Experimental research on the instability propagation characteristics of liquid kerosene rotating detonation wave

In order to study the instability propagation characteristics of the liquid kerosene rotating detonation wave (RDW), a series of experimental tests were carried out on the rotating detonation combustor (RDC) with air-heater. The fuel and oxidizer are room-temperature liquid kerosene and preheated oxygen-enriched air, respectively. The experimental tests keep the equivalence ratio of 0.81 and the oxygen mass fraction of 35% unchanged, and the total mass flow rate is maintained at about 1000 g/s, changing the total temperature of the oxygen-enriched air from 620 K to 860 K. Three different types of instability were observed in the experiments: temporal and spatial instability, mode transition and re-initiation. The interaction between RDW and supply plenum may be the main reason for the fluctuations of detonation wave velocity and pressure peaks with time. Moreover, the inconsistent mixing of fuel and oxidizer at different circumferential positions is related to RDW oscillate spatially. The phenomenon of single-double-single wave transition is analyzed. During the transition, the initial RDW weakens until disappears, and the compression wave strengthens until it becomes a new RDW and propagates steadily. The increased deflagration between the detonation products and the fresh gas layer caused by excessively high temperature is one of the reasons for the RDC quenching and re-initiation.     

Effects of total pressures and equivalence ratios on kerosene/air rotating detonation engines using a paralleling CE/SE method

In this paper, the kerosene/air rotating detonation engines(RDE) are numerically investigated, and the emphasis is laid on the effects of total pressures and equivalence ratios on the operation characteristics of RDE including the initiation, instabilities, and propulsive performance. A hybrid MPI + OpenMP parallel computing model is applied and it is proved to be able to obtain a more effective parallel performance on high performance computing(HPC) systems. A series of cases with the total pressure of 1 MPa, 1.5 MPa, 2 MPa, and the equivalence ratio of 0.9, 1, 1.4 are simulated. On one hand, the total pressure shows a significant impact on the instabilities of rotating detonation waves. The instability phenomenon is observed in cases with low total pressure (1 MPa) and weakened with the increase of the total pressure. The total pressure has a small impact on the detonation wave velocity and the specific impulse. On the other hand, the equivalence ratio shows a negligible influence on the instabilities, while it affects the ignition process and accounts for the detonation velocity deficit. It is more difficult to initiate rotating detonation waves directly in the lean fuel operation condition. Little difference was observed in the thrust with different equivalence ratios of 0.9, 1, and 1.4. The highest specific impulse was obtained in the lean fuel cases, which is around 2700 s. The findings could provide insights into the understanding of the operation characteristics of kerosene/air RDE.     

Influence of propagation direction on operation performance of rotating detonation combustor with turbine guide vane

Due to the pressure gain combustion characteristics, the rotating detonation combustor (RDC) can enhance thermodynamic cycle efficiency. Therefore, the performance of gas-turbine engine can be further improved with this combustion technology. In the present study, the RDC operation performance with a turbine guide vane (TGV) is experimentally investigated. Hydrogen and air are used as propellants while hydrogen and air mass flow rate are about 16.1 g/s and 500 g/s and the equivalence ratio is about 1.0. A pre-detonator is used to ignite the mixture. High-frequency dynamic pressure transducers and silicon pressure sensors are employed to measure pressure oscillations and static pressure in the combustion chamber. The experimental results show that the steady propagation of rotating detonation wave (RDW) is observed in the combustion chamber and the mean propagation velocity is above 1650 m/s, reaching over 84% of theoretical Chapman-Jouguet detonation velocity. Clockwise and counterclockwise propagation directions of RDW are obtained. For clockwise propagation direction, the static pressure is about 15% higher in the combustor compared with counterclockwise propagation direction, but the RDW dominant frequency is lower. When the oblique shock wave propagates across the TGV, the pressure oscillations reduces significantly. In addition, as the detonation products flow through the TGV, the static pressure drops up to 32% and 43% for clockwise and counterclockwise propagation process respectively.     

Application of Two-dimensional Viscous CE/SE Method in Calculation of Two-phase Detonation

The method of two-dimensional viscous space-time conservation element and solution element (CE/SE) can be used to calculate the gas-liquid two-phase interior flow field in pulse detonation engine (PDE). In this paper, the evolution of the detonation wave and the distribution of its physical parameters were analyzed. The numerical results show that the change of axial velocity of gas is the same as that of detonation pressure. The larger the liquid droplet radius is, the longer the time to get stable detonation wave is. The calculated results coincide with the experimented results better.     

