Experiences at Rheinmetall with ammunition vulnerability tests

摘要

In the development of ammunition for guns not only a high performance and a small amount of erosion but also a less sensitive behaviour against external stimuli (fire, jet impact, fragments) is required. For the purpose of testing the sensitivity against external stimuli, Rheinmetall applies for propellants the so called 35mm LSP test and for ammunition, for example, the fuel fire and shape charge jet impact test. In the framework of several studies charges with conventional L5460 (JA2) and modern Nena-type propellants have been investigated. This paper starts with a description of the mechanical properties of both propellants and a discussion on the reproducibility of the 35mm LSP test with L5460. Continuing with the fuel fire and shaped charge jet impact test we present the test set-up and discuss typical results.