Patent ID: 8181561

Claim:
A method for propulsion, comprising: filling an interior cavity of a tube with a multiphase material, wherein the tube comprises sidewalls, a back wall and an opening, wherein the back wall is opposing the opening, and wherein the multiphase material comprises a multiphased composite structure comprising a multiplicity of elements together; disposing a projectile into the interior cavity of the tube such that the projectile is directly surrounded by the multi-phase material; sealing the opening of the tube with a membrane while the multi-phase material and projectile are disposed in the interior cavity of the tube; pressurizing the sealed tube with a gas while the tube is sealed and prior to launching the projectile; and prior to launching the projectile, breaking the membrane thereby equalizing the pressure from the interior cavity with pressure on the exterior of the tube and also thereby resulting in a first shock wave and a second shock wave, the first shock wave emanating away from the projectile and a second shock wave traveling down the tube and reflecting from the back wall of the tube to facilitate pushing propelling the projectile out of the tube.