Numerical Simulation of the TNT Solidification Process

Rafaela Pedroso Catureba; Aldelio Bueno Caldeira; Rodrigo Otávio de Castro Guedes

doi:10.14429/dsj.69.13536

Rafaela Pedroso Catureba Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, Military Institute of Engineering, Rio de Janeiro
Aldelio Bueno Caldeira Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, Military Institute of Engineering, Rio de Janeiro
Rodrigo Otávio de Castro Guedes Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, Military Institute of Engineering, Rio de Janeiro

DOI: https://doi.org/10.14429/dsj.69.13536

Keywords: Solidification, TNT, Enthalpy method, Conjugated problem

Abstract

The solidification phenomenon is present in the casting process of energetic materials. In defence industry, trinitrotoluene (TNT) is used as main charge for high explosive ammunitions. The present study tackles the numerical simulation of the solidification process of TNT by means of a two-dimensional transient model in cylindrical coordinates. The heat conduction problem is solved by using the enthalpy method that rewrites the governing equation in terms of this variable. The transient diffusive equation is then numerically solved by applying finite volumes in an explicit scheme. The analysis the mold thickness and the convective boundary conditions are analysed to assess how they affect heat transfer during solidification. Results obtained allow for a better comprehension of this type of problem.

Author Biographies

Rafaela Pedroso Catureba, Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, Military Institute of Engineering, Rio de Janeiro

Mr Rafaela Pedroso Catureba graduated in Mechanical Engineering from Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho (UNESP) in 2017. She obtained her MSc degree in 2018 from Military Institute of Engineering (IME). Her main research fields are heat transfer, thermodynamics and numerical methods.

Aldelio Bueno Caldeira, Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, Military Institute of Engineering, Rio de Janeiro

Mr Aldélio Bueno Caldeira graduated, Cum Laude, in Mechanical Engineering from Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) in 1995. He works in Brazilian Army since 1997 and he is military professor of Mechanical Engineering at Military Institute of Engineering (IME) since 2004. He obtained his DSc degree in 2004 from UFRJ. His main research fields are heat transfer, combustion, aerodynamics, optimisation and inverse problems.

Rodrigo Otávio de Castro Guedes, Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, Military Institute of Engineering, Rio de Janeiro

Dr Rodrigo Otávio de Castro Guedes graduated in Mechanical Engineering from Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) in 1987. He is professor of Mechanical Engineering at Military Institute of Engineering (IME) since 1994. He obtained his PhD in 1993 from North Caroline State University. His main research fields are heat transfer, thermodynamics and numerical methods.