驱动管中柱状装药爆轰过程的数值模拟

数值模拟了爆炸驱动管中柱状装药内爆轰波的传播过程.计算采用欧拉型有限体积方法,炸药及爆轰产物均采用JWL状态方程,空气采用理想气体状态方程,采用"点火-生长"模型计算化学反应速率.计算得到了驱动管内波系结构的发展过程,爆速与经验公式符合得较好.计算表明,驱动管侧壁的压力峰值在800MPa以上,而在管底中心处,由于激波的汇聚,压力峰值高达12.4GPa.     

Fracture mechanism of a cylindrical shell cut by circumferential detonation collision

The failure mechanism of a cylindrical shell cut into fragments by circumferential detonation collision was experimentally and numerically investigated. A self-designed detonation wave regulator was used to control the detonation and cut the shell. It was found that the self-designed regulator controlled the fragment shape. The macrostructure and micro-characteristics of fragments revealed that shear fracture was a prior mechanism, the shell fractured not only at the position of detonation collision, but the crack also penetrated the shell at the first contact position of the Chapmen-Jouguet (C-J) wave. The effects of groove number and outer layer thickness on the fracture behavior were tested by simulations. When the thickness of the outer layer was 5–18 mm, it has little effect on fragmentation of the shell, and shells all fractured at similar positions. The increase of the groove number reduced the fracture possibility of the first contact position of the C-J wave. When the groove number reached 7 with a 10 mm outer layer (1/4 model), the fracture only occurred at the position of detonation collision and the fragment width rebounded.     

连续旋转爆震波传播模态试验

通过保持空气流量不变、改变H2/air当量比开展了连续旋转爆震对比试验,发现随当量比的降低出现三种传播模态:在较高的当量比(0.90~1.86)下,连续旋转爆震波以同向传播模态传播;在较低的当量比(≈0.75)下,则以双波对撞模态传播;在中间工况,则以上述混合模态维持传播。分析了不同传播模态下的高频压力特征,并初步分析了传播模态的转换机制:当量比较高时,爆震强度较高,传播过程中的损失和速度亏损相对较小,爆震波以同向传播模态维持传播;当量比较低时,爆震强度较低,传播过程中的损失和速度亏损较大,此时无法维持同向传播模态,而以双波对撞模态传播,这是由于双波对撞模态中的激波对撞产生高温环境,有利于燃烧放热,其可能是连续旋转爆震的极限传播模态。     

Shock initiation performance of NTO-based polymer bonded explosive

3-nitro-1,2,4-tri-azol-5-one (NTO) is a high energy insensitive explosive. To study the shock initiation process of NTO-based polymer bonded explosive JEOL-1 (32%octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocine (HMX), 32% NTO, 28% Al and 8% binder system), the cylinder test, the gap experiments and numerical simulation were carried out. Firstly, we got the detonation velocity (7746 m/s) and the parameters of Jones-Wilkins-Lee (JWL) equation of state (EOS) for detonation product by cylinder test and numerical simulation. Secondly, the Hugoniot curve of unreacted explosive for JEOL-1 was obtained calculating the data of pressure and time at different Lagrangian positions. Then the JWL EOS of unreacted explosive was obtained by utilizing the Hugoniot curve as the reference curve. Finally, we got the pressure growth history of JEOL-1 under shock wave stimulation and the parameters of the ignition and growth reaction rate equation were obtained by the pressure-time curves measured by the shock-initiation gap experiment and numerical simulation. The determined trinomial ignition and growth model (IG model) parameters can be applied to subsequently simulation analysis and design of insensitive ammunition with NTO-based polymer bonded explosive.     

Prediction of concentration of toxic gases produced by detonation of commercial explosives by thermochemical equilibrium calculations

An adverse effect resulting from explosive mine blasts is the production of toxic nitrogen oxides (NO and NO₂) and carbon monoxide (CO). The empirical measurements of the concentration of toxic gases showed that it depends not only on the composition of an explosive and properties of its ingredients but also on several other parameters, such as volume of blasting chamber, explosive charge mass and design, confinement characteristics, surrounding atmosphere, etc. That explains why measured concentrations of toxic gases reported in literature significantly differ.In this paper, we discuss the possibility of theoretical prediction of the concentration of toxic gases by thermochemical equilibrium calculation applying two models: ideal detonation model and deflagration model. It can be demonstrated that thermochemical calculations can provide a good estimation of the measured concentrations and reproduce experimentally obtained effects of additives on the production of toxic gases. It was also found that the ideal detonation model applies to heavily confined explosive charges, while the deflagration model is more suitable for low detonation velocity explosives with light confinement.     

