Performance and Modeling of a Two-Stage Light Gas Gun Driven by Gaseous Detonation

Abstract

A two-stage light gas gun driven by gaseous detonation was newly constructed, which can make up for the disadvantages of the insufficient driving capability of high-pressure gas and the constraints of gunpowder. The performance of the gas gun was investigated through experiments and a quasi-one-dimensional modeling of it was also developed and described in detail. The model accounts for the friction and heat transfer to the tube wall for gases by adding a source term. An improved model has been established to consider the inertial loads in the piston or projectile and model the friction force with the tube wall. Besides, the effects of pump tube pressure on the performance of the gas gun are also investigated numerically. Simulations of the pressure histories in the pump tube and the piston and projectile velocities were conducted. A good agreement was observed between the computational predictions and experimental results. The results showed that the friction between the piston and wall had only small influence on the piston velocity. The proposed numerical approach is suitable for the development of two-stage light gas guns and tests of the operating conditions.

Design of the Sabot-Stopping System for a Single-Stage Light-Gas Gun for High-Velocity Impacts

“…The investigation of gas dynamic aspects for a new single-stage LGG for the MCAST Hypervelocity Impacts Facility is the first step for the definition of the layout. One of the most important parameters is the projectile's velocity when it hits the target [43], with a focus on the effect of initial loading parameters on the projectile's velocity as it exits the launch tube [44]. The projectile's velocity is influenced by initial factors such as gas pressure and compressibility.…”

Special Issue on the Advances in Fluid Mechanics

“…Therefore, a transition from the validity of the orbital theories towards the radial theories is expected, depending on the experimental conditions of the plasma. Tang, W. et al, in their paper "Performance and Modeling of a Two-Stage Light Gas Gun Driven by Gaseous Detonation" [8], addressed a two-stage light gas gun driven by gaseous detonation. This type of model is required because different tests are frequently conducted in experimental facilities, and high-quality simulations are needed.…”