Title: Equations of state for 1-D modelling of ram accelerator thrust in thermally choked propulsion mode

Authors: Tarek Bengherbia, Yufeng Yao, Pascal Bauer, Carl Knowlen

Addresses: Laboratoire de Combustion et de Detonique (LCD), UPR 9028 du CNRS-ENSMA-Poitiers, France. ' Faculty of Engineering, Kingston University, Roehampton Vale, Friars Avenue, London SW15 3DW, UK. ' Laboratoire de Combustion et de Detonique (LCD), UPR 9028 du CNRS-ENSMA-Poitiers, France. ' University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, WA, USA

Abstract: A one-dimensional performance analysis code has been developed at the Laboratoire de Combustion et de Detonique to predict the thrust in the thermally choked ram accelerator propulsion mode. This code includes the real gas effect in steady state calculations and incorporates the following equations of state: ideal gas, Boltzmann, Percus-Yevick (PY) and Becker-Kistiakowsky-Wilson (BKW). The code was validated against key experimental data from representative experiments at the University of Washington 38-mm-bore facility. The predicted thrust and velocity agree well with experimental measurements. The present paper provides details about the algorithm of the calculation in the thermally choked propulsion mode.

Keywords: 1D modelling; equations of state: EoS; ram accelerator; thermally choked propulsion; gas effect; projectile launchers; thrust; projectile velocity.

DOI: 10.1504/IJESMS.2010.035110

International Journal of Engineering Systems Modelling and Simulation, 2010 Vol.2 No.3, pp.154 - 161

Published online: 04 Sep 2010 *

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