Comparison of approximate and numerical analyses of nonlinear combustion instability

At the present time, there are three general analytical techniques available to study problems of unsteady motions in rocket motors: linear stability analysis; approximate nonlinear analysis, founded on examining the behavior of coupled normal modes; and numerical calculations based on the conservation equations for one-dimensional flows. The last two yield the linear results as a limit. It is the main purpose of this paper to check the accuracy of the approximate analysis against the numerical analysis for some special cases. The results provide some justification for using the approximate analysis to study three dimensional problems

A continuous discharge improves the performance of the Cu/CuCl double pulse laser

A continuous glow discharge was applied to a Cu/CuCl double pulse laser. Maximum laser pulse energy was observed to increase as much as 35 percent at low buffer gas pressure and 3.5 percent at optimum buffer gas pressure. Minimum and optimum time delays decreased with increasing glow discharge current. The greater pulse energy may be due to increased rate of current rise of the pumping discharge pulse, and decreased contribution to the population of metastable copper from ion recombination

Electron collision quenching of CO(v) chemiluminescence in CS2/O2 and CS2/O2/N2O flames

Chemiluminescence from vibrationally excited carbon monoxide formed by the reaction CS+O-->CO(v)+S was observed in CS2/O2 and CS2/O2/N2O flames to which an electric discharge was applied. Although the total amount of chemiluminescence increased with increasing discharge current probably due to enhanced reaction rates as a result of radical formation, the vibrational distribution was quenched, becoming thermal in character. The thermalization is attributed to superelastic electron collisions [e+CO(v)-->e+CO(v−1)]. The technique demonstrates a sensitive method for detecting collisional transfers between excited states by separating the perturbation (electron collisions) from the initial excitation mechanism (chemical reactions)

Measurements of interactions between acoustic fields and nonuniform mean flow

Two problems crucial to the stability of longitudinal acoustic waves in solid rocket motors are examined experimentally. The first is the dissipation of energy associated with an average flow inward at the lateral boundary. Measurements reported here, though subject to considerable experimental error, show that the actual losses are much larger than predicted by the approximate one dimensional analysis. The second problem is the attenuation of waves accompanying reflection by the nonuniform flow in a choked exhaust nozzle. Empahsis in this work has been on technique, to provide data relatively easily and inexpensively. It appears that good results can be obtained in a routine manner using small supersonic wind tunnel operated as an open cycle. At least for Mach numbers up to 0.04 at the nozzle entrance, difficulties with signal/noise are satisfactorily overcome with a tracking filter

Modeling for Active Control of Combustion and Thermally Driven Oscillations

Organized oscillations excited and sustained by high densities of energy release in combustion chambers have long caused serious problems in development of propulsion systems. The amplitudes often become sufficiently large to cause unacceptable structural vibrations. Because the oscillations are self-excited, they reach limiting amplitudes (limit cycles) only because of the action of nonlinear processes. Traditionally, satisfactory behavior has been achieved through a combination of trial-and-error design and testing, with control always involving passive means: geometrical modifications, changes of propellant composition, or devices to enhance dissipation of acoustic energy. Active control has been applied only to small-scale laboratory devices, but the limited success suggests the possibility of serious applications to full-scale propulsion systems. Realization of that potential rests on further experimental work, combined with deeper understanding of the mechanisms causing the oscillations and of the physical behavior of the systems. Effective design of active control systems will require faithful modeling of the relevant processes over broad frequency ranges covering the spectra of natural modes. This paper will cover the general character of the linear and nonlinear behavior of combustion systems, with special attention to acoustics and the mechanisms of excitation. The discussion is intended to supplement the paper by Doyle et al. concerned primarily with controls issues and the observed behavior of simple laboratory devices

A model for the dissociation pulse, afterglow, and laser pulse in the Cu/CuCl double pulse laser

A model which completely describes the Cu/CuCl double pulse laser is presented. The dissociation discharge pulse and afterglow are simulated and the results are used as initial conditions for an analysis of the pumping discharge pulse and laser pulse. Experimental behavior including the minimum, optimum, and maximum delays between pulses, and the dependence of laser pulse energy on dissociation energy are satisfactorily reproduced. An optimum tube temperature is calculated, and the dependence of laser pulse energy on tube temperature (i.e., CuCl vapor pressure) is explained for the first time

Approximate analysis and stability of pressure oscillations in ramjets

This paper summarizes work accomplished during the past five years on analysis of stability related to recent experimental results on combustion instabilities in dump combustors. The primary purpose is to provide the information in a form useful to those concerned with design and development of operational systems. Thus most substantial details are omitted; the material is presented in a qualitative fashion