Two-phase flows in gun barrel: Theoretical and experimental studies

In the paper theoretical and numerical model of two-phase flow of solid granular propellant and its products of combustion in the gun barrel during interior ballistic cycle is given. Two cases are considered: base ignition of propellant charge and ignition by igniter. The theoretical model includes the balance equations of mass, momentum and energy for both phases, as well as necessary constitutive laws. The igniter efflux in the propellant chamber is obtained by incorporation in the model the two-phase flow model of igniter function. The convergent, unconditionally stable, numerical procedure is formed to solve the system of equations of the theoretical model. An original procedure of numerical grid adaptation to the flow field increase, caused by the projectile motion down the gun bore, is developed. The TWOPIB code for the computation of whole interior ballistic cycle of ammunition is developed. Four kinds of experimental investigations were carried out:igniter function in open air, flamespreading through propellant charge in the fibreglass tube during base ignition or during ignition by igniter, and firing of 100 mm APFSDS projectile. Verification of the theoretical–numerical approach by the comparison with experimental data is carried out. The great number of computational results is presented for the parameters that can not be measured, but which are necessary for more complete understanding of examined processes. The presented theoretical–numerical access enables, not only the complete optimisation of propellant charges, but more successful solutions of many interior ballistic problems.