Further Considerations on the Interaction of Sound and Flow in Rocket Motors and T-Burners

Abstract

An extension of prior theory describing the interaction of steady flow and acoustic oscillations in rocket motors and T-Burners is made. The extension predicts a strong stabilizing effect due to the convection of acoustic energy out of the combustion chamber through the nozzle or vent. Experiments are then described which support the predictions of the theory. The experiments consisted of T-Burner tests in which both the amount of burning surface area and the position of the burning surface were varied. The results of this study indicate that substantial changes should be made in the way T-Burner data are evaluated and applied.