NEPE Propellant Mesoscopic Modeling and Damage Mechanism Study Based on Inversion Algorithm

Abstract

To accurately characterize the mesoscopic properties of NEPE (Nitrate Ester Plasticized Polyether) propellant, the mechanical contraction method was used to construct a representative volume element (RVE) model. Based on this model, the macroscopic mechanical response of NEPE propellant at a strain rate of 0.0047575 s−1 was simulated and calculated, and the parameters of the cohesive zone model (CZM) were inversely optimized using the Hooke–Jeeves algorithm by comparing the simulation results with the results of the uniaxial tensile test of NEPE propellants. Additionally, the macroscopic mechanical behavior of NEPE composite solid propellants at strain rates of 0.00023776 s−1 and 0.023776 s−1 was also predicted. The mesoscopic damage evolution process of NEPE propellants was investigated by the established model. The study results indicate that the predicted curves are relatively consistent with the basic features and change trends of the test curves. Therefore, the established model can effectively simulate the mesoscopic damage process of NEPE composite solid propellants and their macroscopic mechanical properties.

Keywords

• NEPE propellant
• RVE model
• CZM
• inversion algorithm
• damage evolution process