Analysis of a Balanced Breech System for the M1A1 Main Gun System Using Finite Element Techniques

Abstract

Abstract A series of experiments were recently conducted in an attempt to reduce the dynamic motions of the M256 gun system during firing. Data collected during these experiments included the motion of the gun tube and breech mechanism for both the standard (unbalanced) configuration and a modified system in which mass was added such that the breech center of gravity (CG) was coincident with the gun tube centerline. The results indicated a noticeable change in the dynamic motions between these two configurations. Prior experiments indicated that the unbalanced breech drops several tenths of a millimeter during the firing cycle. Also, the gun tube whipping motion, which is induced by the powder pressure couple, vibrates the gun in a similar fashion regardless of ammunition type. Furthermore, the gun tube shape at shot exit always resembles a distorted sine wave. This behavior was noted for both heat and kinetic energy (KE) munitions in previous unbalanced breech tests conducted with the M256 gun. However, when the breech is balanced, the dynamics of the entire system change in both shape and magnitude of displacement. This report attempts to explain the results of the tests performed. This was accomplished using a three-dimensional (3-D), transient, finite element (FE) model of the entire system, which included breech, gun tube, trunnion mount, recoil, and projectile. Results from these calculations provide an explanation of the observed behavior of the system. Insight acquired about the nature of the system’s behavior was then used to propose several simple improvements to the M256 gun system which can be applied to gun systems in general. Implementation of these changes should decrease the shot-to-shot variability associated with gun accuracy.