Effect of a suspension of magnesium particles on the detonation characteristics of methane-oxygen-nitrogen mixtures at elevated initial pressures

Effect of addition of magnesium particles on the detonation characteristics of methane-oxygen-nitrogen mixtures at elevated initial pressures is predicted by numerical calculations. Two rich (r=3, ZN2/ZO2=5 and r=2.8, ZN2/ZO2=2.9) mixtures under 40 bar initial pressure are considered. It is shown that an increase of the detonation velocity of the reactive mixture may be achieved with a proper choice of size and mass concentration of particles. For particle diameters larger than a critical value, magnesium addition is not able to provide an augmentation of the detonation velocity of the reactive mixture. Results are discussed in relation with performance enhancement of Ram accelerators.