Low-Cost Tactical Motor Test Bed: The CEA/Aerojet Reponse

Colorado Engineering Analysis (CEA) teams with Aerojet to develop, install and verify, through subsequent testing, a comprehensive tactical motor pintle analysis and data base for use by industry and government. The pintle technology, long studied and promoted by Aerojet, offers exciting prospects for the advancement of controlled solid propulsion systems. Our team has many years of experience in the development, testing, and analysis of many applications of pintle technology. Herein are discussed important aspects of the application of pintle technology such as; two phase flow, erosion, thermal expansion, transient loading, and internal ballistics. These phenomena have an important (indeed critical) bearing on the design and analysis of the subject configurations. Aerojet's long history of research and development of this technology has been supported by CEA in the development of CFD analysis tools which address the phenonena important (in many ways unique) to this propulsion concept. This long term involvement has led to the creation of CFD analyses which treat many of the complicating factors occurring in these novel situations. We look to this procurement as a mechanism to further our own pintle nozzle technology and to provide this significant experimental and computational resource to the industry. In the Phase I portion of effort we will deliver a CFD analysis which is based not only on academic developments but also on the ongoing experience in the real world application. BENEFITS: The further development of the pintle technology will have an important commercial benefit to the industry as more applications result from an enhanced understanding of design aspects.