MODELLING THE ABLATION OF GUN PROPELLANTS
Funded by the UK Ministry of Defence, QinetiQ is conducting experimental and theoretical research into the ignition of conventional and low vulnerability ammunition propellants. A key part of this work is the development of improved ignition models for use in internal ballistics guns codes. Experimental work at 40 mm calibre has measured higher than expected pressures prior to ignition of the propellant. Comparisons of pressure histories obtained with inert and live propellant show that the higher than expected pressures are not due to the pressure from the igniter alone. Examination of firings, in which ignition of the propellant did not occur, showed evidence of ablation of the propellant surface. The ablated propellant contributed significant mass and energy towards the pressure measured in the combustion chamber. Improved ignition models are being developed and implemented in an internal ballistics code named QIMIBS (QinetiQ Modular Internal Ballistics Software). QIMIBS already contained models of the convective and radiative heat transfer processes from the gaseous igniter combustion products, but these could not predict propellant ablation. Therefore a propellant ablation model was implemented in QIMIBS. The improved version of QIMIBS was used to predict the propellant ablation. The predicted pressures and ablated masses agreed well with measured data.
Clive Woodley
QinetiQ, Building H7, QinetiQ Fort Halstead, Sevenoaks, Kent. TN14 7BP United Kingdom
国际会议
25th International Symposium on Ballistics(第25届国际弹道会议)
北京
英文
29-36
2010-05-17（万方平台首次上网日期，不代表论文的发表时间）