Structural Health Monitoring System for Rocket Motor Cases

Composite rocket motor cases are subject to a variety of external environmental and loading conditions from the time-of-manufacturing till usage. These conditions can significantly impact the performance and behavior characteristics of the composite motorcase structure. Fueling of the rocket motor adds an additional complexity in that inspection of the interior becomes impossible while creating the possibility of disbonds between the case and fuel. These factors can have potentially catastrophic consequences for the missile performance. Acellent Technologies has proposed to develop a cradle-to-grave structural health monitoring system for rocket motors by using an innovative combination of passive and active sensing techniques in combination with an intergrated piezoelectric sensor network. The developed system will have the ability to monitor impact location, extent and severity of damage in the case and between the case and propellant. Phase I focused on the development of a preliminary structural health monitoring system. Phase II will focus on developing the system further, qualifying it for rocket motors and using it to identify and quantify damage such as disbonds in rocket motors. The development will be conducted in close collaboration with ATK-Thiokol who fully support the developmental and commercialization efforts.