Development, Testing, and Application of Embedded Sensors for Solid Rocket Motor Health Monitoring

摘要

The physics of fiber optic strain sensors, micro-electronic stress transducers, and chemical sensing devices have become more mature in recent years. However, the specific application to health monitoring of solid rocket motors, and the details of implementation, calibration, safety, and the associated prognostics have not yet been fully developed. A forward deployed, unmanned munitions package will require the capability for remote readiness sensing. Environmental data alone is necessary but not sufficient to determine the health of the most age-sensitive component in a tactical missile; the Solid Rocket Motor (SRM). Non-intrusive sensors must be miniaturized, accurate, sensitive, reliable, possess versatility for measurement of chemical or physical parameters and robustness for installation, be temperature and pressure compensated, have low power requirements, and exhibit long-term measurement stability. MicroElectroMechanical (MEMS) or fiber optic sensors offered means to establish embedded measurement capability for evaluation of motor structural and ballistic integrity. These measurements would supplement limited environmental data already obtained and would improve United States Army logistical readiness.