Free-Falling SRMU Segment Impact Orientation Analysis
Abstract
A potential consequence of a Titan IV failure early in flight is the ground impact of a Solid Rocket Motor Upgrade (SRMU) segment. Under certain meteorological conditions, the explosion of propellant which results from impact may generate high overpressures (enough to shatter windows) many miles away from the blast source. Human casualties resulting from window breakage following a Titan IV launch failure have become a range safety concern for Vandenberg Air Force Base and surrounding communities over the last few years. ACTA, Inc., the range safety contractor for Vandenberg, has developed a methodology for computing casualty expectation level as a function of launch date and time of day. The ACTA computer code, called BLASTC, currently assumes that all SRMU segment impacts are side-on; which is a worst case, since this orientation gives the highest yield, all other factors being constant. The purposes of this work are: (1) to provide a probability distribution of segment impact orientation angles, and (2) to formulate a method by which a given impact angle can be associated with a yield value. These two pieces of information will allow the removal of a current source of unnecessary conservatism in the BLASTC model.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 1999
- Accession Number
- ADA366939
Entities
People
- D. M. Moody
- K. R. Bohman
Organizations
- The Aerospace Corporation