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Study on hangfire failure mechanism in firearm firing-ignition systems
Shuxia Zhang1, Yirui Li2, Zhifang Wei3
1College of mechatronic engineering, North University of China, No. 3 Xueyuan Road, Taiyuan, 030051, Shanxi Province, PR China. zhang_shuxia@nuc.edu.cn.
Scientific Reports
|March 25, 2025
Summary
Investigating firearm hangfire failures, this study found that specific parameter adjustments like reduced percussion energy and increased interlocking gap significantly delay ignition. These findings are crucial for enhancing firearm safety and reliability.
Area of Science:
- Ballistics and Energetic Materials Science
- Mechanical Engineering
- Computational Modeling
Background:
- Hangfire events in firearm firing-ignition systems pose significant safety risks.
- Understanding the complex interplay of factors influencing primer ignition is critical for preventing misfires.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the hangfire failure mechanism in firearm firing-ignition systems.
- To establish hangfire failure thresholds using statistical analysis.
- To analyze the impact of key parameters on primer ignition dynamics.
Main Methods:
- Experimental analysis of gas pressure responses using a firing-ignition simulation test device.
- Statistical evaluation of pressure characteristic parameters using the "3σ" criterion.
- Development and validation of a finite element model for mechanical-thermal-chemical coupling during primer ignition.
Main Results:
- Systematic study of percussion energy, interlocking gap, charge surface height, and anvil height effects.
- Identification of critical failure boundaries through single-factor and coupled two-factor analyses.
- Demonstration that reduced percussion energy and charge surface height, with increased interlocking gap and anvil height, prolong pressure initiation.
Conclusions:
- Specific parameter combinations significantly influence energy conversion efficiency and hotspot formation.
- Adjustments in percussion energy, interlocking gap, charge surface height, and anvil height can be used to mitigate hangfire failures.
- The developed model accurately predicts ignition performance, aiding in the design of safer firing-ignition systems.
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