Table Of ContentProceedings
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10th U.S. Army
Gun Dynamics
Symposium
April 23-26, 2001
Austin, Texas
TH U.S. ARMY GUN
10
DYNAMICS SYMPOSIUM
PROCEEDINGS
Proceedings from a symposium sponsored by the Institute for Advanced Technology
and Benet Laboratories, held April 23-26, 2001, in Austin, Texas.
Edited by
Dr. Mehmet Erengil
DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT A
Approved for Public Release
Distribution Unlimited
20020718 233
Published by:
Institute for Advanced Technology
The University of Texas at Austin
3925 W. Braker Lane, Suite 400
Austin, TX 78759-5316
(512)232-4400
April 2002
IAT.CW 0065
The Institute for Advanced Technology (IAT) hosted this symposium under the
sponsorship of Benet Laboratories of TACOM-ARDEC.
The views and conclusions contained in this document are those of the contributor concerned, and should not be
interpreted as presenting the official policies or position, either expressed or implied, of the Department of the Army or
the U.S. Government unless so designated by other authorized documents. Citation of manufacturer's or trade names
does not constitute an official endorsement or approval of the use thereof. The U.S. Government is authorized to
reproduce and distribute reprints for Government purposes notwithstanding any copyright notation hereon.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE 10™ U.S. ARMY GUN DYNAMICS SYMPOSIUM
Contents
Preface vii
Symposium Organization viii
INVITED PRESENTATION
Overview on the German R&D Programs on ETC Gun Technologies for Main Battletank
Weaponization
T. H. G. G. Weise 1
STRUCTURAL DYNAMICS OF CONVENTIONAL GUNS
On the Design of Magneto Rheological Recoil Dampers for Fire Out of Battery Control
M. Ahmadian and R. Appleton 9
Muzzle Motion Measurements for the M198 When Fired at 30 and 45 Degrees
J. M. Gamer, B. J. Guidos, and B. J. Patton 25
A Fire Out of Battery Tank Gun: Theory and Simulation
E. Kathe and R. Gast 37
Robust Control Design for the Elevation Axis Stabilization of the M256E1 Long Gun
V. R. Marcopoli, M. S. Ng, and C. R. Wells 49
A Chatter Box: Investigation of Dynamic Response across a Gap
G. P. O'Hara 67
Propagation of Longitudinal Waves in a Gun Barrel
/. Randrianangaly, J. Renard, B. Campion, and E. Petitpas 80
Main Battle Tank Flexible Gun Tube Disturbance Model - Three Segment Model
H.J. Sneck 92
Discussion of Fire Out of Battery Test Results
M. Tedesche, R. Durocher, and M. Gully 107
GUN DYNAMICS CONTRIBUTION TO ACCURACY AND PERFORMANCE
Smart Isolation Mount for Airborne Guns
D. Allaei, D. J. Tarnowski, M. S. Mattice, and R. Testa 121
The Dynamic Modelling of a Novel Design of 120mm APFSDS Training Round
D. N. Bulman andJ. G. Ferries 133
Adaptive Gun Barrel Vibration Absorber
A. G. Littlefield and E. L. Kathe 140
PROCEEDINGS OF THE 10™ U.S. ARMY GUN DYNAMICS SYMPOSIUM
A Shot Accuracy Model for Predicting the Firing Performance of a Direct Fire
Weapon System
D. W. Lodge and A. M. Dilkes 152
Comparison between the M256 120-mm Tank Cannon Jump Test Experiments and
ARL's Gun Dynamics Simulation Codes for Prototype KE
J. F. Newill, B. J. Guidos, and C. D. Livecchia 160
Launch Dynamics of the 120-mm M831A1 HEAT Training Projectile
J. F. Newill, J. M. Gamer, K. P. Soencksen, and C. P. R. Hoppel 176
The Influence of Projectile Mass upon Precision
E. M. Schmidt and H. L. Edge 193
Comparison of the 120-mm M831A1 Projectile's Experimental Launch Dynamic Data
with Hydrocode Gun-Projectile Dynamic Simulations
K. P. Soencksen, J. F. Newill, J. M. Garner, and P. Plostins 200
INTERIOR BALLISTICS: GAS DYNAMICS, WEAR AND EROSION, THERMAL
EFFECTS
Modeling of Barrel/Projectile Interaction in a Rotating Band
P. C. T. Chen and M. Leach 213
Gun Tube Surface Kinetics and Implications
P. J. Conroy, M. J. Nusca, C. Chabalowski, and W. Anderson 224
Internal Ballistics Analysis for the RAVEN Propulsion System
S. Dunn, J. French, D. Coats, E. Kathe, R. Dillon, S. Sopok, and M. Witherell 236
Recoil Reduction Using Propellant Gas
E. Kathe 247
Relative Erosivity of Nitramine Gun Propellants with Thermoplastic/Elastomer Binder
Systems
C. S. Leveritt, P. J. Conroy, and A. W. Johnson 258
Cannon Coating Erosion Modeling Achievements
S. Sopok, S. Dunn, P. O'Hara, D. Coats, G. Pflegl, and C Rickard 265
ELECTROMAGNETIC LAUNCH DYNAMICS AND INTEGRATED LAUNCH
PACKAGES
