Quasi‐Homogeneous and Pseudospin Modes of Zirconium‐Wire Combustion in Air

Abstract

A novel experimental technique is proposed for examining the transition mechanism from quasi‐homogeneous to heterogeneous combustion — burning of a variable‐pitch spring. Depending on the pitch of air‐combustible zirconium springs, two combustion modes are possible. Quasi‐homogeneous (layer‐by‐layer) combustion is observed in the case of small‐pitch springs; as the spring pitch increases, quasi‐homogeneous combustion transforms into heterogeneous (pseudo‐spin) combustion. Conditions for the occurrence of various combustion modes, depending on the spring diameter and pitch, are studied.