Dynamic Response and Fracture of Composite Gun Tubes

Abstract

The fracture behavior due to dynamic response in a composite gun tube subjected to a moving pressure has been investigated. The resonance of stress waves result in very high amplitude and frequency strains in the tube at the instant and location of pressure front passage as the velocity of the projectile approaches a critical value. The cyclic stresses can accelerate crack propagation in the gun tube with an existing imperfection and significantly shorten the fatigue life of gun tubes. The fracture mechanism induced by dynamic amplification effects is particularly critical for composite overwrap barrels because of a multi-material construction, anisotropic material properties, and the potential of thermal degradation.

Structural mechanics for electromagnetic railguns

“…Very large strains have been observed in the conventional tank guns due to resonance occurring in the barrel. Dynamic response of the barrel becomes critical for increased projectile velocity and lightweight barrel designs [6][7][8]. A fieldable EM barrel requires being both lightweight and able to launch projectiles at hypervelocity.…”