Preliminary results of velocities and deceleration of aluminum, magnesium, zirconium, tantalum, pyrofuze and titanium particles burning in steam

Abstract

The energy released by metals burning in steam has several important applications including torpedo propulsion, nuclear reactor safety, underwater vehicles, underwater ordnance, etc. For investigation of shaped charge performance, velocities and decelerations of the burning particles are important parameters that can be used for aerodynamic drag studies as well as for studies of different burning mechanisms. Wires of various metals were exploded in a steam atmosphere. The metals investigated were aluminum, magnesium, tantalum, zirconium, pyrofuze, and titanium. Exploding wires generated numerous hot, small particles. Using high speed photography, velocities and decelerations were measured. Typical results are as follows: aluminum particles initial velocity 26 + or - 0.74 m/s and deceleration of 8075 m/sq. s zirconium (ejected from 1 mm diameter wire) particles initial velocity is from 5 to 11 + or - 0.47 m/s and deceleration is from 200 to 635 m/sq. s; zirconium (ejected from 0.127 mm diameter wire) particles initial velocity is from 1.25 to 1.6 + or - 0.47 m/s and acceleration 16 m/sq. s; magnesium particles initial velocity from 27 to 34 + or - 0.43 m/s and deceleration from 3300 to 6750 m/sq. s; tantalum (ejected from 1 mm diameter wire) particles initial velocity is 5.9 + or - 0.74 m/s; pyrofuze (ejected from 0.5 mm diameter wire) particles initial velocity is from 1.25 to 1.6 + or - 0.74 m/s and deceleration from 3700 to acceleration of 200 m/ sq. s; titanium titanium (ejected from 0.127 mm diameter wire) particles initial velocity is 0.6 + or - 0.43 m/s and acceleration of 15 m/sq. s.