The mechanical properties of HTPE/PEG interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) binders were systemically studied with molecular dynamics (MDs) simulations and experiments. In this study, an algorithm was used to construct the crosslinking interpenetrating polymer network models and then the mechanical behaviors of Hydroxyl-terminated polyethylene glycol-tetrahydrofuran co-polyether/poly ethylene glycol (HTPE/PEG) IPN models were analyzed at a molecular scale. Firstly, glass transition temperatures (T_g), mean square displacement (MSD) and mechanical properties of IPN crosslinked model simulations showed that better thermomechanical parameters appeared at low temperatures, which were in good agreement with the experimental methods, including dynamic mechanical analysis and uniaxial tensile. Then bond-length distribution was performed to verify the crosslinked structures between prepolymers and curing agents. FTIR-ATR spectra analysis of four IPN binder specimens also gave a convictive result to the special interpenetrating polymer network of polyether polyurethane binders. Cohesive energy density and friction-free volume explained how the micro-structures of IPN crosslinked models and the force of inter-molecule chains affected the mechanical behaviors of the HTPE/PEG polyurethane matrix. Lastly, the morphology of IPN binder specimen tensile fracture indicated the mechanism at different temperatures. These studies were helpful in understanding the mechanical properties of HTPE/PEG interpenetrating polymer network binders and provide molecular insight into mechanisms of mechanical behaviors, which would guide the property improvement of HTPE propellant.

Fluorinated graphene contains F atoms with high levels of chemical activity, and the application of fluorinated graphene in energetic materials may greatly contribute to the progress of combustion reactions. However, there is a lack of research on the thermal properties of fluorinated graphene and its application on nitrate esters. In this paper, theoretical calculations and experiments were used to study the thermal properties of fluorinated graphene and its application on nitrate esters. The anaerobicity and poor thermal stability of fluorinated graphene were proved by ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) calculations and TG-DSC experiments. The ester weakening effect of fluorinated graphene on nitroglycerin was determined via wavefunction analysis, with the greater the fluorination degree, the stronger the ester weakening effect. The existence of fluorinated graphene can significantly increase the heat dissipation of the composites, which was concluded by TG-DSC experiments and TG-DSC-MS-FTIR. The research in this article provides an important reference for the application of fluorinated graphene in energetic materials.

To understand the fracture properties of the nitrate ester plasticized polyether (NEPE) propellant, single-edge notched tension (SENT) tests were carried out at room temperature (20 °C) under different tensile rates (10–500 mm/min). The mechanical response, crack morphology, evolution path, and crack propagation velocity during the fracture process were studied using a combination of a drawing machine and a high-speed camera. The mode I critical stress intensity factor K_Ic was calculated to analyze the tensile fracture toughness of the NEPE propellant, and a criterion related to K_Ic was proposed as a means of determining whether the solid rocket motors can normally work. The experimental results demonstrated that the NEPE propellant exhibited blunting fracture phenomena during crack propagation, resulting in fluctuating crack propagation velocity. The fracture toughness of the NEPE propellant exhibited clear rate dependence. When the tensile rate increased from 10 mm/min to 500 mm/min, the magnitude of the critical stress intensity factor increased by 62.3%. Moreover, numerical studies based on bond-based peridynamic (BBPD) were performed by modeling the fracture process of the NEPE propellant, including the crack propagation speed and the load–displacement curve of the NEPE propellant. The simulation results were then compared with the experiments.

The experiment system of pulse detonation engine is set up to investigate the acoustic signature of detonation acoustic. The research on detonation acoustic characteristic of pulse detonation engine in three kinds of working states, deflagration stage, detonation stage and external detonation stage, is carried out. Results from the test show that the maximal P_Impact, P_Jet1, τ⁺ and τ_Interval are obtained in external detonation stage. In deflagration stage, the concentrate of PDE acoustic signal energy is obvious. The energy of impulsive rise of impact noise and jet noise is an important part of PDE acoustic in deflagration stage. In detonation stage, a concentration of energy distribution is appeared in low frequency, and the energy of medium-high frequency is decreased. In external detonation stage, energy distribution is more concentrated in low frequency. The value of η₁₁/η₅ can be used to detect the working state of pulse detonation engine. When η₁₁/η₅ is less than 5, pulse detonation engine is in deflagration stage, however, when η₁₁/η₅ is large than 5, pulse detonation engine is in detonation stage or external detonation stage.

The experiment system of pulse detonation engine is set up to investigate on influence of diameter on detonation acoustic characteristic. The research of detonation acoustic characteristic of pulse detonation engine for four different diameters in different angles is carried out. Results from the test show that as the PDE diameter increasing, there are increases in amplitudes of impact noise in all angles, and the growth rate of amplitude of impact noise in the 90° direction is generally greater than that in the 0° direction. The smaller PDE diameter is, the distance of most obvious directivity at 0° turning to most obvious directivity at 30° is shorter. When the distance is shorter, such as 200 mm, the duration of detonation acoustic is increasing with the increase of PDE diameter, however, when the distance is longer, such as 3000 mm, it is just the opposite. The maximum duration of detonation acoustic is appeared in 3000 mm under 30 mm PDE diameter which reaches to 1.44 ms.