Rigid-body Off-axis Ordnance Shock/Tail-slap Environment Replicator (ROOSTER)

ABSTRACT:Karagozian and Case, Inc. (K&C) proposes to develop a Rigid-Body Off-Axis Ordnance Shock And Tail-Slap Environment Replicator (ROOSTER) concept which can induce peak accelerations over 10,000 g for sustained periods of at least 5 ms to sub-scale non-inventory warheads in order to replicate the harsh and complex deceleration environment experienced by ordnance during penetration. The concept takes advantage of the known strengths of at least two different types of dynamic loaders to accelerate a pseudo-static test penetrator, and a proven approach to subsequently arrest it. The concept consists of three key elements, each targeting an essential component of the required acceleration response. The first is an impact-driven loader that acts to generate the desired peak accelerations over a very short time-frame. The second element, adds a second dynamic loader that acts on the test penetrator over a much longer duration. The loaders used for this element leverages strain-energy or fast-acting hydraulically-driven loaders, which are far more effective during this time-frame. The final essential component consists of an arrestment basin, which acts to catch and decelerate the test article, since the test apparatus will send it traveling at significant velocities.BENEFIT:The proposed test fixture closely mimic the penetration phenomenology providing realistic axial accelerations on the penetrator body and can also induce realistic lateral accelerations by a simple modification of the test setup. This test fixture will enable the Air Force to adequately test the next generation of fuzing technologies which are needed to meet increasingly challenging requirements, for enhanced penetration capabilities. Furthermore, the ability to model high-velocity impact scenarios will provide opportunities to test and enhance the protection of storage for hazardous/nuclear waste, especially during transit.