One of the challenges in paraffin-based hybrid rockets is the poor mechanical properties of wax, which can lead to sloughing and potential motor failure. Strategies to mitigate sloughing include embedding polymer lattices as structural reinforcement within the wax fuel grain. However, this approach reduces regression rates at low oxidizer mass flux. To counteract this, mixing devices such as protrusions can be incorporated to create recirculation zones downstream, enhancing species mixing and heat transfer to the fuel. However, the combined effect of protrusion and lattice reinforcement has not been reported previously. This study presents the first results on the regression behavior of fuel grains augmented with protrusions and lattice reinforcement. Regression rates are investigated for different configurations, including variations in lattice unit cells, reinforcement length, and protrusion material (mullite and silicon carbide [SiC]). The results show that at a lattice volume fraction of 7%, fuel grains with mullite and SiC protrusions achieved regression rates comparable to pure paraffin. This suggests that paraffin wax fuel grains can be designed to resist sloughing while maintaining the regression rate by integrating both structural reinforcement and mixing devices.
Regression Rates of Protrusion and Lattice Augmented Fuel Grains in Hybrid Rockets
2025-05-01
Conference paper , Article (Journal)
Electronic Resource
English
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