Gun Systems - Advanced
Enrol
This course currently has no scheduled dates. To express interest in this course or to discuss bespoke options for yourself or your organisation, please submit an expression of interest or contact the Short Courses Team on +61 2 5114 5573 or shortcourses.cbr@unsw.edu.au
5 days
Hybrid
Canberra or online
$4,325.00
Accelerate your career, learn new skills, and expand your knowledge.
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Overview
This online course provides participants with an in-depth understanding of firepower technologies (i.e., gun systems) in the way they work and an overview of the equipment and systems that are used in, and with guns. The course will begin with an overview of firepower technologies and then introduce participants to the way guns work. The course then covers aspects of recoil, installation and ammunition concepts as well as gun manufacture.
This full course comprises of 10 modules each of which correspond to approximately 3 hours of directed learning activity. Module 10 comprises of an optional online course test. Each module can be purchased individually.
Course content
Module 1: Overview of guns
Introduction to concepts | How guns work | Types and calibres of guns (large and small) | An introduction to ammunition types used in guns | Introduction to small arms weapon systems, towed guns, self-propelled howitzers, tank guns (cannons) and naval guns.
MODULE 2: Platform integration
Gun location in a turret | Recoil constraints and balance | Autoloaders | An introduction to recoil | Muzzle brakes | Fume extractors | An introduction to potential gun problems | An introduction to breech concepts
Module 3: Manufacturing fundamentals
Basic concepts in materials science | The structure of materials | Elasticity and strength | Mechanical testing | Thermal expansion | Processing of steels | Effect of cooling rates on heated steels | When barrels break | Barrel stresses | Manufacturing processes | Autofrettage | Proofing approaches | Proof pressures | An introduction to instrumentation
Module 4: Ballistics 1: Internal and intermediate
Introductory concepts | Piobert’s law | Effect of specific surface area on burning rates of propellants | Types of propellants: single base, double base, triple base | Barrel life (corrosion, abrasion, erosion) | Propellant-air interactions
Module 5: Ballistics 2: Exterior and terminal
Forces on a projectile / fragment in flight | Coefficient of drag | Projectile stabilisation techniques | Coriolis effect | Magnus effect | Penetration mechanics | Introduction to stress wave theory
Module 6: Basic gun calculations
Calculation of barrel droop | Thick-wall pressure vessel theory | Pressure calculations | Projectile velocity calculations | The need for a recoil system | The role of the buffer and recuperator | Examples of recoil systems | Basic recoil calculations
Module 7: Alternative launch technologies
Cased telescopic ammunition | Segmented penetrators | Rail guns | Coil guns | Electro-thermal technologies | Light-gas guns | More on terminal ballistics with a focus on higher velocities
Module 8: Gun-fired projectile concepts
Types of ammunition | Penetrator materials | Fragmenting munition concepts | Mott’s fragmentation theory | Gurney theory | High-Explosive Squash-Head
Module 9: Fuzes and explosives
Types of fuze | Operation | Explosive types | The explosive train | Models showing the effect of explosions | Explosives in ammunition
Module 10: Assessment
An online test will be available for those wishing to gain post-graduate credit.
Learning outcomes
Skills/competencies/knowledge that would be gained through this course:
- LO1: Explain in detail the principles of gun design and operation with respect to the materials used in construction.
- LO2: Present calculations on recoil, gun droop, anticipated projectile velocities, fragment velocities and stress wave propagation and reflection.
- LO3: Articulate the physics of gun operation and firing.
- LO4: Describe alternative projectile launch possibilities.
- LO5: Describe the issues associated with gun manufacture.
- LO6: Explain the differences in penetration mechanisms for high-velocity projectiles compared to low-velocity projectiles.
Who should attend
This course is a technical course and is aimed at anyone requiring an advanced understanding of firepower technologies including (and not limited to):
- design engineers
- material scientists
- systems engineers
- serving officers
- end-users.
A technical background or qualification is highly recommended to get the most out of this course.
Facilitator
Professor Paul Hazell
Paul has over 25 years of experience studying the impact behaviour of materials. In 2012 he moved to Canberra, Australia from the UK to take up the post of Professor of Impact Dynamics at UNSW Canberra. He has published extensively, appeared in several documentaries, and presented his research work at numerous symposia. He has won several awards for both his research and teaching and recently won a university-wide student’s choice award at UNSW Sydney. His research group (Impact Dynamics) is frequently funded by Defence organisations due to their unique ability to test materials under a range of extreme loading conditions. He has published two books on protection technologies with the most recent called ‘ARMOUR: Materials, Theory, and Design’ 2nd Ed. (CRC Press, 2022). He is also the author of ‘The Story of the Gun: History, Science, and Impact on Society’ 1st Ed. (Spinger Praxis, 2021).
Cancellation policy
Courses will be held subject to sufficient registrations. UNSW Canberra reserves the right to cancel a course up to five working days prior to commencement of the course. If a course is cancelled, you will have the opportunity to transfer your registration or be issued a full refund. If registrant cancels within 10 days of course commencement, a 50% registration fee will apply. UNSW Canberra is a registered ACT provider under ESOS Act 2000-CRICOS provider Code 00098G.