Investigations of Combustion Process of Pyrotechnic Elements Applied in Military Munitions Using X-ray Real Time Radioscopy

Abstract

Investigations on combustion processes occurring in the end-burning, low-gas, multi–increment pyrotechnic delay element of the depth charge dropped from the helicopter and in the end-burning, high-gas pyrotechnic tracer with combustible body of the anti-tank guided missile using Real-Time X-ray Radioscopy (RTR), are presented. RTR detection, operating at 30 frames per second, registered the shape and movement of burning zone respectively in the delay element and in the tracer. The burning zone separated unburnt (unreacted) and burnt part (combustion products) of tested pyrotechnic item. The burning zone propagating along the delay element was much more difficult to be registered by RTR because of much lower differences between densities of its unburnt and burnt parts in comparison with analogical parts of the tracer.