'American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA)'
Abstract
Unstable motions must be anticipated as a possible
problem in solid-propellant rocket motors;
the characteristics of an instability depend primarily
on the geometry of the motor and composition
of the propellant. It is the purpose of this
paper to review mainly the current state of analyses
of combustion instability in solid-propellant
rocket motors, but appropriate measurements and
observations are cited. The work discussed has
become increasingly important, both for the interpretation
of laboratory data and for predicting the
transient behavior of disturbances in full-scale
motors. Two central questions are addressed:
linear stability and nonlinear behavior. Several
classes of problems are discussed as special cases
of a general approach to the analysis of combustion
instability. Application to motors, and particularly
the limitations presently understood, are stressed
