Rarefaction Wave Gun Propulsion

Abstract

RArefaction waVE guN (RAVEN) propulsion constitutes a novel means to dramatically reduce the recoil momentum and heat imparted to future cannons during firing. The method may be considered a hybrid propulsion technology with features common to both closed-breech cannons and recoilless rifles. Reduction of recoil and gun heating would greatly facilitate large caliber gun integration within light future combat system (FCS) vehicles. Analysis of a RAVEN launcher comparable to the current 120-mm M256 firing an M829 kinetic energy round would impose 75% less recoil momentum and reduce barrel heating at the muzzle by 50%.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 01, 2001
Accession Number
ADA389156

Entities

People

  • E. Kathe
  • M. Witherell
  • R. Dillon
  • S. Dunn
  • S. Sopok

Organizations

  • United States Army Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Composite Materials
  • Computational Fluid Dynamics
  • Energy
  • Engineering
  • Fire Control Systems
  • Fluid Dynamics
  • Guns
  • Heat Transfer
  • Hybrid Propulsion
  • Kinetic Energy
  • Launchers
  • Momentum
  • Muzzle Velocity
  • Pressure Distribution
  • Projectiles
  • Propellants
  • Recoilless Rifles

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Systems Analysis and Design
  • ballistics.