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Hypervelocity Launchers pp 149–164Cite as

RAMAC in Subdetonative Propulsion Mode with Fin-Guided Projectile: Design, Modeling, Performance and Scale Effect

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Part of the book series: Shock Wave Science and Technology Reference Library ((SHOCKWAVES,volume 10))

Abstract

The aim of this chapter is to demonstrate the basic feasibility of the RAMAC and its higher ability to accelerate a projectile than any conventional gun. This capability comes from the constant high pressure thrust at the rear of the projectile, contrary to the pressure distribution in a conventional powder gun barrel. Yet, a better knowledge of the gas dynamics of the flow was expected in order to improve the ram accelerator operations. The present study refers to ram accelerator operations in the thermally choked propulsive mode which operates in the sub-detonative velocity regime; i.e., below the Chapman-Jouguet (C-J) detonation speed of the propellant. A numerical simulation of the flow characteristics around the projectile with and without fins is presented in order to show the influence of the geometry of the fins on the RAMAC performance. This series of calculations were conducted using the 3D numerical code TascFlow TM. Different types of fins, i.e., various shapes and number, were studied. The characteristics of the flow in terms of temperature, pressure and Mach number distributions were studied. The data show a drastic role of the fin geometry on the maximum temperature of the flow. The nature of the reactive mixture, which is a key parameter for the performance of the ram accelerator, was investigated as well, mainly in terms of detonability. For this purpose, an important basic research has been conducted in 90 mm tubes in order to yield the best composition of the reactants for a Sub-detonative propulsion mode. This studies included detonations experiments conducted in a 1.35 m long tube and a 3.15 m long tube. The other important aspect, which is addressed in this chapter, is the discussion on the scale effect, which provides some information on the feasibility of this novel technology for future space applications. All these data have become now part of the databank for the development of this technology throughout the world.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. ISL and Exobal Consulting Office, 15 Rue de La Roselière, 68300, Saint-Louis, France

    Marc Giraud

  2. ISL: French-German Research Institute of Saint-Louis, 5 Rue du Général Cassagnou, 68300, Saint-Louis, France

    Marc Giraud

  3. PPRIME (LCD): Laboratoire de Combustion et de Détonique, ISAé-ENSMA, Rue Clément Ader, 86960, Poitiers, France

    Pascal Bauer

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  1. Marc Giraud
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  2. Pascal Bauer
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Correspondence to Pascal Bauer .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Institute of Fluid Mechanics (ISTM), Karlsruhe, Germany

    Friedrich Seiler

  2. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel

    Ozer Igra

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Giraud, M., Bauer, P. (2016). RAMAC in Subdetonative Propulsion Mode with Fin-Guided Projectile: Design, Modeling, Performance and Scale Effect. In: Seiler, F., Igra, O. (eds) Hypervelocity Launchers. Shock Wave Science and Technology Reference Library, vol 10. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-26018-1_6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-26018-1_6

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