BlasterSim

[btrettel]

BlasterSim is my pneumatic and spring gun simulator. I've been slowly developing this since last year and have decided it's finally ready for a wider release. Please note that the software is still under development and its documentation in particular is incomplete. However, the core functionality is present and I think most people here could figure out how to use the software.

Both Windows and Linux versions are provided. Further, it's open source and should be able to run on any computer with a modern Fortran compiler. I'm told that it compiles and runs fine on macOS too but I don't have an Apple system.

Consistent with the name, the software is intended for smaller caliber projectiles like Nerf darts, but in principle there's nothing preventing it from being used for larger calibers. At present BlasterSim doesn't have a transonic correction or pressure gradient model, which would help accuracy at higher velocities, but those are on the to-do list.

To give an example of how to use BlasterSim, you can create a text file like the following:

Code: Select all

&pneumatic
! barrel
d_barrel  = 13.0e-3 ! m
l_travel  = 40.0e-2 ! m
m_proj    = 1.0     ! g
vol_dead  = 1.0e-5  ! m3
p_fs_proj = 0.0     ! kPa
p_fd_proj = 0.0     ! kPa

! chamber
p_chamber   = 500.0   ! kPa
vol_chamber = 2.0e-5  ! m3
d_chamber   = 12.5e-3 ! m

! flow restriction
d_e       = 3.0e-3 ! m
b         = 0.528  ! unitless
t_opening = 10.0   ! ms
/

Let's say that you saved this to pneumatic.nml. Then on Windows, you open a command prompt in the folder with the file and the BlasterSim executable and run the following command:

Code: Select all

blastersim.exe pneumatic.nml

BlasterSim will output the predicted muzzle velocity and a spreadsheet pneumatic.csv that contains data you can plot.

I'd be happy to answer any questions and take any suggestions on BlasterSim.