Lifespan Assessment of Missile Pyrotechnic Components
The missile’s key components-the warhead and the rocket motor (Afterburner)-are flammable and single-shot components, requiring strict control over their use and storage to prevent potential hazards. During service, missile inspection primarily employs non-destructive testing methods, such as visual inspection or X-ray examination.
The ROC Armed Forces missile users replace missiles with new ones regularly according to the lifespan stipulated in the original manufacturer’s technical orders. Using missiles that have exceeded their lifespan will pose high risk personnel and equipment.
Warheads and rocket motors are high-prices military products. Without affecting combat readiness, a sampling method is adopted to accelerate aging through chemical experiments, simulating the changes of pyrotechnic components stored in nature. This is to explore the impact of extending the lifespan of all (Parent) munitions, as well as the lifespan that can be extended by pyrotechnic propellants. In addition, various life extension measures can be achieved by adjusting the formula or improving the performance. By reducing the number of times pyrotechnic components that are about to reach the end of their service life throughout the missile’s entire lifespan, the time and budget required for replacing life-limiting components can be significantly saved.