A prediction method for the performance of a low-recoil gun with front nozzle

Abstract

Abstract One of the greatest challenges in the design of a gun is to balance muzzle velocity and recoil, especially for guns on aircrafts and deployable vehicles. To resolve the conflict between gun power and recoil force, a concept of rarefaction wave gun (RAVEN) was proposed to significantly reduce the weapon recoil and the heat in barrel, while minimally reducing the muzzle velocity. The main principle of RAVEN is that the rarefaction wave will not reach the projectile base until the muzzle by delaying the venting time of an expansion nozzle at the breech. Developed on the RAVEN principle, the purpose of this paper is to provide an engineering method for predicting the performance of a low-recoil gun with front nozzle. First, a two-dimensional two-phase flow model of interior ballistic during the RAVEN firing cycle was established. Numerical simulation results were compared with the published data to validate the reliability and accuracy. Next, the effects of the vent opening times and locations were investigated to determine the influence rules on the performance of the RAVEN with front nozzle. Then according to the results above, simple nonlinear fitting formulas were provided to explain how the muzzle velocity and the recoil force change with the vent opening time and location. Finally, a better vent venting opening time corresponding to the vent location was proposed. The findings should make an important contribution to the field of engineering applications of the RAVEN.