Design process of a solid rocket motor with the objective of meeting certain mission requirements can be specified as a search for a best set of design parameters within the overall design constraints. In order to ensure that the best possible design amongst all achievable designs is being achieved, optimization is required during the design process. In this thesis, an optimization tool for internal ballistic design of solid rocket motors was developed. A direct search method Complex algorithm is used in this study. The optimization algorithm changes the grain geometric parameters and nozzle throat diameter within the specified bounds, finally achieving the optimum results. Optimization tool developed in this study involves geometric modeling of the propellant grain, burnback analysis, a 0-dimensional ballistic performance prediction analysis of rocket motor and the mathematical optimization algorithm. The code developed is verified against pretested rocket motor performance.

En lättgaskanon är en typ av kanon som används vid experiment där mycket snabba förlopp är av intresse, till exempel hypersonisk strömning och höghastighetskollisioner. Kanontypen når betydligt högre hastigheter än en konventionell kanon då projektilen accelereras genom eldröret av en gas med låg molekylmassa som vätgas eller helium istället för krutgaser. Denna lättgas komprimeras först till högt tryck och temperatur i pumptuben av en kolv som accelererats av en krutladdning. Pumptuben är ett rör anslutet till eldröret som initialt är frånskild av ett membran. För kanonen kan en mängd olika parametrar varieras och hur dessa ska väljas för att en viss mynningshastighet ska nås är inte självklart. Vid FOI har val av parametrar historiskt gjorts baserat på erfarenhet och genom experiment vilket kan vara tidsödslande. Syftet med examensarbetet var därför att simulera kanonen och undersöka hur olika parametrar påverkar dess prestanda. Forskningsfrågor som skulle besvaras var hur olika parametrar påverkar projektilens mynningshastighet och vilket utav två eldrörsalternativ som är bäst lämpat för en viss projektilvikt. Det innerballistiska förloppet i kanonen har simulerats för olika parameterkombinationer med ett program utvecklat specifikt för lättgaskanoner vid NASA:s Ames Research Center och modellen har i viss mån kunnat jämföras mot experimentell data. Resultatet av simuleringarna är att mängden lättgas och krut båda har stor inverkan på mynningshastigheten och att högre kolvvikt jämnar ut trycktoppar som uppstår till följd av stötar i gasen. Att ändra membranets öppningstryck ger ingen förbättring av kanonprestandan för den undersökta projektilvikten och utav de två eldrören som undersökts är det med större kaliber mer lämpligt för de aktuella experimenten. / A light gas gun is a type of gun which is used for experiments when high velocity phenomena are of interest, such as hypersonic flow and high-velocity impacts. The gun type can reach much higher velocities than a conventional gun as the projectile is accelerated down the barrel by a gas with low molecular mass such as hydrogen or helium instead of combustion gasses. This light gas is first compressed to high pressure and temperature in the pump tube with a piston which is accelerated with a propellant charge. The pump tube is connected to the barrel but initially separated from it with a membrane. A vast array of parameters can be varied on the gun in order to achieve a target muzzle velocity and their selection is not trivial. Historically parameters have been selected at FOI through experience and experiments which can be tedious. The purpose of this thesis was to simulate the gun and investigate how various parameters influence its performance. The research questions to be answered was how the parameters influence the muzzle velocity of the projectile and which of two barrels is the most suitable for a given projectile weight. The internal ballistics of the gun was simulated for various combinations of parameters using a program specifically developed for light gas guns at NASA's Ames Research Center and the model has to some extent been compared to experimental data. The result of the simulations shows that the amount of light gas and the propellant charge have a significant effect of the achieved velocity and that the weight of the piston has a reducing effect on the pressure peaks caused by shockwaves in the gas. Changing the opening pressure of the membrane does not improve gun performance for the investigated projectile weight and of the two barrels investigated the one with larger calibre is better suited for the experiments of interest.

Within the scope of this thesis study, an optimization tool for the ballistic design of three-dimensional grains in solid propellant rocket motors is developed. The modeling of grain geometry and burnback analysis is performed analytically by using basic geometries like cylinder, cone, sphere, ellipsoid, prism and torus. For the internal ballistic analysis, a quasi-steady zero-dimensional flow solver is used. Genetic algorithms have been studied and implemented to the design process as an optimization algorithm. Lastly, the developed optimization tool is validated with the predesigned rocket motors.

