Pitch Angle Control of Ballistic Range Projectiles,
Abstract
The most common test programs conducted today in the Arnold Engineering Development Center (AEDC) Hypervelocity Ballistic Range are kinetic energy lethality and impact phenomenology tests. Until recently, these impact tests have required projectile impact at or near zero angle of attack. Currently, the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization's (BMDO) ballistic range test requirements include impact at specific angles of attack up to approximately 35 deg. The gas-jet pitch technique has been chosen as the best method to meet these requirements in a ballistic range. The gas-jet technique was first demonstrated at the Aerophysics Research Center of the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH/ARC) in 1994 and applied at AEDC in 1996. At AEDC the technique has been applied to projectiles launched from both 8-in. and 4-in. bore light gas guns and significant advances in pitch angle control have been realized. The major advances have come from extensive experimental and analytical efforts to understand and control the dynamic behavior of a thrusting projectile in a ballistic range environment. The analytical effort evaluated numerical and data correlation approaches to predict the dynamic thrust behavior, both in the gun and upon exit. Thus, the required internal pressure needed to obtain a given angle of attack at a specified flight distance can be determined with relatively high precision. The experimental efforts include test shots in the AEDC Hypervelocity Range G, where fly out pitch data were obtained. Special range operational procedures were also employed to reduce unwanted effects such as yaw and roll angle buildup. This paper describes those efforts and presents test results detailing the current pitch angle control capability.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1999
- Accession Number
- ADA370544
Entities
People
- Gilbert R. Jones
- Lanny P. Bell