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Investigation of combustion phenomena associated with the flow of hot propellant gases. I. Spectroscopic temperature measurements inside the muzzle flash of a rifle

Journal Article · · Combust. Flame; (United States)
 [1];
  1. Arbeitsgruppe fuer Ballistische Forschung, Weil am Rhein, Ger.

The spatial and temporal temperature distribution in the muzzle blast field of a rifle of caliber 7.62mm was determined by evaluation of the radiation emitted by the muzzle flash. In the primary flash directly adjacent to the muzzle a maximum gas temperature of 1645 K was observed by means of emission- absorption measurements of both continuum and discrete radiation. The influence of the surrounding cool layers was taken into account by applying Abel-inversion techniques. In the intermediate flash about 100 to 300 mm downstream line-reversal-techniques using K- and Na-resonance lines gave temperatures of about 1600 K increasing with time and with muzzle distance to a maximum temperature of 1940 K. This rise of temperature is due to the onset of combustion processes. Further downstream at a distance of 300 to 500 mm in the secondary flash a fast intense combustion of the propellant gases mixed with air leads to gas temperatures of about 2500 K. By firing into inert gases this flash could be suppressed whereas the primary and intermediate flash remained unchanged. When firing into oxygen a maximum gas temperature of 3000 K was observed in the secondary flash.

OSTI ID:
7238764
Journal Information:
Combust. Flame; (United States), Journal Name: Combust. Flame; (United States) Vol. 27:2; ISSN CBFMA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English