Baigiamajame magistro darbe teoriškai tiriami statybinio parakinio įrenginio vidinės balistikos hidrodinaminiai ir termodinaminiai procesai. Be to, modeliuojami garso slopintuvai ir teoriškai tiriamas jų efektyvumas. Darbe padarytos vidinės balistikos, kaip mokslo, statybinių viniašaudžių ir garso slopintuvų tipų apžvalgos. Atliktas skaitinis vidinės balistikos ir dujų plėtimosi procesų modeliavimas. Pateikti modeliavimo rezultatai ir jų analizė. / The topic of Master thesis is research of powder-actuated hydrodynamic ant thermodynamic processes in pyrotechnic tube. Also were made 3d models of suppressors and modeled their effectiveness. Internal ballistics, powder-actuated tools and suppressors reviews were made. Performed calculations of internal ballistics and gas extension processes. Presented results and analysis.

La précision de tir d’une arme dépend de nombreux facteurs intervenant aux différentes étapes du parcours de la munition (balistique intérieure, intermédiaire et extérieure). Certains travaux ont démontré l’importance de l’influence de la phase de balistique intérieure, pendant laquelle la munition traverse le tube, sur les résultats à la cible. En effet, c’est cette phase qui détermine les conditions de sortie du tube de la munition et par conséquent son comportement au cours du vol. Les conditions d’entrée du projectile, la géométrie du tube et de l’arme, et les mouvements de ces derniers au cours du tir, sont autant de paramètres pouvant modifier l’interaction tube/projectile et ainsi entraîner un changement des vitesses angulaires et de translation de la munition au moment du largage. Cette étude a donc pour but de mettre en exergue les paramètres géométriques de l’arme et du tube qui influencent la justesse et la dispersion. Une analyse statistique a été réalisée à partir de la base de données des résultats de tir du 25 mm. Elle a permis de mettre en évidence l’influence de plusieurs paramètres dont la rectitude du tube. Par la suite, des essais ont été conduits en appareil de tir dans le but d’isoler la part de la géométrie du tube sur les écarts à la cible et ainsi de confirmer la contribution de la rectitude. Un modèle numérique tridimensionnel a été développé afin de faire varier ce paramètre et d’étudier son influence sur le comportement de la munition en phase de balistique intérieure. La représentativité du modèle a été vérifiée à l’aide d’accéléromètres embarqués dans la munition. Ces tirs ont nécessité le développement d’une solution innovante optoélectronique afin de transmettre les accélérations en temps réel. Les résultats expérimentaux obtenus ont permis de constater que les accélérations de la munition modélisée étaient représentatives. Le modèle permet maintenant de réaliser des études paramétriques et de déterminer les profils de tube les plus pénalisants pour la précision de tir. / Gun accuracy is influenced by several factors during the stages of the ammunition course (internal, intermediate and external ballistics). According to previous studies, internal ballistics are the major contributor to deviations from target. Indeed, this phase determines projectile exit conditions and, consequently, his behavior during the flight. The projectile entry conditions, the weapon and barrel geometry and their movements during firing, can modify the interaction tube / projectile and change ammunition angular rates and its transversal velocities. The purpose of this thesis is to determine the parameters related to barrel and gun geometry, which influence the bias and the dispersion. A statistical analysis was led thanks to the data base of the 25 mm firing results. It was found that some parameters, including barrel straightness, affect accuracy. Subsequently, tests were conducted with a firing appliance in order to isolate the barrel geometry influence on the deviations from the target and to confirm the straightness impact. A tridimensional numerical model was created in order to vary this parameter and to study its influence on the ammunition behavior during internal ballistics. The representativeness of the model was validated using accelerometers embedded in the ammunitions. The firing of these ammunitions has required the development of an optoelectronic system to transmit accelerations in real time. The comparison between experimental and numerical results has shown close amplitudes and similar shapes curves that proves the representativeness of the model. The model can be used now to lead parametric analysis and to determine the straightness shapes the most penalizing for gun accuracy.

