Shield design, analysis, and testing against a 3 km/s projectile
During the 3-year period of 1987 through 1989, the Advanced Shield Phenomenology program included a research and development effort, with both experimental and analytical work, to design a low weight, survivable shield against a low hypervelocity kinetic energy weapon threat. The specific projectile used was a 1.75 gram aluminum cylinder, with a length to diameter ratio of one. Impact velocities of 3 km/s and 7 km/s were studied. Testing was performed at the Arnold Engineering Development Center, Arnold Air Force Base, Tullahoma, Tennessee. Eight shield configurations were tested against the 3 km/s threat specified. One configuration was tested against the same type projectile at 7 km/s. The Hull hydrocode was used for detailed analysis of nineteen impact configurations. A successful shield was designed for the 3 km/s threat, having a two layer front plate, 15.24 cm of carbon felt disrupters, and a stainless steel back plate. The two layer front plate was composed of a nine-sublayer ceramic cloth plate with an aluminum backup plate. This shield configuration was 41.5% of the areal density (mass per unit area) of the solid aluminum shield required to stop the same (3 km/s) threat. An identical shield configuration was tested at an impact velocity of 7 km/s and was successful again. In comparison with the solid aluminum shield necessary to stop the higher velocity threat, the shield was 16.7% of the areal density. 14 refs., 39 figs., 4 tabs.
- Research Organization:
- Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOD
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC05-84OR21400
- OSTI ID:
- 5032993
- Report Number(s):
- ORNL/TM-11382; ON: DE90006070
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
PROJECTILES
KINETIC ENERGY
SPACE VEHICLE COMPONENTS
SHIELDING
ALUMINIUM
CARBON
CERAMICS
SPACE WEAPONS
STEELS
VELOCITY
ALLOYS
ELEMENTS
ENERGY
IRON ALLOYS
IRON BASE ALLOYS
METALS
NONMETALS
450500* - Military Technology
Weaponry
& National Defense- Strategic Defense Initiative- (1990-)