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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    Title :

    The blast wave accelerator—feasibility study


    Contributors:

    Conference:

    Space Technology and Applications International Forum - 2001 ; 2001 ; Albuquerque, New Mexico


    Published in:

    AIP Conference Proceedings ; 552 , 1 ; 589-598


    Publication date :

    2001-02-02


    Size :

    10 pages





    Type of media :

    Conference paper


    Type of material :

    Electronic Resource


    Language :

    English



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