Gun Barrel Wear & Erosion
Veritay Technology Inc has an extensive background in quantifying and mitigating gun tube erosion and wear. Large caliber gun tubes, in particular, represent a significant acquisition cost that makes extending the useful life of the tube greatly desirable.
Gun Tube Erosion Sensors
We have two types of sensors used to study gun tube wear. Our In-wall Thermocouples provide a non-intrusive means to measure the amount of heat transferred to the gun tube wall during the ballistic event. These thermocouples are the most commonly used sensor for studying gun barrel heating which can be related to barrel wear.
We also have gun barrel erosion studs available for directly measuring bore surface erosion. These studs require a through-hole to be drilled in the gun tube, so that the measurement surface is in contact with the propellant combustion gasses.
Erosion Test Fixtures (ETF)
We have two ballistic test fixtures designed for evaluating new gun barrel materials and gun bore coatings. Both test fixtures use a replaceable sample ring that can be used for testing new materials, gun bore coatings, or for evaluating the wear characteristics of new propellants.
Our .50 caliber test fixture provides a low-cost approach to testing new materials under actual ballistic conditions. It uses a small material samples and common ammunition components. Our 25mm test fixture generates higher heating and erosion rates, providing a more rigorous test.
Prior to testing, the material sample ring is precisely measured to determine its initial condition. Once the test series is completed, the ring is measured again to quantify the amount of erosion. The .50 caliber sample ring has a smooth bore, minimizing fabrication cost. The 25mm sample ring is typically rifled, providing a more realistic test environment.
The Erosion Test Fixtures
are best used to test the effectiveness of new
bore coating technologies under actual ballistic conditions, and to evaluate novel propellant formulations and
wear-reducing additives. Often results are compared to known
standard rounds to establish a relationship between test results and
expected performance in the gun system of interest.
Barrel Erosion Inhibitor
Veritay has developed effective gun barrel wear reducing additives in the form of a paste that can be added to the cartridge case. One of our formulations was originally developed for the M919 APFSDS round, our Erosion Inhibitors have been used in many U.S. Army and U.S. Navy ammunition applications, including ERGM.