High Energy Lightning Simulator (HELS) Test Facility for Testing Explosive Items

摘要

Details of the High Energy Lightning Simulator (HELS) Test Facility for testing missiles, motors, ordnance, and explosive items is described. The HELS Test Facility is designed to simulate the high current, intermediate current, continuing current, and restrike current components of an idealized direct strike lightning waveform. The HELS Test Facility has been in operation since May, 1988, and consists of four separate capacitor banks used to produce the lightning test components, two steel safety cages and steel barriers for retaining the item under test should it be ignited during testing, an earth covered bunker housing the control/equipment room, a charge/discharge building containing the charging/discharging switching, a remotely located blockhouse from which the test personnel control hazardous testing, and interconnecting cables. Since its construction, a variety of explosive items have been successfully tested. Besides testing, the HELS Test Facility has also been utilized to manufacture an experimental additive for solid propellant material. The restrike current component generator is ideal for exploding metallic wire in a gas filled vessel to create the additive residue. In addition to the HELS Test Facility, two other lightning simulator facilities are available for testing at Redstone Technical Test Center. The Simulated Lightning Effects Test (SLET) Facility is available for testing inert items and explosive items limited to Class 1.4 explosives. The Transportable Lightning Effects Simulator (TLES) is available for testing at remote locations or at locations other than Redstone Arsenal.