Simulation and Experimental Studies on Optimum Barrel Length for High Impact Penetrator

The primary purpose of this project is about simulation and experimental studies for optimum barrel length of a high impact penetrator.This project uses the concept of two-stage light gas gun modified by using shaped charge at the first stage. Sacrificial barrel is the important part for this project. The combination of sacrificial barrel with piston serves to compress the air along the barrel at appropriate pressure. It produces sufficient amount of pressure to rupture the rupture disc and the pressure will force the projectile to travel through the barrel. There is some parameter to be investigated such as volume of air in pump barrel, strength of rupture disc and location of the piston in the sacrificial barrel. Some method is use such as calculation to determine the suitable length for the sacrificial barrel and the thickness of the rupture disc. The parameter will be use to perform simulation that will result in amount of the pressure and velocity of projectile that can be produced. The comparison result from simulation and experimental testing on the condition of sacrificial barrel and piston is obtained in this study. The significance of this project is more on the cost because this project only uses an atmospheric air as a mechanism to launch a projectile. More than that, high impact penetrator can reduce space because it is smaller compare to light gas gun.