Development of a Low Strain-Rate Gun Propellant Bed Compression Test and its Use in Evaluating Mechanical Response

Abstract

The mechanical integrity of the propellant bed is a key factor in safe and consistent gun performance. To inform in this regard, a low strain-rate bed compression test was developed, primarily for use at low temperatures and, in conjunction with the time-temperature superposition principle, to simulate the high strain rates that exist in the gun chamber during ignition. A range of single-base propellants was used to determine the appropriate test temperature, strain rate and maximum load to, as close as possible, simulate the mechanical response of the propellant bed during ignition in the gun. Results of this testing are given in terms of visual fracture categorisation, applied stress versus bed density, relative vivacity (following burning of crushed and reference samples) and stress relaxation. Artificial ageing programs were also employed to develop relationships between propellant mechanical integrity and propellant molecular weight distributions as a function of age.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Sep 01, 2016
Accession Number
AD1024207

Entities

People

  • Andrew H. Hart
  • Joel Huf
  • Joel R. Mortimer

Organizations

  • Defence Science and Technology Group

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Bulk Modulus
  • Data Analysis
  • Engineering
  • Grain Size
  • Gun Propellants
  • Heat Transfer
  • Low Temperature
  • Material Degradation Processes
  • Materials
  • Materials Laboratories
  • Materials Processing
  • Materials Science
  • Materials Testing
  • Measurement
  • Mechanical Properties
  • Propellant Grains
  • Single Base Propellants

Readers

  • Aerospace Test and Evaluation
  • Combustion science or combustion engineering.
  • Materials Science (Mechanical Engineering).