Hassan, M. A.
author2 School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
author_facet School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Akhter, Md Zishan
Hassan, M. A.
author_sort Akhter, Md Zishan
collection NTU
description Rocket fuels are subjected to intense in-flight inertial, pressure and thermal loads that has drastic effect on its performance. In order to achieve optimal results, we require functionally-graded solid propellant (FGSPs), specifically designed for each flight condition. A novel series of FGSPs were developed using Paraffin Wax (as fuel) and Hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene (as binder); treated with Dioctyl adipate (C22H42O4), Toluene diisocyante (C9H6N2O2) and Glycerol (C3H8O3). These FGSPs were further doped with light metal hydride nano-powders including Lithium aluminium hydride (LiAlH4) and Magnesium hydride (MgH2). The FGSPs were investigated for thermo-physical and ballistic performance using several characterisation techniques. The Magnesium hydride-doped FGSPs exhibited lower viscosity that fostered entrainment-aided combustion. FGSPs doped with Lithium aluminium hydride featured solid-like behaviour that makes them more stable in solid phase and less susceptible to in-flight loads. Thermal characterisation revealed that Lithium aluminium hydride makes FGSPs comparatively more resistant towards pyrolysis thereby producing greater char-yield. Eventually, combustion characteristics were evaluated by performing static ballistic firings of the developed FGSPs. The doped FGSPs exhibited significant enhancement in regression compared to the base fuel and conventional HTPB fuel. The MgH2-doped FGSP exhibited maximum enhancements of up to 224% and 353% as compared with the base fuel and HTPB, respectively.
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spelling ntu-10356/1440212023-03-04T17:22:49Z Ballistic and thermomechanical characterisation of paraffin-based hybrid rocket fuels loaded with light metal hydrides Akhter, Md Zishan Hassan, M. A. School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Engineering::Mechanical engineering Hybrid Rocket Fuel Rheology Rocket fuels are subjected to intense in-flight inertial, pressure and thermal loads that has drastic effect on its performance. In order to achieve optimal results, we require functionally-graded solid propellant (FGSPs), specifically designed for each flight condition. A novel series of FGSPs were developed using Paraffin Wax (as fuel) and Hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene (as binder); treated with Dioctyl adipate (C22H42O4), Toluene diisocyante (C9H6N2O2) and Glycerol (C3H8O3). These FGSPs were further doped with light metal hydride nano-powders including Lithium aluminium hydride (LiAlH4) and Magnesium hydride (MgH2). The FGSPs were investigated for thermo-physical and ballistic performance using several characterisation techniques. The Magnesium hydride-doped FGSPs exhibited lower viscosity that fostered entrainment-aided combustion. FGSPs doped with Lithium aluminium hydride featured solid-like behaviour that makes them more stable in solid phase and less susceptible to in-flight loads. Thermal characterisation revealed that Lithium aluminium hydride makes FGSPs comparatively more resistant towards pyrolysis thereby producing greater char-yield. Eventually, combustion characteristics were evaluated by performing static ballistic firings of the developed FGSPs. The doped FGSPs exhibited significant enhancement in regression compared to the base fuel and conventional HTPB fuel. The MgH2-doped FGSP exhibited maximum enhancements of up to 224% and 353% as compared with the base fuel and HTPB, respectively. Accepted version The corresponding author thankfully acknowledge the grant from Science and Engineering Research Board, Department of Science and Technology, Government of India vide file no. ECR/001003/2017. 2020-10-08T05:30:41Z 2020-10-08T05:30:41Z 2021 Journal Article Akhter, M. Z., & Hassan, M. A. (2021). Ballistic and thermomechanical characterisation of paraffin-based hybrid rocket fuels loaded with light metal hydrides. Acta Astronautica, 178, 370–381. doi:10.1016/j.actaastro.2020.09.015 0094-5765 https://hdl.handle.net/10356/144021 10.1016/j.actaastro.2020.09.015 178 370 381 en Acta Astronautica © 2020 IAA. All rights reserved. This paper was published by Elsevier Ltd in Acta Astronautica and is made available with permission of IAA. application/pdf
spellingShingle Engineering::Mechanical engineering
Hybrid Rocket Fuel
Rheology
Akhter, Md Zishan
Hassan, M. A.
Ballistic and thermomechanical characterisation of paraffin-based hybrid rocket fuels loaded with light metal hydrides
title Ballistic and thermomechanical characterisation of paraffin-based hybrid rocket fuels loaded with light metal hydrides
title_full Ballistic and thermomechanical characterisation of paraffin-based hybrid rocket fuels loaded with light metal hydrides
title_fullStr Ballistic and thermomechanical characterisation of paraffin-based hybrid rocket fuels loaded with light metal hydrides
title_full_unstemmed Ballistic and thermomechanical characterisation of paraffin-based hybrid rocket fuels loaded with light metal hydrides
title_short Ballistic and thermomechanical characterisation of paraffin-based hybrid rocket fuels loaded with light metal hydrides
title_sort ballistic and thermomechanical characterisation of paraffin based hybrid rocket fuels loaded with light metal hydrides
topic Engineering::Mechanical engineering
Hybrid Rocket Fuel
Rheology
url https://hdl.handle.net/10356/144021
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AT hassanma ballisticandthermomechanicalcharacterisationofparaffinbasedhybridrocketfuelsloadedwithlightmetalhydrides