Hydrogen Based High Velocity Insensitive Launch Systems

Much progress has been made with high-pressure hydrogen combustion for high velocity launcher use, including groundbreaking research with non-intrusive laser ignition in the phase I effort. Research to date has mapped out the affects of propellant chemistry, ignition stimulus, and projectile release mechanism on overall performance. While the affects of these parameters on performance are understood separately, little research has been attempted to optimize them together as a system. It is the intent of the phase II to perform a multi-variant analysis computationally and then experimentally using UTRON"s 45mm bore Combustion Light Gas Gun to optimize the performance for a given mission of interest to the DARPA. Performance optimization criteria will be gun chamber peak pressure and rise time, combustion temperature effects such as barrel wear, and projectile setback loads. The goal is to achieve maximum performance with minimal projectile and weapon impacts.