ETC research at Soreq NRC, Israel
An overview of the electro-thermal-chemical launcher (ETC) research program at the Propulsion Physics Laboratory, Soreq NRC, Israel is presented. The main avenue explored is a detailed study of solid propellant ETC (SPETC) performance and optimization. A better knowledge of the physical phenomena taking place inside the device and in parallel efforts to tackle the engineering aspects of specific weapon systems based on the SPETC concept. Theoretical and experimental tools have been developed. Permanent efforts towards developing optimal and efficient components for such systems are invested. A second avenue is the design and the construction of a small caliber ETC demonstrator, as an answer for present military demands for urban combat conditions. All system options are dealt with including a novel inductive pulse power supply.
A field study of a hypervelocity solid propellant electrothermal 105 mm launcher
The operation of a Solid Propellant Electrothermal Chemical (SPETC) launcher was tested extensively in support of the US Army Space and Strategic Defence Command (USA SSDC) requirement for integrated field tests for a propsed Hypervelocity Weapon System (HVWS). Efforts were undertaken to translate ballistic results obtained earlier with a 105 mm SPETC launcher at Soreq NRC Israel for field use. A 105 mm firing fixture was used in the study. Forty-nine field firings were carried out in the 105 mm launcher without a single failure of the electrothermal fixture. Controlled pressure vs time profiles and velocities in the range of 1800-2030 m/s were obtained at pressures of the order of 450-550 MPa and accelerations of up to 64 kgee. This was achieved using projectile masses from 3.8-5.2 kg and various power pulses up to 1.8 MJ. An ensemble of 14 firing experiments indicates that the SPETC process is highly repeatable. The interior ballistic process is smooth and applicable to high gee sabot separation tests. The SPETC launcher was found to be very reliable, robust and flexible with a high potential for future weaponization. >
Laminar heat or mass transfer in rectangular channels and in cylindrical tubes for fully developed flow: comparison of solutions obtained for various boundary conditions
Abstract A comparison is made of results obtained with various boundary conditions at the wall of the channels. By comparing blood Sherwood numbers for finite wall resistance with those for constant concentration boundary condition only a small variation is found for various points along the blood channel.