Influencing factors of submunition separation parameters in gas-airbag separation device

In order to explore the influence factors of submunition separation parameters on a gas-airbag separation device, its model was established using the solid propellant as fuel and the gas generator as power device. Based on the classical interior ballistic equations of ejection, the gas mass flow rate, the initial volume of the low-pressure chamber and the charge type were calculated and analyzed through combining theory with simulation. The accuracy of the model was verified through separation simulation and experiment. The results show that the increases of the burning area and burning speed increase with increasing gas mass flow rate, which results in the increases of both peak submunition acceleration and gas working efficiency and the decrease of separation time. On the other hand, the increase of the initial volume of the separation device results in the decrease of peak submunition acceleration, the increase of separation time and the decrease of gas working efficiency. The submunition velocity at the end of separation demonstrates the positive linear relationship with the gas mass flow rate, while the peak submunition acceleration exhibits the positive linear correlation with the mass-to-volume ratio of the separation device. The acceleration peak value of the increase area charge is smaller than that of the constant area charge and slower than the filling of the airbag, more satisfactorily satisfying the requirements for the low overload. The experimental results show that the error between the separation acceleration and the theoretical value is 10.35% and that the error between separation velocity and theoretical value is 6.67%. The theoretical model has good accuracy. This study provides a reference for the design of other gas-airbag separation devices with solid propellant as energy source.