Propellants Explosives Pyrotechnics, Vol.36, No.6, 564-575, 2011
Optical Characterization of Large Caliber Muzzle Blast Waves
High-speed, 1,600 Hz, visible imagery of the blast wave from 147 firings of a 152 mm howitzer were observed for three different propellant charges. Blast wave trajectories were determined at 0.513 m from the muzzle exit, yielding initial velocities of Mach 34 that decayed to near acoustic within the imager field of view. A piecewise treatment of the Taylor-Sedov point blast model was sufficient to describe the trajectories with an average error of 0.1 m. The trajectories were consistent with a three-dimensional expansion and constant rate of energy release. A Constant Breech Pressure gun model was used to estimate total energy of the muzzle flow, and the efficiency of depositing energy into the blast wave was 1824?%. Plume temperatures of approximately 9801,210 K were estimated by partitioning energy and were correlated with likelihood of plume combustion. Classification of charge type based on energy deposition rate was modest, characterized by a ratio of between-class to within-class variance of 1.3, for the very similar events.
Keywords:Muzzle Blast;Constant Breech Pressure;Energy Deposition;Muzzle Flash;Taylor-Sedov Point Blast