The Effect of Propellant Composition on Secondary Muzzle Blast Overpressure
Abstract
Secondary muzzle flash results from the reignition of a mixture of fuel- rich exhaust gases and entrained air. This combustion process, which leads to energy released as light, also leads to acoustic energy release - noise. The additional blast overpressure resulting from secondary flash is here referred to as secondary blast. The availability of new observational data and a new flash prediction code permits insight into the link between secondary blast and into the possible suppression of both by judicious choice of propellant. Extensive tank-gun firing data have recently been gathered on candidate low-vulnerability (LOVA) propellants. These data included high-speed films, blast overpressure measurements, and measurements of visible illumination from the flash. All of the propellant candidates were fuel-rich, and without a chemical suppressant they could be expected to flash in these tank-gun-firing situations. Three candidates, however, exhibited a significantly brighter visible secondary flash than the others. We found we could correlate the brighter flash with the expected products of their combustion; more important, the brighter flash correlated well with a more intense secondary blast. Thus, the link between secondary flash and secondary blast is reinforced....etc...
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 1983
- Accession Number
- ADA127277
Entities
People
- George E. Keller
Organizations
- Ballistic Research Laboratory