Abstract: A one-dimensional internal ballistic model including the transient burning rate law is used to simulate the 30 mm electrothermal-chemical (ETC) launch. The accuracy of the model is proved by experimental data. Compared with classical ignition, the pressure wave decreases obviously while propellant is ignited by plasma. The effects of the initial parameters, such as input electric power, discharging timing sequence, propellant web thickness and loading density, on in-bore pressure wave are analyzed. In the condition of synchronous discharging, the peak value of pressure wave can be controlled while the electric energy ratio is less than 0.042. If the electric energy ratio is larger than 0.042, the peak value of pressure wave increases rapidly with the electric energy ratio. The first negative wave value is proportional to the electric energy ratio. Compared with the peak value of pressure wave, the first negative wave value is less affected by the electric energy ratio. In the condition of timing discharging, the allowed input electric energy ratio to control the pressure wave is proportional to the current pulse duration. At the high electric energy ratio, the peak value of pressure wave is inverse proportional to the current pulse duration. The pressure wave increases with the increase in loading density. But the allowed electric energy ratio to control the pressure wave showed no significant change, and the variation trend of the first negative wave value is unchanged. The influence of propellant web thickness on pressure wave in ETC launch can be ignored.

Key words: ordnance science and technology, electrothermal-chemical launch, pressure wave, one-dimensional numerical simulation, plasma, solid propellant