Inductiveless Rail Launchers for Long Projectiles
Y.A. Dreizin 279
On the Parasitic Mass of Launch Packages for Electromagnetic Guns
M. J. Hinton, N. R. Cooper, D. Haugh and M. A. Firth 291
PROCEEDINGS OF THE 10™ U.S. ARMY GUN DYNAMICS SYMPOSIUM
Use of the SIMBAD Gun Dynamics Code for Modelling the In-Bore Dynamics of
EM Launchers
D. W. Lodge and A. M. Dilkes 305
Results of a Study for a Long Range Coilgun Naval Bombardment System
S. Shope, J. Alexander, W. Gutierrez, R. Kaye, M. Kniskern, F. Long, D. Smith,
B. Turman, B. Marder, A. Hodapp Jr., and R. V/averik 320
Critical Velocity of Electromagnetic Gun In Response to Projectile Movement
J. T. Tzeng 332
HIGH PERFORMANCE MATERIALS FOR CONVENTIONAL AND
ELECTROMAGNETIC LAUNCHERS
Reinforced Metal Structural Jackets for Advanced Gun Barrels
J. M. Burnett, H. Gigerenzer, E. Pennell, and C. Dampier 341
Investigation of Tungsten, Copper, and Silver Alloys with Indium at the Rail-Armature
Interface on a Railgun Test Bench
D. Gillich and W. Maier 355
Concepts for Fieldable Electromagnetic Gun Barrels
M. J. Hinton, A. Howard, N. R. Cooper, D. K. Wallington and M. A. Firth 369
Large Caliber Gun Tube Materials Systems Design
J. S. Montgomery and R. L. Ellis 385
IN-BORE DIAGNOSTICS, TESTING AND INSTRUMENTATION
Off the Shelf Technology for Gun Barrel Straightness Measurement
J. Garner, T. Marrs, T. Erline, and M. Bundy 398
Performance Enhancement and Health Monitoring of a Medium Caliber Gun System Using
Optical Fiber Bragg Grating Sensors
C. LaVigna, J. Bowlus, H. Kwatny, S. Chen, H. Zhang, and S. Cytron 406
Investigating UHF Telemetry for Electromagnetic Launchers
S. Levinson, L. Burke, M. Erengil, and J. Faust 418
Use of an Instrumented 120mm Projectile for Obtaining In-bore Gun Dynamics Data
D. W. Lodge and A. M. Dilkes 433
Visual Characterization of Wear in Large Caliber Weapons
D. Salafia 444
Stereo at the Speed of Light: High-Speed Digital Stereo Imaging at up to 100 Million
Frames per Second
D. R. Snyder, E. R. Chenette, R. D. Hudson, R. P. Young Jr., D. W. Gardner, and P. E.
Nebolsine 454
PROCEEDINGS OF THE 10™ U.S. ARMY GUN DYNAMICS SYMPOSIUM
Complete Bore Centerline Extractor and Surface Mapper
R. Von Wahlde, T. Erline, M. Kregel, and M. Bundy 465
NOVEL LAUNCH TECHNIQUES
Optimizing a Slingatron-Based Space Launcher Using MATLAB®
M. Bundy, G. Cooper, andS. Wilkerson 474
Numerical Simulations of the Slingatron
G. R. Cooper, D. A. Tidman, M. Bundy, andS. Wilkerson 491
Slingatron: A High Velocity Rapid Fire Sling
D. A. Tidman • 509
Author Index. .527
Preface
This volume contains the papers presented at the 10th U.S. Army Gun Dynamics Symposium held in
Austin, Texas on April 23-26, 2001. The contents of this volume, as well as the invited talks, are also
published in an accompanying CD-ROM.
Initiated in 1976, the biennial Gun Dynamics Symposium has been providing a forum for discussion
of applied research and engineering solutions in collective disciplines of structural dynamics, interior
ballistics, exterior ballistics, advanced materials, and multidisciplinary design optimization for high-
performance cannon weaponry. In this 10th Symposium, the technical committee has expanded the scope
of the meeting and integrated electromagnetic gun discussions with conventional weapons systems and,
for the first time, implemented a peer review process. Each technical paper in this volume has undergone
peer review by experts in their respective fields of research. A special note of thanks goes to the members
of the technical committee for supporting and enabling these changes. The authors are commended for
keeping to the schedule imposed by the review process.
The 10th Gun Dynamics Symposium was attended by 114 scientists and engineers representing the
United States and the European countries. The Institute for Advanced Technology (IAT) hosted this
symposium under the sponsorship of the Benet Laboratories of TACOM-ARDEC. Mr. Eric Kathe
(TACOM-ARDEC Benet Laboratories) was the Symposium Chairman; and Dr. Mehmet E. Erengil (IAT)
and Dr. Peter Plostins (Army Research Laboratory, ARL) were the Technical Chairmen. The technical
agenda included 39 oral presentations and 13 poster presentations. A series of invited speakers discussed
a broad spectrum of relevant topics including research and development efforts and engineering
applications in both U.S. and European programs.
