Comparative analysis of the effects of gunpowder and plasma ignition in closed vessel tests

Abstract

This paper presents the results of a comparative investigation into the effects of the ignition method on the ballistic properties of a single-base gun propellant, as determined via closed vessel tests. Conventional gunpowder ignition and plasma jet ignition methods were used, and differences in the ignition time were analysed. The influence of the ignition method on the dynamic vivacity is discussed. It is shown that this influence is significant in the first phase of the combustion process, and with respect to the low values of the loading density. In the second phase of the combustion process, and for large values of the loading density, the dynamic vivacity plots for the two ignition methods converge. Regarding the burning law, close values of the exponent were obtained for the two ignition methods. The dynamic vivacity plots determined for plasma ignition reveal stronger dependence on the loading density than those determined for gunpowder ignition. The conclusion is that plasma ignition is not a solution to the problems inherent to the process of determining the ballistic properties of propellants, which results in deviation of the burning process from the geometric burning law. Keywords: Closed vessel test, Gun propellant, Gunpowder ignition, Plasma ignition