Investigation of Ignition/Combustion Phenomena in a 30mm Liquid Monopropellant Gun
Abstract
Liquid propellant guns have been characterized by erratic performance. The phenomenology program represents an attempt to conduct a coordinated analytical/experimental research effort aimed at understanding the causes of the observed performance variability. The output from this program is expected to provide an expanded technological base for the gun system design. Calspan was selected to perform the diagnostic experimentation phase of the phenomenology program. Significant advances in the understanding of liquid propellant gun ignition and combustion phenomena were made during this program. The topics of electrical discharge, propellant ignition, and combustion phenomenology were addressed. The diagnostic techniques incorporated during this program have resulted in generation of data not available previously. The presence of hydrodynamic phenomena was observed. The existence of a strong hydrodynamic and velocity-augmented combustion rate was also noted. This was amply demonstrated by the rapid increase in breech pressure at times correlating with arrival of reflected pressure waves. Pressure was also observed to rise after the projectile had passed from the short barrel, indicating a substantial increase in combustion rate. These coupled hydrodynamic and velocity-related combustion phenomena appear to be dominant characteristics of the combustion process.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 1976
- Accession Number
- ADA037251
Entities
People
- E. B. Fisher
Organizations
- Calspan