Tactical Means to Stow Super-Caliber Tailfins of a Developmental Flight- Controlled Mortar.

摘要

The active control systems being used in new 'smart' munitions often require greater aerodynamic stability to properly operate. In the case of the Flight Controlled Mortar (FCM), this stability is provided by a set of super- caliber, spring-loaded, deployable fins that must be stowed prior to launch. For the testing and evaluation process, the FCM tail fins were secured using a single strand of thin Kevlar string. In an attempt to produce a more rugged tactical solution, research and development into alternative Fin Retention Devices (FRDs) was initiated at the start of the summer. After a thorough review of existing FRDs, I determined that a custom solution was needed to fulfill the needs of FCM. Using an iterative design process, concepts were modeled using SolidWorks, and physical prototypes were produced. Based on the analysis of these prototypes, further changes have been identified for ongoing revision. I believe that at the end of this project, a tactical FRD will be produced for testing and evaluation, and may one day be used for the FCM or similar systems employing folding fins.