MILITARY TECHNICAL COLLEGE

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NEW CONCENTRIC HYDRO-SPRING

RECOIL MECHANISM

MOHAMMED ABOUL*

4- ABSTRACT
Developments of tank gun recoil system have led to the design of
new concentric hydro-spring recoil mechanisms for the purpose of
compactness and high;performance. This new recoil mechanism is
used in the modern high power tank guns. This work is intended
as well as the determination of
for the analysiS of the function.
the performance of this new system. A mathematical model is
established for the calculation of the recoil paramet6rs of this
new system. Another mathematical model is established for the
classical recoil system. Experimental measurements are performed
during actual firing to validate the mathematical model. A
comparison is held between the recoil parameters of two tank
guns, the first is equipped with the new hydro-spring recoil
mechanism, whereas the second uses the classical recoil system.

1. INTRODUCTION
The recoil system is nearly the most important mechanism which
controls the whole gun function and performance. It influences to
a great extent the design of the whole gun carriage and the gun
stability during firing. Besides, it plays a noteworthy role in
the recent endeavours to increase gun power and accuracy of fire.
Recently, the use of the concentric hydro-spring recoil system
(fig. 1) exhibits a noticeable improvement of modern tank guns.

Any recoil system consists mainly of recoil brake, recuperator

counter recoil brake. The braking of barrel recoil is
and
achieved by the hydraulic resistance of recoil brake which stops
the recoiling parts after an assigned recoil track. This
hydraulic resistance is evoked by the flow of liquid through
variable throttling orifices. The pneumatic or spring recuperator
accumulates a certain part of recoil energy in order to be used
for recuperating the recoiling parts of the gun to their forward
position after finishing the recoil. Also, the counter recoil has

* Assoct.Prof., Head of Weapons & Ammunition Dept., M.T.C.,Cairo.'

5-
F-- FOURTH ASAT
14-!6 May 1991 , CAIRO

I 1
to be braked due to the existance of a surplus accumulated energy
in the recuperator. Therefore, a counter recoil brake is also
necessary.

In classical guns, the recoil and counter recoil brakes are

incorporated in one cylinder, whereas the recuperator forms a
separate cylinder (fig. 2). These two cylinders are mounted
parallel to the barrel axis. The new concentric hydro-spring
recoil system is formed only of one cylinder - concentric with
the barrel -incorporating the three recoil mechanisms. In
addition, this cylinder acts also as the gun cradle. The system
consists of barrel sleeve, recoil brake piston, recuperator
spring, counter recoil brake valve and the outer cylinder. The
needed variable throttling orifice is achieved by the variable
inner diameter of outer cylinder (cradle).

2. FUNCTION DURING RECOIL

When firing, the recoil brake piston -connected with the breech
ring- moves backwards due to barrel recoil. Thus, the liquid in
space (I) is forced to flow into other spaces. The direction, and
distribution of flow depend on the recoil track (X R ):

When A> XR > 0

The distance (0 ) is the length of piston head plunger. The

liquid in space (I) is forced to flow mainly inside the piston
head cavity (space II) where it opens the inertia valve. Also, a
minor portion of liquid flows in the gap between the piston head
plunger and the front part of outer cylinder. Both flow portions
are gathered once more in space (III) and they contribute in
creating the hydraulic resistance in this extent of recoil.

When A.> XR > A

In this interval, the major part of liquid flows from space (I)
to front of piston head passing through the annular orifice
between piston head and the nearly conical inner surface of the
outer cylinder (cradle). This conical surface forms the variation
of throttling orifice with the recoil track. Thereby, the
required variable hydraulic resistance is created. A minor part
of liquid flows into space (II), where the originated relevant
hydraulic resistance is very small except towards the end of
recoil when the annular orifice of the main flow decreases
excessively.

3. FUNCTION DURING COUNTER RECOIL

During counter recoil, no liquid flow takes place through

orifices until the vacuum in recoil brake cylinder is eliminated.
This vacuum is originated due to the pulling of piston rod
cylinder out of recoil brake during recoil. The counter recoil
 FOURTH ASA:

14-16 May 1991 , CAIRO

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distance after which the vacuum is eliminated is:

= (App/Ap ). A

where: App cross-section area of piston rod.

Ap maximum cross-section area of piston head.
A maximum recoil track.

Therefore, during counter recoil, the function is divided into

three intervals:

When ' > XcR) CI

No liquid flow takes place. Thereby, '01:1 hydraulic resistance is
originated. The inertia valve is closed.

When ( A -A)> XcR> I

The liquid in front of piston head is forced to flow back through
the annular orifice between piston head and inner conical surface
of outer cylinder, producing the main hydraulic resistance of
counter recoil. Another flow takes place inside the piston head
cavity through the.eight holes of the inertia valve.

