Military Technical Academy

Armament Integrated Systems Department

TEST BENCH FOR HANDGUNS
LISBON 19
th
of May 2010
Adriana Cristea
Ana-Maria Florescu
Nicoleta Ionel


Summary


1. Introduction

2. Objectives

3. The handgun model

4. The test bench

A. For displacement measurement
B. For recoil force measurement

5. Assemblies

6. Exploded views

7. Conclusions

8. References










1. Introduction

This project presents the design of two experimental devices used
for the dynamic study for a 9 mm handgun when fires.

As known, firing process is a complex phenomenon which involves
cap percussion, powder burning, bullet movement down the gun barrel and
its propulsion on the trajectory.

According to NATO standards, there are a series of tests required
for ammunition and weapon , in order to carry out the qualifying
procedures.

The handgun simulation is useful when analyze the handgun
functioning in simulated situations which are dangerous to carry out in
practice but are not totally avoidable.

2. Objectives

The work presented in this project arises from the idea to build a
model that could simulate the handgun dynamic behavior in several cases
submitted to normal or abnormal loading conditions or with different ballistic
parameters of propulsion powder.

In order to fulfill this purpose, primarily is necessary to build a
model, which acts similar to the real handgun, and two test benches which
could imitate in the laboratory the real conditions.

The software used in this project to design:

the 9mm handgun model;
the test bench for displacement measurement;
the test bench for recoil force measurement; is SolidWorks2010.
3. The handgun model
The major parts and mechanisms of a 9mm handgun are the
following:

barrel
slide
weapon body
return spring
recoil system
cartridge feeding system
extraction mechanism
ejection mechanism
feed mechanism
trigger mechanism
firing mechanism.
Fig.1 Sectioned weapon
Fig.2 The handgun model
4. The test bench

The experimental measurement of displacement and force of the
rebound and features motion of recoiling mechanism as depending on time
is accomplished using a force transducer and a movement transducer, fixed
on the gun as per schemes presented in Fig.3 and Fig.4.


Fig.3 Experimental device for handgun tests
The gun is rigid fastened to the device through an arm jointed with
the device base. The guns barrel axis is orthogonal with the arm-support
joint axis, having the barrel in horizontal position.
The movement of the fastening arm is blocked by the force
transducer. Between device frame and mobile part of the gun is mounted a
displacement transducer.
The values measured with the displacement transducer represents
the position, as function of time, of the recoiling leading part of the gun (the
slide), x(t).
The recoiling force values obtained with force transducer are good
to be known because they affect the weapon prancing angle value, and
thus, the gun precision.

Fig.4 Experimental device- schematic
representation
A. For displacement measurement

In the following figure we have the assembly of the first test
bench.

Fig.5 Test bench with displacement transducer
B. For recoil force measurement

Fig.6 Test bench with force transducer
5. Assemblies

Fig.7 The handgun on the first test bench

Fig.8 The handgun on the second test bench

6. Exploded views

Fig.9 Exploded view of the 9mm handgun model

Fig.10 Exploded view of the test bench for displacement measurement
Fig.11 Exploded view of the test bench for recoil force measurement
6. Conclusions

We designed a 9mm handgun and two experimental devices, the
first is used for the movement measurement and the second one for
measuring the recoil force.

Firstly, we built all the parts, then we made the three assemblies,
so, we could obtain the exploded views for all of them.

During the project there appeared several difficulties, mostly while
realizing the assemblies. Some of the parts had to be fixed, others to
rotate. Another reason was that we didnt have the pieces, just photos of
them and this thing made the work more difficult.

7. References
[1] Carmaci M, Orban O, Tiganescu V, Rotariu T, Handgun Mechanisms
Analysis, MTA, Bucharest, 2007.
[2] NATO STANAG 4090, Small arms.