Non-destructive techniques for the quality control of erosion resistant graphites for solid propellant rocket motors

✍ Scribed by M.J. Chase

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 1968
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 438 KB
• Volume: 6
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0008-6223
• DOI: 10.1016/0008-6223(68)90089-4

✦ Synopsis

Erosion and shock resistant conventional graphites are used as nozzle throat materials for solid propellant rocket motors. Motors with small nozzle throat diameters are particularly sensitive to variations in graphite quality affecting erosion resistance. Evidence from firing tests on a variety of graphites shows that bulk density, open porosity and flexural strength all play their part in determining erosion resistance whilst not necessarily being interrelated. To meet the high degree of reliability required of rocket motors quality control of individual nozzle components is necessary. Non-destructive techniques have been developed for the determination of the above properties in finish machined nozzle shapes, particularly the determination of flexural strength _ by measuring resonance frequency.