Report on Using Expert Systems for Computer-Aided Formulation and Property Estimation of Propellants. 1. Expert System Shell Selection and Initial Package Design

Abstract : An expert system-based computer assisted design (CAD) package for propellant formulation design has been created for use on an Intel 80286/80386- based workstation (PC). This CAD package is intended for use by propellant formulators as a tool to aid in the design of, and properties estimation for, new rocket and gun propellants. A backward-chaining expert system shell (Level 5), dBase III-compatible databases, and a PC version of the NASA-Lewis thermochemical code CET89 are linked together into one package. Properties estimation is accomplished via the use of both the expert system shell and the CET89 code; the thermochemical code options RKT=T (rocket calculation) and UV=T (constant volume) are supported. The initial version of this expert system has been implemented for a propellant formulation consisting of three ingredients (binder, plasticizer, and energetic material). Current research efforts are going into the design of a more comprehensive package for use with up to 21 propellant ingredients.