Laser Effects and Vulnerability Program. Liquid Propellant Characterization

摘要

This report describes a program which LMSC conducted for the Army BMDATC to resolve a major issue relative to the laser vulnerability of threat liquid propellant ballistic missiles (i.e., the influence of the liquid propellant on the thermal and attendant structural response and failure of missile tanks). LMSC previously has conducted for BMDATC several programs addressing the laser vulnerability of threat liquid propellant missiles, most notably the Laser Vulnerability and Effects Program (LVEP, Ref. 1). LVEP resolved many of the issues of liquid propellant missile laser vulnerability. However, the experimental program only addressed targets without liquids (i.e., dry-backed walls). Analytic models have been developed to predict the propellant liquid heat transfer effects, but many uncertainties exist. Thus, this program was conducted to determine the heat transfer characteristics of the liquid propellants of interest. This program only addressed the propellant heat transfer aspects of the problem. Structural response problems were beyond the scope of the program.