Whal, now I'z in a puzzlement!
On another Board, someone commented:
"
I hate to be a wet blanket, but I'd rather do that than see someone get hurt or dead-icated! You said you used cold-rolled steel! I haven't checked my metallurgical references, but I DO remember a bunch of amateur (and some claiming to be not-so-amateur) muzzle-loading "gunsmiths" back in the '60's and '70's who had ML rifle barrels made from cold-rolled steel SHATTER on them explosively! And these were NOT from overloads, airspaces, etc.
The problem lies with cold-rolled steel being "notch-sensitive" and suffering from "cold sharpness", which means to say they get brittle at higher temperatures than you'd suspect...even close to room temp! The REAL experts warned to ALWAYS USE HOT-ROLLED STEEL FOR RIFLE BARRELS!
Don't KNOW if this applies to cannon barrels as well, due to the relatively thicker walls, but I suspect it is also TRUE! At least check into it, Pard! Want to keep all our pards safe"
Whal, I took the question to the Mechanical Department (I werk for a major power utility) 'n' asked the Engineers ta discuss it 'n' give it some thunk. After a number of days of kickin it around, the P.Eng.s have declined to venture an opinion! :x Typical!
I'z beginnin ta think maybe I otta weld in the breech plug 'n' anneal the sleeve/plug - take it back to the condition of "mild steel". :?
Any o' you folks got experience with cold-drawn steel tube? Anybody got a engineer to commit to an answer?
:roll:
Calamity (who's usually in a state of puzzlement) Jane