A Muffler Design for Tank Cannon Acceptance Testing

To reduce the transmission of gun generated noise from Aberdeen Proving Ground to the surrounding community, we have designed a noise attenuator to be used with the tank cannon (120 mm and 105 mm) proofing work performed by Combat Systems Testing Activity (CSTA). The dimensions of the muffler were determined and loadings on the interior surfaces were estimated by utilizing the results from the 25-mm muffler experiments. The results from CSTA tests with a full-scale muffler also influenced the final configuration. Finite element stress analysis was used to determine the thickness and detailed geometry of the muffler. Costs can be reduced by using commercially available heads and pipe sections, which can be fabricated from HSLA-80 steel. The resulting muffler is light enough to be lifted into position and used when firing the cannon at 30 elevation. Supersedes Rept. no. BRL-IMR-951 dated Dec 90.