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http://dx.doi.org/10.5762/KAIS.2020.21.9.49

Study on Operating Limits of 5.56mm Rifle Overheat - Focusing on Human Engineering  

Lee, Ho-Jun (Defense Agency for Technology and Quality)
Choi, Si-Young (Defense Agency for Technology and Quality)
Shin, Tae-Sung (Defense Agency for Technology and Quality)
Publication Information
Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society / v.21, no.9, 2020 , pp. 49-56 More about this Journal
Abstract
High temperature heat generated during rifle firing not only degrades the performance of the weapon, but also limits the user's operation. In this study, temperature change of handguard according to firing was measured with reference to Human Engineering criteria and the operability according to material was examined. Accordingly, for the firing test, three types of Korean rifle and one overseas model were selected for each material of handguard, and firing test was conducted using a contact type temperature meter. The test result shows that using a plastic handguard with low thermal conductivity and aluminum handguard with high thermal conductivity enabled the rifles to be operated with bare hands even when firing at more than 100 rounds at low atmospheric temperature. However, when firing more than 60 rounds at over 20℃ atmospheric temperature, aluminum handguard use is limited. When firing quickly over 100 rounds, handguard use is restricted regardless of its fabrication material. To eliminate operational limitations by overheating, it is necessary to eliminate direct contact with skin using gloves, vertical grips, etc. This study examined the operability of rifles in terms of thermal risk, and the resulting study results are expected to be used as basic data for Human Engineering of other rifles and munitions.
Keywords
5.56mm Rifle; Human Engineering; Overheat; Handguard; Small Arm;
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