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Journal of Pressure Vessel Technology | Volume 128 | Issue 2 | Research Paper
RESEARCH PAPERS

Gun Barrel Erosion—Comparison of Conventional and LOVA Gun Propellants

[+] Author and Article Information
A. C. Hordijk, O. Leurs

 TNO Defence, Security and Safety, PO Box 45, 2280 AA Rijswijk, The Netherlands

J. Pressure Vessel Technol 128(2), 246-250 (Dec 13, 2005) (5 pages) doi:10.1115/1.2172956 History: Received November 22, 2005; Revised December 13, 2005
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The research department Energetic Materials within TNO Defence, Security and Safety is involved in the development and (safety and insensitive munitions) testing of conventional (nitro cellulose based) and thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) based gun propellants. Recently our testing capabilities have been extended with vented vessel tests in order to investigate whether or not newly developed (low vulnerability (LOVA)) gun propellants or propellant formulations perform better in erosion tests. At the moment we have two vented vessel tests available, making it possible to determine the extent of erosion from a relatively low loading density to one comparable to a large caliber gun (maximum allowable pressures from 20 to 400MPa). Test pieces of various materials have been used and a number of LOVA and conventional gun propellants have been tested. From the results of these experiments the wear and wear rate have been determined. The erosion dependency on propellant properties like impetus, flame temperature, and combustion gas composition has been determined. Furthermore, an internal ballistics code has been adapted to model the pressure and temperature development in a vented vessel. The results are compared with the experimental results. This model will be described in short and the results presented.
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Copyright © 2006 by American Society of Mechanical Engineers
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References

1
Ahmad, I., 1987, "The Problem of Gun Barrel Erosion: An Overview", AIAA series 109 Gun Propulsion technology, AIAA, Washington, Chap. X.
2
Underwood, J., Vigilante, G. N., Mulligan, C. P., and Todaro, M. E., 2005, “Thermomechanically Controlled Erosion in Army Guns: A Review,” "Gun Tube 2005 Conference Proceedings", Oxford, UK, Paper 15.
3
Lawton, B., 2001, “Thermo-Chemical Erosion in Gun Barrels,” Wear251 , pp. 827–838.
4
Lawton, B., 2001, “Temperature and Heat Transfer at the Commencement of Rifling of a 155mm Gun,” "19th Internal Ballistics Symposium", Interlaken, Switzerland.
5
De Vieille, , 1901, Memorial des Pouders et Salpetres, p. 157.
6
Arisawa, H., and Kimura, J., 2001, “Applicability of the Hydrogen Gas Erosion Theory to Conventional Gun Propellants,” "19th Internal Ballistics Symposium", Interlaken, Switzerland.
7
Caveny, L. H., 1980, “Steel Erosion Produced by Double Base, Triple Base and RDX Composite Propellants of Various Flame Temperatures,” Battelle Columbus Labs, ADA092344.
8
de Bruin, G., and de Pauw, P. F. M., 1930, “La Poudre sans Fumée et l’érosion des Bouches a Feu,” Communique de la Fabr. Néerlandaises d’explosives.
9
Rosenbrand, V., Schneebaum, Y., and Gany, A., 1998, “Some Thermodynamic Aspects Related to Steel Reactive Erosion,” Wear221 , pp. 109–115.
10
Schneebaum, Y., and Gany, A., 2004, “Theoretical and Experimental Investigation of Barrel Steel Erosion in Hot Reactive Flows,” "20th Internal Ballistics Symposium", paper 154.
11
Teflon—Vink overview.
12
Rulon—producer info.
13
Data on CrNiMo steel—internal memo.
14
Knobel, R., and Hoelzle, J., 2005, “Practical Parameters for Gun Steel Selection,” "Gun Tube 2005 Conference Proceedings", Oxford, UK, Paper 20.
15
Hordijk, A. C., van Driel, C. A., and Schoolderman, C., 2004, “LOVA Gun Propellants—Processing and Comparison in Gun Barrel Erosion,” "Insensitive Munitions & Energetic Materials Technical Symposium".
16
Mueller, D., and Langholtz, W., 2005, “LTC Gun Propellants for Use in Machine Gun Ammunition,” "Proceedings ICT 2005", p. 48.
17
Downs, D. S., Lannon, J. A., and Harris, L. E., 1980, “Prediction of Wear Characteristics of Artillery Propelling Charges,” ARL technical report, AD A 096879.
18
"Textbook of Ballistics and Gunnery, I", 1987, Her Majesty’s Stationary Office, London, UK.
19
Encyclopaedia of Explosives.
20
Gallier, S., Bac, J. P., and Della Pieta, P., 2001, “Numerical Modelling of Chemical Erosion in Gun Tubes,” "19th Internal Ballistics Symposium", Interlaken, Switzerland.
21
Franco, P., and Peter, H., 2001, “Gun Barrel Erosion: Study of Thermally Insulating Layers,” "19th Internal Ballistics Symposium", Interlaken, Switzerland.

Figures

Grahic Jump Location
+(a) Erosion of rifling grooves and (b) erosion along the tube length starting at the origin of rifling
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(a) Erosion of rifling grooves and (b) erosion along the tube length starting at the origin of rifling
Figure 1

(a) Erosion of rifling grooves and (b) erosion along the tube length starting at the origin of rifling

Grahic Jump Location
+(a) Low pressure vented vessel and (b) vented HPCV made of 34CrNiMo6 steel
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(a) Low pressure vented vessel and (b) vented HPCV made of 34CrNiMo6 steel
Figure 2

(a) Low pressure vented vessel and (b) vented HPCV made of 34CrNiMo6 steel

Grahic Jump Location
+(a) PMMA mass loss as function of the force or impetus (conv. prop.) (diamonds) and the LOVA ones (circles) and (b) reduced mass loss of PMMA (P) and Rulon (R) test pieces compared to the Mueller (M) data (see Ref. 16)
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(a) PMMA mass loss as function of the force or impetus (conv. prop.) (diamonds) and the LOVA ones (circles) and (b) reduced mass loss of PMMA (P) and Rulon (R) test pieces compared to the Mueller (M) data (see Ref. 16)
Figure 3

(a) PMMA mass loss as function of the force or impetus (conv. prop.) (diamonds) and the LOVA ones (circles) and (b) reduced mass loss of PMMA (P) and Rulon (R) test pieces compared to the Mueller (M) data (see Ref. 16)

Grahic Jump Location
+(a) Comparison of measured (solid diamonds) and calculated (open squares) results of RB 107 in the vented HPCV and (b) comparison of experimental (gray) and simulated (black line) P-t results of ETPE∕RDX formulation in the vented LPCV
View Large  |  Save Figure  |  Download Slide (.ppt)
(a) Comparison of measured (solid diamonds) and calculated (open squares) results of RB 107 in the vented HPCV and (b) comparison of experimental (gray) and simulated (black line) P-t results of ETPE∕RDX formulation in the vented LPCV
Figure 4

(a) Comparison of measured (solid diamonds) and calculated (open squares) results of RB 107 in the vented HPCV and (b) comparison of experimental (gray) and simulated (black line) P-t results of ETPE∕RDX formulation in the vented LPCV

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