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Lambert, W. L.

Publications and source records attributed to Lambert, W. L..

Demonstration of a sterilizable solid rocket motor system

A solid propellant rocket motor containing 60.9 Kg (134-lb) of propellant was successfully static fired after being subjected to eight heat sterilization cycles (three 54-hour cycles plus five 40-hour cycles) at 125 C (257 F). The test motor, a modified SVM-3 chamber, incorporated a flexible grain retention system of EPR rubber to relieve thermal shrinkage stresses. The propellant used in the motor was ANB-3438, and 84 wt% solids system (18 wt% aluminum) containing 66 wt% stabilized ammonium perchlorate oxidizer and a saturated hydroxylterminated polybutadiene binder. Bonding of the propellant to the EPR insulation (GenGard V-4030) was provided by the use of SD-886, an epoxy urethane restriction.

Mastrolia, E. J.↗

Determination of failure limits for sterilizable solid rocket motor

A structural evaluation to establish probable failure limits and a series of environmental tests involving temperature cycling, sustained acceleration, and vibration were conducted on an 18-inch diameter solid rocket motor. Despite the fact that thermal, acceleration and vibration loads representing a severe overtest of conventional environmental requirements were imposed on the sterilizable motor, no structural failure of the grain or flexible support system was detected. The following significant conclusions are considered justified. It is concluded that: (1) the flexible grain retention system, which permitted heat sterilization at 275 F on the test motor, can readily be adopted to meet the environmental requirements of an operational motor design, and (2) if further substantiation of structural integrity is desired, the motor used is considered acceptable for static firing.

Lambert, W. L.↗

Demonstration of a sterilizable solid rocket motor system, addendum

Technical emphasis was placed on characterization of a scaled-up batch of the improved propellant formulation and determination of the effects of dry heat sterilization on propellant integrity and structural response. The grain stress analysis was directed toward tailoring a fully-bonded grain to the calculated propellant allowable stresses and investigating various bond release concepts to relieve stresses incurred in thermal shrinkage following sterilization.

Depree, D. O.↗