Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Combustion Instabilities in Propulsion Systems

  • Chapter
Unsteady Combustion

Part of the book series: NATO ASI Series ((NSSE,volume 306))

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to give a broad overview of the field of combustion instabilities in propulsion systems. Virtually all of the material included here has appeared elsewhere, either in primary research reports or in reviews. None of the propulsion systems are covered in great detail, but sufficiently to establish the fundamental point that while there are obvious practical differences among the systems, for understanding and treating combustion instabilities, much is to be gained by treating the various phenomena within a common framework. In that context, the systems are distinguished chiefly by geometry and the kinds of propellants used. On that basis, a general framework can be constructed to serve both practical and theoretical purposes.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 259.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 329.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 329.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Anonymous (1967) “Engine Characteristics and Stability,” Chapter 4 of TRW document No. 01827–6119-T000.

    Google Scholar 

  • First International Symposium on Liquid Rocket Engine Instability (Proceedings) (1993) The Pennsylvania State University, January 18–20, 1993.

    Google Scholar 

  • Aubrey, N., Holmes, P., Lumley, J. L., and Stone E. (1988) “The Dynamics of Coherent Structures in the Wall Region of Turbulent Boundary Layers,” J. Fl. Mech., Vol. 192, pp. 115–173.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Awad, E. and Culick, F E.C. (1986) “On the Existence and Stability of Limit Cycles for Longitudinal Acoustic Modes in a Combustion Chamber,” Combustion Science and Technology, Vol. 46, pp. 195–222.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bergman, G.H. and Jessen, E.C. (1971) “Evaluation of Conventional Rocket Motor Instrumentation for Analysis of Oscillatory Combustion,” AIAA/SAE 7th Propulsion Joint Specialist Conference, AIAA Paper No. 71–755.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown, R.S., Culick, F.E.C., and Zinn, B.T. (1978) “Experimental Methods for Combustion Admittance Measurements,” Chapter IV in Experimental Diagnostics in Combustion of Solids, Vol. 63 of AIAA Progress in Astronautics and Aeronautics.

    Google Scholar 

  • Browning, S.C., Krushin, M., and Thacker, J.H. (1971) “Application of Combustion Instability Technology to Solid-Propellant Rocket Motor Problems,” AIAA/SAE 7th Propulsion Joint Specialist Conference, AIAA Paper No. 71–754.

    Google Scholar 

  • Candel, S. (1992) “Combustion Instabilities Coupled by Pressure Waves and Their Active Control,” 24th Symposium (International) on Combustion, The Combustion Institute, pp. 1277–1296.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chiu, H. H., Plett, E., and Summerfield, M. (1975) “Noise Generated by Ducted Combustion,” in Aero acoustics: Jet Combustion and Noise, Vol. 37 of Progress in Astronautics and Aeronautics, AIAA, New York, pp. 249–276.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chu, B.-T. (1963) “Analysis of a Self-Sustained Thermally Driven Nonlinear Vibration,” The Physics of Fluids, Vol. 6, No. 11, pp. 1638–1644.

    Article  MATH  Google Scholar 

  • Chu, B.-T. and Kovasznay, L.S.G. (1957) “Non-linear Interactions in a Viscous Heat-Conducting Compressible Gas,” J. Fluid Mech., Vol. 3, No. 5, pp. 494–512.

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  • Chu, B.-T. and Kovasznay, L.S.G. (1958) “Non-linear Interactions in a Viscous Heat-conducting Compressible Gas,” J. Fl. Mech., Vol. 3, No. 5, pp. 494–514.

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  • Chu, B.-T. and Ying, S.J. (1963) “Thermally Driven Nonlinear Oscillations in a Pipe with Traveling Shock Waves,” The Physics of Fluids, Vol. 6, No. 11, pp. 1625–1637.

    Article  MATH  Google Scholar 

  • Clavin, P., Kim, J.-S., and Williams, F.A. (1993) “Turbulence-Induced Noise Effects on High-Frequency Combustion Instabilities,” submitted to Combustion Science and Technology.

    Google Scholar 

  • Crocco, L. and Cheng, S.I. (1956) Theory of Combustion Instability in Liquid Propellant Rocket Motors. AGARDOGRAPH, No. 8, Butterworths Scientific Publications, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Crocco, L. and Mitchell, C.E. (1969) “Nonlinear Periodic Oscillations in Rocket Motors with Distributed Combustion,” Combustion Science and Technology, Vol. 1, pp. 147–169.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Culick, F.E.C. (1963) “High-Frequency Pressure Oscillations in Rocket Chambers,” AIAA J., Vol. 1, No. 5, pp. 1097–1104.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Culick, F.E.C. (1974) “Acoustic Oscillations in Rocket Chambers,” Astronautica Acta, Vol. 12, No. 2, pp. 113–126.

