Detonability limits of methane‐oxygen mixtures at elevated initial pressures

Studies and researches are conducted at ISL on the aero‐thermochemical launcher based on the RAM effect and entitled RAMAC. This type of launcher involves reactive gas mixtures which are chosen, in the thermally choked subsonic combustion mode, for their nondetonative properties. This paper gives the description of a new experimental facility at ISL, which involves a 90‐mm caliber detonation tube to carry out studies on reactive mixtures at initial pressures up to 5 MPa. First results for methane‐oxygen mixtures at 2.5 MPa and ambient temperature are given. Accordingly the upper detonability limits for these mixtures have been experimentally determined in 90 mm caliber. The experimental detonation velocities are compared with calculations by the Quartet thermochemical code.