Influence of the initial propellant temperature and ignition method on ballistic characteristics of a shot in the setting of a 120 mm caliber model ballistic installation

In this paper, the effect of the initial temperature of a propellant charge and ignition method on ballistic characteristics of a shot from a model installation with a caliber of 120 mm is theoretically studied. Two types of charge ignition are considered: ignition by means of an electric primer-igniter and by a "flute"-type plasma torch. The developed numerical technique is described, which serves to simulate an artillery shot in an axisymmetric setting in conditions of the indicated ignition types. Three values of the initial temperature of the propellant charge are considered: -40, 0, and +40 °C. Configurations of computational domains for the given ignition methods are shown, and some calculated shot ballistic characteristics for six different calculation options, differing in the ignition type and initial temperature, are presented. It is revealed that in the specified range, the initial temperature of the propellant charge significantly affects the ballistic characteristics of the shot, such as a throwing speed and a maximum pressure in the chamber, while the type of ignition does not significantly affect these characteristics. It is noted that the ignition type has a great impact on temporal characteristics of the shot: the ignition time of a propellant charge and the time of the shot as a whole.

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