1D study of the detonation phenomenon and its influence on the interior ballistics of the combustion light gas gun

One-dimensional simulations with a detailed hydrogen-oxygen reaction mechanism have been performed to investigate detonation phenomenon in a combustion light gas gun (CLGG). Convection fluxes of the Navier-Stokes equations are solved using the WAF (weighted average flux) scheme HLLC Riemann solver. A high resolution fifth-order WENO scheme for the variable extrapolation at the volume interface and a fourth-order Runge-Kutta scheme for the time advancement are used. Validation tests of the stoichiometric hydrogen-oxygen deflagration to detonation transition process shows good agreement between the computed results and the analytical and documented solutions, demonstrating the reliability on the detonation simulation of the current scheme. Simulation results of the interior ballistic process of the CLGG show that the flame propagation experiences three distinct stages. The blast detonation wave causes a high-pressure shock and hazardous oscillations in the chamber and makes the projectile accelerate with fluctuations, but has only a small improvement to the muzzle velocity.     

Verification and validation of detonation modeling

The mathematical model used to describe the detonation multi-physics phenomenon is usually given by highly coupled nonlinear partial differential equations. Numerical simulation and the computer aided engineering (CAE) technique has become the third pillar of detonation research, along with theory and experiment, due to the detonation phenomenon is difficult to explain by the theoretical analysis, and the cost required to accredit the reliability of detonation products is very high, even some physical experiments of detonation are impossible. The numerical simulation technique can solve these complex problems in the real situation repeatedly and reduce the design cost and time stunningly. But the reliability of numerical simulation software and the serviceability of the computational result seriously hinders the extension, application and the self-restoration of the simulation software, restricts its independently innovational ability. This article deals with the physical modeling, numerical simulation, and software development of detonation in a unified way. Verification and validation and uncertainty quantification (V&V&UQ) is an important approach in ensuring the credibility of the modeling and simulation of detonation. V&V of detonation is based on our independently developed detonation multi-physics software-LAD2D. We propose the verification method based on mathematical theory and program function as well as availability of its program execution. Validation is executed by comparing with the experiment data. At last, we propose the future prospect of numerical simulation software and the CAE technique, and we also pay attention to the research direction of V&V&UQ.     

Numerical modelling of non-ideal detonation in ANFO explosives applying Wood-Kirkwood theory coupled with EXPLO5 thermochemical code

Ammonium nitrate and fuel oil (ANFO) based explosive is a classic example of non-ideal high explosives. Its detonation is characterized by a strong dependence of detonation parameters on explosive charge diameter, presence and characteristics of confinement, as well as incomplete consumption of explosive at the sonic point.In this work we propose a detonation model based on the Wood-Kirkwood (WK) theory coupled with the thermochemical code EXPLO5 and supplemented with reaction rate models. Our objective is to analyze the validity of the model for highly non-ideal ANFO explosives, with emphasis on effect of reaction rate models.It was found that both single-step and two-step pressure-based models can be calibrated to reproduce experimental detonation velocity-charge radius data of ANFO at radii significantly above the failure radius (i.e. for D/D_id > ∼0.6). Single-step pressure-based model, with the pressure exponent equal to 1.4, proved to be the most accurate, even in the vicinity of the failure radius. The impact of the rate models is most evident on temporal (and spatial) distribution of flow parameters in detonation driving zone, especially when it comes to the conversion and width of detonation driving zone.     

Research on 2D Model of Capillary Discharge Plasma

The physical process of capillary discharge in a PE tube utilized in electro-thermal-chemical(ETC)guns was investigated.ETC guns can enhance the ignition and combustion of propellant in order to reduce the ignition delay and increase muzzle velocity of the projectile.A key component in ETC gun is the capillary plasma source.In this paper,a 2D steady state model of discharge was built by using magnetic hydrodynamics method.It took the plasma energy balance,material ablation,mass and momentum conservations in a quasi-neutral plasma region into account.Also,the effect of different compositions and PE concentration distribution were considered.In order to evaluate the validation of this model,the simulation results are compared with former works.     