    Google Scholar 

  • Culick, F.E.C. (1968) “A Review of Calculations for Unsteady Burning of a Solid Propellant,” AIAA J., Vol. 6, No. 6, pp. 2241–2255.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Culick, F.E.C. (1971) “Nonlinear Growth and Limiting Amplitude of Acoustic Oscillations in Combustion Chambers,” Comb. Sci. and Tech., Vol. 3, No. 1, pp. 1–16.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Culick, F.E.C. (1974) “T-Burner Testing of Metallized Solid Propellants,” Air Force Rocket Propulsion Laboratory, Report AFRPL-TR-74–28.

    Google Scholar 

  • Culick, F.E.C. (1976) “Nonlinear Behavior of Acoustic Waves in Combustion Chambers — Parts I and II,” Astronautica Acta, Vol. 3, pp. 714–766.

    Google Scholar 

  • Culick, F.E.C. (1987) “A Note on Rayleigh’s Criterion,” Combustion Science and Technology, Vol. 56, 1987, pp. 159–166.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Culick, F.E.C. (1988) “Combustion Instabilities in Liquid-Fueled Propulsion Systems — An Overview,” AGARD 72B PEP Meeting, Bath, England.

    Google Scholar 

  • Culick, F.E.C. (1993) “Some Recent Results for Nonlinear Acoustics in Combustion Chambers,” to appear in AIAA J.

    Google Scholar 

  • Culick, F.E.C, Paparizos, L., Sterling, J.D., and Burnley, V. (1991) “Combustion Noise and Combustion Instabilities in Propulsion Systems,” Proceedings of the AGARD Conference on Combat Aircraft Noise, AGARD CP 512.

    Google Scholar 

  • Culick, F.E.C, Lin, W.H., Jahnke, C.C., and Sterling, J.D. (1991) “Modeling for Active Control of Combustion and Thermally Driven Oscillations,” American Controls Conference (June 1991).

    Google Scholar 

  • Culick, F.E.C. and Yang, V. (1992) “Prediction of the Stability of Unsteady Motions in Solid Propellant Rocket Motors,” Chapter 18 in Nonsteady Burning and Combustion Stability of Solid Propellants, Progress in Astronautics and Aeronautics (L. de Luca, E. W. Price, and M. Summerfield, Eds.).

    Google Scholar 

  • Doedel, E.J. and Kernevez, J.P. (1984) Software for Continuation Problems in Ordinary Differential Equations with Applications, Applied Mathematics Publication 217–50, California Institute of Technology.

    Google Scholar 

  • Faeth, G.M., Dominicus, D.P., Tulpinsky, J.F., and Olson, D.R. (1969) “Supercritical Bipropellant Droplet Combustion,” Proceedings of the Twelfth Symposium (International) on Combustion, p. 9.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ffowcs-Williams, J.E. (1974) “Sources of Sound,” Proceedings 8th Congress on Acoustics, London, pp. 1–10.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ffowcs-Williams, J.E. (1984) “Anti-Sound,” Proc. Roy. Soc. London, A395, pp. 63–88.

    Google Scholar 

  • Flandro, G.A. (1967) Rotating Flows in Acoustically Unstable Rocket Motors, Ph.D. Thesis, Daniel and Florence Guggenheim Jet Propulsion Center, California Institute of Technology.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fowler, J.H. and Rosenthal J.S. (1971) “Missile Vibration Environment for Solid Propellant Oscillatory Burning,” AIAA/SAE 7th Propulsion Joint Specialist Conference, AIAA Paper No. 71–756.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fung, Y.-T. (1991) Active Control of Linear and Nonlinear Pressure Oscillations in Combustion Chambers, Ph.D. Thesis, Dept. of Mech. Eng., Propulsion Engineering Research Center, The Pennsylvania State University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fung, Y.-T., Yang, V., and Sinha, A. (1991) “Active Control of Combustion Instabilities With Distributed Actuators,” Combustion Science and Technology, Vol. 78, pp.217–245.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gutmark, E., Parr, T.P., Hanson-Parr, D.M., and Schadow, K.C. (1990) “Use of Chemiluminescence and Neural Networks in Active Combustion Control,” 23rd Symposium (International) on Combustion, The Combustion Institute.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harrje, D.J. and Reardon, F.H. (Ed.) (1972) Liquid Propellant Rocket Instability, NASA SP-194.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hegde, V.G., Rueter, D., and Zinn, B.T. (1988) “Sound Generation by Ducted Flames,” AIAA J., Vol. 26, No. 5, pp. 532–537.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hsieh, K.C, Shuen, J.C., and Yang, V. (1991) “Droplet Vaporization in High Pressure Environments,” Combustion Science and Technology, Vol. 76, pp. 111–132.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • IUTAM & NATO Advanced Research Workshop (1991) “Interpretation of Time Series From Nonlinear Mechanical Systems,” 19–23 August, University of Warwick, England.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jagna, V.W. and Ferrenberg, A.J. (1989) “The Art of Injector Design,” Rocketdyne Corporation, Spring Issue, pp. 3–11.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jahnke, C.C. and Culick, F.E.C. (1993) “An Application of Dynamical Systems Theory to Nonlinear Combustion Instabilities,” AIAA 31st Aerospace Sciences Meeting, AIAA Paper 93–0114.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kendrick, D.W., Zsak, T.W., and Zukoski, E.E. (1993) “An Experimental and Numerical Investigation of Premixed Combustion in a Vortex in a Laboratory Dump Combustor,” Proceedings of this conference.

