Ballistic Similitude Design Criterion for Artillery Projectiles

摘要

A Sandia National Laboratories analytically derived and experimentally verified Ballistic Similitude Design Criterion (BSDC) is described herein. This BSDC, for projectiles of identical external shape, was used to guide development of the M753 8-inch Artillery Fired Atomic Projectile (AFAP) as a ballistically similar counterpart to the M650 8-inch rocket assisted conventional high explosive (HE) projectile. As required for similitude, the mean impact point of the M753 falls within the precision error region about the M650 mean impact point when the M753 is fired with standard equipment and M650 firing data. The M753 is the first AFAP that has been developed and proven to be ballistically similar to a conventional HE projectile. Since gross internal differences between the M753 and M650 make complete duplication of M650 mass properties impossible, a BSDC was required to identify which properties were necessary to match in order to achieve similitude. The effects of internal vibrating bodies, rotating band characteristics, muzzle exit conditions, the basic mass properties, and the effects of mass asymmetries were all considered in the development of the BSDC. (ERA citation 07:054973)