Combustible Metallic Igniter Casing for Tank Guns

Abstract : Calculations have shown that a combustible metallic igniter casing for tank cannon can be made to withstand the pressure loads created by combustion of the igniter charge, yet - when consumed by the flame of the main charge - not adversely elevate the maximum chamber pressure at any position. In particular, a finite-element model, I-DES, was used to evaluate the structural response of various combustible igniter casings when subjected to internal pressure loads imposed by the combustion of the igniter charge. A state-of-the-art interior ballistics code, XNOVAKTC, was used to evaluate the effect which combustion of the interior casing itself has on maximum chamber pressures and projectile launch velocity. Initial tests have been reasonably successful, both in demonstrating the feasibility of the concept and in yielding results not unlike those predicted from the models.