Analysis on damage characteristics and detonation performance of solid rocket engine charge subjected to jet

To further explore the damage characteristics and impact response of the shaped charge to the solid rocket engine (SRE) in storage or transportation, protective armor was designed and the shelled charges model (SCM)/SRE with protective armor impacting by shaped charge tests were conducted. Air overpressures at 5 locations and axial acceleration caused by the explosion were measured, and the experimental results were compared with two air overpressure curves of propellant detonation obtained by related scholars. Afterwards, the finite element software AUTODYN was used to simulate the SCM impacted process and SRE detonation results. The penetration process and the formation cause of damage were analyzed. The detonation performance of TNT, reference propellant, and the propellant used in this experiment was compared. The axial acceleration caused by the explosion was also analyzed. By comprehensive comparison, the energy released by the detonation of this propellant is larger, and the HMX or Al particles contained in this propellant are more than the reference propellant, with a TNT equivalent of 1.168–1.196. Finally, advanced protection armor suggestions were proposed based on the theory of woven fabric rubber composite armor (WFRCA).     

Reaction degree of composition B explosive with multi-layered compound structure protection subjected to detonation loading

The explosive reaction degree and protection from explosions are concerns in the military field.In this work,the reaction degree of the composition B explosive was investigated experimentally.Multi-layered compound structures were used as barriers to weaken the blast loads.A comprehensive experiment using a high-speed camera and image processing techniques,side witness plates,and bottom witness plates was presented.Using the experimental fragment velocities,fragment piercing patterns,and damage characteristics,the reaction degree of the explosive impeded by different multi-layered com-pound structures could be precisely differentiated.Reaction parameters of the explosive obstructed by compound structures were obtained by theoretical analysis and numerical simulations.Unlike the common method in which the explosive reaction degree is only distinguished based on the initial pressure amplitude transmitted into the explosive,a following shock wave reflected from the side steel casing was also considered.Different detonation growth paths in the explosive formed.Therefore,all these shock wave propagation characteristics must be considered to analyze the explosive response impeded by compound structures.     

Effects of nano-sized aluminum on detonation characteristics and metal acceleration for RDX-based aluminized explosive

Nano-sized aluminum(Nano-Al)powders hold promise in enhancing the total energy of explosives and the metal acceleration ability at the same time.However,the near-detonation zone effects of reaction between Nano-Al with detonation products remain unclear.In this study,the overall reaction process of 170 nm Al with RDX explosive and its effect on detonation characteristics,detonation reaction zone,and the metal acceleration ability were comprehensively investigated through a variety of experiments such as the detonation velocity test,detonation pressure test,explosive/window interface velocity test and confined plate push test using high-resolution laser interferometry.Lithium fluoride(LiF),which has an inert behavior during the explosion,was used as a control to compare the contribution of the reaction of aluminum.A thermochemical approach that took into account the reactivity of aluminum and ensuing detonation products was adopted to calculate the additional energy release by afterburn.Combining the numerical simulations based on the calculated afterburn energy and experimental results,the param-eters in the detonation equation of state describing the Nano-Al reaction characteristics were calibrated.This study found that when the 170 nm Al content is from 0％to 15％,every 5％increase of aluminum resulted in about a 1.3％decrease in detonation velocity.Manganin pressure gauge measurement showed no significant enhancement in detonation pressure.The detonation reaction time and reaction zone length of RDX/Al/wax/80/15/5 explosive is 64 ns and 0.47 mm,which is respectively 14％and 8％higher than that of RDX/wax/95/5 explosive(57 ns and 0.39 mm).Explosive/window interface velocity curves show that 170 nm Al mainly reacted with the RDX detonation products after the detonation front.For the recording time of about 10 μs throughout the plate push test duration,the maximum plate velocity and plate acceleration time accelerated by RDX/Al/wax/80/15/5 explosive is 12％and 2.9 μs higher than that of RDX/LiF/wax/80/15/5,respectively,indicating that the aluminum reaction energy significantly increased the metal acceleration time and ability of the explosive.Numerical simulations with JWLM explosive equation of state show that when the detonation products expanded to 2 times the initial volume,over 80％of the aluminum had reacted,implying very high reactivity.These results are significant in attaining a clear understanding of the reaction mechanism of Nano-Al in the development of aluminized explosives.     

