Performance Assessment of Penetrator Weapons

An innovative and cost-effective technique, based on physical scale-model testing at 1-g, is presented to evaluate the performance of the next generation penetrator missiles designed to take out underground structures. The sub-scale target, an engineeredsystem, can be considered as underground facilities built using tunneling or cut-and-cover construction techniques in a geologic system with variable characteristics. The engineered system can be designed as a complex multi-level facility or simply asystem of tunnels excavated at the same depth elevation. The overburden thickness above the potential target can vary from few meters to several tens of meters. The objective of the mission is defined by the launched missile penetrating to a desired depth,detonating or impacting, and producing shock waves impinging on the engineered system (tunnel). The success of the mission is defined by the ability of the penetrator missile to generate ground shocks of large enough magnitude to cause structural damage.Similitude laws are used to determine the relevant characteristics of the scaled-model geologic and engineered systems and those defining size and type of weapons.The proposed study is directed towards the development of an experimental and analyticalmethods followed by a field test program for performance assessment and design optimization of conventional penetrator weapons used for sure kill. The impingement may occur either side ways or towards the center-line of the underground facility to causestructural damage such as internal spalling of concrete support lining material. Damage assessment is made using the US Air Force EarthRadar.A novel method and cost-effective approach for performance assessment of weapons. Damage assessment for hardenedunderground structures subjected to penetrator weapons attack. A unique technique for simulating stress wave propagation in anisotropic geologic materials under controlled conditions.