Les moteurs à propergol solide sont parfois le siège d'instabilités aéroacoustiques résultant d'un couplage entre l'hydrodynamique des gaz brûlés et les modes acoustiques de la chambre de combustion. Ces instabilités se traduisent par de fortes Oscillations de Pression (ODP) dans la chambre de combustion du moteur. Ces ODP entrainent des vibrations de la structure, qui si elles venaient à dépasser certains niveaux pourraient nuire à la charge utile. Au vu du coût d'un essai, il est important de disposer d'outils permettant de prédire l'apparition de ces instabilités au moment de la conception. L'objectif de cette thèse est en premier lieu la mise au point d'une chaîne de couplage permettant d'évaluer l'impact des interactions fluide-structure sur l'amplitude des oscillations aéroacoustiques présentes au sein du propulseur. Une attention particulière est portée à l'algorithme de couplage entre les solveurs fluide et solide afin d'assurer une bonne conservation de l'énergie à l'interface fluide-structure, point clé dans l'étude d'instabilités. La chaîne numérique ainsi conçue est appliquée à une configuration réduite du moteur à propergol solide d'Ariane 5 dans le cadre de deux études. La première porte sur l'impact des vibrations de la structure sur les d'instabilités aéroacoustiques. L'effet d'un croisement de fréquences des modes propres longitudinaux de la structure et un des modes acoustiques de la chambre de combustion est traité. La seconde étude s'intéresse à l'effet des battements des protections thermiques du propulseur dans l'écoulement. Une structuration de l'écoulement et un net renforcement des ODP sont mis en évidence. / Large solid propellant rocket motors may be subjected to aero-acoustic instabilities arising from a coupling between the burnt gas flow and the acoustic eigenmodes of the combustion chamber. These instabilities lead to large pressure oscillations in the combustion chamber. These pressure oscillations cause vibrations which might jeopardize the payload if they happen to be larger than a certain threshold. Given the size and cost of any single firing test or launch, it is of first importance to rely on numerical tools able to predict these instabilities so that they can be avoided at the design level. The first purpose of this thesis is to build a numerical tool in order to evaluate how the coupling of the fluid flow and the whole structure of the motor influences the amplitude of the aeroacoustic oscillations living inside the rocket. A particular attention was paid to the coupling algorithm between the fluid and the solid solvers in order to ensure the best energy conservation through the interface.The numerical chain is applied to a sub-scaled configuration of Ariane 5 solid rocket motor in two studies. The first relates to the impact of vibration of the structure on aeroacoustic instabilities. The effect of a crossover frequency between the longitudinal modes of the structure and the acoustic modes of the combustion chamber is assessed. The second study examines the effect of thermal protection oscillations in the flow. An increased of the flow organisation and a significant strengthening of pressure oscillations are highlighted.

O sistema de controle por alocação dos pólos com filtro foi utilizado para controlar a atitude de um modelo de veículo lançador de satélites. Com este intuito, foram confeccionados um modelo e uma base de fixação que permite a movimentação nos três graus de liberdade. Utilizando a resposta à entrada degrau em conjunto com um sistema de controle PID obtido de forma empírica para estabilizar o sistema, as características da planta foram identificadas e então o sistema de controle por alocação de pólos foi projetado. Este sistema apresentou uma oscilação em torno da referência com amplitude menor do que 0,5° e tempo de pico para a entrada degrau na ordem de 2,17 segundos. Um segundo controlador PID foi projetado de forma analítica para se obter uma referência, porém apresentou resposta com características inferiores ao controlador por alocação de pólos. Os dois sistemas de controle projetados conseguem manter o modelo estável mesmo quando um dos motores é desligado. / Pole placement control system with filter was implemented to control the attitude of a satellite launch vehicle model. With this purpose, a model and a fixing base with three degrees of freedom was made. Utilizing the system response to step input with PID controller empirically designed to stabilize the system, the model characteristics were identified and the pole placement control system was designed. This system oscillated around the reference with amplitude smaller than 0.5° and peak time around 2.17 seconds. Another PID controller was designed analytically for reference, however the pole placement controller had better response characteristics than the PID controller. Both controllers can stabilize the system even when one engine is shut off.

