PREDICTION OF CHANGES IN THE BALLISTIC CHARACTERISTICS OF SHOTS OF SEPARATE-SLEEVE LOADING WITH LONG-TERM CHARGES

Currently, the problem of many countries of the world, including Ukraine, is the presence in arsenals, bases and warehouses of a large number of various ammunition that are beyond the boundaries of the guaranteed storage periods. The lack of production capacity in Ukraine for the manufacture of ammunition has led to the fact that ammunition is currently in operation, the storage time of which exceeds 30 years. As the results of studies show, during long-term storage, nitrocellulose-based gunpowders used in ammunition undergo various physical and chemical transformations, which leads to changes in their properties and, in turn, to the negative consequences of the use of such ammunition. This article analyzes publications devoted to scientific research on the problems of operating long-term ammunition, their impact on the ballistic characteristics of weapons and the feasibility of using such ammunition, both in terms of personnel safety, and the accuracy of performing fire missions and the operation of weapons in general. The general problem of the operation of ammunition with post-warranty storage periods is presented, as well as one of the tasks associated with the possibility of predicting changes in the properties of powder charges at different storage periods. The generalizing data of the shooting experiment with the use of the 122-mm D-30 howitzer and shots of various years of manufacture are given. A change in the firing range depending on the life of the ammunition is shown, as well as a change in some ballistic characteristics. On the basis of the experiment, a relation has been obtained that makes it possible to predict changes in the initial velocity of the projectile depending on the mass of the charge. The possibility of restoring the properties of powder charges by treating them with hydrogen peroxide is shown, as well as a predictive assessment of the appropriate timing for the regeneration of nitrocellulose powder charges for homologation of the ballistic and energy characteristics of ammunition.