Copper Alloy Projectile with Tungsten Penetrator for Ballistic Stability
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional small-caliber projectiles made of copper-based alloys suffer from low ballistic stability due to their lower density compared to lead, requiring shorter twist lengths in gun barrels, which is not feasible with existing weapons, and often contain toxic materials.
Innovation Solution
A small-caliber projectile design featuring a copper-based alloy body with a completely enclosed hard metal penetrator, such as tungsten carbide, which compensates for the density difference and ensures stable trajectory and increased penetration performance by interlocking with the bullet body, eliminating the need for length extension and using a lead-free, barium-free primer cap.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a copper-based alloy is used for the projectile body, then the projectile is free from toxic materials, but the density is lower resulting in insufficient ballistic stability
Solution Approach 1:
The projectile combines a copper-based alloy body (non-toxic) with a hard metal penetrator core (high density). This composite structure allows the outer material to be environmentally friendly while the inner core provides the necessary density for ballistic stability and penetration performance.
Solution Approach 2:
Different parts of the projectile have different material properties: the copper-based alloy body provides non-toxic characteristics and structural integrity, while the hard metal penetrator core provides high density and penetration capability. Each region is optimized for its specific function.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the projectile length is increased to compensate for lower density, then ballistic stability improves, but the projectile no longer fits existing firearm chambers
Solution Approach 1:
By using a high-density hard metal penetrator core, the projectile achieves the necessary mass and ballistic stability without increasing overall length. The dense core concentrates mass in a compact volume, allowing the projectile to fit existing chambers while maintaining stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the density parameter by introducing a hard metal penetrator with significantly higher density than copper-based alloys. This allows achieving the required ballistic properties (mass, momentum) without changing the dimensional parameters (length) of the projectile.
3Strength
If a hard metal penetrator is added to increase penetration, then penetration performance improves, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hard metal penetrator is nested inside the copper-based alloy body, with the penetrator fitting into a cavity or recess in the body. This nested structure integrates two functional elements (protection and penetration) into a single unified projectile without requiring separate assembly mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The projectile is designed as a composite structure where the hard metal penetrator and copper-based alloy body are manufactured as integrated components. The materials are combined in a way that simplifies manufacturing while achieving both penetration and structural requirements.
Data Source
Figure 1~5
AI summary
A small-calibre projectile (10, 10') is proposed, taking the form of a solid (mass) or projectile body (1, 1') of a copper-based alloy with a metal core (2, 2'). Apart from copper as the basis, copper-based alloys include additions such as zinc and tin in variable alloy fractions. Incorporated in this solid copper-based alloy is a penetrator (2, 2') of metal. The penetrator (2, 2') is completely enclosed by this copper-based alloy. The surface of the small-calibre projectile (10, 10') may, if desired, be at least partially provided with a thin tin coating. This small-calibre projectile (10, 10') forms the basis of low-toxicity small-calibre ammunition.