多点偏心起爆对破片速度增益的影响

多点偏心起爆后,爆轰波相互作用在定向区域内产生了马赫波超压,使得该区域破片速度产生增益.利用爆轰波反射理论,建立多点偏心起爆后爆轰波相互作用特性的理论模型,并确定定向区内破片速度的增益特性.3种不同起爆方式的仿真计算和静爆试验结果对比表明,定向区内不同起爆方式得到的破片增益程度较为吻合.     

Study of simple plane wave generator with an air-metal barrier

Plane wave generators (PWGs) are used to accelerate flyer plates to high velocities with their generated plane waves, which are widely used in the test of dynamic properties of materials. The traditional PWG is composed of two explosives with different detonation velocities. It is difficult to implement the related fabrication processes and control the generated waves due to its complicated structures. A simple plane wave generator is presented in this paper, which is composed of two identical cylindrical high explosive (HE) charges and an air-metal barrier. A theoretical model was established based on two different paths of the propagation of detonation waves, based on which the size of air-metal barrier was calculated for a given charge. The corresponding numerical simulations were also carried out by AUTODYN-2D^® based on the calculated results, which were used to compare with the theoretical calculations. A detonation wave with a flatness of 0.039 μs within the range of 70-percent diameter of the main charge was obtained through the simulations.     

A study on the surface overpressure distribution and formation of a double curvature liner under a two-point initiation

The formation mechanism of an EFP(explosively formed projectile) using a double curvature liner under the overpressure effect generated by a regular oblique reflection was investigated in this paper.Based on the detonation wave propagation theory,the change of the incident angle of the detonation wave collision at different positions and the distribution area of the overpressure on the surface of the liner were calculated.Three-dimensional numerical simulations of the formation process of the EFP with tail as well as the ability to penetrate 45# steel were performed using LS-DYNA software,and the EFP ve-locity,the penetration ability,and the forming were assessed via experiments and x-ray photographs.The experimental results coincides with those of the simulations.Results indicate that the collision of the detonation wave was controlled to be a regular oblique reflection acting on the liner by setting the di-mensions of the unit charge and maintaining the pressure at the collision point region at more than 2.4 times the CJ detonation when the incident angle approached the critical angle.The distance from the liner midline to the boundary of the area within which the pressure ratio of the regular oblique reflection pressure to the CJ detonation pressure was greater than 2.5,2,and 1.5was approximately 0.66 mm,1.32 mm,and 3.3 mm,respectively.It is noted that pressure gradient caused the liner to turn inside out in the middle to form the head of the EFP and close the two tails of the EFP at approximately 120μs.The penetration depth of the EFP into a 45# steel target exceeded 30 mm,and there was radial expansion between the head and tail of the EFE increasing the penetration resistance of the EFP.Therefore,the structural size of the unit charge and the liner can be further optimized to reduce resistance to increase the penetration ability of the EFP.     

Effect of microstructure on short pulse duration shock initiation of TATB and initial response mechanism

Micro-TATB particles with different sizes and 3D nanoporous TATB architectures with different specific surface areas were prepared through recrystallization to study short pulse duration shock initiation properties by electric gun technology. For micro-TATB, the initiation threshold significantly decreases with TATB average size ranging from 79.7 μm to 0.5 μm. For 3D nanoporous TATB architecture, the initiation threshold decreases and then increases with specific surface areas increased from 9.6 m²/g to 36.2 m²/g. The lowest initiation thresholds are obtained for the micro-TATB with average sizes of 1.3 μm and 0.5 μm, and 3D nanoporous TATB architecture with specific surface area of 22.4 m²/g. The shock initiation thresholds of micro-TATB and 3D nanoporous TATB architectures show significantly decreases with the porosity increased. The decomposition reaction and thermal conductivity properties were further investigated to understand the initial response mechanism. High porosity provides more collapse sites to generate high temperature for formation of hot spots. The low thermal conductivity and decomposition temperature could enhance the formation and ignition of the hot spots, and initial decomposition reaction of TATB. The effect of the decomposition temperature is higher than that of the thermal conductivity on the shock initiation properties. The enhanced decomposition reaction could promote energy release and transfer process from the ignition to the combustion. This work offers a new insight to understand the effects of microstructure on the shock initiation properties and the initial response mechanism of TATB.