Ballistic Pressure Vessels

This is a Teesside Branch event organised and run by our Teesside   Branch for  members of the Branch. Other members and non-members are welcome to join us.

Overview:- The Metallurgy and engineering of firearms poses many challenges, compounded when the users are also trying to ignore the laws of physics. A modern handheld firearm for example, a pistol or rifle, may be considered as a series of different types of pressure vessel:

• The cartridge and chamber, quasi-closed vessels in which the propellant is burned to generate gas at high pressures and temperatures:
• The barrel, which must withstand those pressures and temperatures as the gases expand and propel the bullet through it:
• The silencer or moderator which seeks to dissipate those temperatures and pressures in order to keep the whole process quiet.

Each of the above places different requirements on the material from which the parts are made, and the selection of the material used can significantly influence the performance, cost and effectiveness of the firearm. Some of those choices may also seem counter-intuitive: Why, for example, is the cartridge case, which sees the highest temperature and pressures, usually made of soft brass whilst the barrel is made from hardened steel?

Speakers:- Steve Cater (Principal Project Leader, TWI)

Speaker Biographies:- Stephen Cater is a Principal Project Leader at TWI’s Yorkshire Technology Centre, responsible for research into the friction stir welding (FSW) of both thick section light metal alloys such as aluminium and magnesium, and high plasticisation point materials such as steel, titanium and nickelbased alloys. A metallurgist by training, and winner of the Richard Weck Award for his work on steel. Prior to joining TWI, Stephen served as a soldier with experience of both combat tours and technical attachments to DSTL (Defence, Science & Technology Laboratory)

Continuing Professional Development (CPD): Attending this event supports your professional development.  You can claim 2 CPD points per hour for this event.  As a member of the Welding Institute you can record your CPD activity online from your membership portal.CPD Certificates are not provided for Branch events.

Additional Information:

·         In person only

·         Registration for this event will close 24 hours before the start.

·         Registration details maybe shared with our Branch volunteers to help facilitate this event.