Design and Evaluation of Screening Smoke Compositions Based on Red Phosphorus in Open Field Conditions

Abstract

This research describes the design and evaluation of screening smoke compositions based on red phosphorus (RP), in open field conditions. In defense applications, smoke is used for both signaling and screening. Defense forces use smoke screening over their operational areas to conceal positions and activities from the ground or air observation performed by the enemy. In this research, various optimized smoke charges based on RP were prepared and tested to investigate IR and VIS screening effectiveness in static and dynamic conditions and to establish the parameters that influence the screening time (ST- the active time of the small solid hot particles suspended in the air). In addition, this study projected a mathematical model to describe the concealing time of a civil or military target by optimizing the smoke compositions. The mathematical approach clarifies the limitations of reducing smoke charge while maintaining adequate screening time. The empirical mathematical model estimates the screening time of the generated solid smoke particles (aerosol) through laboratory experiments and open field studies. According to the experimental results, more hot particles should be kept in the atmosphere to maintain the smoke screen and sustain the aerosol density in the considered volume.