THEORETICAL STUDIES OF THE USE OF MULTIPROPELLANTS IN HIGH VELOCITY GUNS

Abstract

The use of propellant mixtures in high velocity guns, as means of increasing projectile muzzle velocity, is compared with the use of a single propellant. The propellant mixtures vary in chemical composition, web, and burning rate. A theoretical study is made using the M68 105mm high velocity tank gun as a test case. Gun geometry, projectile weight, and propellant shape are not changed from that of the standard gun. Interior ballistic trajectories in the parametric study are computed using a multipropellant interior ballistic digital computer code. Graphical methods are used to determine the optimum propellant mixture needed to maximize muzzle velocity at a given allowable maximum gun breech pressure. The effect of propellant grain shape on the performance of a gun is considered in a separate study. Results from the interior ballistic computer model are also compared with experimental results from the firing of propellant mixtures in the 5-inch and 16-inch guns used to launch high altitude atmospheric probes.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Aug 01, 1968
Accession Number
AD0839855

Entities

People

  • Bertram B. Grollman
  • Paul G. Baer

Organizations

  • Ballistic Research Laboratory

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Altitude
  • Ballistic Trajectories
  • Burning Rate
  • Combustion
  • Computer Programs
  • Computers
  • Digital Computers
  • Government (Foreign)
  • Guns
  • High Altitude
  • Muzzle Velocity
  • Projectiles
  • Propellant Grains
  • Propellants
  • Standards
  • Tank Guns
  • Trajectories

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Combustion science or combustion engineering.
  • ballistics.