Title: Numerical Study of Effects of High Gun Pressures on the Tail of a Projectile
Organization: Army High Performance Computing Research Center
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Background
One of the goals in designing new guns and new rounds is maximizing the ability of the gun to destroy an enemy. For tank guns, this can involve maximizing the speed of the projectile or using “smart” projectiles. The quest for higher muzzle-exit velocity of the projectile can lead to faster rise of the pressure and higher peak pressures in the combustion chamber. These, in turn, can cause higher stresses and strains in the tail section, or afterbody, of the projectile as it moves down the muzzle. The projectile, whether it is a kinetic energy (KE) projectile or a more delicate smart round, needs to remain undamaged in order to function properly.
The phenomena occurring inside of a gun as it fires fall into the field of “interior ballistics” (IB).
IB codes simulate the combustion of the propellant and the motion of the projectile, and solid mechanics codes use the pressure data to compute the effects on the projectile afterbody.
Research Objective
The pressure on the projectile surface is computed using an IB code. The candidate will input that pressure data into the EPIC solid mechanics code, generate meshes for the projectile, and use EPIC to compute the mechanical response of the projectile (e.g. the stresses in the body).
The candidate will visualize the results and determine the extent of damage to the projectile.
Through this project, the candidate will learn of the complex phenomena occurring during a gun firing, see how computational analysis can be used in the study of IB problems, and use state-ofthe-art software and computers.
Prerequisites
The candidate should have an interest in interior ballistics and should have taken an undergraduate solid mechanics class. Some experience with the UNIX programming environment is useful.
Number of Academy Cadets/Midshipmen: 1-2
Requested duration: 3-4 weeks
Security Clearance required: none (NAC preferred)
Contact
Dr. Stephen Ray
Army HPC Research Center
(612) 337-3508 (voice) sray@networkcs.com