Modeling of Closed-Vessel Experiments and Ballistic Parameter Estimation

ABSTRACT Closed vessels have been used for the regression of lumped ballistic parameters for decades. If material and energy balances are coupled with burning rate empirical correlations, uncorrelated parameters can be adjusted, describing accurately the thermochemical behavior of the generated gases, even if the chemical composition of the propellant is unknown (aging of the propellant). This work presents a system of differential Equations integrated to produce pressure profiles within the vessel that are highly dependent on the choice of empirical parameters. Such parameters are manipulated via maximum likelihood statistical procedures, leading to the best set of parameters to describe the propellant.