Aluminum Cartridge-Case Feasibility Study using the M16A1 Rifle with the 5.56mm Ball Ammunition as the Test Vehicle

Abstract

Identification of the "burn-through" problem associated with high-performance aluminum cartridge-cases was made as the result of studies to isolate the elements of this problem and relate these elements to the interior ballistic cycle of the M16A1 rifle system. One practical solution (the flexible internal element) to this problem was found and when this solution was coupled with improvements in mechanical performance of the aluminum case by new analytical design techniques, tougher high-strength aluminum alloy, and novel case processing techniques, the feasibility of the aluminum cartridge case was demonstrated by a suitable test firing.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Nov 01, 1972
Accession Number
AD0762139

Entities

People

  • Reed E. Donnard
  • Thomas J. Hennessy

Organizations

  • Frankford Arsenal

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aluminum Alloys
  • Ammunition
  • Ammunition Testing
  • Cartridge Cases
  • Chemical Reactions
  • Chemistry
  • Combustion
  • Energy
  • Engineering
  • Fabrication
  • Failure Mode And Effect Analysis
  • Heat Transfer
  • Materials
  • Materials Engineering
  • Mechanical Working
  • Physical Properties
  • Yield Strength

Readers

  • Adaptive Control and Estimation with Uncertainty in Dynamic Systems.
  • Materials Science (Mechanical Engineering).
  • ballistics.