SOLVING THE FUNDAMENTAL PROBLEM OF THE INTERIOR

BALLISTICS USING THE REAL BURNING LAW OF THE PROPELLANT

Lucian CIOBANU, Florin SUCIU, Titică VASILE*

* Military Technical Academy, Bucharest, Romania

Abstract: In this paper it is presented a method of solving the fundamental problem of Interior Ballistics,
in the classical approach. At the basis of the method presented stands the mathematical model of the pro-
jectile movement in the barrel of a ballistic system under the pressure of the gases from the burnt propel-
lant which holds into account the fact that the powder doesn’t burn according to the geometric (Vieille)
law, but by the real burning law, which allows us to utilize the experimental data obtained in the closed
bomb. Experimental data from an existent ballistic system are compared with the results obtained by
solving the mathematical model. The meaning and the notations of the parameters used in the paper is
that established in the specialty literature [1,2,3].

Key words: interior ballistics, fundamental problem, mathematical model, real burning law, closed bomb.

1. INTRODUCTION
The mathematical model also takes into
The mathematical model is based on the real account that the rotating band is continuously
burning law of the powder, which is using the cut in the rifling of the gun barrel (Fig. 2) and
experimental data obtained in the closed bomb the heat loss is calculated through the force of
(Fig. 1) and it consists of a set of differential and the powder.
algebraic equations. To solve these equations a
computer program was developed in C language.
The output of the program is a file with four
arrays of data: time, projectile’s displacement,
projectile’s velocity and gas pressure. The varia-
tion of gas pressure and projectile velocity ver-
sus time and displacement of the projectile with-
in the gun barrel, from the beginning of powder
burning, defines the content of the fundamental Fig. 2 – The cutting of the rotating band in the
problem of interior ballistics. rifling of the gun barrel.
0.3
0.27 2. EQUATIONS OF THE MATHEMATI-
0.24
0.21
CAL MODEL
0.18
0.15
0.12
The governing equations of the mathemati-
0.09 cal model are obtained from the fundamental
0.06
equation of interior ballistics, the projectile’s
0.03
translation motion equation and the burning
0 0.7 1.4 2.1 2.8 3.5 4.2 4.9 5.6 6.3 7
rate law. The burning rate law used to describe
Fig. 1 – Pressure versus time in the burning of the gunpowder is the Vieille
closed bomb experiments. law (1893):
 t 1
u = APν (1) ε= , => d ε = dt ; (5)
t lim t lim
To be able to utilize the experimental data
obtained during the burning of the powder in l 1
ξ= , => d ξ = d l ; (5)
the closed bomb, the following assumption has l0 l0
been made: the fraction of the burnt propellant
I 1
is the same in the ballistic system with the one ζ= , => d ζ = d I ; (7)
in the closed bomb. Is Is
To simplify the computational part, dimen-
sionless variables were introduced. Through in which:
successive transformations the mathematical ϕq v lim
model was transformed in a system of diffe- t lim = ;
s P'max
rential equations [2] that can be integrated
through numerical calculations, completed f ' ∆b
with an algebraic equation to calculate the gas P'max = ; (8)
1 − α∆ b
pressure for each step of the independent vari-
able. The system of differential equations is: τs
Is = ∫ P d τ .
 d ξ sI v η(a '−b' ψ + ξ )  p 1−ν 0

 d ζ
= s lim
( )  
f ' ω ψ − η2 − θL6  P  During the different periods of the ballistic
 cycle the system of equations is simplified
sIs  sl0p t (a '−b' ψ + ξ )  p 
1− ν
d η when some variables become equal to 0 (zero),


=
lim 
1 −
(
 d ζ ϕqv  f ' ω ψ − η2 − θL  P 
6 

)
 like p t and L6 when the cutting of the rotating
band in the rifling of the gun barrel has ended,

 d ε = sIsl0 (a '−b' ψ + ξ )  p 
1− ν
(2) and others become equal with the unit, like the
[ ( )
 d ζ t lim f ' ω ψ − η − θL6  P 

2
] exponent from the burning rate law, ν, and the
fraction of the burnt propellant, ψ, when the
  1 1
 fIs  −  powder has finished burning.
 d ψ
=  b δ dP
∆
dζ 3 f 1 dτ
2 3. SOLVING THE
 P  +α−  MATHEMATICAL MODEL
 P δ
and the pressure is defined by the relation: To completely define the mathematical
model we need to assess the initial and boun-
p = pa +
( )
f ' ω ψ − η2 − θL 6
, (3)
dary conditions. The initial conditions are as
sl0 (a '−b' ψ + ξ ) follows:

where: P – is the pressure in the closed bomb; ξ = ξ 0 = 0;

η = η = 0;
τ – is the time in the closed bomb when  0
the same fraction of burnt propellant ε = ε 0 ≠ 0; (9)
as in the ballistic system is burnt; ψ = ψ ' ≠ 0;
L 6 – is the mechanical work consumed  0

by cutting of the rotating band in the ζ = ζ 0 ≠ 0.

