Investigation of the Possibilities of Increasing the Projectile Velocity under the Conditions of Electrothermal-Chemical Ignition Technology as Applied to a Medium-Caliber Installation

Abstract

This paper presents the results of a theoretical study of an unconventional shot scheme using electrothermal-chemical ignition technology in a medium-caliber installation. The law of combustion of propellants has been adapted to the conditions of a shot with the electrothermal-chemical technology of ignition of a propellant charge as applied to a model ballistic machine of medium caliber. The calculated data obtained on a laboratory ballistic smooth-bore installation of small caliber are taken as a basis. Theoretical parametric studies are carried out aimed at determining the capabilities of a shot using the electrothermal-chemical technology of ignition of a combined powder charge in a wide range of input energy at different initial temperatures of the powder charge. The temperature gradient of the muzzle velocity of the projectile at the initial temperatures of the powder charge of –40 and +20 °C without additional energy input has been 4 %. To compensate for it, it is necessary to introduce an additional energy of 60 kJ into the powder charge. The conditions for loading the investigated ballistic installation are determined, which make it possible to achieve a maximum increase in the muzzle velocity of the projectile in comparison with the base shot according to the classical loading scheme using traditional ignitors. The theoretical modernization of the powder charge has been carried out to achieve bigger increase in the muzzle velocity of the projectile.