Date on Master's Thesis/Doctoral Dissertation

12-1995

Document Type

Master's Thesis

Degree Name

M. Eng.

Department

Mechanical Engineering

Degree Program

Mechanical Engineering, MS

Committee Chair

Collins, Robert L.

Committee Member

Hnat, William P.

Committee Member

Stoll, Kenneth E.

Abstract

This thesis determines the physical, chemical and thermodynamic properties of an advanced solid propellant that can be used in the proposed upgrade of the Navy's 5-inch, Mark 45 gun system to achieve a muzzle energy of 14.928x16^6 ft-lbf (20.24 mega Joules(MJ)) firing a proposed 110 pound Precision Guided Munition (PGM). This energy level corresponds to an 95% increase over the current system that uses Navy Cool, or NACO, solid propellant and a 70 pound projectile. The propellant properties were parameterized using the interior ballistics simulation code known as Interior Ballistics of High Velocity Guns - 2 (IBHVG2), version 505D. The constraints that are adhered to in the parameterization are all within reasonable limits, and no new technologies or any unreasonable physical, chemical, or thermodynamic limits are exceeded. The increase in muzzle energy can be achieved in the near-term, with only minor modifications of the existing gun mounts. The propellant chemical and thermodynamic properties used are similar to those properties of existing propellants, whether they are known public formulations, proprietary formulations or in the development stage in the military services.

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