rifling of the gun barrel.
The values for the variables that are initial-
The dimensionless variables introduced are:
ly different from zero are:
v 1
η= , => d η = dv; (4) I k (1 − α∆ )  p'0 
v lim v lim ε0 = ln  (10)
f ' ∆t lim  a
p
 1 1 Also, the fictitious mass coefficient, ϕ ,
−
ψ '0 = ∆ δ (11) which varies throughout the movement of the
f' 1 projectile was computed as a function (Fig. 4)
+α−
p '0 δ of the projectile’s displacement ϕ = ϕ(l ) :
τ'0

I'
∫Pd t 1.09
ζ0 = 0 = 0
τs
(12) φ
i
Is 1.085

∫Pd t 1.08
0 0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3
l
i
The mathematical model presented here
was translated into C language, broken into Fig. 4 – The variation of the fictitious mass coeffi-
periods corresponding with the different pe- cient with the projectile’s displacement
riods of the firing phenomenon and solved by
numerical integration. The methods used to Through the numerical integration of the
integrate the differential equation system were differential equation system of the projectile’s
Runge-Kutta of the 4th order for the first four movement in the barrel of the ballistic system,
points and afterwards the predictor-corrector the data presented in the diagrams in Fig. 5
method Adams-Krîlov. and Fig. 6 were obtained.

4. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS 1

0.8
The viability of the mathematical model
and the precision of the calculi performed by 0.6
v'
the C program are verified against some expe- p'

rimental results. The case study material used 0.4

was the 1942 model of the 76mm gun.

0.2
Experiments were conducted in the closed
bomb with the powder from the charge of the
shot. The characteristics of the powder were 0 0.5 1 1.5
l
2 2.5 3

computed (Fig. 3) and those characteristics

were introduced as input data for the program. Fig. 5 – The variation of projectile’s velocity and
gas pressure versus projectile’s displacement
9.8 .10
5

1
9.6 .10
5

9.4 .10
5

0.8
9.2 .10
5

9 .10
5
0.6
v'
8.8 .10
5
p'
8.6 .10
5
0.4

8.4 .10
5

0.2
8.2 .10
5

8 .10
5

8 .10 8.5 .10 9 .10 9.5 .10

4 4 4 4
0.001 0.00105 0.0011 0.00115 0.0012
0 0.001 0.002 0.003 0.004 0.005 0.006 0.007
Densitatea 1 τ
Densitatea 2

Fig. 6 – The variation of projectile’s velocity and

Fig. 3 – Graphical determination of the powder
gas pressure versus time
characteristics (co-volume and the force of the
powder).
In the charts above, the notations v' and p'
utilized represent the relative values for veloci-
ty and pressure, obtained by dividing each
value obtained with the maximum value for
pressure and velocity.
For the maximum pressure in the chamber
and muzzle velocity of the projectile the fol-
lowing values were calculated trough solving
the mathematical model:
p max = 231.7 ⋅ MPa
the theoretical and the experimental results are
below 3%, which is considered an extremely
satisfying result.
It has been observed [2] that in the case of
a powder with a progressive shape, it burns
more degressive as it is more progressive in
shape (Fig. 7).

m
v0 = 661.86
s
The experimental data consists of the re-
sults measured during the firing of a series of
76mm projectiles. The following data set was
obtained (Table 1):

Table 1. Experimental Data

Nr. V 25 p max.exp
crt. [m / s] [MPa ]
Fig. 7 – Powder vivacity, theoretical and
1. 673.06 228.8
experimental, for a progressive shape.
2. 671.78 229.2
3. 667.38 229.1
The main advantage of this method for
4. 673.14 229.4
671.41 230.5
solving the fundamental problem of interior
5.
6. 673.80 231.2 ballistics is utilizing the whole curve of the
pressure obtained in combusting the propellant
The experimental data are then corrected and in closed bomb experiments. It is a known fact
averaged. Since the velocity is measured 25 m that, by doing so, are taken into account all the
from the muzzle (V25 ) it is brought by calculus particularities of the process of powder burn-
to the muzzle (V0 is calculated). Afterwards the ing, especially in the case of a powder with
comparison is undergone (Table 2). progressive burn rate.

Table 2. Comparison REFERENCES

Para- Relative
Experimental Theoretical 1. SEREBRIACOV, M. E. – „Internal ballistics
meter error
p max of guns and solid propellant rocket engines”,
226.2 231.7 2.4% Vol. I & II, Military Academy Publishing
[MPa]
v0 House, Bucharest, 1970.
682.24 661.86 –2.9%
[m/s] 2. VASILE, Titică – „Internal ballistics of guns”,
Vol. I & II, Military Technical Academy Pub-
As observed in Table 2, there are some dif- lishing House, Bucharest, 1993, 1996.
ferences between experimental and theoretical 3. VASILE, T., SAFTA, D., BARBU, C. –
data. Those differences may come in the expe- “Studies and researches regarding the utiliz-
rimental data from the measuring conditions or ing of results obtained at the burning of
the conditions in which the experiments were powder in closed bomb for solving of funda-
conducted, or, in theoretical data, from the sim- mental problem of interior ballistics”, Pro-
plifying hypotheses admitted in constructing the ceedings of the 7th International Seminar
mathematical model of the firing phenomenon. “New Trends in Research of Energetic Mate-
In spite of the simplifying hypotheses or of rials”, Pardubice, Czech Republic, April 20-
the measuring errors the differences between 22, 2004, ISBN 80-7194-651-6, pg. 318-325.