When t.> XcR>(A- 41 )

The liquid in space (III) is divided in two portions. The first
passes inside the piston head cavity through the eight holes of
inertia valve, while the the second passes through the annular
gap between piston head plunger and front part of outer cylinder.
Both portions of liquid flow contribute in creating the hydraulic
resistance which secures fluent braking and stopping of counter
recoiling parts.

4. CALCULATION OF HYDRAULIC RESISTANCE

The path of liquid is divided into several sections at every

change, either in dimensions of flow area or in direction of
liquid flow. The recoil system under investigation is divided
into seventeen sections.
to (13)
For the first recoil interval, the sections from (1)
represent the flow from space (I) to space (III) through the
piston head cavity (space II). Sections (4,14,15,13) represent
the flow through the annular gap between piston head plunger and
front part or recoil brake cylinder.
For the second recoil interval, the major flow is considered
passing through sections (1,2,3,4,16,17) ,while the minor flow is
(12) and then to
considered passing from section (4) to section
section (17).
 FOURTH ASAT

14-I6 May 1991 , CA RO

According to the forces acting on the recoiling parts, the recoil

motion can be divided into two periods. In the first period, both
the pressure force of powder gases and the total recoil
resistance are acting. In the second period, only the toAal
recoil resistance is acting since the pressure force of powder
gases vanishes after the end of the additional action of powder
gases. The block diagrams of calculation of these two periods are
shown in (figs. 3 and 4).

It is worthy to note that in the recoil brake there are some

differences from the complete water hammer phenomena, such as:

- The velocity of liquid flow in recoil brake is variable

according to the velocity of recoil.
- In the recoil brake there is no valve closes instantaneously,
but the liquid flows through the annular orifice at section(3).
- Reflection of pressure waves occurs due to the change of area
or flow direction.
- Damping effect due to energy losses during the braking process.

Therefore, the pressure wave is riot completely reflected as in

the water hammer phenomena. It is partially reflected and the
other part of pressure wave travels through the annular variable
orifice at section (3). Thus, it is rather difficult to go
through the analysis of wave propagation. Assuming that:

- The reflected part of pressure waves will be accumulated

due to the high wave velocity.
- A partial effect of water hammer pressure will be taken
into consideration due to the partial reflected waves.

Therefore, it can be said that during firing, the piston moves

backwards with the recoiling parts. So, the liquid is forced to
flow towards the cylinder bottom. At cylinder bottom, a negative
pressure wave will travel in the forward direction till the
piston head. There, a part of this wave will travel through the
.annular orifice of section (3) and the other part will be
reflected once more.

Consequently, it can be concluded that for this recoil br4e,

only a partially commulative effect of water hammer pressure
with negative sign is considered. Moreover, the existance of
recuperator spring works in destruction of the pressure waves.
The theoretical calculations show that this partial effect is
about [20 %] of the complete water hammer effect. So, the
calculated shock pressure drop is added to the pressure evoked
from other sources at each step of calculation. For the tank gun
employing the classical recoil system, the comparison of
theoretical and experimental results shows that the shock
pressure effect is about [30 %] of the complete water hammer
effect.
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For every section, the local and friction losses are calculated.
Also, the coefficients of contraction as well as the friction
losses are calculated according to the corresponding Reynold's
number. Moreover, the effect of shock pressure waves in space (I)
as well as the inertia pressure are considered.

Considering the gauge pressure in section (13) or section (17) to

be zero, the pressures in other sections can be calculated using
the corresponding energy equations. Knowing the pressures at
different sections and the areas exposed to them, the course of
hydraulic resistance of the recoil brake can be determined. This
is achieved by applying the regressive method for calculation of
recoil system parameters [1],[2].

5. THE MATHEMATICAL MODEL

For establishing the mathematical model, the following computer

programmes are performed:

1) Programme for solving the internal ballistics main task. The

solution is performed for the 105 (mm] APSFDS ammunition which
gives the maximum recoil impulse.

2) The main programme for calculation of recoil parameters. It

contains:
- Calculation of free recoil parameters.
- Application of the regressive method for the
calculation of braked recoil parameters.

3) Function sub-programme for calculating the hydraulic braking

function of the recoil brake, as well as the calculation of
pressures at different sections for the examined instant of
recoil.

4) Function sub-programme for calculating the variable internal

diameter of recoil brake cylinder in different places at the
examined instant of recoil.

5) Function sub-programme for the calculation of the contraction

coefficients of the throttling orifices according to the value
of Reynold's number.

