Content copyright 2021. GLOBALLISTIX.COM. All rights reserved.
Background/history:
I have been involved with the armament industry for 40+years since 1976, mainly focusing on weapon technology and ballistics of tube weapon systems.
I started my career in armaments in 1976 when I joined the South African Air force as an armament fitter. This mainly involved the installation and maintenance of weapon systems as well as energetic safety systems such as ejection seats. These concerned various aircrafts both fixed wing, and rotary.
In May 1980 I started my career in internal ballistics, at a subsidiary of the then SA Arms industrial government organization Armscor, later renamed Denel PTY (LTD). The division was called Somchem in Somerset West near Cape Town, South Africa.
This was and still is a manufacturer of energetic materials, propellants, charge-systems involving both tube weapons as well as missile systems. The German Rheinmetall group acquired this company in 2008 and it is now known as Rheinmetall-Denel munitions. I was fortunate to work in an advanced ballistic test facility which covered all the disciplines related to ballistics and weapon technology. I left the company in 1999 after nearly 20 years service.
From 1999 to beginning 2001 I was an independent consultant trading as “Qualitech” specializing in the disciplines mentioned below.
I was subsequently recruited by the Accurate Arms company in Tennessee, and from February 2001 to June 2005 I was employed as the ballistic lab manager.
By the end of 2004 the company sold its powder division to Western powders Inc of Miles City Montana, and from July 2005 to the end of February2012 I was employed as their senior Ballistician.
However, the foundation of my knowledge and skills was acquired during my time at Somchem(Denel) in South Africa . I managed the tube weapon section from 1985 to 1999. Initially this laboratory focused mainly on Q&A for production purposes from small calibers .22RF to medium caliber i.e 40mm. During the mid 80’s the facility rapidly evolved from a strictly QA lab, to also being fully equipped Research and Development laboratory.
The R&D involved all aspects related to tube weapon ballistics, weapon technology, for both the military as well as the commercial fields.
In these SPECIALIZED FIELDS my skills are centered in:-
• The measuring, quantification and analysis of the physics involved with all aspects and parameters related to tube (or similar) weapon systems.
• The design of test equipment (jigs) .
• The design of experiments.
• The analysis and interpretation of the measured data, to improve design/s and control quality of the products, in close conjunction with a manufacturing facility. The products ranged from energetic materials, ammunition, weapon systems, and amour protection systems/materials.
Fields of study/measurement:
• Internal ballistics: Powder development, primary charge as well as ignition, ammunition
development, power devices etc.
• Weapon kinetics and launch dynamics: Optimization and design of small arms to medium sized weapons
systems re operation as well as accuracy.
• Intermediate ballistics: Optimization of muzzle effects, visual and audio i.e. flash smoke and
sound suppression, muzzle attachment devices , i.e muzzle brakes etc.
• External ballistics: Measuring and quantification of projectile designs.
• Terminal ballistics. Project manager (T&E) for all armor testing, such as:Other projects:
• Ballistic data instrumentation/acquisition systems:
Project manager co designer for the development of a internal ballistic + velocity acquisition system; i.e.
i.e. PAVEME – incorporating instrumentation as well as data analysis software.
• Stab-resistance: (body armor)
Project manager for stab resistance project.
Also Co-designer of a fully automated stab (sharp intstrument) testing apparatus.
GENERIC APPLICATIONS:
Generically my services and skills can be applied in any industry requiring TQ&M Test Quality and Measurement
OTHER WORK: