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Simulation and experimental investigation of a ballistic compression soft recovery system

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Abstract

A soft recovery system is used to arrest a supersonic object over a limited distance in a controlled manner. This may be achieved through ballistic compression of gas. This work explains the motion of a supersonic object passing through a ballistic compression decelerator i.e., pressurized gas column initially sandwiched between two diaphragms. The accompanying mechanics is complex and includes diverse effects such as separation of shock from the supersonic object, travelling shocks, shock reflections, creation of a new shock, emergence and dissolution of contact discontinuities and expansion waves, and shock-shock interactions. In this work, these phenomena have been numerically and experimentally studied. While the method of characteristics was used to solve Euler’s equations in continuous regions, jump conditions derived from control volume considerations were used to obtain solutions across discontinuities. In this way, a duly validated finite difference method computer program was developed to analyze the problem. Finally, simulation predictions were validated by conducting experiments on a 7.62 mm soft recovery system tube. Our results showed that, an object having an entry velocity of 880 m/s, left the SRS with a velocity that was lower by 47% from simulation predictions. Further analysis showed that friction between the object and tube was a major contributor to this gap. Post accounting for friction, the difference between numerical analysis and experimental data got reduced to about 5% at most locations, and to 17% at the end of the SRS. We attribute this residual difference between observations and simulations to build up of pressure at a location post passage of shock by it. Our 2-D finite volume study results, which are consistent with earlier research, as well as with our experimental data, show that such a phenomenon is prominent particularly in narrow tubes due to development of significantly thick turbulent boundary layers.

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Abbreviations

a i :

Sonic speed for the ith region (i = 1,2,3…), m/s

A p :

Cross sectional area of DUT, m2

C p :

Specific heat at constant pressure, J/kg.K

C v :

Specific heat at constant volume, J/kg.K

e i :

Specific internal energy for the ith region, J/kg

M p :

Mass of DUT, kg

p i :

Pressure for the ith region (i = 1,2,3…), Pa

R :

Individual gas constant, J/kg.K

s i :

Specific entropy for the ith region, J/kg.K

t :

Time, s

T i :

Temperature for the ith region, K

u i :

Absolute particle velocity for the ith region (i = 1,2,3…), m/s

u 1r :

Velocity of fluid particles in region 1 relative to shock speed, m/s

u 2r :

Velocity of fluid particles in region 2 relative to shock speed, m/s

V i :

Volume of ith region, m3

W :

Shock speed, m/s

M j :

Mach number of jth shock with reference to speed of sound in medium ahead of it

γ i :

Specific heat ratio, Cp / Cv of gas in ith region

ρ i :

Density for the ith region (i = 1,2,3…), kg/m3

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Acknowledgements

Authors express sincere gratitude to Ordnance Factory Board, Kolkata, India for providing requisite facilities for conducting the experiments.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, UP, 208016, India

    Girijesh Mathur

  2. Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, UP, 208016, India

    Nachiketa Tiwari

Authors
  1. Girijesh Mathur
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  2. Nachiketa Tiwari
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Correspondence to Nachiketa Tiwari.

Additional information

Girijesh Mathur did Ph.D. from Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, U.P., India. He has more than 30 years’ professional work experience in the field of production of artillery guns and ammunition. His research interests include soft recovery system, compressible flow and shock tube.

Nachiketa Tiwari is a Professor in Mechanical Engineering Department, Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, U.P., India. He did Ph.D. from Virginia Tech., US. His research interests include soft recovery system, acoustics and noise control.

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Mathur, G., Tiwari, N. Simulation and experimental investigation of a ballistic compression soft recovery system. J Mech Sci Technol 35, 187–197 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-020-1218-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-020-1218-9

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