Propellant Ignition and Combustion in the 155mm Howitzer.

Abstract : A mathematical model has been formulated and programmed in FORTRAN 4 for use in the propellant charge design and investigation of the performance anomalies for the 155mm howitzer. The model solves the unsteady gas dynamic equations for conservation of mass, momentum, and energy by finite differencing simultaneously with auxiliary expressions for such important features as gas generation, bed friction, barrle boundary layer development, and projectile acceleration, until the projectile leaves the muzzle. This report details the mathematical concepts and experimental results that were incorporated into modifications of an existing mathematical model (for the 175mm gun) from which the 155mm howitzer model is derived.