Q1D modeling of hydrodynamic instabilities in solid rocket motors

In this work pressure oscillations investigation within solid rocket motors are addressed with particular focus on hydrodynamic instabilities. A Q1D model, named AGAR, is applied to simulate the whole firing time of the laboratory scale SRM C1xb, designed to develop vortex-shedding flow instabilities. The comparison between numerical results and experimental data show good agreement in terms of pressure oscillations signature, especially regarding the flute-mode behavior, a typical and important feature of hydrodynamic instabilities. Such result ensures the model capability to cope with this kind of pressure oscillations source, allowing to investigate the phenomenon with a lighter and cost savings methodology than CFD simulations.