Studies on Some Aspects of Propellants for Improving the Performance of Tank Guns

Abstract

The main criterion, in the design of propellant charge for a tank gun, is to achieve the highest possible muzzle velocity for fin stabilized armour piercing dicarding sabot (FSAPDS) projectiles. This ensures penetration through the toughest armour plates by the kinetic energy of the projectile. One of the solutions, is to increase the force constant of the propellant. Higher force constant from conventional double and triple base propellant compositions lead to prohibitive linear rates of burning coefficients. ERDL has developed a high energy propellant based on RDX, with very high force constant and low linear rate of burning coefficient. The objective of the present paper is to discuss various aspects of the interior ballistics of the three types of propellants in question in 105 mm tank gun with FSAPDS ammunition. The study shows that only the solution with RDX base propellant is feasible for an increase of three per cent in muzzle velocity.