Evaluation Of Rocket Plume Signature Uncertainties

Abstract

A method is developed with which to evaluate the uncertainty in predictions of the infrared signature of metalized fuel, solid-propellant rocket plumes. The method consists of 1) identifying parameters that represent the major sources of uncertainty, 2) evaluating the infrared signature as each parameter is varied about its nominal value, 3) determining the uncertainty interval of each parameter and 4) root sum squaring the uncertainties to obtain the uncertainty factor for the infrared signature. Uncertainties in the index of refraction, particle size, temperature and number density, gas mole fraction temperature, plume pressure and radius, and A12O3 melting temperature, are considered. These uncertainties are combined to yield an overall uncertainty in the plume infrared emission and a relative ranking of the importance of each uncertainty parameter. Numerical results are generated using the standardized infrared radiation model (SIRRM) code for a solid-propellant tactical rocket plume. The most important parameters in the tactical rocket signature uncertainty are 1) A12O3 particle temperature, the real part of the refractive index and plume radius at 90 deg aspect angle and 2) the real part of the Al2O3 particle refractive index, the A12O3 particle temperature and size, and plume size at a nose-on aspect angle. © American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Inc., 1987, All rights reserved.

Department(s)

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

0022-4650

Document Type

Article - Journal

Document Version

Citation

File Type

text

Language(s)

English

Rights

© 2023 American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, All rights reserved.

Publication Date

01 Jan 1987

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