As conventional chemical rockets reach the outer limits of their abilities, significant research is going into alternative thruster technologies, some of which decouple the maximum thrust and efficiency from the propellant's internal chemical energy by supplying energy to the propellant as needed. Of particular interest and potential is the electrically powered thruster, which promises very high specific thrust using relatively inexpensive and stable propellant gasses. Some such thrusters, specifically ion thrusters, have achieved significant popularity for various applications. However, there exist other classes of electrical thrusters which promise even higher levels of efficiency and performance. This thesis will focus on one such thruster type - the magnetoplasmadynamic thruster - which uses an ionized propellant flow and large currents to accelerate the propellant gas by electrical and magnetic force interactions. The necessary background will be presented in order to understand and characterize the operation of such devices, and a theoretical model will be developed in order to estimate the levels of performance which can be expected. Simulations will be performed and analyzed in order to better understand the principles on which these devices are designed. Finally, a thruster package will be designed and built in order to test the performance of the device and accuracy of the model. This will include a high-current power supply, ignition circuit, gas delivery system, and nozzle. Finally, the measured performance of this thruster package will be measured and compared to the theoretical predictions in order to validate the models constructed for this type of thruster.

Les moteurs-fusées hybrides combinent les technologies des deux autres catégories de moteurs à propulsionchimique, et associent un combustible et un oxydant stockés respectivement sous phase solide et liquide.Cette architecture offre un certain nombre d’avantages, comme par exemple des coûts plus faibleset une architecture simplifiée par rapport à la propulsion bi-liquide; la possibilité de réaliser de multiplesextinctions et ré-allumages et une bonne impulsion spécifique théorique par rapport à la propulsion solide,et enfin une sécurité de mise en œuvre accrue et un impact environnemental faible vis-à-vis de ces deuxautres modes de propulsion. Comme toutes les chambres de combustion, celles des moteurs hybrides peuvent subir des oscillations de pression sous certaines conditions de fonctionnement. Ces instabilités se traduisent par des fluctuationsde poussée qui peuvent dégrader la structure d’un lanceur ou d’un satellite. Des phénomènes diverspeuvent être à l’origine des fluctuations de pression observées dans les moteurs hybrides.L’objectif de la thèse est de proposer une modélisation des instabilités d’origine hydrodynamique quiapparaissent dans les moteurs hybrides. Une exploitation nouvelle de la base de données disponible àl’ONERA a servi de support pour la modélisation, ainsi que des simulations numériques instationnaires 2Det 3D réalisées à l’aide du code CFD CEDRE. Les instabilités sont provoquées par la formation périodiquede structures tourbillonnaires dans la chambre de combustion, qui génèrent des fluctuations de pressionlors de leur passage dans le col de la tuyère. L’originalité du modèle, basé sur la théorie classique degénération tourbillonnaire dans une cavité, consiste à prendre en compte les variations géométriques dela chambre de combustion au cours des tirs. Ces variations ont un effet sur la vitesse de l’écoulement, surla zone de recirculation dans la post-chambre, ainsi que sur les tourbillons eux-mêmes. Enfin, plusieursnouveaux essais du moteur hybride HYCOM ont été effectués et confrontés au modèle développé dans lecadre de la thèse. / Hybrid rocket motors combine solid and bi-liquid chemical propulsion technologies and associate asolid fuel and a liquid oxidizer in its classical configuration. This architecture offers several advantagesover liquid propulsion such as lower costs and a simplified architecture. The possibility of performingmultiple extinctions and re-ignitions and a good theoretical specific impulse is also an improvement inregard to solid propulsion. Hybrid engines also have improved safety and a lower environmental impactthan other chemical propulsion systems. As in all combustion chambers, hybrid engines suffer from pressure oscillations under specific operating conditions. These instabilities provoke thrust fluctuations that can damage the launcher and payloads.Various phenomena can induce the pressure oscillations observed in hybrid rocket engines.The objective of this thesis is to propose a model of hydrodynamics instabilities that appear in hybridengines. A new exploitation of the database available at ONERA, and unsteady 2D and 3D numericalsimulations were used for the modeling. The instabilities are provoked by the periodic formation ofvortices in the combustion chamber that generate pressure fluctuations when passing through the nozzlethroat. The originality of the model, which is based on the classical theory of vortices generation ina cavity, consists in taking into account the geometrical variations of the combustion chamber duringoperation. These variations have an effect on the flow velocity, on the recirculation area in the postchamberand on the vortices. Finally, several new firing tests of the hybrid engine HYCOM have beenperformed and compared to the model developed in this thesis.

