Effects of propellant on stability and buckling load of chamber under lateral pressure

Stability of solid rocket motor chambers under lateral pressure was investigated through buckling analysis and tests. The variation buckle load, mode and radial displacement (and loop strain)curves with lateral pressure were obtained from buckling analysis of the case and chamber. The turning point on chamber's displacement (and loop strain) curves is higher than that on case's curve. Calculated results reveal that propellant prominently improves the stability of chambers under lateral pressure. Buckling analysis in different propellant modulus also show that propellant modulus is in positive correlation to buckle load of chamber. Buckle mode and propellant's contribution to chamber obtained from tests agree well with the calculated results.