Effect of Loading Densities in Closed Vessel Tests on the Burning Rate of a Propelling Charge

Pragati Mehta; Chandrakala P. Shetty; Ramesh N. Pundkar; Himanshu Shekhar

doi:10.14429/dsj.65.8158

Pragati Mehta High Energy Materials Research Laboratory, Pune
Chandrakala P. Shetty High Energy Materials Research Laboratory, Pune
Ramesh N. Pundkar High Energy Materials Research Laboratory, Pune
Himanshu Shekhar High Energy Materials Research Laboratory, Pune

DOI: https://doi.org/10.14429/dsj.65.8158

Keywords: Gun propellant, internal ballistics, closed vessel, burning rate, loading density

Abstract

Closed vessel firing of gun propellant at different loading densities is conducted for evaluation of its ballistic parameters. Although in actual gun applications, loading densities are higher, but for closed vessel evaluation standard loading density is taken as 0.2 g/cc for interior ballistic calculations of guns. Closed vessel evaluation of standard triple-base propellant in hepta-tubular configuration with loading density varying in the range of 0.2 g/cc to 0.3 g/cc is conducted for the evaluation of salient ballistic parameters. It is observed that maximum pressure increases with increase in loading density of propellants. As loading density increases, rate of rise of pressure also increases. Accordingly, a rise in burning rate is also observed. However, the burning rate index (α) and coefficient (β) of the power law of burning (r = βP^α) is found independent of loading density. The average values of these burning rate parameters are calculated as (α =) 0.78 and (β =) 0.45 for the studied propellant.

Defence Science Journal, Vol. 65, No. 2, March 2015, pp.126-130, DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.14429/dsj.65.8158

Author Biographies

Pragati Mehta, High Energy Materials Research Laboratory, Pune

Mrs Pragati Mehta is BE (Electronics and Communication) and is working as Sc ‘C’ in the closed vessel evaluation section of HEMRL, Pune. She has been involved with modelling and simulation of pressure development in closed vessel by firing gun propellants. She has developed in MATLAB complete software for data acquisition, gauge calibration, data retrieval, performance parameter calculation and comparison of different firings.

Chandrakala P. Shetty, High Energy Materials Research Laboratory, Pune

Mrs C.P. Shetty has 27 years on experience with evaluation of gun propellants in closed vessel system at HEMRL, Pune. She has developed CVDAS and is responsible for installation of CVDAS at OF, Itarsi, OF, Bhandara, CF, Aruvankadu. Integration, calibration, reconfiguration and maintenance of these indigenously developed CVDAS has also been carried out by her. The piezo-electric crystal selection, gauge integration, integration with charge amplifier and DAS has been carried out by her at HEMRL.

Ramesh N. Pundkar, High Energy Materials Research Laboratory, Pune

Shri R.N. Pundkar has 32 years of experience with design, manufacturing, and testing with closed vessel system. Using indigenous materials, the complete CV system was fabricated and maintained to give consistent, reliable, and repeatable results. HE has also developed HPCV, where maximum peak pressure of the order of 782 MPa has been achieved.

Himanshu Shekhar, High Energy Materials Research Laboratory, Pune

Dr Himanshu Shekhar has done PhD in Mechanical Engineering and has 21 years of experience with processing, modelling, simulation and testing of propellants, explosives and pyrotechnics. He is currently Sc ‘F’ and Joint Director at HEMRL, Pune. He is recipient of Young Scientist Award, Agni Award for Excellence in Self-Reliance, and Science Day Oration Award from DRDO and is awarded with Mr Engineer-2013 title by the Institution of Engineers. He has more than 100 research paper, 11 technical books, and has contributed one chapter in a book. He is Life Member of HEMSI and AeSI.

Effect of Loading Densities in Closed Vessel Tests on the Burning Rate of a Propelling Charge

Abstract

Author Biographies

Most read articles by the same author(s)