6) Function sub-programme for the calculation of the effective

recuperator force at the examined instant of recoil.

For proceeding in calculation, some measurements are carried out

using suitable measuring devices according to the required
accuracy, such as measurement of barrel bore details, recuperator
dimensions and parameters, recoil brake dimensions and other
dimensions necessary for the calculations.
Orffi
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14-16 May 1991 , CAIRO

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6. THEORETICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS

Application of the established mathematical model is applied on

the concentric hydro-spring recoil system of the 105 mm tank gun
mounted on the tank M60A3. For tha matter of comparison, a
similar mathematical model is established for the determination
of recoil parameters of tha classical recoil system of 115 mm
tank gun mounted on the tank T-62 (fig. 2). For calculating its
recoil parameters, the recoil brake is divided into twenty nine
sections, according to the changes in channel dimensions or flow
direction. For this gun, HEAT ammunition gives the maximum recoil
impulse. Real firing at zero elevation angle is carried out to
validate the mathematical model. In the following, the results of
both systems are presented:

A) For the concentric hydro-spring recoil system:

- Table (1): Extrernurn values of recoil parameters when firing

at zero angle of elevation.
- Figure (5): Courses of recoil resistances vs time of recoil.
- Figure (6): Courses of recoil resistances vs recoil track.
- Figure (7): Liquid pressure in space (I) vs time of recoil.
- Figure (8): Liquid pressure in space (I) vs recoil track.
- Figure (9): Recoil velocity and track vs time of recoil.

b- For the classical recoil system:

- Figure (10): Courses of recoil resistances vs recoil track.
- Figure (11): Recoil velocity and track vs time of recoil.
- Figure (12): The experimental and theoretical values of liquid
pressure in space (I) vs time of recoil.

The values of the maximum length of recoil, the total time of

recoil and the maximum liquid pressure in space (I) are:

Theoretical Experimental
A pi max A tI' pi max
[mm] Ims) [MPa) [mm] [rns) [MPa]

422,93 84,23 28,72 423,00 83,10 28,70

The following table presents a comparison between the effective

parameters of the new concentric hydro-spring recoil system of
the 105 mm tank gun and those of the classical recoil system used
in the 115 mm tank gun:

Parameter 105 mm T.G. 115 mm T.G.

Max. liquid pressure max[MPa] 12,33 28,72

Max. hudraulic resistance K [kN] 393,4 302,0
Max. total resistance R [kN] 411,4 332,0'
Max. recoil track A [mm] 334,4 422,9
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FOURTH At,:CI
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7. CONCLUSIONS

1) The established mathematical model applied on tank guns gives

very close results to those determined experimentally, and
shows that it can also be applied on similar guns for the
purpose of reverse engineering or for any proposed improvement
or modifications.

2) The maximum pressure of liquid inside the concentric system

is very low (12,33 MPa) compared with (28,72 MPa) for the
classical one. The low pressure has many advantages in the
design of recoil system cylinders and their stuffing boxes
which has a beneficial effect on liquid sealing.

3) In spite of the low pressure level of liquid in the concentric

system, the produced hydraulic resistance is relatively high
(393,4 kN) due to the great working area of the recoil brake
piston.

4) The concentric recoil system produces a higher total recoil

resistance (411,4 kN) compared with (332 kN) for the classical
one. This results in a shorter recoil track (334 mm) compared
with (423 mm) for the classical system. Besides, the work done.
by the total recoil resistance is higher for the, concentric
hydro-spring recoil system due to its optimum disribution vs
the recoil track (see fig. 6).

5) The concentric hydro-spring recoil system is a very simple

mechanism from the view point of design, production, assembly,
maintenance and repair. This is due to the use of simple and
minimum number of components (compare fig. 1 and fig. 2).

6) The very compact construction of hydro-spring recoil system

mounted concentrically with the barrel is optimum in tank guns
where the saving of space is a major requirement.

REFERENCES

1- M. Aboul, I. Saleh, Safy M.,"The regressive Method of Solution

of Gun Recoil Cycle", Proceedings of Second A.M.E. Conference,
6 - 8 May 1986, Cairo', Egypt.
2- Abdel Megid, M. Aboul, I.Saleh,"Hydraulic Resistance of Recoil.
Brake", Proceedings of Second A.M.E. Conference, 6-8 May 1986,
Cairo, Egypt.
3- Kumer, K.L., "Engineering Fluid Mechanics", Ram NagarT-New
Delhy, 1976.
4- Lewitt, E.H., "Hydraulic and Fluid Dynamics - Text book",
London, 1958.
5- Muska t S., "Stability of Guns and Theory of Recoil Absorbing
Gear Design", M.T.C., Cairo, Egypt, 1968.
7- Olson, R.M., "Essentials of Engineering Fluid Mechanics", New
York, 1973.
8- Perry, R.H., "Chemical Engineering - Hand Book", McGraw Hill,
New York, 1973.
r7--nr--71 FOURTH ASAT

14-16 May 1991 , CA1Ro

Space (II) Inertia Valve Recuperator Outer Cylinder

Spring (Cradle)
Space (III)
Recoil Brake
Space (I) Piston

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At I ihu Recoil
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Recoil

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(Fig. 2) Classical Recoil System.

