Firearm’s Percussion Ignition System Performance: Influencing Factors and Sensitivity Analysis

Abstract

Normal firing of the percussion ignition system is essential to the reliable operation of firearms. Percussion energy, critical dimension, and assembly parameters all have a significant impact on a firearm’s percussion ignition performance. This study was intended to reveal how various factors influenced a firearm’s percussion ignition performance. The percussion ignition process of a small-caliber automatic rifle was simulated in this paper by conducting pressure measurement tests for the entire cartridge to obtain the gas pressure response. A finite element model was built to study the firearm’s percussion ignition performance. The simulation parameters were calibrated based on experimental results, and the accuracy of the simulation model was verified. Local sensitivity analysis was carried out for each influencing factor using the control variable method. Global sensitivity analysis was conducted based on the optimal Latin hypercube design that accounted for coupling effects between the influencing factors. The results show: Hammer’s falling height has the greatest influence on the firing ignition performance. The primer seating depth has the least effect on the firing ignition performance. This article can provide technical support for improving the design of the percussion and ignition system of the firearm and improving the reliability of the percussion and ignition.

Keywords: Firearm; Percussion ignition; Numerical simulation; Pareto chart; Sensitivity analysis

Graphical Abstract