Preliminary Flexible Fin Deployment Simulation

摘要

A flexible-fin decelerator to orient and stabilize 'smart' submunitions has been developed and patented (ref 1). These submunitions are ejected from a rapidly spinning projectile and descend vertically over a battlefield, searching for armored targets. The flexible fin drives the submunition in a lunar motion at a predetermined steady state spin rate and fall velocity. A lunar motion is required for target scan and for the sensor to lead the warhead axis. Since the submunitions are ejected from a rapidly spinning projectile (up to 260 Hz), reliable deployment of the flexible fin could be a problem. The objective of the present work is to develop a numerical simulation to model the deployment of a flexible-fin decelerator from a rapidly spinning body. Such a simulation allows for the evaluation of various fin packing techniques and fin strength without resorting to the usual cut-and-try test procedures. (jes)