Improved Materials for Navy MK-45 Extended Gun Barrels

Triton Systems proposes to define the methodology and the infrastructure for the full scale fabrication of an improved high temperature, high amplitude pressure fluctuation stretched 5"/70 caliber gun barrel for the Navy Mk-45 gun system by selectively reinforcing a significant portion of the gun barrel near the muzzle with metal matrix composite (MMC) material to prolong the life of single barrels. We have assembled a team with complimentary talents consisting of Triton Systems, Concurrent Technologies Corporation (CTC), Babcock & Wilcox, Textron Specialty Materials, and Caterpillar to meet the Navy's defined needs. Our team offers expertise in integrating the design, modeling, advanced materials technology, and advanced materials manufacturing processes for the proposed gun barrel program. The design of this new system will be carried out by first applying solids modeling and finite element computer techniques to determine the design allowables for the upgrade from 54 caliber barrels to 70 caliber barrels. The solids modeling environment will allow the design team to accurately determine the performance requirements of the new system. Once the design allowables for the new gun barrel are identified then the team will use its materials expertise to select a materials system that will meet the performance requirements. One of the key criteria for a material system's acceptance will be its amenability to scale up into fall production. In a Phase I Option period, we propose to fabricate a sub-scale prototype gun barrel using the Babcock & Wilcox Spray Forming Process.