Eventos Anais de eventos
ENCIT 2022
19th Brazilian Congress of Thermal Sciences and Engineering
NUMERICAL THERMAL ANALYSIS OF AN 81MM MORTAR
Submission Author:
Héctor Volskis , RJ
Co-Authors:
Héctor Volskis, Bruna Loiola, Francesco Scofano Neto, Rodrigo Otávio de Castro Guedes
Presenter: Bruna Loiola
doi://10.26678/ABCM.ENCIT2022.CIT22-0399
Abstract
Light-weight infantry supporting weapons are designed for neutralization of manpower and firing positions in an open field battle scenario. In this type of device, a grenade is expelled causing an increase in the temperature of the weapon barrel. During repeated firing situations, a large amount of heat is transferred to the inner surface of the gun barrel due to the burning of the propellant. As the firing sequence continues, the thermal load increases in spite of the natural loss of heat through the outer wall of the gun and, consequently, the inner surface of the weapon experiences a sharp rise in temperature as the ballistic cycle continues. One undesirable effect of this heating process is related to a potential inaccuracy of the trajectory of the projectile. Therefore, the main purpose of this contribution is to perform a numerical analysis of the transient temperature distribution in an 81 mm light mortar, which is one of the most used caliber system that operates in firing sequences. The heat diffusion equation is solved using finite difference method applied to a cylindrical geometry. Several heat flux distributions are tested in order to investigate the effect on the thermal behavior of the weapon. The numerical code was verified by comparing the present results with a previously published analytical solution for both a single shot and a burst fire in a howitzer. The results obtained so far indicate that high temperatures are reached for certain rates of fire sequences which may lead to a thermally induced fire situation. This undesirable condition may endanger the safety of the operating crew or render the weapon ineffective for combat.
Keywords
81mm mortar, Heat flux, Numerical analysis, Finite Difference Method, gun heating
