Failure Mechanism of Gun Barrel Caused by Peeling of Cr Layer and Softening of Bore Matrix
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metals Article Failure Mechanism of Gun Barrel Caused by Peeling of Cr Layer and Softening of Bore Matrix Zi-meng Wang 1, Chun-dong Hu 1,*, Yang-xin Wang 1, Heng-chang Lu 1,*, Jun-song Li 2 and Han Dong 1 1 School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China; [email protected] (Z.-m.W.); fl[email protected] (Y.-x.W.); [email protected] (H.D.) 2 No. 208 Institute of China Ordnance Industry, Beijing 102202, China; [email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected] or [email protected] (C.-d.H.); [email protected] (H.-c.L.); Tel.: +86-131-6209-5128 (C.-d.H.) Abstract: Research on failure mechanism is essential for the prolonging of gun barrel lifetime. To explore the gun barrel failure mechanism, the damage characteristics of a machine gun barrel were characterized. The results show that the failure of the gun barrel is correlated with the peeling of the Cr layer on the bore surface and the softening of the bore matrix. The damage of the Cr layer varies along the axial direction. From the gun tail to the muzzle, the damage mode of the Cr layer changes from peeling to wearing. The damage rate in both the tail and the muzzle is higher than that in the middle of the barrel. The matrix close to the bore surface is softened due to the high temperatures caused by stress–relief–annealing and shooting. The gun tail suffers from higher temperatures, thus being softened more seriously than the other parts. The softened matrix results in an increase in the tendency of plastic deformation of the bore surface and an increment in the bore diameter, which leads to a decrease in the firing accuracy. Keywords: gun barrel; failure mechanism; crack propagation; bore matrix softening; 3D intelligent Citation: Wang, Z.-m.; Hu, C.-d.; hyperfield microscopy Wang, Y.-x.; Lu, H.-c.; Li, J.-s.; Dong, H. Failure Mechanism of Gun Barrel Caused by Peeling of Cr Layer and Softening of Bore Matrix. Metals 2021, 1. Introduction 11, 348. https://doi.org/10.3390/ It has been widely acknowledged that the failure of a gun barrel is correlated to met11020348 thermal, chemical, or mechanical actions. The enlargement of bore diameter could lead to a reduction in both muzzle velocity, range and a decrement in firing accuracy [1–5]. Academic Editor: Filippo Berto The research on the failure mechanism of the gun barrel has been receiving increasing Received: 20 January 2021 Accepted: 16 February 2021 interest. Cote et al. [6] proposed a model describing the mechanism of gas–solid erosion, Published: 19 February 2021 which indicates that the erosion is mainly caused by the reaction between gunpowder exhaust and matrix under high temperature and pressure conditions. Lawton et al. [7] Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral correlated the wear of bore surface with initial temperature, maximum surface temperature, with regard to jurisdictional claims in and gunpowder composition. Their study indicates the importance of heat and gunpowder published maps and institutional affil- composition on erosion. Sopok et al. [8–10] developed a thermo–chemical–mechanical ero- iations. sion model, defining different erosion areas, and annotating different erosion mechanisms. Underwood et al. [11–14] analyzed gun barrel damage through a thermodynamic model and a fracture model. Qiao et al. [15] investigated the bore damages in a failed large-caliber machine gun barrel and found that the bore surface in the tail region was largely damaged by erosion and that the damage in the four and five cones is dominant for the failure of the Copyright: © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. gun barrel. This article is an open access article The bore damage caused by erosion and/or wear during shooting is a vital factor distributed under the terms and influencing the barrel life. According to the forementioned mechanisms of erosion and conditions of the Creative Commons wear, the damage degree and mode of the Cr layer on the bore surface vary along the axial Attribution (CC BY) license (https:// direction. In our previous studies [16,17], the Cr layer on the groove lines in the tail region creativecommons.org/licenses/by/ was observed to be damaged prior to that on the land lines. The damage of the Cr layer 4.0/). Metals 2021, 11, 348. https://doi.org/10.3390/met11020348 https://www.mdpi.com/journal/metals Metals 2021, 11, x FOR PEER REVIEW 2 of 10 Metals 2021, 11, 348 2 of 10 layer aggravates the damage of the matrix and increases the tendency toward enlarging aggravates the damage of the matrix and increases the tendency toward enlarging the bore the bore diameter. diameter. In this paper, 3D intelligent hyperfield microscopy (3DIHM) was for the first time In this paper, 3D intelligent hyperfield microscopy (3DIHM) was for the first time introduced into the study of gun barrel damage. With 3DIHM, the damage characteristics introduced into the study of gun barrel damage. With 3DIHM, the damage characteristics of a machine gun barrel were characterized and the corresponding failure mechanisms of a machine gun barrel were characterized and the corresponding failure mechanisms discussed. discussed. 