Modeling of Cooling and Solidification of TNT based Cast High Explosive Charges

  • A. Srinivas Kumar Naval Science and Technological Laboratory, Vigyan Nagar, Visakhapatnam
  • V. Dharma Rao GVP Engineering College, Visakhapatnam
Keywords: Solidification, asymptotic growth, unsteady state heat conduction, liquid-solid interface, heat balance, trinitrotoluene, TNT

Abstract

Cast trinitrotoluene (TNT) based high explosive charges suffer from different defects such as cracks, voids, etc. One of the quality control measures is to cool the castings gradually, so that the entire charge solidifies without a large temperature gradient from core to the periphery of the cast charge. The fact that the solidification of high explosive casting starts from the periphery (cooler side) and travels towards the center enables us to predict the solidification profile of TNT based explosive castings. Growth of solidification thickness and cooling temperature profiles of TNT based cast high explosive charges are predicted as functions of time and space using unsteady state heat transfer principles, associated with heat balance at solid to liquid interface as a moving boundary of solidification. This will enable adoption of proper quality control during solidification of the molten TNT to eliminate inherent drawbacks of cast high explosive charges. The solidification profiles of TNT based cast charges under controlled and natural conditions are predicted and the model is validated against 145 mm diameter TNT cast charge which is found to be in broad agreement with experiments.

Defence Science Journal, Vol. 64, No. 4, July 2014, pp.339-343, DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.14429/dsj.64.4673

Author Biographies

A. Srinivas Kumar, Naval Science and Technological Laboratory, Vigyan Nagar, Visakhapatnam

Dr A. Srinivas Kumar obtained his PhD (Chemical Engineering) from College of Engineering (A), Andhra University, Visakhapatnam. He is currently working as Scientist ‘G’ at NSTL, Visakhapatnam. His fields of specialisation are: High explosives and high energy batteries. He has 16 Papers published in International and National Journals.

V. Dharma Rao, GVP Engineering College, Visakhapatnam
Dr Dharma Rao Vedula is working as a professor in GVP College of Engineering (A) in the Department of Mechanical Engineering following his retirement in the year 2011 from Andhra University College of Engineering (A) in the Department of Chemical Engineering. He guided 10 PhD students and Published 47 Research papers in refereed International Journals. He participated as Collaborative Researcher with University of Miami, USA.
Published
2014-06-10
How to Cite
Kumar, A., & Rao, V. (2014). Modeling of Cooling and Solidification of TNT based Cast High Explosive Charges. Defence Science Journal, 64(4), 339-343. https://doi.org/10.14429/dsj.64.4673
Section
Armaments & Explosives