DEVELOPMENT OF A SABOTING TECHNIQUE FOR LIGHT GAS HYPERVELOCITY PROJECTORS
Abstract
A sabot, utilizing internal gas expansion to separate its halves, was developed for use in the launching of hypervelocity projectiles. Most sabots are designed so that aerodynamic forces will strip the parts away from the projectile. Here, separation was achieved by burning a propellant inside the sabot while it traveled down the gun barrel. Upon launch, the high pressure gases imparted lateral velocity to the halves by expansion work. It was desired to achieve separation velocities of 1.5 x 10,000 cm/sec. At this velocity each half of the sabot would be displaced 10 cm from the trajectory at 6 meters from launch when fired at a velocity of 29,500 feet per second. A total of 33 experimental firings were carried out from CAL .60 powder and light gas guns. Both aluminum and fiberglas sabots were used. The lighter fiberglas sabot gave the desired separation velocity when fired at 8570 feet/second from the powder gun. However, it fractured when fired from the light gas gun. The aluminum sabot gave a lateral velocity of 0.8 x 10,000 cm/sec when fired at 14,000 feet/ second from the light gas gun. Two major problems were high projectile dispersion and sabot mass.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 01, 1963
- Accession Number
- AD0605836