Experimental investigation of a cook-off temperature in a hot barrel

The experimental investigations of the effect of contact time/temperature on initiating the cook-off using 7.62 mm calibre cartridge cases(CC) were conducted previously.These cartridges were hlled with commercial off-the-shelf(COTS) double based(DB) propellant(Bulls Eye)and were loaded in a hot chamber.The thermal explosion temperature is of great significance to both weapon designers and safety inspectors as it provides the operational limit and safe operating temperature.For CC under test,it was found that the cook-off temperatures of this propellant were encountered with the heat transfer profile of the simulated gun barrel between 151.4 ℃ and 153.4 ℃,with a reaction occurring in less than300 s after the round was chambered.Usefully,each experiment was found to be consistent and repeatable.

A review of dual-spin projectile stability

This paper gives a succinct review of dual-spinprojectile stability and some technologies relating to them.It describes how the traditional stability factors from linear projectile theory are modified to better describe a controlled dual-spin projectile.Finally,it reviews works which have investigated how different aspects of a controlled dual-spin design can affect flight stability,primarily airframe structure and canard properties.A conclusion is given,highlighting important guidelines from the enclosed discussions.

Ricochet quantification using a multiple sensor approach

This study investigates the ricochet behaviour of three different small-arms projectile types using a novel ricochet measuring device.The results can be used to estimate the danger potential of ricochets on shooting ranges.A ricochet is the change of direction and velocity of a projectile after impacting an oblique surface.This impact produces strong vibrations on a rigid plate.During this impact,flexural waves travel radially outwards from the point of impact.These waves are used to determine the properties of the impactor with accelerometers situated on the target surface.With the use of two measurement plates,one can produce a ricochet and detect the velocity at the same time.Accelerometers are suitable for accurate momentum measurements of single impacts.However,depending upon strike velocity and the impact angle,a ricochet can separate in multiple fragments after being deflected.From the operational safety perspective,these fragments need to be detected,as well.The approach of a coupled sensor concept was chosen to solve this problem.Thermographic sensors were additionally used to visualise the heat which is produced after penetrating a rubber layer pasted in front of the steel target plate.With this approach one was able to detect the position of impact.The investigations showed that the measurement system performance is better with a multiple sensor design,which includes accelerometers for the velocity,impact strength and partly the position measurement,while the thermographic sensor was used for the position measurement and partly the momentum measurement.The investigated ammunition showed plausible fragmentation behaviour,and the results can already be used to estimate the danger potential of different ammunition types.Frangible projectiles fragment to small particles already after being deflected under a small angle.However,Full Metal Jacket projectiles with or without a steel core do not fragment under angles which are less than 5.The objective of the paper is to demonstrate the possibility of measuring the complex ricochet mechanics of small projectiles using standard accelerometers with the adequate signal processing approach.This measuring system is supported by an off the shelf thermographic camera.

A comparison of the ballistic behaviour of conventionally sintered and additively manufactured alumina

Production of ceramic armour solutions on-demand/in-theatre would have significant logistical and military advantages.However,even assuming that such technologies could be successfully deployed in the field,such near net-shape manufacturing technology is relatively immature compared to conventional sintering of ceramics.In this study,the ballistic performance of a series of additively manufactured(AM)/rapidly-prototyped(RP)alumina tiles of 97.2%of the density of Sintox FATM were investigated using both forward-and reverse-ballistic experiments.These experiments,undertaken with compressed gasguns,employed the depth-of-penetration technique and flash X-ray as primary diagnostics to interrogate both efficiency of penetration and projectile-target interaction,respectively.The RP alumina was found to exhibit useful ballistic properties,successfully defeating steel-cored(AP)7.62×39 mm BXN rounds at velocities of up-to c.a.850 m/s,while exhibiting comparable failure modes to conventionally sintered armour-grade Sintox FATM.However,where a<1%by vol.Cu dopant was introduced into the RP material failure modes changed dramatically with performance dropping below that of conventionally sintered alumina.Overall,the results from both sets of experiments were complimentary and clearly indicated the potential of such RP materials to play an active role in provision of real-world body armour solutions provided quality control of the RP material can be maintained.