%0 Journal Article %A Eythrib, Amina %A Cauty, Franck %A Galfetti, Luciano %D 2002 %I Begell House %K thermal insulation, degradation, char ejection, vibration, acceleration %N 1-6 %P 1006-1017 %R 10.1615/IntJEnergeticMaterialsChemProp.v5.i1-6.1030 %T DEGRADATION OF A THERMAL INSULATOR UNDER VIBRATION AND ACCELERATION %U https://www.dl.begellhouse.com/journals/17bbb47e377ce023,76f8e14974df93a8,263e58b747e2f463.html %V 5 %X The design of the thermal insulators used in solid rocket propulsion is a key factor in the rocket design; in particular, the characterization of these materials is of strategic importance for future improvements in solid rocket propulsion. Following the experimental evidence showing that internal insulation erosion is higher in flight than in static firings, this paper aims at a preliminary approach of flight condition effects on the char behavior of a silica filled ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) insulator. An experimental set up has been developed to investigate the effects of external mechanical loads, due to accelerations and vibrations, typically induced by flight conditions. Low frequency vibration effects indicate that the vibration modifies the char ejection mode, by breaking the char layers, thus increasing the degradation rate. This behavior is a crucial factor in determining the thermal protection system size. %8 2002-01-01