Most combustion machines feature internal flows with very high energy densities. If a small fraction of the total energy contained in the flow is diverted into oscillations, large mechanical or thermal loads on the structure can be the result, which are potentially devastating if not predicted correctly. This is particularly the case for lightweight high performing devices like rockets. The problem is commonly known as "Combustion Instability". Several mechanisms have been identified in the past that link the flow field to the acoustics inside a combustion chamber and thereby drive or dampen oscillations, one of them being vortex shedding. The interaction between the highly sheared flow behind an obstacle and longitudinal acoustic oscillations inside a solid rocket booster is investigated both analytically and experimentally.The analytical approach is developed based on modeling of the second order acoustic energy. The energy model is applied to the specific flow conditions just downstream of a single baffle protruding into the flow. The mean flow profile is assumed to be of the form of a hyperbolic tangent, the unsteady acoustic velocities are assumed to be sinusoidally oscillating. Solutions for the unsteady rotational velocities and the unsteady vorticity are derived. The resulting flow field is utilized in stability calculations for a simplified two-dimensional axial-symmetric geometry. This yields to linear growth rates of the (longitudinal) oscillation modes. The growth rates are functions of the chamber geometry, the mean flow properties and the properties of the shear layer created by the flow restriction.A cold flow experiment is designed, tested and performed in order to validate the analytical findings. Flow is injected radially into a tube with acoustic closed-closed end conditions. A single baffle is installed in the tube, the axial position of the baffle is varied as well as its inner diameter. Frequency spectra of pressure oscillations are recorded. The experimental data is then compared qualitatively to the analytical growth rates. Those longitudinal Normal Modes, which feature the highest theoretical growth rates, are expected to be most prominent in the experimental data. This behavior is clearly observable.

The focus of this study is the prediction of trajectories of solid particles injected into either a cylindrically- shaped solid rocket motor (SRM) or a bidirectional vortex chamber (BV). The Lagrangian particle trajectory is assumed to be governed by drag, virtual mass, Magnus, Saffman lift, and gravity forces in a Stokes flow regime. For the conditions in a solid rocket motor, it is determined that either the drag or gravity forces will dominate depending on whether the sidewall injection velocity is high (drag) or low (gravity). Using a one-way coupling paradigm in a solid rocket motor, the effects of particle size, sidewall injection velocity, and particle-to-gas density ratio are examined. The particle size and sidewall injection velocity are found to have a greater impact on particle trajectories than the density ratio. Similarly, for conditions associated with a bidirectional vortex engine, it is determined that the drag force dominates. Using a one-way particle tracking Lagrangian model, the effects of particle size, geometric inlet parameter, particle-to-gas density ratio, and initial particle velocity are examined. All but the initial particle velocity are found to have a significant impact on particle trajectories. The proposed models can assist in reducing slag retention and identifying fuel injection configurations that will ensure proper confinement of combusting droplets to the inner vortex in solid rocket motors and bidirectional vortex engines, respectively.

