05-10-2011, 11:48 PM
[quote=Tony Williams]A few weeks ago someone asked me to do this. So this was my first-draft shot at it:
OUTLINE SPECIFICATION FOR A LIGHTWEIGHT HIGH-PERFORMANCE SMALL-ARMS CARTRIDGE
OK -- here you go.
I eliminated the problem statement because it lacks references. I know it is a part of the research process to state the problem but in this situation, it would lead to more arguments, which are not the focus. The focus is to state specific requirements. Therefore, here is a listing of the requirements I get from Tony with my comments in italics (I hope).
1. To match the retained energy, vertex height and wind-drift performance of the 7.62mm M80 ball round at 1,000 metres.
This is a clearly stated requirement but I would ask what is so important about equaling the exterior ballistics of M-80? If one can only equal the performance, why a new cartridge?
2. To equal the barrier penetration performance of the 7.62mm M80 in terms of overall penetration of a range of media while maintaining its trajectory ("blind to barriers")
The barrier or barriers and media need to be specified along with ranges where the same must be penetrated along with residual effects or the entire project will lack focus.
3. To exhibit rapid and reliable yaw on impact with ballistic gel representing a body, ideally commencing within 50mm of penetration and completing bullet upset within 250mm.
This needs to be stated in terms of range and intermediate barriers.
4. Compared with the M80, to reduce the weight to 80% (assuming similar materials) and to reduce the recoil energy in a similar rifle to 60%
If this is to be a requirement then a standard rifle must be identified from which someone can determine what 60% means. It is not hard just state the rifle that will be used.
5. To deliver a substantial improvement at all ranges over the 5.56mm M855 in barrier penetration and trajectory maintenance through barriers.
Substantial must be clearly defined.
5. To deliver a substantial and reliable improvement in terminal effectiveness as measured in the size of the permanent channel created in ballistic gel tests within the 50-250 mm penetration zone, regardless of the bullet angle of yaw on impact.
Again the terms substantial and reliable must be clearly defined.
7. Compared with M855 ammunition, to limit the weight to 160% (assuming similar materials) and to limit the recoil energy in a similar rifle to 200%
What standard rifle will be used and why?
8. The standard ball bullets used to achieve the performance requirements must comply with European legal interpretations of the Hague and Geneva Conventions governing military ammunition, i.e. they must be designed not to expand or fragment and any jacket must fully enclose the tip.
9. The standard ball bullets should be made of lead-free materials and be suitable for economical mass production.
OK but now, you have to state the cost of the bullet. Must not cost more than X amount of money.
10. The cartridge designs should be optimized for use in conventional military magazine-fed and belt-fed automatic weapons, so that existing gun designs can be adapted to use them.
Again, the key word is adapted. This needs to specifically defined in terms of parts.
11. The cartridge case design should be suitable for manufacture in a range of materials, including brass, steel and part-polymer.
OUTLINE SPECIFICATION FOR A LIGHTWEIGHT HIGH-PERFORMANCE SMALL-ARMS CARTRIDGE
OK -- here you go.
I eliminated the problem statement because it lacks references. I know it is a part of the research process to state the problem but in this situation, it would lead to more arguments, which are not the focus. The focus is to state specific requirements. Therefore, here is a listing of the requirements I get from Tony with my comments in italics (I hope).
1. To match the retained energy, vertex height and wind-drift performance of the 7.62mm M80 ball round at 1,000 metres.
This is a clearly stated requirement but I would ask what is so important about equaling the exterior ballistics of M-80? If one can only equal the performance, why a new cartridge?
2. To equal the barrier penetration performance of the 7.62mm M80 in terms of overall penetration of a range of media while maintaining its trajectory ("blind to barriers")
The barrier or barriers and media need to be specified along with ranges where the same must be penetrated along with residual effects or the entire project will lack focus.
3. To exhibit rapid and reliable yaw on impact with ballistic gel representing a body, ideally commencing within 50mm of penetration and completing bullet upset within 250mm.
This needs to be stated in terms of range and intermediate barriers.
4. Compared with the M80, to reduce the weight to 80% (assuming similar materials) and to reduce the recoil energy in a similar rifle to 60%
If this is to be a requirement then a standard rifle must be identified from which someone can determine what 60% means. It is not hard just state the rifle that will be used.
5. To deliver a substantial improvement at all ranges over the 5.56mm M855 in barrier penetration and trajectory maintenance through barriers.
Substantial must be clearly defined.
5. To deliver a substantial and reliable improvement in terminal effectiveness as measured in the size of the permanent channel created in ballistic gel tests within the 50-250 mm penetration zone, regardless of the bullet angle of yaw on impact.
Again the terms substantial and reliable must be clearly defined.
7. Compared with M855 ammunition, to limit the weight to 160% (assuming similar materials) and to limit the recoil energy in a similar rifle to 200%
What standard rifle will be used and why?
8. The standard ball bullets used to achieve the performance requirements must comply with European legal interpretations of the Hague and Geneva Conventions governing military ammunition, i.e. they must be designed not to expand or fragment and any jacket must fully enclose the tip.
9. The standard ball bullets should be made of lead-free materials and be suitable for economical mass production.
OK but now, you have to state the cost of the bullet. Must not cost more than X amount of money.
10. The cartridge designs should be optimized for use in conventional military magazine-fed and belt-fed automatic weapons, so that existing gun designs can be adapted to use them.
Again, the key word is adapted. This needs to specifically defined in terms of parts.
11. The cartridge case design should be suitable for manufacture in a range of materials, including brass, steel and part-polymer.