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7./L -3 345
14-16 May 1991 , CAIRO

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ecoil Brake Recuperator Internal ecolliBrake Recuperator
Construction Construction Ballistics Construction Construction
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I free Recoil I
'Recoil Resistance (R) parameters Recoil Resistance (1t)

1
I Equation of Motion Equation of Motion

[1,71

Results Results I

(Fig. 3 ) Ihe First Period of Braked Recoil. 1119.4 ) Dieecond Period of Braked Recoil.

105 mm 1ANI- GUN

Angle Of Elevation * 0.00 [deg]

Mass 04 Recoiling Parts *1454.00 fig]

Minimum Recuperator Force * 1.02 (Ton]

Maximum Recuperator Force = 1.57 (Ton]

Maximum Pressure. In Recoil Eirale = 12.77 (MP.]

Corresponding Recoil Track . 14.17 (cal
Corresponding Recoil Time = 18.55 Cmsec]

Maximum Hydraulic Resistance Of Recoil Brake . 79.74 [Ton]

Corresponding Recoil Track 14.80 [cm]
Corresponding Recoil Time 19.29 Imsecl

Maximum Recoil Resistance 41.14 [Ton]

Corresponding Recoil Track 14.80 lcml
Corresponding Recoil Time 19.29 Imsecl

Maximum Recoil Velocity * 9.57 ImesecI

Corresponding Recoil Track * 7.01 (cm)
Corresponding Recoil Time = 10.74 OrisecI

Time 04 First Period 04 Braked Recoil 44.58 Imsecl

Time 04 Second Period Of Braked Recoil * 59.45 Imsecl
Total Time Of Recoil * 104.07 Cinsecl

Maximum Recoil Track = 73.44 (cm)

Table (1) Extremum Values of Recoil Parameters.

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 FOURTH AS-

14-16 May 1991 , CAIRO

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105 es TANN GUN

- Total Recall %wistarias

- Hydraulic Reeiotanoe
_-__Rep. Faroe • Friction

R.H.Pr'eS-AINT

50

40

30

20

10

0 10 20 30 40 50 SO 70 80 SO 100 110 120 TrIeel

(F;3.5) RECOIL RESISTANCES ve RECOIL TIME

Elevation Angle-. 0

105 me TANN GUN

- Total Recoil Reeietanoe

Reeletanos
Recap. Force • Friction

R. N. Pr' •E- 4 DO

50

40

30

10

15 20 25 30 35 trios]
0 5 10

(ri9.6) RECOIL RESISTANCES va RECOIL TRACK

Elevation Angle.. 0
 FOURTH ASia
14-16 May 1991 , CAIRO

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105 we TANK GUN

PI INPo)

14

12

:1 1
50 00 00 90 100 110 120 Tr Gael
10 20 30 40 70

(Fig.?) RECOIL DRAKE PRESSURE vs RECOIL TINE

Elevation An9ltr4 0

105 No TAN*( GUN

PI Weil

14

17

In,

20 25 10 05 24rINIO

(Ei9.$) RECOIL DRAKE PRESSURE ve RECOIL TRACK

Elevation Angle.. 0

L
 FOURTH ASAT

14-16 May 1991 , CAIRO

r- 105 om TANK GUN

-1 1
Ol000il Velocity
— Recoil Track

Vr(a/el En Lee]

10 40

35

30

• 25

20

15

10

7'
5

0 10 20 30 40 50 130 70 SO DO 100 110 120 Trios]

(C9.5) RECOIL VELOCITY AND RECOIL TRACK

ve RECOIL TINE
Elevation Anglo.. 0
. .

R.P; VR )01[00
240 1 50
45

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0 10 15 20 25 30 MS sa 43 50 0 10 20 30 40 30 1110 70 110
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(Fig. 10) Recoil Resistances. (Fig. 11) Recoil Track & Velocity.
(Classical System) (Classical System)
Pi
(HP Experimental
30
---- Theoretical
20

ID

0 10 20 30 40 sr, 60 70 BD tets)
(Fig. 12) Theoretical & Experimental Recoil Brake Pressure.