This paper describes a new concept for propelling a projectile to hypervelocities and demonstrates the feasibility by numerical simulations. The concept employs imploding blast waves to accelerate a projectile which travels down a launch tube. The launch tube can be open to the atmosphere or sealed and maintained at some low pressure to minimize drag. The launch tube has a liner that contains a suitable explosive or energetic material. The explosive is configured with inert annular rings so as to prevent upstream detonation. A suitable trigger detonates each explosive ring sequentially as the projectile passes. The resulting blast wave causes an elevated pressure on the aft-end of the projectile. The acceleration continues until the projectile leaves the tube. In theory, launch velocities exceeding 6 km/s are possible.
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2 February 2001
Space Technology and Applications International Forum - 2001
11-14 Feb 2001
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Research Article|
February 02 2001
The blast wave accelerator—feasibility study
Dennis Wilson;
Dennis Wilson
Applied Sciences, Inc., 3627 Peregrine Falcon Dr., Austin, Texas 78746
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Zhiqiang Tan
Zhiqiang Tan
Applied Sciences, Inc., 3627 Peregrine Falcon Dr., Austin, Texas 78746
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AIP Conf. Proc. 552, 589–598 (2001)
Citation
Dennis Wilson, Zhiqiang Tan; The blast wave accelerator—feasibility study. AIP Conf. Proc. 2 February 2001; 552 (1): 589–598. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.1357981
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