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An explosively driven launcher capable of \(10\,\mathrm{km\,s}^{-1}\) projectile velocities

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Abstract

Launching large (> 1 g) well-characterized projectiles to velocities beyond \({10}\,\mathrm{km\,s}^{-1}\) is of interest for a number of scientific fields, but is beyond the reach of current hypervelocity launcher technology. This paper reports the development of an explosively driven light-gas gun that has demonstrated the ability to launch 8-mm-diameter 0.36-g magnesium projectiles to \({10.4}\,\,\mathrm{km\,s}^{-1}\). The implosion-driven launcher (IDL) uses the linear implosion of a pressurized tube to shock-compress helium gas to a pressure of 5 GPa, which then expands to propel a projectile to hypervelocity. The launch cycle of the IDL is explored with the use of down-bore velocimetry experiments and a quasi-one-dimensional internal ballistics solver. A detailed overview of the design of the 8-mm launcher is presented, with an emphasis on the unique considerations which arise from the explosively driven propellant compression and the resulting extreme pressures and temperatures. The high average driving pressure results in a launcher that is compact, with a total length typically less than a meter. The possibility to scale the design to larger projectile sizes (25 mm diameter) is demonstrated. Finally, concepts for a modified launch cycle which may allow the IDL to reach significantly greater projectile velocities are explored conceptually and with preliminary experiments.

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Data Availability

Data included in this paper are available upon reasonable request.

Notes

  1. Considerable development of the launcher reported in this study was performed with amine-sensitized liquid nitromethane as the explosive. Nitromethane was replaced with Primasheet to permit simpler evacuation of the entire chamber containing the launcher and for launcher use on field sites that did not permit liquid explosives.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Vincent Tanguay, Daniel Szirti, Matthew Serge, and Patrick Bachelor for their help in conducting experiments and useful input during the early development of the launcher. This work was supported by the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) [Contracts Nos. 9F028-064201/A and 64/7012003]; Defense Research and Development Canada (DRDC) [Contract No. W7701-82047]; the Fonds de Recherche du Quebec Nature et Technologies (FRQNT) [Grant 2012-PR-148696]; and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) [Grant 2014-06258].

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  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, McGill University, Macdonald Engineering Building, 817 Sherbrooke Street West, Montreal, QC, H3A 0C3, Canada

    J. Huneault, M. T. Hildebrand & A. J. Higgins

  2. Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Royal Military College of Canada, Sawyer Building, 11 General Crerar Crescent, Kingston, ON, K7K 7B4, Canada

    J. Loiseau

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  1. J. Huneault
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Huneault, J., Loiseau, J., Hildebrand, M.T. et al. An explosively driven launcher capable of \(10\,\mathrm{km\,s}^{-1}\) projectile velocities. Shock Waves 32, 569–591 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00193-022-01095-1

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