SBIR-STTR Award

Current solid rocket motor propellant chemically degrades over time, and the only available in-place testing requires manual placement, excessive labor, and disassembly and reassembly of the solid rocket motor. Mainstream proposes to develop a non-destructive spectroscopic based propellant analyzer that can determine chemical species, including binder, stabilizers, plasticizers, oxidizers, and other organic compounds with a custom insertion system to measure propellant in-place at multiple locations, several meters into the motor, and fit through a nozzle. The sensor head will contain a rastering tip that is connected to the measurement system and the sensor will meet all hazard of electromagnetic radiation to ordnance (HERO) requirements. Phase I will culminate in proof-of-concept demonstrations of all key measurements and Phase II will further refine, build, and demonstrate a prototype.

Benefit:
The proposed system for propellant determination will improve solid rocket motor testing by improving the resolution and accuracy of chemical measurement, increase ability to test by reducing labor, manual replacement, and motor disassembly/reassembly, and greatly expand predictive life capabilities by providing spatial-temporal resolution with measurements that take less than one minute. The Phase I research is a straightforward effort using proven technologies expanded to this specific application. The sensor allows for simple calibration, re-standardization, and implementation of any existing information for chemicals and propellants.

Keywords:
Propellant, Propellant, non-destructive, spectroscopic, grain, Analysis, Motor, Sensor