Model of free carbon formation when firing an artillery piece
Keywords:
Gun, propellant gases, temperature distribution, disproportionation reaction, soot, muzzle flashSynopsis
A phenomenon present in almost every shot, yet rarely addressed or explained in the literature, has been identified. It manifests itself in the muzzle discharge in the form of a certain volume of soot. The Boudouard thermochemical reaction (also referred to in some sources as the Boudouard–Bell reaction carbon monoxide disproportionation), which accounts for soot formation in propellant gases during firing, has been identified. The conditions under which this reaction can occur are discussed. A distinctive feature of this reaction is the formation of a condensed carbon phase during the firing process after gasification of the propellant charge.
Based on the physicochemical processes governing the expansion of propellant gases in the gun barrel, a mathematical model is proposed that makes it possible to estimate the temperature distribution during firing. The initial model is constructed using generally accepted assumptions. The modeling results obtained on its basis can therefore only be regarded as approximate. For this reason, the method relies on simple calculations, making it unnecessary to employ high-performance computing equipment.
A simulation of the temperature distribution of propellant gases along the barrel, between the chamber and the moving projectile, was carried out using a model system similar to the 2A38 artillery system. The possibility of varying the extent of the Boudouard–Bell reaction zone (the soot formation zone) depending on the initial parameters is demonstrated. The use of both fresh and degraded propellant charges was modeled. Full and reduced charges were considered. The simulation results reveal the cause of possible initiation of a secondary muzzle flash, both from the frontal side and from the side of the muzzle brake.
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Pages
59-88
Text Identifier of this Chapter
Chapter 3
Published
June 18, 2026
Copyright (c) 2026 Olexander Brunetkin, Pavlo Gultsov, Oleksandr Sidelnykov
How to Cite
Brunetkin, O., Gultsov, P., & Sidelnykov, O. (2026). Model of free carbon formation when firing an artillery piece. In M. Maksymov, P. Gultsov, O. Toshev, O. Sidelnykov, R. Riaboshapka, O. Brunetkin, V. Davydov, V. Demydenko, M. Maksymov, O. Maksymova, Y. Dobrynin, O. Maksymov, & V. Boltenkov, Simulation modeling of artillery systems for improving game simulators. From theory to practice (pp. 59-88). Scientific Route OÜ®. https://doi.org/10.21303/978-9908-8450-1-2.ch3
