Development of a single-stage light-gas gun facility in Malta: a cooperative conceptual evaluation.

The understanding of material properties subjected to impact situations is pivotal in different aerospace applications, to guarantee safe operations. To address this topic, specific tools are required to evaluate the impact damage on structures and systems. Light-Gas Gun (LGG) facilities can be applied to simulate different scenarios, varying the ballistic impacts conditions. Common types of light-gas guns are the single-stage LGG, two-stage LGG, and the shock tube. Single-stage LGG despite being relatively simple in concept, consisting of one pressure reservoir that accelerates a projectile through a barrel to the target, is a cutting-edge technology that presents unique mechanical challenges. This paper presents a research for the conceptual evaluation of a single-stage LGG facility in Malta, done in cooperation between The Malta College of Arts, Science & Technology and the Centre of Studies and Activities for Space "G.Colombo" of University of Padova. This research investigates the possibilities and limitations of developing a single-stage light-gas gun to test materials for impact resistance. For this, the achievable projectile velocities with different driving gases, pressure reservoirs, and barrel lengths will be analysed, together with a preliminary evaluation of the business opportunities in the growing aviation market and the emerging space sector in Malta.