Improving the Flight Performance of Projectiles

Abstract

The BRL has been conducting experiments on spin stabilized projectiles using a new boattail shape called the Non-Conical Boattail. This boattail improves the aeroballistic characteristics of the projectile so that longer ranges are attained and heavier payloads can be flown to the target with good accuracy. Many of these experiments have been carried out on 155mm diameter full bore projectiles, but the aerodynamic characteristics can be applied to this configuration in any diameter including subcalibered projectiles. The new boattail also provides a better configuration than a conical boattail for imparting spin as well as forward velocity to the projectile through a saboting system. In this report, the aerodynamic and aeroballistic characteristics of the new projectile as obtained from aeroballistic ranges, wind tunnels, and full range flights are summarized and compared to a similar conical boattail projectile. (Author)

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 01, 1979
Accession Number
ADA072163

Entities

People

  • Anders S. Platou

Organizations

  • Ballistic Research Laboratory

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aerodynamic Characteristics
  • Angular Motion
  • Diameters
  • Drag
  • Free Flight
  • Mach Number
  • Measurement
  • Muzzle Velocity
  • Projectile Trajectories
  • Projectiles
  • Reynolds Number
  • Rotating Bands
  • Test Facilities
  • Weapons
  • Wind Tunnel Models
  • Wind Tunnel Tests
  • Wind Tunnels

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • ballistics.