The cartridge case and its surrounding chamber are subjected to a severe environment during gun
firing with both mechanical and thermal loads applied. The interactive response of the two
components to this environment is extremely complex and depends on a large number of variables.
(some of which are listed below).
- Initial case/chamber radial gap
- Case material properties (including variation with temperature and load rate)
- Case thermal characteristics (specific heat, density, conductivity, and/or diffusivity)
- Case and chamber thicknesses
- Chamber design stress level
- Chamber thermal/mechanical properties
- Initial temperature of case and chamber
- Thermal forcing function (especially, the change in temperature at peak radial strain and at extraction)
- Pressure forcing function
- Gun axial response (axial restraints, breech block, etc.)
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