Structures and Materials for Solid Propellant Rocket Motor Cases

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the structures and materials for solid propellant rocket motor cases. The motor case is only one of the major components making up a solid-propellant rocket. Other major parts include the nozzle assembly, the igniter, and the insulation. The propellant grain, which provides the stored chemical energy, is also of central importance. In addition to the many complex and challenging problems involving the other components of a solid-propellant rocket system, a number of major problems have been encountered in the motor case. Some of these problems include of: (1) brittle fracture during hydrostatic-pressure testing, (2) stiffness to resist buckling or to prevent undesirable interactions with the guidance and control system, and (3) end-closure design. The motor case of a solid-propellant rocket is more critical from a structural standpoint than is the tankage of a liquid-rocket vehicle for two reasons: (1) the internal pressures encountered in a solid-propellant rocket case are on the order of 10 to 20 times than those in liquid-propellant tankage, and (2) it is customary to require the solid-propellant rocket motor case to carry all of the vehicle flight loadings.

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