APPLICATION OF FLEXIBLE WRAP AROUND AIR VANES TO GUIDED MUNITIONS

CRC PROPOSES A DESIGN STUDY TO APPLY TWO DEVELOPMENTAL WRAP-AROUND FIN (WAF) TECHNIQUES TO AIR FORCE GUIDED MUNITIONS. THESE FLEXIBLE WAF DESIGNS DIFFER FROM CONVENTIONAL WAF'S IN THAT THEY BECOME STRAIGHT WHEN DEPLOYED. AS A RESULT THEY AVOID THE UNDERSIRABLE (AND DIFFICULT TO PREDICT AND TO MEASURE) AERODYNAMIC PROPERTIES OF CURVED WAF'S. MOST DESIGNERS OF GUIDED MUNITIONS HAVE AVOIDED WAF'S BECAUSE OF THESE PROBLEMS. THE NEW TECHNIQUES PROVIDE THE PACKAGING BENEFITS OF WAF'S WHILE RETAINING THE SIMPLICITY AND PREDICTABILITY OF STRAIGHT FINS. IN THIS TUDY, CRC WILL IDENTIFY PRIMARY AIR FORCE GUIDED MUNITION CANDIDATES FOR APPLICATION OF FLEXIBLE WAF'S, INCORPORATE THE WAF INTO THE MUNITION DESIGN, EVALUATE ITS PERFORMANCE AND SUITABILITY, AND IDENTIFY THE RESULTING SPACE AND WEIGHT SAVINGS. PLANS WILL BE MADE FOR VERIFICATION TESTING IN PHASE II. ??????????