Research on the influence of different rifling structures on gun barrel wear

• An experimental and simulation study on the wear of a new type of barrel rifling structure has been conducted, with comparison and analysis carried out against traditional rectangular rifling barrel structures. • Taking the rifling of a 30mm artillery barrel as the object of study, a finite element model of the interaction between the projectile and the barrel was established based on the structures of rectangular rifling and circularly cut rifling. • The contact pressure, slip velocity, and wear amount between the projectile's driving band and the barrel were analyzed during the projectile's motion, considering both rectangular rifling and circularly cut rifling barrels. • Differences in wear between rectangular rifling and circularly cut rifling barrels were investigated. • Compared to the rectangular rifling barrel, the circularly cut rifling significantly reduces the amount of wear. For small-caliber high-rate-of-fire artillery, the wear of the barrel is a key factor affecting its service life. Focusing on a new type of weapon barrel rifling structure, experimental and simulation research on the differences in rifling structure wear has been conducted. A 30mm artillery barrel was used as the subject, coupled barrel-projectile models based on rectangular rifling and circularly cut rifling structures were established, respectively. The variation patterns of contact pressure and relative sliding velocity in the two barrel types were analyzed, and differences in the distribution and variation patterns of wear were compared. The results indicate that in the barrel with rectangular rifling, the maximum contact pressure occurs at the end of the rifling origin on the driving side, reaching a peak of 1264 MPa. For the barrel with circularly cut rifling, the maximum contact pressure is located in the land region near the end of the rifling origin, peaking at 790 MPa. Overall, the contact pressure in the rectangular rifling barrel is higher than that in the circularly cut rifling barrel. In both barrel Structures, the most severe wear occurs on the driving edge. The maximum wear depth in the rectangular rifling barrel reaches 0.0331μm, compared to 0.0249 μm in the circularly cut rifling barrel. The wear in the circularly cut rifling barrel is generally lower than that in the rectangular rifling barrel, demonstrating its effectiveness in reducing friction and wear in the barrel.