Interior Ballistics Theory

for
Small Caliber Ammunition

L. H. Pearson, Ph.D.

Copyright 1988-2020
Box Elder Innovations, LLC
lee.pearson@boxelderinnovations.com
 Interior Ballistics Model - Objectives

• Develop finite-difference time-domain (FDTD)

computer program to model interior ballistic behavior
in small arms
• Forward calculation
• P(t), v(t), x(t)
• P(x), v(x)
• Translational and rotational kinetic energy
• Error analysis
• Dependencies of pressure response, muzzle velocity, and
energy on all model input properties and parameters
• Inverse model (not complete in Labview version)
• Fit model to data to obtain propellant or other properties
x
 Model assumptions

• One-dimensional laminar flow

• Cartridge volume replaced by bore diameter cylinder
of equivalent volume and added to the barrel
• Barrel is initially divided into N equal-sized volume elements
• Propellant and gas uniformly mixed within each
element
• Total mass in each element is constant
• Combustion gases
• Are chemically inert
• Have no viscosity or heat conductivity
• Obey the ideal gas law
• Have constant specific heats relative to temperature
• Have constant entropy outside combustion zone
 Model assumptions (cont)

• Energy loss mechanisms such as heat transfer, gas

leakage, barrel strain, and recoil are ignored
• Energy loss by bullet friction and rotation are taken
into account
• Friction is modeled as a pressure ahead of the bullet
• Entire propellant charge ignites simultaneously
• Flame spread occurs rapidly compared to powder grain burn
time
• Energy and mass of primer pellet are uniformly
spread out over all elements
 Governing Equations
1) Gas velocity

R
u= R

t
u = gas velocity (m/s)
2) Conservation of mass R = gas displacement (m) Esp ( − 1)
m0 =total mass (kg) p=
m0 = m p + mg mp = mass of propellant (kg) vsp
mg = mass of gas (kg)
3) Equation of state (ideal gas law) p = pressure (nt/m2)
vg = gas volume (m3)
pv g = mg R0T R0 = universal gas constant (J/oK/mol)

vg Cp
Note: vsp   Esp = CvT R0 = C p − Cv
mg Cv
Substituting: T = temperature (deg C)
vsp = specific volume (m3/kg)
Esp ( − 1)  = ratio of specific heats
p= Cp = specific heat at constant pressure (J oC-1kg-1)
vsp Cv = specific heat at constant volume (J oC-1kg-1)
Esp = specific energy of gas (J/kg)
 Governing Equations
3a) Speed of sound in gas vs = speed of sound (m/s)
R0 = universal gas constant (J/oK/mol)
RT T = Gas temperature (deg K)
vs = M = molecular weight of gas (kg/mol)
M  = ratio of specific heats

pv g
T=
mg R0

R
 Governing Equations (cont)
4) Gas volume
vsp = specific volume (m3/kg)
 mp  1 v = total volume (m3)

vsp = v −  mp = mass of propellant (kg)
  p  mg

mg = mass of gas (kg)
p = propellant density (kg/m3)
5) Conservation of momentum u = gas velocity (m/s)
0 = net initial density of gas and propellant (kg/m3)
p = pressure (nt/m2)
u 1 p
=− E = internal energy of gas (J)
t  0 x KTP = kinetic energy of propellant and gas (J)
U = potential energy in propellant (J)
W = work performed by change in gas volume (J)
6) Conservation of energy C = specific potential energy of propellant (J/kg)
Esp = specific energy of gas (J/kg)
E + KTP + U + W = 0 m0 =total mass (kg)

Note: E = (mg Esp ) = mg Esp + Esp mg W = pv

U =  (Cm p ) = Cm p 1 
KTP =  m0u 2  = m0uu
2 
Substituting:

mg Esp + Esp mg + m0uu + Cm p + pv = 0

 Governing Equations (cont)
7) Bullet motion mb = mass of bullet (kg)
ub = velocity of bullet (m/s)
d 2 Rb p = propellant density (kg/m3)
= ( pb − pa )A
dub
mb = mb 2
u = gas velocity (m/s)
dt dt Rb= gas displacement at bullet base (m)

8) Propellant grain burn-back (1-perf cylindrical powder grain)

dm p 2m po vL pb = pressure at bullet base (nt/m2)
=− (a1 + a2 )(a2 − a1 + l ) pa = pressure ahead of bullet (nt/m2)
dt v pg mp = mass of propellant (kg)
mpo = initial mass of propellant (kg)

