Validation with experiments on simplified numerical prediction of hybrid rocket internal ballistics.

In order to design hybrid rocket engines, we have developed a numerical prediction approach to the internal ballistics. The key point is its cost performance. Therefore simple but efficient models are required. Fluid phenomenon and thermal conduction phenomenon in a solid fuel should be treated time-dependently, because characteristic times of these phenomena are longer than those of other phenomena. Besides, they are solved with the energy-flux balance equation at the solid fuel surface to determine the regression rate. It is confirmed that numerical evaluation of time- and space-averaged regression rate is the same order of magnitude as that in experiments. However, the factors n in [formula] differ between calculations and experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]