Demonstration of a hypervelocity mass-efficient integrated launch package

Author

Zielinski, Alexander E. ; Parker, Jerald V.

Author_Institution

Army Res. Lab., Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD, USA

Volume

37

Issue

1

fYear

2001

fDate

1/1/2001 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

347

Lastpage

352

Abstract

Tests were conducted whereby a kinetic energy penetrator was launched from an electromagnetic launcher. The penetrator was fabricated from a tungsten alloy. An armature, which supported the penetrator during acceleration and conducted the rail current, was fabricated from 7075-T6 aluminum. The transition of the armature contacts from a low voltage to a high voltage was identified as the mechanism that caused the aft section of the subprojectile to fail. Transition occurred fairly consistently at an average velocity of 2050 m/s. Removal of armature material at the rod-armature interface increased the survivability of the subprojectile and was demonstrated with a launch package mass of 308.5 gm, yielding a useful mass fraction of 49%. Structural integrity of the subprojectile at a launch velocity of 2350 m/s was verified with an orthogonal flash X-ray image at the muzzle

Keywords

aerospace testing; electromagnetic launchers; 2050 m/s; 2350 m/s; 308.5 g; 7075-T6 aluminum; Al; armature; armature contacts; electromagnetic launcher; hypervelocity mass-efficient integrated launch package demonstration; kinetic energy penetrator; muzzle; orthogonal flash X-ray image; rail current conduction; rod-armature interface; subprojectile; survivability; Acceleration; Aluminum; Armature; Electromagnetic launching; Kinetic energy; Low voltage; Packaging; Rails; Testing; Tungsten;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Magnetics, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9464

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/20.911852

Filename

911852