On the NDP onset in pre-ignition transient of high performance SRMs: VEGA Z9A experience

This paper discusses the early phase of the ignition transient of the VEGA Launcher's third stage solid rocket motor, Zefiro 9A. During the first two firing tests of the Z9A SRM (QM2 and VT1) a peculiar unexpected negative force peak and a significant pressure unbalance in the motor chamber were measured during the very first phase of the ignition transient. In order to fix the unexpected negative force, out of the system specifications, a modification of the igniter re-design was decided for the Z9A SRM and a third static firing test was successfully carried out (VT2), with a reduction of the negative differential pressure of at least around a factor 3, followed by a reduction of the negative thrust by around the same factor. This paper wants to analyze the scenario outlined by the VT2 static firing test by means of three dimensional unsteady multi-component numerical simulations of the SRM pre-ignition transient.