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Dirk Bruere
science forum addict
Joined: 16 Feb 2006
Posts: 62
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 Posted: Mon Jun 19, 2006 10:53 pm Post subject:
Max bullet speed
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A future gun physics question.
Simply stated, what is the maximum practical speed of a bullet in air at
(roughly) sea level? Ignore the acceleration mechanism.
I assume that it is the point at which the bullet melts and deforms due
to air friction. If we assume (say) a tungsten projectile and a temp of
3000 degC approx then what would be the corresponding initial velocity?
Dirk |
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Uncle Al
science forum Guru
Joined: 24 Mar 2005
Posts: 1226
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| Posted: Thu Jun 22, 2006 6:42 am Post subject:
Re: Max bullet speed
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Dirk Bruere at NeoPax wrote:
| Quote: |
A future gun physics question.
Simply stated, what is the maximum practical speed of a bullet in air at
(roughly) sea level? Ignore the acceleration mechanism.
I assume that it is the point at which the bullet melts and deforms due
to air friction. If we assume (say) a tungsten projectile and a temp of
3000 degC approx then what would be the corresponding initial velocity?
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You may get compressive failure before you get melting. Tungsten
happily burns in air. Tantalum carbide has 500 C better temperature
performance and high strength without sacrificing much density.
"Blunt body" designs form a thick shockwave ahead of the body that
both deflects the heat and rapidly decelerates over distance. If you
are really zooming along, an ultrahypersonic body passes through its
own mass before flashing into plasma.
--
Uncle Al
http://www.mazepath.com/uncleal/
(Toxic URL! Unsafe for children and most mammals)
http://www.mazepath.com/uncleal/qz3.pdf |
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Dirk Bruere
science forum addict
Joined: 16 Feb 2006
Posts: 62
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| Posted: Fri Jun 23, 2006 3:22 am Post subject:
Re: Max bullet speed
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Uncle Al wrote:
| Quote: | Dirk Bruere at NeoPax wrote:
A future gun physics question.
Simply stated, what is the maximum practical speed of a bullet in air at
(roughly) sea level? Ignore the acceleration mechanism.
I assume that it is the point at which the bullet melts and deforms due
to air friction. If we assume (say) a tungsten projectile and a temp of
3000 degC approx then what would be the corresponding initial velocity?
You may get compressive failure before you get melting. Tungsten
happily burns in air. Tantalum carbide has 500 C better temperature
performance and high strength without sacrificing much density.
|
The material is really only peripherally relevant to the question. So
we'll assume Tantalum Carbide.
| Quote: | "Blunt body" designs form a thick shockwave ahead of the body that
both deflects the heat and rapidly decelerates over distance. If you
are really zooming along, an ultrahypersonic body passes through its
own mass before flashing into plasma.
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I'd forgotten about supercavitation...
Anyway, any ideas on speed?
FFF
Dirk |
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Ken S. Tucker
science forum Guru
Joined: 30 Apr 2005
Posts: 1230
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| Posted: Sat Jun 24, 2006 9:13 pm Post subject:
Re: Max bullet speed
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Dirk Bruere at NeoPax wrote:
| Quote: | Uncle Al wrote:
Dirk Bruere at NeoPax wrote:
A future gun physics question.
Simply stated, what is the maximum practical speed of a bullet in air at
(roughly) sea level? Ignore the acceleration mechanism.
I assume that it is the point at which the bullet melts and deforms due
to air friction. If we assume (say) a tungsten projectile and a temp of
3000 degC approx then what would be the corresponding initial velocity?
You may get compressive failure before you get melting. Tungsten
happily burns in air. Tantalum carbide has 500 C better temperature
performance and high strength without sacrificing much density.
The material is really only peripherally relevant to the question. So
we'll assume Tantalum Carbide.
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I think the physical limit is explained here...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cherenkov-Vavilov_effect
otherwise we'll need a precise definition of the
"bullet" you have in mind.
Regards
KST |
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