Non-Destructive Evaluation of Solid Rockets and Missiles Systems

About the book
Non-Destructive Evaluation (NDE) is an indispensable tool in quality assurance programme of any Engineering product and Rockets and Missiles are no exception. Due to their unique nature of functioning more stringent NDE methods are applied at every stage of their manufacture. Owing to their strategic importance, unlike in other industries, no published standards or codes are available especially in NDE area of Solid Rocket/Missile motors. Thus, it has been always a bottle-neck and an intriguing issue in the production plants of Rocket/Missile motors, to inspect and assess their quality for end use. With an idea to provide an insight into the NDE aspects of SRMs, the authors with their rich experience behind, have undertaken the task of preparing this monograph. To the extent possible, the chapters are written in a structured manner as introductory general topics to SRM-specific sub-topics. While conventional NDE methods are covered in detail, advanced and state-of-the-art techniques are dealt-with illustrations. Emphasis is given to practical aspects of NDE for the benefit of shop-floor engineers/scientists. The authors believe that, in a way, the monograph would serve as a practical book to the NDT practitioners, especially to the newly inducted personnel who are entrusted with the task of NDE of solid Rocket/Missile motors.

About the Author

Shri K Viswanathan joined Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), then Space Science and Technology Centre (SSTC), Thumba, Tiruvanandapuram in 1969 after graduating in Chemical Engineering from IIT Madras, Chennai. He was immediately inducted into the core project team to establish one of the largest solid propellant plants at Sriharikota, AP. He has contributed significantly in the conceptual design, detailed engineering, plant layout, equipments finalisation, procurement, installation and successful commissioning of the plant in 1977. There, he was involved in the productionisation of large solid boosters of different sizes weighing from 3T to 150T for ISRO’s launch vehicles, their quality control & assessment and testing programs. He held various key positions before becoming GM in 1998 and later on elevated to the position of Dy Director of the Space Centre. He retired in 2008 after 40 years of distinguished service for ISRO. He has acquired expertise in Non-Destructive Testing/Evaluation of space components as part of reliability and quality assessment of solid motors, nozzles, motor cases, igniters and other related subsystems. He was instrumental in the development of NDE methodologies and standards for the critical inspection of huge solid rocket motors and related sub-systems in SDSC SHAR.
He has presented and published more than 100 Plenary/Keynote/Technical papers in national & international conferences and journals and has won many national and international Awards/Honors. He is a Honorary Fellow of ISNT, Australian Institute of High Energy Materials (AIHEM) and High Energy Materials Society of India (HEMSI). He is responsible for the preparation of BIS Standard on “Recommended practice in thermal Neutron Radiography”.

Shri PV Sai Suryanarayana has more than 38 years experience in the NDT systems for qualification of all solid rocket motors, related components like nozzles, igniters, and other critical items used in Indian Space Programme. One of the key team members responsible for establishing and commissioning of the first-ever Accelerator-based System for Neutron Radiography of pyro components employed in Space Missions. Jointly won NRDC award and WIPO Gold Medal for "Development of accelerator-based system for Neutron Radiography of Space pyro components". Also awarded Team Excellence Award for contributions to Mars Orbiter Mission (MoM) in 2015. He has more than 60 technical papers presented in various National/International seminars/conferences and published in journals. Co-authored a book on "Practical Neutron Radiography" which is used as prescribed course material under IS-13805. He is a Life Member of many professional institutions/societies such as ISNT, ASI, HEMSI, ISSE.