SCREENING MAIN FACTORS AFFECTING THE STABILITY OF 7.62MM PKMS GUNS USING PLACKETT-BURMAN DESIGN

Abstract

This article examines the utilization of the Plackett-Burman method to
analyze the primary factors influencing the stability of the PKMS 7.62mm machine
gun during firing. These factors include gun-mount mass, front leg length,
position of contact between the buttstock and shoulder, shooter's biomechanics,
stiffness of the ground platform, and uneven stiffness of the ground platform at
the rear legs. The stability of the 7.62mm PKMS gun while firing is determined by
three objective functions: vertical bounce of the gun body, horizontal bounce of
the gun body, and displacement of the buttstock's location on the shoulder. The
findings of this study indicate that the vertical bounce and shoulder point
displacement are mostly affected by three factors: front leg length, shooter's
biomechanics, and the unequal stiffness of the firing platform, as determined by
the survey input parameters. Concurrently, the upward movement of the gun
body is primarily affected by four factors: the length of the front leg, the gunner,
the unequal stiffness of the ground platform, and the stiffness of the ground
platform. The findings of this study will provide a foundation for optimization
research in the field of firearm design and enhancement.