Dynamically tuned shroud for gun barrel vibration attenuation

Modem tank guns, such as the one on the Abrams, are stabilized to allow fire on the move while traversing uneven terrain. The current barrel is short enough that treating as a rigid beam allows engagement of another tank at ranges of over a kilometer. However, as the length of the tube is extended, to meet required muzzle exit velocities, the terrain induced vibrations lead to increased muzzle pointing errors. A method to reduce these vibrations is to use the forward thermal shroud as part of a mass tuned damper. In this case the system under study is an extended length version of the gun currently fielded. This extended length increases its susceptibility to terrain-induced vibrations. The forward thermal shroud has been shortened and additional mass has been added onto its forward collar. This collar is then supported by springs, which are preloaded so that they stay in contact through the full range of the shroud's movement. Varying the stiffness of these springs allows for tuning of the absorber. Different types of springs and attachments have been tried. The current version uses leaf springs and a wedge collar. This system has been modeled and experiments conducted to validate the model.