Spatial effects of an electrically generated plasma on the interior ballistics of electrothermal-chemical (ETC) guns

Electrothermal-chemical (ETC) guns offer the prospect of significantly increased muzzle kinetic energy over conventional solid propellant gun systems as evidenced by experimental data collected over the past several years. To support the various experimental programs, codes developed specifically for ETC interior ballistic processes have matured including 0D, 1D, and 2D/3D models. Although these models in general have been successfully applied to simulate experimental data, prediction of gun interior ballistic performance at high gun energies has been more difficult. In this paper we examine comparisons of 0D and 1D model results with experimental data in order to gain a clearer understanding of the way that electrothermal energy input modifies the interior ballistics in ETC guns. These comparisons suggest that both axial and radial effects must be considered, necessitating development of first-principles 2D/3D models. Results from one such model, CRAFT, are presented in the paper.>