The increasing demand for higher performance in rocketlaunchers promotes the development of nozzles with higherperformance, which basically is achieved by increasing theexpansion ratio. However, this may lead to flow separation andensuing instationary, asymmetric forces, so-called side-loads,which may present life-limiting constraints on both the nozzleitself and other engine components. Substantial gains can bemade in the engine performance if this problem can be overcome,and hence different methods of separation control have beensuggested. However, none has so far been implemented in fullscale, due to the uncertainties involved in modeling andpredicting the flow phenomena involved. In the present work the causes of unsteady and unsymmetricalflow separation and resulting side-loads in rocket enginenozzles are investigated. This involves the use of acombination of analytical, numerical and experimental methods,which all are presented in the thesis. A main part of the workis based on sub-scale testing of model nozzles operated withair. Hence, aspects on how to design sub-scale models that areable to capture the relevant physics of full-scale rocketengine nozzles are highlighted. Scaling laws like thosepresented in here are indispensable for extracting side-loadcorrelations from sub-scale tests and applying them tofull-scale nozzles. Three main types of side-load mechanisms have been observedin the test campaigns, due to: (i) intermittent and randompressure fluctuations, (ii) transition in separation patternand (iii) aeroelastic coupling. All these three types aredescribed and exemplified by test results together withanalysis. A comprehensive, up-to-date review of supersonic flowseparation and side-loads in internal nozzle flows is givenwith an in-depth discussion of different approaches forpredicting the phenomena. This includes methods for predictingshock-induced separation, models for predicting side-loadlevels and aeroelastic coupling effects. Examples are presentedto illustrate the status of various methods, and theiradvantages and shortcomings are discussed. A major part of the thesis focus on the fundamentalshock-wave turbulent boundary layer interaction (SWTBLI) and aphysical description of the phenomenon is given. Thisdescription is based on theoretical concepts, computationalresults and experimental observation, where, however, emphasisis placed on the rocket-engineering perspective. This workconnects the industrial development of rocket engine nozzles tothe fundamental research of the SWTBLI phenomenon and shows howthese research results can be utilized in real applications.The thesis is concluded with remarks on active and passive flowcontrol in rocket nozzles and directions of futureresearch. The present work was performed at VAC's Space PropulsionDivision within the framework of European spacecooperation. Keywords:turbulent, boundary layer, shock wave,interaction, overexpanded,rocket nozzle, flow separation,control, side-load, experiments, models, review.

Within the scope of this thesis study, an optimization tool for the ballistic design of three-dimensional grains in solid propellant rocket motors is developed. The modeling of grain geometry and burnback analysis is performed analytically by using basic geometries like cylinder, cone, sphere, ellipsoid, prism and torus. For the internal ballistic analysis, a quasi-steady zero-dimensional flow solver is used. Genetic algorithms have been studied and implemented to the design process as an optimization algorithm. Lastly, the developed optimization tool is validated with the predesigned rocket motors.

Solid propellant rocket motor is the primary propulsion technology used for short and medium range missiles. It is also commonly used as boost motor in many di_erent applications. Its wide spread usage gives rise to diversity of environments in which it is handled and stored. Ability to predict the storage life of solid propellants plays an important role in the design and selection of correct protective environments. In this study a methodology for the prediction of solid propellant storage life using cumulative damage concepts is introduced. Finite element mesh of the solid propellant grain is created with the developed parametric grain geometry generator. Finite element analyses are carried out to obtain the temperature and stress response of the propellant to the environmental thermal loads. Daily thermal cycles are assumed to be sinusoidal cycles represented by their means and amplitudes. With the cumulative damage analyses, daily damage accumulated in the critical locations of the solid propellant grain are investigated. Meta-models relating the daily damage amount with the daily temperature cycles are constructed in order to compute probability of failure. The results obtained in this study imply that it is possible to make numerical predictions for the storage life of solid propellants even in the early design phases. The methodology presented in this study provides a basis for storage life predictions.

High combustion temperatures and long operation durations require the use of cooling techniques in liquid propellant rocket engines. For high-pressure and high-thrust rocket engines, regenerative cooling is the most preferred cooling method. In regenerative cooling, a coolant flows through passages formed either by constructing the chamber liner from tubes or by milling channels in a solid liner. Traditionally, approximately square cross sectional channels have been used. However, recent studies have shown that by increasing the coolant channel height-to-width aspect ratio and changing the cross sectional area in non-critical regions for heat flux, the rocket combustion chamber gas side wall temperature can be reduced significantly without an increase in the coolant pressure drop. In this study, the regenerative cooling of a liquid propellant rocket engine has been numerically simulated. The engine has been modeled to operate on a LOX/Kerosene mixture at a chamber pressure of 60 bar with 300 kN thrust and kerosene is considered as the coolant. A numerical investigation was performed to determine the effect of different aspect ratio cooling channels and different number of cooling channels on gas-side wall and coolant temperature and pressure drop in cooling channel.