The Damage Law of HTPB Propellant under Thermomechanical Loading

By way of measuring the acoustic emission (AE) signals of Hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene (HTPB) propellant in condition of uniform speed, and combined with the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) fracture surface observation, the damage law of HTPB composite solid propellant under thermomechanical loading was studied. The results show that the effects of thermomechanical loading on HTPB propellant are related to the time and can be divided into three different stages. In the first stage, thermal air aging dominates; in the second stage, interface damage is dominant; and in the third stage, thermal air aging is once again dominant.