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Abstract
A model of ignition that culminates in self-sustained burning is presented. It assumes total ignition time to consist of the time for initiation of the adiabatic surface reaction plus the time to subsequently establish self-sustained (steady) burning. An approximate expression for the non-steady burning time is developed, and theories of the surface reaction time are available. It is demonstrated that under appropriate conditions either or both time terms may contribute to or control the total ignition time. The theory is illustrated for M2 propellant, and it is shown that the effects of pressure and igniter heat flux on the computed characteristics of ignition time and ignition energy are consistent with those obtained by Beyer and Fishman. It is also shown that the developed model agrees in form with the ignition energy expression determined experimentally by Jones, and explains the semi-empirical expression developed by Lewis and von Elbe to describe the minimum ignition energy of gases.