Statistical Analysis of Sabot Petal Impact Data for M392 Type Projectiles
Abstract
The impacts of the three sabot petals of M392 type projectiles on a witness board set up eight meters from the muzzle of a 105 mm M68 Tank Cannon were recorded for each round fired as an integral part of a well instrumented firing test. The purpose was to extract from the impact data the rotational velocity of the sabot petal ring at the time of projectile egress from the muzzle and to relate it to the spin of the subprojectile. The data represent samples from two distinct populations, M392A2 projectiles with and without a sabot base plug. The petal impact locations for each round are used to calculate their centroid and their relative locations with respect to it. These quantities are then statistically analyzed, revealing a strong dependence on the gun barrel motion. The angular distribution of the centroids for the two data samples exhibit the same pattern basically but are angularly displaced by about ten degrees. The distributions of the petal impacts relative to their centroid show distinct groupings at discrete values for both the angular orientation and the radial displacements. Such an energetic preference is possible if, and only if, the vibrating tube acts as a tuning device for the angular motion of the segmented ring formed by the three sabot petals.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 1982
- Accession Number
- ADA122758
Entities
People
- Rurik K. Loder
Organizations
- Ballistic Research Laboratory