Research, design, and fabrication of a gas-generating propellant charge for a three-chamber underwater vehicle simulator launch system
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https://doi.org/10.54939/1859-1043.j.mst.112.2026.133-140Keywords:
Propellant; Gas-generating propellant charges; Underwater vehicle; Launch system.Abstract
This paper presents selected results on the research, design, and fabrication of a gas-generating propellant charge using domestic technology, based on an internal ballistic model of a three-chamber launcher. Following the study and calculation of the igniter mass, propellant grains and the gas-generating charge were manufactured, with an igniter mass of 32,8-33,2 g and a total propellant mass ranging from 3580 g to 3590 g. Ground firing tests on a test stand met the required performance criteria. The charge was subsequently subjected to firing tests to evaluate its capability to propel an underwater vehicle simulator with a mass of 2200-2300 kg within a launch tube system. The results show that the pressure–time profiles of the propellant gases in the charge chamber (chamber 1), the accumulator (chamber 2), and the launch tube (chamber 3) are in complete agreement with theoretical predictions. The obtained internal ballistic performance parameters include the maximum propellant gas pressures in the charge chamber, the accumulator, and the launch tube, which are 180,21 bar, 92,56 bar, and 11,04 bar, respectively. The operating time of the propellant charge is 390 ms, and the exit velocity of the vehicle simulator from the launch tube reaches 21,95 m/s, satisfying the technical requirement.
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