Parameters for Optimizing a Traveling Charge Gun System

Abstract : The traveling charge(TC)concept is a solid propellant propulsion technique thought by ballisticians to offer the prospect of muzzle exit velocities in the 2-3 km/s range without the high breech pressures required of conventional gun propulsion systems. Previous work has demonstrated that the XNOVAKTC computer code is a reliable tool for simulating TC gun firings when compared to experimental results and it was felt that the code could be used to address realistic questions associated with the TC concept. An important question is how to tailor both the booster and traveling charge to obtain optimized ballistic performance. This study provides guidelines for optimizing gun systems and assessing the applicability of these guidelines to a 14-mm(gun) test fixture. The XNOVAKTC computer code is used to investigate parameters which significantly impact performance. The base study is performed on a hypothetical 14-mm gun with pressure and propellant constraints attainable in this system. A general set of guidelines is developed for optimal performance in the 14-mm gun. Study results, when applied to the 14-mm test fixture at BRL, indicate that the traveling charge effect is real and demonstrable, yielding increased velocities at lower chamber pressures. If the obstacle in timing TC ignition and burnout can be overcome, potential velocity improvements of up to 30% appear possible. (edc)