    Google Scholar 

  • Krylov, N. and Bogoliubov, N. (1947) Introduction to Nonlinear Mechanics, Princeton University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Law, C.K. (1982) “Recent Advances in Droplet Vaporization and Combustion,” Progress in Energy and Combustion Sciences, Vol. 8, p. 171.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Levine, J.L. and Baum, J.D. (1983) “A Numerical Study of Nonlinear Instability Phenomena in Solid Rocket Motors,” AIAA Journal, Vol. 21, No. 4 (April), pp. 557–564.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Levine, J.L. and Culick, F.E.C. (1972) “Numerical Analysis of Nonlinear Longitudinal Combustion Instability in Metalized Solid-Propellant Rocket Motors,” Vol. 1, Analysis and Results, Ultrasystems, Inc., report prepared for the Air Force Rocket Propulsion Laboratory, AFRPL-72–88.

    Google Scholar 

  • Levine, J.L. and Culick, F.E.C. (1974) “Nonlinear Analysis of Solid Rocket Combustion Instability,” Ultrasystems, Inc., report prepared for the Air Force Rocket Propulsion Laboratory, AFRPL-74–74–45.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lores, E.M. and Zinn, B.T. (1973) “Nonlinear Longitudinal Instability in Rocket Motors,” Combustion Science and Technology, Vol. 7, pp. 245–256.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lumley, J.L. (1967) “The Structure of Turbulent Flows,” in Atmospheric Turbulence and Radio Wave Propagation, A. M. Yaglom and V. I. Tatarski, eds., Moscow: Nauka, pp. 166–178.

    Google Scholar 

  • Maslen, S.H. and Moore, F K. (1956) “On Strong Transverse Waves Without Shocks in a Circular Cylinder,” J. Aero. Science, Vol. 23, pp. 583–593.

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  • Menon, S. and Jou, W.-H. (1990) “Modes of Oscillation in a Nonreacting Ramjet Combustor Flow,” J. Prop, and Power, Vol. 6, No. 5, pp. 535–543.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mitchell, C.E., Crocco, L., and Sirignano, W.A. (1969) “Nonlinear Longitudinal Instability in Rocket Motors with Concentrated Combustion,” Combustion Science and Technology, Vol. 1, pp. 269–274.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morse, P.M. and Feshback, H. (1953) Methods of Theoretical Physics, McGraw-Hill Book Company, New York.

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  • Nestlerode, J.A. and Oberg, C.L. (1969) “Combustion Instability in an Annular Engine,” Sixth ICRPG Combustion Conference.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nickerson, G. R., Culick, F.E.C, and Dang, L.G. (1983) “Standard Stability Prediction Method for Solid Rocket Motors, Axial Mode Computer Program, User’s Manual,” Software and Engineering Associates, Inc., report prepared for Air Force Rocket Propulsion Laboratory, AFRPL-TR-83–017.

    Google Scholar 

  • Oefelein, J.C. and Yang, V. (1992) “A Comprehensive Review of Liquid-Propellant Instabilities in F-1 Engines,” Dept. of Mech. Eng., Propulsion Engineering Research Center, The Pennsylvania State University, July 1992.

