Explosive gun launcher for impact studies

We have modified the design of an explosive gun launcher described at the Third Symposium on Hypervelocity Impact for use with pre-cast explosive charges and to provide performance information for steel projectiles. Other modifications include additional confinement of the detonation products, a longer barrel and longer conical transition from breech to barrel, provision for dynamic sealing of the access hole for the detonator wires, and additional buffering to prevent spall fracture of the projectile in the barrel. The modified gun launched a 12.1 gram steel projectile to a measured velocity of 3.2 km/s. Computational simulations have been performed to determine the effects of changes in the projectile density, confinement material density, and explosive type. The use of recyclable confinement material is discussed.