Thermal Transport Properties in the Primary Gas-Phase Combustion Zone of Double-Base Propellant: A Sensitivity Study.
Abstract
Economies in both time and expense can be achieved in the design of propelling charges for guns by the use of mathematical models of the interior ballistic cycle. Continued development of such models is impeded by the need to describe the kinetics controlling the propellant heat release in a more realistic way. Work toward this goal has thus far shown that the use of overall reactions to describe flames with complex kinetics can preserve the key thermal features of the flame such as the temperature and heat release profiles and flame speed. A method has also been developed for determining the kinetic parameters of this overall reaction from a temperature profile measured in the combustion wave. The kinetics extraction technique, however, requires knowledge of the thermal conductivity and specific heat of the gas mixture through the zone of heat release. Uncertainties in these transport properties stem from uncertainties in the molecular composition in the combustion zones of propellants. This study assesses the probable error in best estimates of the transport parameters and determines how this error propagates through the kinetics extraction technique and into a calculation of the burning rate based on the derived kinetics. The resultant errors turn out to be modest, and a major effort to measure the molecular composition for this purpose does not appear warranted at present.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 1986
- Accession Number
- ADA174892
Entities
People
- Anthony J. Kotlar
- Martin S. Miller
Organizations
- Ballistic Research Laboratory