Generation of hydrodynamic instability in the gasification region of propellant

Abstract

This paper presents the new way of the occurrence of “natural” turbulence in the Gusachenko–Zarko mechanism of negative erosion effect during the propellant burning. It is shown that the propellant gasification region can generate hydrodynamic instability if its burning rate at a constant temperature depends on the pressure. The hydrodynamic instability of the propellant combustion that decompose according to the solid phase → liquid phase → gas and solid phase → gas scheme occurs under quite different conditions. The gasification region in propellants of the first type is more inclined to instability generation than that in propellants of the second type. The hydrodynamic instability occurs if the critical value of the Reynolds number, which depends on the properties of the propellant and environmental conditions, is exceeded.