Mechanical Engineering ETDs

Robert Miner

Publication Date

1-30-2013

Abstract

Interior ballistics are the events in a gun system that determines the performance of any gun design. In order to efficiently design any gun system the internal ballistics should be understood to minimize energy losses and correctly define design parameters. The goal of this computational model is to develop a ballistics model to aid in gun design. A computational analysis of the dynamics events aids in the design of the gun system by providing output information such as pressure, velocity, charge burnout, and projectile distance versus time profiles. By applying the chemical and physical parameters of the propellant, gun breech geometry, projectile mass and gun barrel parameters, one can iterate through design parameters in an attempt to improve gun performance. There will be several computational models describing the main program being a lumped parameter internal ballistics analysis. The muzzle velocity of the model has been validated with empirical testing to at least one gun system and being applied to other gun systems for further validation on different designs. The validation of the muzzle velocity and breech pressure will build confidence in the model and allow for the model to be further developed into a more user friendly program.

Keywords

Ballistics, Interior--Mathematical models, Firearms--Design and construction.

Degree Name

Mechanical Engineering

Level of Degree

Masters

Department Name

Mechanical Engineering

First Committee Member (Chair)

Russell, John

Second Committee Member

Todd, Steven

Document Type

Thesis

Language

English

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