( )
a1 = inner radius of propellant grain (m)
dl
= −2vL v pg = l a22 − a12 a2 = outer radius of propellant grain (m)
l = length of propellant grain (m)
dt  = burn rate exponent
a1 uL = burn rate coefficient
da1 a2 vL = burn rate (linear burn velocity) (m/s)
= vL p = pressure (nt/m2)
dt vpg = volume of powder grain (m3)

da2 l
= −v L
dt
vL = u L p
 Governing Equations (cont)
7) Propellant grain burn-back (no-perf cylindrical powder grain)

dm p 2m po vL pb = pressure at bullet base (nt/m2)

=− (a1 + a2 )(a2 − a1 + l ) pa = pressure ahead of bullet (nt/m2)
dt v pg mp = mass of propellant (kg)
mpo = initial mass of propellant (kg)

( )
a1 = inner radius of propellant grain (m)
dl
= −2vL v pg = l a22 − a12 a2 = outer radius of propellant grain (m)
l = length of propellant grain (m)
dt  = burn rate exponent
uL = burn rate coefficient
da1 vL = burn rate (linear burn velocity) (m/s)
= vL p = pressure (nt/m2)
dt a0 vpg = volume of powder grain (m3)

da2
= −v L
dt l
vL = u L p
 Governing Equations (cont)

9) Propellant grain burn-back (spherical powder grain)

dm p 3m po vL a 2
=−
dt v pg a02 mp = mass of propellant (kg)
mpo = initial mass of propellant (kg)
a = radius of propellant grain (m)
da ao = initial radius of propellant grain (m)
= −v L  = burn rate exponent
dt uL = burn rate coefficient
vL = burn rate (linear burn velocity) (m/s)
vL = u L p p = pressure (nt/m2)
vpg = volume of powder grain (m3)

4 3
v pg = a
3

2ao
 Governing Equations (cont)

9) Propellant grain burn-back (rectangular flake powder grain)

a2
L
a1

TBD
 Governing Equations (cont)

10) Bullet kinetic energy

K Tb = 12 mbub2
KTb = translational kinetic energy of bullet (J)
KRb = rotational kinetic energy of bullet (J)
mb = mass of bullet (kg)
ub = velocity of bullet (m/s)
Ib = bullet moment of inertia (kg-m2)

 2  2
2 r(z) = z-dependence of bullet radius (m)
K Rb = 12 I b   ub
d = barrel twist (turns/in)
 d 
zb

 (z )dz
4
r
mb
Ib = 0
zb r(z)
2
 (z )dz
2
r z
0
 Governing Equations (cont)

11) Barrel Friction

x
Pf = 2 f 0 ( x  z1 )
rb
f 0a − f1 ( x − z1 ) f1
= e + (x  z1 )
rb 2

Pf = effective pressure from bullet/barrel friction

fo = friction constant
f1 = friction constant
z1 = length of cylindrical portion of bullet
x = bullet displacement
 Summary of Definitions
t = time
x = displacement
u = gas velocity
R = gas position (element position)
mpo = initial mass of propellant
mp = mass of propellant
mg = mass of gas
m0 = total mass = constant
p = density of propellant
0 = net initial density of gas and propellant
p = pressure
vg = volume of gas
v = total volume
vsp = specific volume of gas (volume per mass)
vpg = volume of propellant grain
R0 = universal gas constant
T = temperature
 Summary of Definitions (cont)
E = internal energy of gas
Esp = specific energy of gas (internal energy per mass)
Cv = specific heat at constant volume
Cp = specific heat at constant pressure
 = ratio of specific heats (Cp/Cv)
KTP = kinetic energy of propellant and gas
U = potential energy in propellant
W = work
C = specific joule value of propellant (combustion energy per mass)
a1 = inner radius of propellant grain
a2 = outer radius of propellant grain
l = length of propellant grain
 = burn rate exponent
uL = burn rate coefficient
vL = burn rate (linear burn velocity)
pb = pressure at bullet base
pa = pressure ahead of bullet
 Summary of Definitions (cont)
N = number of propellant grains
A = cross-sectional area of bullet/barrel
mb = mass of bullet
Rb= gas position at bullet base
ub = velocity of bullet
rb = radius of bullet
KTb = translational kinetic energy of bullet
KRb = rotational kinetic energy of bullet
Ib = moment of inertia of bullet
d = barrel twist
R = length of grid element
xc = length of cartridge
NEL = number of elements in grid
 References
1. A. M. Joglekar, M. S. Phadke, S. M. Wu, “Iterative Modeling of interior
Ballistics of Small Arms,” J. Spacecraft, 10:450, 1973.
2. A. M. Joglekar and S. M. Wu, “Building a Semi-Mechanistic Model by
Experimental Design,” J. Spacecraft, 12:697, 1975.
3. L. White and J. Siewert, “Final Report of the Rifling Profile Push Test,”
U.S. Army ARL, AMSRL-WM-BC, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md.,
May 2006.