Ebook: Horst. A comparison of barrel-heating processes for granular and stick propellant charges

(Хорст Альберт В. Сравнение нагрева артиллерийского ствола при использовании метательных зарядов в виде гранул и цилиндров).Technical Report. - Aberdeen proving ground, Maryland: US Ballistic research laboratory. 1982. – 29 p.The natural flow channels offered by propelling charges composed of bundles of stick propel1ant significantly reduce the resistance to gas flow when compared to that of granular propellant charges, virtually eliminating potentially damaging pressure waves in the gun chamber. However, this same feature which reduces pressure waves may also result in more propellant remaining in the chamber, burning behind the origin of rifling, and perhaps increasing barrel erosion. In this study, a two-phase flow interior ballistic code (NOVA) is employed to compare propellant motion and heat transfer processes for ballistically-equivalent stick and granular propellant charges. A large difference in the motion of the solid phase during ignition and combustion is predicted for the two configurations, leading ultimately to an approximately 300 K higher maximum wall temperature for the stick propellant charge.Contents:
Introduction.
Theory.
Results.
Concluding remarks.