Infrared radiation signature of exhaust plume from solid propellants of different energy characteristics

The infrared radiation signature of the plume from the solid propellants of different energy characteristics is not the same. Three kinds of double-base propellants of different energy characteristics were chosen to test the infrared spectral radiance from 1000 cm-1 to 4500 cm-1 of their plume. The radiative spectrum was obtained in the tests. The experimental results indicate that the infrared radiation of the plume is basically determined by the energy characteristic of the propellant. The radiative transfer calculation models for the exhaust plume from the solid propellants were established By inducing the chemistry reaction source term and the radiation source term into the energy equation, the plume field and the radiative transfer were solved in a coupling way. The calculated results were consistent with the experimental data, so the reliability of the calculation models was conformed. The temperature distribution and the extent of the afterburning of the plume are distinct for the propellants of different energy characteristics, therefore the radiation of the plume varied with the propellants. The temperature of the fluid cell in the plume will increase or decrease to some extent by the influence of the radiation source term.