Performance Analysis of PE-GOX Hybrid Rocket Motor Part I : Regression Rate Characteristics

An experimental investigation was conducted to clarify the combustion characteristics of Polyethylene-GOX(PE-GOX) hybrid motor using a single-port fuel grain configuration. Data from the experiments were analyzed to evaluate the length-averaged regression rate of PE-GOX propellants. Based on the existing theories, the empirical regression rate formulas provided from Marxman[3,4] and Altman[14] showed good concordance with the PE-GOX experiments. The accuracy of the regression rate was then evaluated and compared with the measured one. As a result, Marxman's model was somewhat more precise than Altman's model in these experiments. Moreover, the consideration of the empirical regression rate showed that O/F ratio has minor variation due to the quasi constant inflow of the fuel during motor firing.