The early chapters in this book discuss the thermodynamics of guns and how propellants burn. This is followed by a number of chapters which deal with various correction factors to the main internal ballistics equations, including shot-start pressure, barrel friction, heat loss and pressure gradients in the propellant gases. These chapters are in the manner of reviews of the art on the particular topic. Chapter 9 discusses various analytic approaches to solving the internal ballistics equations – mainly to show how gun performance scales with various parameters, particularly calibre. Chapter 10 is the signature chapter, where the previous chapters are brought together within a discourse on how to create a numerical internal ballistics system. Chapter 11 covers the internal ballistics of air guns.
