Dynamic Pressure Testing of a 155-mm Howitzer Ballistic Window Using a Closed Bomb Vessel

摘要

The U.S. Army Research Laboratory (ARL) was tasked by the Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center (ARDEC) to dynamically pressure test a chamber window design that is required to withstand dynamic loads up to 63.3 ksi. The window is a part of a proposed system to replace the chemical primer with a Diode Pumped Laser Ignition System (DPLIS) for use on the M777 LW155 towed howitzer. A modified closed bomb vessel, manufactured by Harwood Engineering and initially designed for propellant characterization, is used to simulate a launch environment and place the window under the requisite dynamic loading. The propellant used for testing was MACS M232A1. While the closed bomb is primarily used for obtaining propellant burning rates, this report is intended to illustrate the versatility of the closed bomb for use in nonconventional testing.