2.2. Materials Materials and and Methods Methods TheThe material material used used in in this this study study was was a a Cr–N Cr–Ni–Mo–Vi–Mo–V steel steel with with chemical chemical compositions compositions (in(in wt.%): wt.%): 0.31 0.31 ±± 0.0080.008 C, C, 0.25 0.25 ± 0.01± 0.01 Si, Si,0.24 0.24 ± 0.01± 0.01 Mn, Mn, 0.009 0.009 ± 0.001± 0.001 P, 0.004 P, 0.004 ± 0.001± 0.001 S, 1.92 S, ±1.92 0.01± Cr,0.01 1.42 Cr, ± 1.42 0.009± Mo,0.009 and Mo, 0.31 and ± 0.310.01 ±V.0.01 Each V. firing Each firingcycle was cycle carried was carried out at outthree at temperatures:three temperatures: room roomtemperature, temperature, high temp high temperatureerature (50 ± (502 °C)± 2and◦C) low and temperature low temperature (−49 ±(− 2 49°C).± The2 ◦C bore). The diameter bore diameter was measured was measured with a with ruler a gauge, ruler gauge, for which for which the measurement the measure- methodment method can be can found be found in the in literature the literature [15]. [When15]. When the projectile the projectile volume volume was was 0, 7, 0, 24, 7, 24,..., or ..., 100%or 100% of the of the full full life, life, they they were were marked marked as as 0% 0% life, life, 7% 7% life, life, 24% 24% life, life, ..., ..., or or 100% 100% life. The criteriacriteria for for the the test test of of gun gun barrel barrel life life were were as as follows: follows: (i) (i) the the reduction reduction rate rate of of initial initial muzzle muzzle velocityvelocity was was greater greater than than or or equal equal to to 15%; (i (ii)i) the number of elliptical bullet holes (the ratioratio of of major major axis axis to to minor minor axis axis is is greater greater th thanan 1.25) 1.25) which which exceeded exceeded 50% 50% of of the the projectile projectile number;number; (iii) (iii) the the average average dispersion dens densityity of three consecutive targets was R50R50 ≥ 3030 cm; cm; andand (iv) (iv) visible visible cracks cracks appeared. appeared. Provided Provided th thatat one one of of the the criteria criteria was was reached, the gun barrelbarrel was was declared declared to to be failed. TheThe barrel barrel used used in in this this study study was was a a large- large-calibercaliber machine machine gun gun barrel. barrel. To To explore the damagedamage characteristics characteristics of of the the gun gun barrel, barrel, se sevenven samples samples were were taken with the positions beingbeing 113–123 mm,mm, 133–233133–233 mm, mm, 243–253 243–253 mm, mm, 343–353 343–353 mm, mm, 543–553 543–553 mm, mm, and and 743–753 743–753 mm, mm,respectively respectively (the tail(the as tail the as starting the starting point). point). Thesamples The samples were namedwere named MG1, MG1, MG2, MG2, MG3, MG3,MG4, MG4, MG5, MG5, MG6, MG6, and MG7, and MG7, correspondingly correspondingly (see Figure (see Figure1). It should1). It should be noted be noted that only that onlyMG2 MG2 was awas longitudinal a longitudinal sample sample and theand rest the wererest were ring samples.ring samples. Figure 1. Sample positions in a large-caliber machine gun barrel. Figure 1. Sample positions in a large-caliber machine gun barrel. AllAll samples samples were were first first cleaned cleaned by by ultrasonic wave in an acetone solution, and then thethe ring ring samples samples were were ground ground and and polished polished after after being being inlaid inlaid in in epoxy epoxy resins. resins. The The cross- cross- sectionalsectional morphologies morphologies of of the the samples samples were were observed observed with with Smart Smart Zoom Zoom 5 5 3DIHM 3DIHM manu- manu- facturedfactured by by Carl Carl Zeiss Zeiss company company (Oberkoche (Oberkochen,n, Germany). Germany). A A Nova Nova NanoSEM NanoSEM 450 450 scanning scanning electronelectron microscope microscope (SEM) (SEM) pr producedoduced by by FEI FEI company company (Hillsboro, (Hillsboro, OR, OR, USA) USA) was was used used for for thethe characterization characterization of of the the microstructures microstructures of of the the samples. All All samples samples for for the the SEM SEM test werewere corroded corroded with 4% nitric acid alcohol alcohol solution.