Closed Vessel Examination of Two Samples of American Cool Propellant
Abstract
In connection with U.S. - U.K. collaboration in the gun wear problem, two samples of a cool propellant, supplied by the U.S. authorities, have been examined by the Closed Vessel method for comparison with the British equivalent. The composition was similar to the British F. 327/155 formulation consisting mainly of nitrocellulose, nitroglycerine, picrite and dibutylphthalate, with a nominal flame temperature of 1950 deg K. One sample was in cord form, and the other was multitube. For the purpose of the comparison, results were already available for cord, multitude (M.T.) and slotted tube (S.T.), F. 527/155 manufactured by C.S./E.R.D.E. from the same mix of ingredients. The rate of burning constant for the American cord sample was found to be about 5% greater than that of the British. This is considered to be a reasonably good match. No evidence of erosive burning of the American M.T. sample was apparent, and the geometrical form function was therefore used in deducing rates of burning from the Closed Vessel experimental results. On this basis, the American M.T. was some 13% slower-burning than the American cord. In the case of the British M.T., there was some evidence of erosive burning; consequently, as is usual in such cases, constant burning surface, associated with an appropriate increase in web thickness, was assumed in the rate of burning calculations. On this basis, the rate of burning constants for the British cord and multitube were in very close agreement: the spread between the cord, M.T. and S.T. was, in fact, little more than 1%. Bearing in mind the different assumptions made, the British M.T. was about 9% faster-burning than the American M.T. When fired at a leading density of 0.2 grams per c.c., the Maximum pressure produced by the American M.T. sample is about 13% less in the American vessel than in the considerably larger British vessel.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 1951
- Accession Number
- ADA492240
Entities
People
- H. A. Flint