Convergence of Two Internal Mean Flow Solutions for Spinning Rocket Motors

What is it about?

Solid rocket motors continue to play an important role in propulsive applications intended for space exploration, national defense, or STEM education. Closed form models that describe the bulk gaseous motion within the motor are foundational for investigating the performance and stability characteristics of different rockets. This paper focuses on spinning rockets and uses two different approaches to obtain models of the internal gaseous motion in a rocket motor that is rotating about its central axis. Rockets are often spun about their axes to promote flight stability. The present work shows that the internal gases will be compelled to spin at a well-determined speed that is driven by the angular rotation of the rocket. Our findings also help to validate an asymptotic approach used to capture the effects of friction, or viscosity, that become important near the axis of the motor. The accuracy of both approaches is carefully verified using computer simulations over a broad range of physical parameters and speeds.

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