The `hump' effect in solid propellant combustion

Abstract

An eikonal equation modelling the propagation of combustion fronts in striated media is studied via a level set formulation. Travelling fronts are obtained, and their speeds turn out to be monotone with respect to the angle of the striations. An effective equation for thin meniscus striations is derived from a homogenization process, thus explaining the so-called ‘hump’ effect. Finally, the time-asymptotic stabilization of unsteady fronts propagating in straight striations is proved.