Re: Possible flamebait: rifled mortar


detonationfilms.com wrote:
Just musing. These two things came together in my mind, and I thought
I would post it just to see if it is of interest, or possibly just damn
stupid for reasons I am sure I will be generously forthcoming. <grin>

A semi-buddy of mine (semi, in that we've never actually met, but you
know how the Internet is) named Joel Suprise runs Spudtech, a site that
specializes in potato cannons.

And Joel has built a gizmo that allows him to rifle PVC tubing. Here's
an example of some of the rifled pipe he sells.

http://www.spudtech.com/detail.asp?id=35

Now, leaving aside the PVC aspect (I'm sure Joel's machine could rifle
other plastics as well) I was wondering if one was to build a mortar
from such tubing, and a salami shell to fit with the rifling (possibly
using a sabot) whether or not this would be an advantage for shells
which have a ring-pattern or other shapes that are best seen from a
certain angle.

Musing further, I was wondering about using such a mortar to launch a
"rocket shell" which would be fired upward and simultaneously ignited
by the mortar, spin-stabilized by the rifling, and thus be able to
carry heavier and more spectacular headers than normal rockets.

Does this seem like something that would be worth trying? The pipe's
not expensive, and it seemed like an interesting experiment.

Bob F.

To make use of the rifling, the projectile (shell) must have a press
fit in the barrel (mortar) which would lead to much higher chamber
pressures. So high a chamber pressure that HDPE or other plastics will
no longer be able to withstand this high chamber pressures.

Also the projectiles (shells) must have a much higher structural
integrity to cope with the higher pressures and stresses.

Loading this mortar tubes with shells will be different also, the
shells must either be patched if loaded from the muzzle or the mortar
must have a breech and a chamber of some kind.

Have fun!
Richard

.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Possible flamebait: rifled mortar
    ... I often wondered about the benefits/drawbacks to rifling mortars. ... those particular drawbacks (i.e. larger shells for a more snug fit, ... other plastics as well) I was wondering if one was to build a mortar ... "rocket shell" which would be fired upward and simultaneously ignited ...
    (rec.pyrotechnics)
  • Re: Problems with the radio carbon dating of the Newport Tower
    ... what percentage of the lime used in the mortar came from shells. ... Non-hydraulic mortars contain datable binder carbonate with ...
    (sci.archaeology)
  • Re: Problems with the radio carbon dating of the Newport Tower
    ... the problems of the reservoir effect, and the use of shell lime, because ... what percentage of the lime used in the mortar came from shells. ... Non-hydraulic mortars contain datable binder carbonate with ...
    (sci.archaeology)
  • Re: Problems with the radio carbon dating of the Newport Tower
    ... techniques they used to separate old -CO3 from new -CO3. ... Or that they can know for a fact the source of the shells used ... in the mortar, and to what extent the original mortar was mixed ... percentages of the carbonate and hence the radiocarbon dating. ...
    (sci.archaeology)
  • Re: Large diameter mortars
    ... I once blew the bottom out of a 10" HDPE mortar with a single-break ... 10" cylinder shell. ... all types of shells, but is hard work to transport, set up, and dig ...
    (rec.pyrotechnics)
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