Bechtel Nevada, Mail Stop NLV 018, Post Office Box 98521, Las Vegas, NV 89193-8521

66 -- TWO STAGE LIGHT GAS GUN SOL 1-RB-98 DUE 031398 POC Ron Butturini, 702-295-2058 E-MAIL: butturrc@nv.doe.gov, butturrc@nv.doe.gov. A two-stage light gas gun (GAS Gun) is required for the purpose of performing shock compression studies on a variety of materials. The Gas Gun is used to fire hypervelocity projectiles into highly instrumented targets. Data from such studies are used to determine a material's equation of state (EOS) to validate theories, and to generate reliable computational models of a material's behavior under a wide range of thermodynamic variables. The Gas Gun consists of a powder chamber (breech), a smooth-bore pump tube, a high pressure coupling section (accelerated reservoir), and a smooth bore launch tube. A complete Gas Gun package would also include a mount to support the Gas Gun assembly; support systems for the Gas Gun operation; an automated honing system for cleaning the launch tube bore; and firing expendables such as compression pistons and rupture valves. On site installation is also required. It is anticipated that the Gas Gun will be required to accommodate two launch tube sizes (inside bore diameters of 28 mm and 50 mm), and therefore two accelerated reservoir sizes. The Gas Gun shall be capable of generating projectile velocities of at least 8 km/sec. The velocity is achieved by selecting the appropriate type and amount of gunpowder, driving gas (hydrogen), pressure required to open the rupture valve, diameter of barrel, and the metal and mass of the projectile. (0042)

Loren Data Corp. http://www.ld.com (SYN# 0347 19980213\66-0009.SOL)