A Numerical Method for Calculating Interior Ballistics

Harold L. Brode, James E. Enstrom

Expert InsightsPublished 1970

A procedure for calculating the interior ballistics of gun firings by numerically integrating finite difference equations representing the partial differential equations appropriate to the dynamics of the propellant gas. A 5-in. 54-caliber naval gun is used as an example. Starting conditions for the integration procedure are determined by assuming that the shell begins to move as soon as it overcomes the resistance of the engraving band at a gas pressure of 400 bars. To obtain a best fit using the "isothermal solution" described by Corner, the burn rate must be twice the experimental value of .025 cm/ (sec bar). The new method leads directly to a reproduction of experimental results, and with only a small adjustment of the burn-rate parameter, gives the details of the gas dynamics along the gun barrel, and is readily modifiable to account for small corrections such as heat loss and friction. (See also RM-6127.)

Document Details

  • Copyright: RAND Corporation
  • Availability: Web Only
  • Year: 1970
  • Pages: 8
  • Document Number: P-4466

Citation

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Brode, Harold L. and James E. Enstrom, A Numerical Method for Calculating Interior Ballistics. Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation, 1970. https://www.rand.org/pubs/papers/P4466.html.
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