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The augmentation of a ballistic process, based on the well known solid propellant burning by an electrothermal (ET) energy source, is the subject of an experimental and theoretical investigation to obtain improved launching techniques. The plasma jet formation method, the internal ballistics modeling approach and the experimental test bed are described. Experimental results are disclosed showing the enhanced burning rate of a solid propellant ignited and augmented by the injection of plasma jets. We also present preliminary experimental evidence of improved performance of the new proposed method over that of conventional ballistics using solid propellant alone.

A time-dependent quasi-one-dimensional model is developed for studying high- pressure discharges in ablative capillaries used, for example, as plasma sources in electrothermal launchers. The main features of the model are (i) consideration of ablation effects in each of the continuity, momentum and energy equations; (ii) use of a non-ideal equation of state; and (iii) consideration of space- and time-dependent ionization.