The keynote addresses were given by Dr. Hans Mark (DDR&E) and LTG Paul Kern (Military
Deputy, ASAALT). Invited talks featured presentations by distinguished speakers Dr. Marilyn Freeman
(DARPA), Mr. Richard Hassenbein (TACOM-ARDEC Benet Laboratories), Mr. Michael Hermanson
(UDLP), Professor Mike Hinten and Mr. David Wallington (DERA, UK), LTC Albert Tanner (ARL), and
Dr. Thomas H.G.G. Weise (Rheinmetall W&M GmbH, Germany). In addition, Mr. Robert Sackheim
(NASA-MSFC) moderated a special panel discussion on "Gun Launch to Orbit." The expert panel
included Mr. John Cole (NASA-MSFC), Dr. Miles Palmer (SAIC), Dr. Ian McNab (IAT), and
Dr. Edward Schmidt (ARL). The panel discussion was one of the highlights of the meeting.
The programmatic changes implemented in this symposium — namely the inclusion of
electromagnetic gun technology within the conventional weapons systems community and the peer review
process — have both proven to be extremely successful. The electromagnetic gun technology promises
an undeniably revolutionary improvement in weapons systems capabilities. Cross-fertilization of ideas
within the entire gun community could only help accelerate the implementation of this technology. I not
only look forward to future symposia organizers to embrace the programmatic changes implemented here
but also challenge the leadership to seize upon this opportunity and help accelerate the development of
electromagnetic gun weapons systems.
Last, but not least, I am fully indebted to Ms. Michelle Ramsey and Ms. Janet Monaco who worked
diligently to coordinate all aspects of the symposium and assemble these proceedings. The success of the
symposium is largely due to their dedicated commitment and attention to detail. Thank you both!
Mehmet E. Erengil
Technical Co-Chairman
Institute for Advanced Technology
10™ U.S. ARMY GUN DYNAMICS SYMPOSIUM
Austin, Texas
April 23-26, 2001
Symposium Chairman
Eric Kathe
Technical Chairmen
Mehmet Erengil Peter Plostins
Committee Members
Edward Alexander Joel Leifer
David Bauer William Oberle
Larry Burton Mohan Palathingal
Robert Dillon Chadee Persad
Roger Ellis Edward Schmidt
Ron Gast John Vasilakis
Frank Hoogterp James Wildman
Organizing Committee
Mehmet Erengil Janet Monaco
Eric Kathe Michelle Ramsey
Overview on the German R&D Programs on ETC Gun Technologies
for Main Battletank Weaponization
Thomas H.G.G. Weise
Rheinmetall W&M GmbH
Heinrich-Erhardt-Strasse 2, D-29345 Unterlüß
Federal Republic of Germany
Abstract
In order to improve the performance of large calibre guns for main battlefield tank
applications a wide range of R&D programs have been performed in Germany on electric and
electrically supported barrel guns since 1980. In the beginning pure electric gun technologies
were investigated including rail, coil and electrothermal acceleration methods. A large calibre
105mm electrothermal gun demonstrator supplied by a 30 MJ capacitive pulsed power supply
system was introduced in 1995. Muzzle velocities up to 2.4 km/s were optained with this set-up
resulting in muzzle energies up to 5.8 MJ. The missing perspective on solving the energy density
requirements of the pulsed power supply technology for a system realization led to the
termination of these programs in the beginning of 1996.
Due to its limited electrical energy requirements the technology of ETC guns has been
investigated during the last years with high priority. It is the goal to provide a future main battle
tank gun with increased firepower for integration into the next generation of combat fighting
vehicles. Current R&D programmes result in a demonstration of the interior ballistic performance
of the different ETC concepts. 120mm ETC demonstrators are used to perform this
demonstration.
The presentation gives a short briefing on the results of the former investigations on pure
electric guns and introduces the background for deciding to terminate these efforts. In the
following an overrview on the R&D Structure of the German programs on ETC and its related
technology fields is presented. Basic investigations led to the definition of different ETC concepts
for the realization of electrothermal plasma ignition methods and electrothermal combustion
control of ETC tailored propellants and charge designs. Based on the results of 105mm firings
and of interior ballistic simulations a 120mm ETC cartridge was designed and investigated
experimentally. First 120mm firing results will be given.
The presentation concludes in giving an outlook on the perspectives of the performance
of ETC technologies and its power supply technologies in order to provide the access to
increased firepower and survivability of existing and succeeding main battle tank systems
without leaving the currently introduced boundary conditions of the large calibre weapons.
1 Introduction
Improved protection technologies by active and reactive armor as well as by increased
hardeness of armor plating technologies define the requirements of the performance of future
tank guns. Improved missile technologies as well as multiple low cost cruise missile attacks will
be the challenges for future anti air defence guns. Military operations in urban terrains define
new requirements for medium calibre guns for future vehicles.
For the existing conventional guns a high level of lethality has to be provided which can
be obtained i.e. from improved temperature insensitive propellants. Future guns have to provide
a significantly higher lethality which can be oc-tained from advanced propulsion and gun
technologies. These requirements have been adressed by the R&D programmes on electric and
