Free Flight Range Tests of the Copperhead Projectile

Abstract

Free flight spark range tests of the Copperhead projectile were conducted in the BRL Transonic Range, to obtain free flight aerodynamic data for the full-scale, tactical configuration. The free flight data show good general agreement with previously obtained wind tunnel results. The tactical Copperhead projectile is statically stable at all Mach numbers tested. A weak slow-arm dynamic instability was observed at transonic and high subsonic speeds, for small angles of attack. The mild dynamic instability could result in limit- cycle, or 'coning' motion at transonic speeds; however, the data obtained in the present tests are too sparse to permit a quantitative determination of limit- cycle behavior.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 01, 1981
Accession Number
ADA100274

Entities

People

  • Robert L. Mccoy

Organizations

  • Ballistic Research Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aerodynamic Characteristics
  • Aerodynamic Drag
  • Coefficients
  • Flight
  • Free Flight
  • Instability
  • Mach Number
  • Materials
  • Measurement
  • Military Research
  • Molecular Dynamics
  • Munitions
  • Projectiles
  • Security
  • Test Facilities
  • Weapons
  • Wind Tunnels

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Aerodynamics/Aeronautics.