Detonation properties of dense methane-oxygen-diluent gaseous mixtures: application to ram accelerators

Using a 90mm-bore, 3.15 m long detonation tube, experimental detonation characteristics (detonability limits, detonation velocities and peak pressures) of stoichiometric methane-oxygen-diluent mixtures at an initial pressure up to 3.5 MPa have been experimentally investigated. A parametric study has been carried out as a function of both amount and nature of diluent, namely carbon dioxide, nitrogen and helium. The experimental results allowed the adjustment and validation of computations of the Chapman-Jouguet characteristics by means of a thermochemical code. These experimental data associated with validated computations provide a valuable tool, among others, for the choice of the most appropriate mixture composition in the superdetonative combustion mode for ram accelerator (ramac) experiments. The investigations were organized to determine the upper detonable areas of dense ternary mixtures, and to provide detonation velocity data in order to adjust a series of intermolecular parameters involved in the thermochemical code. Received 8 May 1997 / Accepted 15 December 1997