    Google Scholar 

  • Paparizos, L. and Culick, F.E.C. (1989a) “The Two-Mode Approximation to Nonlinear Acoustic in Combustion Chambers I. Exact Solution for Second-Order Acoustics,” Comb. Sci. Tech., Vol. 65, No. 1–3, pp. 39–65.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Paparizos, L. and Culick, F.E.C. (1989b) “The Two-Mode Approximation to Nonlinear Acoustic Waves in Combustion Chambers with Stochastic Sources,” (unpublished).

    Google Scholar 

  • Poinsot, T., Bourienne, F., Candel, S. H., and Esposito, E. (1989) “Suppression of Combustion Instabilities by Active Control,” J. Propulsion, Vol. 5, No. 1, pp. 14–20.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lord Rayleigh (1945) “The Explanation of Certain Acoustical Phenomena,” Royal Institution Proceedings, Vol. VIII, pp. 536–542, 1878. See also The Theory of Sound, Dover Publications, Vol. II, p. 226.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roberts, J.B. and Spanos, P.D. (1986) “Stochastic Averaging: An Approximate Method of Solving Random Vibration Problems,” Int. J. Non-Linear Mech., Vol. 21, No. 2, pp. 111–134.

    Article  MathSciNet  MATH  Google Scholar 

  • Schoeyer, H. (Ed.) (1993) “Combustion Instability Course,” ESA/ESTEC, Noordwijk Z-H, The Netherlands.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sirignano, W.A. (1964) A Theoretical Study of Nonlinear Combustion Instability: Longitudinal Mode, Ph.D. Thesis, Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Sciences, Princeton University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sirignano, W.A. and Crocco, L. (1964) “A Shock Wave Model of Unstable Rocket Combustors,” AIAA Journal, Vol. 2, No. 7, pp. 1285–1296.

    Article  MATH  Google Scholar 

  • Smith, D.A. and Zukoski, E.E. (1985) “Combustion Instability Sustained by Unsteady Vortex Combustion,” AIAA/SAE/ASME/ASEE 21st Joint Propulsion Conference, AIAA Paper No. 85–1248.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sterling, J. D. and Zukoski, E. E. (1987) “Longitudinal Mode Instabilities in a Dump Combustor,” AIAA 25th Aerospace Sciences Meeting, AIAA Paper No. 87–0220.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stratonovich, R.L. (1963) Topics in the Theory of Random Noise, Vols. I and II, Gordon and Breach, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wanhainen, J.P., Parish, H.C., and Conrad, E.W. (1966) “Effect of Propellant Injection Velocity on Screech in 20,000 Pound Hydrogen-Oxygen Rocket Engine,” NASA TN D-3373.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yang, V. and Culick, F.E.C. (1990) “On the Existence and Stability of Limit Cycles for Traverse Acoustic Oscillations in a Cylindrical Combustion Chamber, I. Standing Modes,” Combustion Science and Technology, Vol. 72, pp. 37–65.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yang V., Sinha, A. and Fung, Y. T. (1992) “State-Feedback Control of Longitudinal Combustion Instabilities,” J. Propulsion, Vol. 8, No. 1, pp. 66–73.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zinn, B. T. (1986) “Pulsating Combustion,” Chapter 2 in Advanced Combustion Methods, F.J. Weinber (Ed.), Academic Publishers, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zinn, B.T. (1968) “A Theoretical Study of Nonlinear Combustion Instability in Liquid-Propellant Rocket Engines,” AIAA Journal, Vol. 6, No. 10, pp. 1966–1972.

    Article  MATH  Google Scholar 

  • Zinn, B.T. and Lores, E.M. (1972) “Application of the Galerkin Method in the Solution of Nonlinear Axial Combustion Instability Problems in Liquid Rockets,” Combustion Science and Technology, Vol. 4, pp. 269–278.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zinn, B.T. and Powell, F.A. (1971) “Nonlinear Instability in Liquid-Propellant Rocket Engines,” Thirteenth Symposium (International) on Combustion, pp. 491–503.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. California Institute of Technology, Daniel and Florence Guggenheim Jet Propulsion Center, MS 205-45, Pasadena, 91125, CA, USA

    F. E. C. Culick

Authors
  1. F. E. C. Culick
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. 201 Karman Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA

    F. Culick

  2. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Instituto Superior Técnico, Technical University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal

    M. V. Heitor

  3. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Imperial College of Science, Medicine and Technology, University of London, London, UK

    J. H. Whitelaw

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1996 Kluwer Academic Publishers

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Culick, F.E.C. (1996). Combustion Instabilities in Propulsion Systems. In: Culick, F., Heitor, M.V., Whitelaw, J.H. (eds) Unsteady Combustion. NATO ASI Series, vol 306. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-1620-3_9

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-1620-3_9

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-010-7223-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-009-1620-3

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation