Abstract: A projectile for being propelled toward a target includes a cylindrical body of Type 55 Nitinol that has a soft martensitic state that is readily deformed by rifling in the bore of a gun barrel to form grooves which ride on the rifling to spin the projectile. The Nitinol has a low coefficient of friction with the steel barrel and is sufficiently strong to prevent shedding particles or depositing projectile material in the bore. On impact with the target, the Nitinol undergoes a strain-induced shift to an ultra-high strength state in which the projectile is capable of remaining intact and concentrating its full energy on the small area of contact for maximal penetration and damage to the target instead of mushrooming widely and spreading its energy over a wide area as conventional projectiles do. Projectiles in the form of bullets, shotgun slugs, penetrating warheads, caseless ammunition and artillery shells are described.

Abstract: A method for creating an elongate passage of a desired cross-sectional shape and size within a component. A shape memory metal alloy is formed into an elongate element, such as a wire (16), having the cross-sectional shape and size desired of the elongate passage. The wire is embedded within a component (10) as the component is manufactured, e.g., by laying-up the component from a fiber/resin composite and curing it, or by casting the component in a mold (50) from a liquid that hardens around the memory metal alloy, embedding it in place. The liquid may comprise glass, ceramic, thermoplastic, or metal having a lower melting point than the memory metal alloy. The wire is then pulled from the component, by applying a force sufficient to convert the memory metal alloy from a soft martensitic state to a stress-induced martensitic state, thereby plastically and inelastically deforming it so that it lengthens. As the memory metal alloy wire lengthens, its cross-sectional area decreases.