Recoilless gun: Analysis of internal and external ballistics

Abstract

The "Recoilless gun, analysis of internal and external ballistics" project consists in dimensioning, building and operating a prototype of a medium-caliber, smooth-barreled gun which has the least recoil possible upon firing. Such recoil reduction is made using a convergent-divergent nozzle (De Laval nozzle) in the rear end of the gun, through which part of the gases generated in the deflagration of the powder will flow and be accelerated, proving thrust to counteract the recoil effect. Hence, it could be applied in military aircrafts and as a man-portable land-based weapon. In this project many subjects were studied such as fluid dynamics, thermodynamics, chemical kinetics and structural analysis.