Theoretical and experimental studies on the interior ballistic of large UAV ejection based on trifluoromethane phase transition

Abstract Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have demonstrated immense value in the military sector. This research proposes the use of Trifluoromethane as a novel cold ejection medium. Trifluoromethane, being easily compressible, exhibiting high safety and low infrared characteristics, is well-suited fo...

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Main Authors: Zhaijun Lu, Zhifu Wang, Shujian Yao, Mu Zhong, Kai Liu, Jiaqiang Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-02-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-89273-w
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author Zhaijun Lu
Zhifu Wang
Shujian Yao
Mu Zhong
Kai Liu
Jiaqiang Wang
author_facet Zhaijun Lu
Zhifu Wang
Shujian Yao
Mu Zhong
Kai Liu
Jiaqiang Wang
author_sort Zhaijun Lu
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have demonstrated immense value in the military sector. This research proposes the use of Trifluoromethane as a novel cold ejection medium. Trifluoromethane, being easily compressible, exhibiting high safety and low infrared characteristics, is well-suited for small-volume high-pressure chambers. The feasibility of Trifluoromethane for UAV ejection has been confirmed through experiment. Furthermore, a thermodynamic numerical model has been established for the ejection medium to investigate the effects of key parameters on ballistic performance. The study’s findings demonstrate that as the volume of the high-pressure chamber increases, the ejection velocity of the UAV is enhanced, but the improvement slows down. Meeting the ejection velocity specifications for the UAV, reducing the volume of the high-pressure chamber can lower the peak pressure within the low-pressure chamber. An increase in the release pressure of the high-pressure chamber can enhance the ejection velocity, but the improvement slows down. Lowering this pressure can effectively reduce the UAV’s acceleration. There is a maximum valve diameter beyond which the ejection velocity remains constant, however, the peak acceleration can still increase. Enlarging the volume of the low-pressure chamber can effectively reduce the UAV’s peak acceleration. This study provides a safe and efficient technical solution for the cold ejection of large UAVs.
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issn 2045-2322
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publishDate 2025-02-01
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spelling doaj-art-da9f2017f27d43b0892a86eeb0e2ba4a2025-02-09T12:34:37ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-02-0115112210.1038/s41598-025-89273-wTheoretical and experimental studies on the interior ballistic of large UAV ejection based on trifluoromethane phase transitionZhaijun Lu0Zhifu Wang1Shujian Yao2Mu Zhong3Kai Liu4Jiaqiang Wang5School of Transportation Engineering, Central South UniversitySchool of Transportation Engineering, Central South UniversitySchool of Transportation Engineering, Central South UniversitySchool of Transportation Engineering, Central South UniversitySchool of Transportation Engineering, Central South UniversitySchool of Transportation Engineering, Central South UniversityAbstract Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have demonstrated immense value in the military sector. This research proposes the use of Trifluoromethane as a novel cold ejection medium. Trifluoromethane, being easily compressible, exhibiting high safety and low infrared characteristics, is well-suited for small-volume high-pressure chambers. The feasibility of Trifluoromethane for UAV ejection has been confirmed through experiment. Furthermore, a thermodynamic numerical model has been established for the ejection medium to investigate the effects of key parameters on ballistic performance. The study’s findings demonstrate that as the volume of the high-pressure chamber increases, the ejection velocity of the UAV is enhanced, but the improvement slows down. Meeting the ejection velocity specifications for the UAV, reducing the volume of the high-pressure chamber can lower the peak pressure within the low-pressure chamber. An increase in the release pressure of the high-pressure chamber can enhance the ejection velocity, but the improvement slows down. Lowering this pressure can effectively reduce the UAV’s acceleration. There is a maximum valve diameter beyond which the ejection velocity remains constant, however, the peak acceleration can still increase. Enlarging the volume of the low-pressure chamber can effectively reduce the UAV’s peak acceleration. This study provides a safe and efficient technical solution for the cold ejection of large UAVs.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-89273-wTrifluoromethaneUnmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)Pneumatic ejectionPhase transitionLaunch system structural parameters
spellingShingle Zhaijun Lu
Zhifu Wang
Shujian Yao
Mu Zhong
Kai Liu
Jiaqiang Wang
Theoretical and experimental studies on the interior ballistic of large UAV ejection based on trifluoromethane phase transition
Scientific Reports
Trifluoromethane
Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)
Pneumatic ejection
Phase transition
Launch system structural parameters
title Theoretical and experimental studies on the interior ballistic of large UAV ejection based on trifluoromethane phase transition
title_full Theoretical and experimental studies on the interior ballistic of large UAV ejection based on trifluoromethane phase transition
title_fullStr Theoretical and experimental studies on the interior ballistic of large UAV ejection based on trifluoromethane phase transition
title_full_unstemmed Theoretical and experimental studies on the interior ballistic of large UAV ejection based on trifluoromethane phase transition
title_short Theoretical and experimental studies on the interior ballistic of large UAV ejection based on trifluoromethane phase transition
title_sort theoretical and experimental studies on the interior ballistic of large uav ejection based on trifluoromethane phase transition
topic Trifluoromethane
Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)
Pneumatic ejection
Phase transition
Launch system structural parameters
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-89273-w
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