Machine Gun Stand Prototype Development: Vibration Reduction and Firing Accuracy Improvement by Modeling and Optimization Integrated Machine Gun Tripod System

Master's Research Project: Vibration problems of a General-Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG) mounting system have been a research subject for many years. Barrel vibration can affect the accuracy of firing GPMG because of the up-and-down movement during projectile launch [1-3]. A GPMG body is installed on top of a tripod mount. Therefore, vibration energy is transmitted from the GPMG body to the tripod. Slight bending deformation of the tripod during firing aggravates the barrel vibration. In the last 20 years, two major vibration reduction approaches have been developed. The first approach is passive and uses structural optimization to reduce vibrations [4, 5], whereas the second technique utilizes active control methods [5, 6]. This research focuses on the passive approach vibration reduction by modal analysis and topology optimization to appropriate constraints. The GPMG design and prototype development need to give solutions to these issues, starting from material selection, stress analysis, modeling, simulation, and fabrication.