%0 Journal Article %A Saraf, Shimon %A Gany, Alon %D 2012 %I Begell House %K ramjet, solid fuel, aluminum powder %N 2 %P 107-121 %R 10.1615/IntJEnergeticMaterialsChemProp.2012001388 %T EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION OF METALIZED SOLID FUEL RAMJET COMBUSTOR %U https://www.dl.begellhouse.com/journals/17bbb47e377ce023,29b5c6d1481359cd,2dac29ae721b4a7e.html %V 11 %X This article presents an experimental investigation of metalized and non-metalized solid fuel ramjet combustors. The research is motivated by previous theoretical studies that suggest metals such as aluminum, magnesium, and zirconium can provide much higher heat release per unit mass of air; hence, increasing the specific thrust (i.e., thrust per unit airflow rate) of the engine (in this study aluminum particles were added to the fuel). A hydrogen vitiated air heater was used to simulate in a static test facility the incoming air stagnation properties of about Mach 3 flight at sea level. Ignition and stable combustion of both metalized and non-metalized fuels have been achieved. The results show that the regression rate of the fuel containing aluminum particles is slightly higher, generating a higher fuel mass flow rate. The addition of aluminum particles has improved the specific thrust while decreasing the specific impulse, with a good correlation to the theoretical calculations. %8 2013-01-10