Theory and Experiment for an Ablating-Capillary Discharge and Application to Electrothermal-Chemical Guns
Abstract
A one-dimensional model is developed for calculating the properties of plasma arcs in ablating, cylindrical capillaries. The objective of the work is to provide information concerning these plasmas which can ultimately be coupled to models of both the working fluid and the power supply in electrothermal guns. Various limiting-case approximations to the model are described. A number of diagnostic measurements are then discussed for eight separate shots in which an arc was discharged into a long, open-ended, brass tube. The capillary for these shots consisted of a polyethylene tube. The measurements included the pulsed current supplied by the power supply, the voltage across the capillary, and the pressure within the capillary measured at a point near the breech or anode end of the tube. AU measurements were made as a function of time for the duration of the current pulse. Results from the experiments are then compared with various calculations undertaken with the model. The degree to which the theory and experiment agree is discussed in some detail, and possible reasons for the lack of agreement, where it exists, are pointed out. electrothermal guns, plasma discharge, plasma devices, plasma jets.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 1992
- Accession Number
- ADA251467
Entities
People
- Alexander E. Zielinski
- John D. Powell
Organizations
- Ballistic Research Laboratory