Document Type

Thesis

Date of Award

1-31-1985

Degree Name

Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering - (M.S.)

Department

Mechanical Engineering

First Advisor

John Vincent Droughton

Second Advisor

Pai-Lien Lu

Third Advisor

Richard C. Progelhof

Fourth Advisor

Hans E. Pawel

Abstract

The combustion processes and products of a single grain of burning black powder were experimentally investigated via the stroboscopic laser schlieren photographic technique. A high power modulated argon laser system was used in conjunction with a streak camera to provide a dynamic sequence of time resolved, high resolution schlieren photographs of a burning black powder grain. When black powder burns, a multi-phase product is produced consisting of hot gases, solid particles, and a molten liquid spray. The expansion processes of this multi-phase product cloud were recorded and characterized. Molten drops, reactive and nonreactive particles within as well as outside of the product clouds were observed and identified. The velocity history of the expanding product cloud and the flying particles was measured. Product cloud front expansion velocities ranged from 20 to 345 cm/sec. The average horizontal cloud front expansion rate was 80 cm/sec. Particle velocities ranged from 70 to 600 cm/sec. The particle size-history of reactive particles was also investigated. All tests were performed in air at atmospheric pressure.

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