Demonstration of the Integrity of Tungsten Lined Launch Tubes for Use on a Hybrid Launcher

摘要

This report summarizes developments to date concerning tungsten thermal protection for application to a hybrid hypervelocity launcher. Two complete tungsten coating processes are developed to provide good bonding of the coating and appropriate mechanical properties of the substrate. Three launch tubes were fabricated for exposure to severe internal ballistic environments. Internal ballistic exposures were provided to two of the tubes in three successive firings using 1/8 scale injection hardware developed under the hybrid launcher program. Modifications to the explosive driver designs are shown to provide very simple refurbishment of the launcher injection block between tests. Details are presented concerning driver and internal ballistic performance, instrumentation for the 1/4 scale demonstrator, and tungsten coating characteristics. A medium temperature tungsten coating process is demonstrated to provide high quality tungsten liners that are well bonded to a steel substrate having appropriate mechanical properties, and that survive severe internal ballistic environments. (Author)