Aeroballistic Evaluation of Kinetic Energy (KE) Penetrators for Electromagnetic (EM) Gun Applications.
Abstract
Aeroballistic tests of candidate penetrator designs for the Cannon Caliber Electromagnetic Gun Program were performed at the U.S. Army Research Laboratory (ARL) Aerodynamics Range Facility. The penetrator configurations were designed by Kaman Sciences Corporation (KSC) under subcontract to United Defense LP. Three candidate penetrator configurations were tested to determine aerodynamic performance. The testing was completed in two phases. An all steel monoblock fluted flare stabilized penetrator with driving threads was evaluated in Phase I. Considering the Phase I result, a redesign was initiated and two final designs were proposed and evaluated in Phase II. The final two configurations consisted of a fluted flare design with an improved center of gravity location and a cruciform fin stabilized design. Both final configurations had the driving threads replaced with driving buttress grooves along the length of the body. Phase I testing indicated that the fluted flare design with the threaded body had nonlinear aerodynamic coefficients and a low static margin, appeared dynamically unstable at moderate angles of attack, and exhibited significant aerodynamic jump sensitivity. Phase II testing of the improved center of gravity fluted flare design showed improvements in static margin and drag, but the aerodynamics remained essentially nonlinear. The cruciform tail configuration had a significantly higher static margin, had linear aerodynamics, and was dynamically stable, but had slightly higher drag than the fluted flare design. The cruciform tail design was chosen to be the penetrator for the Cannon Caliber Electromagnetic Gun Program.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1996
- Accession Number
- ADA303266
Entities
People
- Alexander E. Zielinski
- Keith P. Soencksen
- Peter Plostins
- Tim Hayden
Organizations
- United States Army Research Laboratory