Relationship of Combustion Characteristics and Physical Properties of Black Powder

Abstract

Examination of closed chamber results and flamespread measurements in primer tubes indicates that grain break-up or deconsolidation may take place under conditions of vigorous ignition. It is suggested that mechanical properties may affect the ballistic performance of black powder. Evidence is also presented to show that the manufacturing process of black powder can effect the mechanical properties and, hence, the ballistic performance. Windowed combustor measurements yield a low-pressure exponent (0.164) for the burn rate of black powder at pressures greater than 0.3 MPa. At pressures up to 13 MPa there is no evidence of combustion-induced deconsolidation.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Nov 01, 1982
Accession Number
ADA122264

Entities

People

  • Kevin J. White
  • Ronald A. Sasse'

Organizations

  • Ballistic Research Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Ammunition
  • Artillery
  • Burning Rate
  • Combustion
  • Engineering
  • Gunpowder
  • Ignition
  • Jet Propulsion
  • Materials Laboratories
  • Materials Science
  • Measurement
  • Mechanical Properties
  • Military Research
  • Munitions
  • Navy
  • Ordnance Laboratories
  • Physical Properties

Readers

  • Rocket Propulsion.