Optimal Weapon Stability by a Steepest-Descent Method

摘要

The problem treated falls into the rapidly developing field of optimal design. The design requirements stipulate that a weapon system is to perform some task at some index of performance. The objective of this study is to apply a relatively new steepest-descent procedure to an artillery design problem which involves the dynamic behavior of a 105mm howitzer which is fired while resting on rubber tires, and determine the design parameters such that the pitch motion of the weapon is minimum at high angle fire. Thus, the weapon will not only perform its task, but will also have maximum performance (in this case, stability). (Author)