Characterization and Fate of Gun and Rocket Propellant Residues on Testing and Training Ranges
Abstract
Over the past two years, the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center and the Defence R&D Canada Valcartier have partnered to develop an improved understanding of the distribution and fate of propellant residues on military training ranges in SERDP Project ER-1481. As a portion of this work, field studies have been conducted to estimate the mass of propellant residues deposited per round fired from various munitions. This research included artillery, mortars, small arms, shoulder-fired rockets, and several large missiles. Particles of the propellant residues deposited have been collected and studied, and initial experiments conducted to measure the rate of release of nitroglycerin (NG) and 2,4-dinitrotoluene (DNT) after deposition. Field studies have been conducted at a number of U.S. and Canadian installations to determine the mass and distribution of residue accumulation from different types of munitions. Depth profiling has been accomplished to document the depth to which these residues have penetrated the shallow subsoil. Laboratory column studies have been conducted with NG, nitroguanidine, and diphenylamine to document transport rates for solution phase propellant constituents and develop process descriptors for use in mathematical models to enable prediction of fate and transport for these constituents. Subsequent column studies have utilized intact propellants. The major accomplishments from these field and laboratory studies are presented.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2008
- Accession Number
- ADA491994
Entities
People
- Alan D. Hewitt
- Dominic Faucher
- Guy Ampleman
- Isabelle Poulin
- Katerina M. Dontsova
- Marianne E. Walsh
- Michael R. Walsh
- Richard Mantel
- Sonia Thiboutot
- Susan R. Bigl
- Susan Taylor
- Sylvie Brochu
- Thomas F. Jenkins
Organizations
- Engineer Research and Development Center