Realistic warhead and blast shield testing of chemical energy tandem warhead systems for advanced antitank missiles
The results of dynamic sled track performance testing of advanced tandem configuration shaped-charge warheads against multiple-reactive-element tank armors are presented. Tandem configurations utilizing both currently fielded and experimental shaped-charge warheads were tested. Sled velocities used were between 400 and 1100 ft/s (Mach number 0.35 to 0.95), typical of the terminal approach velocity of TOW-type antitank missiles. High-speed motion pictures (5000 frames/s) of the sled in operation and a typical mock missile'' warhead package approaching the target are shown. Details of the sled design and fabrication and of the warhead package design and fabrication are presented. Sled track instrumentation is discussed. This instrumentation includes foil make/break switches and associated time interval meters (TIM) and digital delay units (DDU), magnetic Hall-effect transistors for measuring sled trajectory, and flash x-rays (FXR). Methods for timing the x-rays are presented. Schematic functional diagrams of the experimental setups are also given. Evidence of the ability to accurately time the delay between precursor and main warheads for even very long time delays are presented. FXR pictures illustrate the dynamics of the interaction of the jets with various target elements. The interaction dynamics of the jets is discussed in relation to the overall penetration performance of the tandem warhead. The use of x-ray fluorescence spectroscopy to help diagnose interaction dynamics is illustrated. The results of a test utilizing the missile propulsion rocket motor as a blast shield is presented in this paper. 2 refs., 22 figs.
- Research Organization:
- Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOD
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-36
- OSTI ID:
- 6959298
- Report Number(s):
- LA-UR-90-1433; CONF-9003149-1; ON: DE90010615
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 3. test technology symposium, Laurel, MD (USA), 19-21 Mar 1990
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
CHEMICAL EXPLOSIVES
X-RAY RADIOGRAPHY
MISSILES
TRAJECTORIES
TRACKLESS VEHICLES
PERFORMANCE TESTING
ARMOR
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
DESIGN
DYNAMICS
FAILURE MODE ANALYSIS
FLUORESCENCE
INTERACTIONS
JETS
MEASURING METHODS
MILITARY EQUIPMENT
MILITARY STRATEGY
PHOTOGRAPHY
PROPULSION
RECOMMENDATIONS
REFLECTIVITY
VELOCITY
EQUIPMENT
EXPLOSIVES
INDUSTRIAL RADIOGRAPHY
LUMINESCENCE
MECHANICS
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
SURFACE PROPERTIES
SYSTEM FAILURE ANALYSIS
SYSTEMS ANALYSIS
TESTING
VEHICLES
450000* - Military Technology
Weaponry
& National Defense