Laminate propellant combustion (review) 1. Experimental investigations

A review of experimental research of the combustion of laminate propellants of solid oxidizer (primarily ammonium perchlorate) and hydrocarbon binder is given. The purpose and description of the simplification of heterogeneous propellants through the use of constituent layers is detailed. This first of a two-part review describes the development of knowledge of the deflagration of laminates through a number of experimental methods used to quantitatively and qualitatively observe the condensed phase, surface structure, gas phase flame structure, burning rate, species concentrations, and temperature fields. These observations have generated a wealth of two-dimensional experimental data that can be used for validating computational and theoretical models.