[pt] A presente pesquisa de mestrado, de interesse da indústria de armamento, mais especificamente no controle de qualidade de lotes de munição, relaciona-se com o desenvolvimento de metodologia para calibração de transdutor piezelétrico para medição de pressão transiente cuja duração é da ordem de milisegundos. Como sua principal contribuição, o trabalho disponibiliza metodologia própria de calibração ainda não disponível no País, atribuindo confiabilidade a medições realizadas em fenômenos associados ao que se denomina balística interna, que se constitui no estudo científico dos processos que ocorrem no interior de uma arma de fogo a partir do instante de iniciação (ignição) do propelente. Não obstante a faixa de pressão estudada, de 34,7 a 349,8 bar), ser baixa se comparada com as pressões desenvolvidas na balística interna, que podem até superar 6000 bar, a simples substituição do gerador de pressão por outro de maior capacidade é suficiente para a calibração numa faixa mais larga utilizando-se a mesma metodologia. O complexo processo de balística interna foi simulado em condições laboratoriais pela submissão brusca do sensor piezelétrico, objeto da calibração, originalmente montado em uma câmara diminuta (cerca de dez vezes menor que o volume total de fluido pressurizado) de óleo à pressão atmosférica, a um pico de pressão induzido pela comunicação da câmara a uma linha de óleo pressurizada à pressão de calibração pré-determinada através de uma bomba hidráulica, pressão esta que caracteriza um ponto de calibração. Complementando o aparatus experimental utilizado para simular o fenômeno da balística interna, foi utilizado um sistema de medição com tempo de resposta compatível (rise time < 5 us) à ordem de grandeza da duração do fenômeno estudado. O aparatus experimental utilizado é tal que permite alterar a duração desses eventos por meio de uma válvula de restrição, o que resultou em eventos com duração de 2 a 2200 ms. O monitoramento do sinal de resposta do transdutor piezelétrico no curso da calibração realizada permite estabelecer o tempo-limite associado ao qual o sinal mantém-se isento de indesejável atenuação, considerada fonte de erro na medição de pressão. O processo de calibração desenvolveu-se para 10 pontos distintos, perfazendo um total de 340 experimentos (variando-se o transiente de pressão imposto ao transdutor), monitorando-se o sinal de resposta do transdutor contra o valor da pressão medida por um manômetro calibrado pelo laboratório de pressão da PUC-Rio, credenciado pelo INMETRO e, portanto, assegurando rastreabilidade das medições ao Sistema Internacional de Unidades. Alterações no aparatus experimental permitem que calibrações usualmente realizadas em regime de pressurização sejam também realizadas em regime de despressurização, viabilizando, dentre outras análises possíveis, o estudo de estabilidade e histerese do sinal do transdutor. O método experimental desenvolvido não apenas mostrou-se tecnicamente viável e adequado às condições laboratoriais da faixa de pressão na qual foi validado (34,7 a 349,8 bar), como também se mostrou viável economicamente. A incerteza associada a esse método, obviamente, é maior que aquela obtida com uma balança de peso morto, que se baseia num método primário. A incerteza associada ao método de calibração desenvolvido no presente trabalho de pesquisa pode ser diminuída se for usado um sistema de medição de tensão com melhor exatidão. / [en] The current research, of armaments industry s interest, more specifically in the quality control of ammunition lots, is related to the development of methodology for calibrating piezoelectric transducers for transient pressure measurements associated with events whose duration is of the order of milliseconds. As its main contribution, this work presents proper methodology, not available yet in the Country, to ensure reliability to measurements of pressure in internal ballistics, which is the scientific study of the operating processes within the gun from at the moment when the burning process of the propellant is initiated. In spite of the low transient pressure range studied, 34,7 to 349,8 bar, when compared with the pressures developed in internal ballistics, up to 6000 bar, the simple replacement of the pressure generator for another one of larger capacity is enough to allow for calibration in a wider pressure range using the same methodology. The complex process associated to internal ballistics was simulated in laboratorial conditions by the abrupt exposure of the piezoelectric sensor, object of the calibration, planned and originally mounted in a small oil chamber (about ten times smaller than the total volume of fluid pressurized) maintained at atmospheric pressure, to a pressure peak introduced by the communication of the small chamber to a line of oil pressurized at a desired calibration pressure level by means of a hydraulical pump used to feed the oil system. Each calibration pressure condition corresponds to what is called a calibration point. Complementing the experimental apparatus used to simulate the phenomenon of the internal ballistics, an adequate measurement system (rise time < 5 us, therefore adequate to the time duration of the studied phenomenon) was used. The experimental apparatus employed is such that the time duration of the events could be changed by means of a restriction valve, allowing events with duration from about 2 to 2200 ms. Within the calibration process, the monitoring of the piezoelectric transducer output signal allowed for establishing a specific time-limit to ensure that the signal remained exempt of undesirable attenuation, considered a source of error in the measurement of the transient pressure. The calibration process was developed for 10 distinct points, totalizing 340 experiments (varying the transient pressure to which the transducer is exposed), monitoring the output signal of the transducer against the value of the pressure measured with a manometer calibrated in the accredited pressure laboratory of PUC-Rio, traceable to the national standard maintained by the Brazilian National Metrology Laboratory (INMETRO) and, therefore, ensuring overall traceability of measurements to the International System of Units (SI). Modifications introduced in the experimental apparatus used allow that calibrations usually carried out under a regime of pressurization may also be carried out under a regime of unpressurization, making possible other studies such as stability and hysteresis of the transducer s output signal. From the technical point of view the experimental method proved to be feasible and suitable to the laboratorial conditions for the pressure range to which it was validated (34,7 to 349,8 bar). It also revealed economically viable. Although validated, the uncertainty associated with the proposed method, obviously is greater than the uncertainty associated with a dead weight tester, which is based on a primary method. However, the uncertainty associated with the method of calibration herein proposed can be minimized whenever a more accurate voltage measurement system is used.