SBIR-STTR Award

The objective of this proposal is to further explore and refine the use of hydrogen based propellants for use in high velocity gun systems. This proposal will build on the ongoing and very novel research being conducted with direct combustion of hydrogen-oxygen mixtures at high initial pressures. While the research performed to date has demonstrated the performance potential inherent in this approach, there remains need for additional work on non-invasive ignition, propellant storage and production, and combustion kinetics. In addition, the potential of side injector use for further performance enhancement and/or acceleration reduction will be explored.

Keywords:
High Velocity Guns, Combustion Light Gas Guns, Extreme Velocity Launche, Non-Electric High Velocity Launch

Much progress has been made with high-pressure hydrogen combustion for high velocity launcher use, including groundbreaking research with non-intrusive laser ignition in the phase I effort. Research to date has mapped out the affects of propellant chemistry, ignition stimulus, and projectile release mechanism on overall performance. While the affects of these parameters on performance are understood separately, little research has been attempted to optimize them together as a system. It is the intent of the phase II to perform a multi-variant analysis computationally and then experimentally using UTRON?s 45mm bore Combustion Light Gas Gun to optimize the performance for a given mission of interest to the DARPA. Performance optimization criteria will be gun chamber peak pressure and rise time, combustion temperature effects such as barrel wear, and projectile setback loads. The goal is to achieve maximum performance with minimal projectile and weapon impacts.

Keywords:
Hydrogen Guns Combustion Light Gas Gun Clgg High Performance Guns Optimization Of Projectile Launch Projectile Component Survivability Insensitive Launch Extreme Range