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U.S. Department of Energy
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Experimental evaluation of artillery projectile impact errors induced by principal axis misalignment

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:6555032

Analytic studies and experiments have shown that the pressure of a small (less than 1 deg) principal axis misalignment in an artillery projectile produces a proportionately large initial total transient angle of attack. It was further predicted by 6-DOF trajectory simulations that this initial transient would cause significant projectile range degradation and drift perturbation. A flight test program was conducted to investigate these transient and trajectory perturbation effects; the resulting data are presented. Confirmation of the analytical predictions of these induced trajectory disturbances was obtained. These data provide a concrete basis for illustrating the undesirable effects on ballistic similitude that can result from small differences in the principal axis misalignment between otherwise similar projectiles.

Research Organization:
Sandia Labs., Albuquerque, NM (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
EY-76-C-04-0789
OSTI ID:
6555032
Report Number(s):
SAND-78-0417
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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