Effects of weak connecting structure on penetration performance of free-flight rocket

Abstract

The strength of connection between the rocket engine and the warhead has a certain relationship with the warhead’s ballistic characteristics and structural response. In this paper, the effects of weak connecting structure on the penetration performance of the free-flight (unguided) rockets is studied by numerical simulation and experiment. The oblique penetration of free-flight rockets with different connecting structures into armour plates is numerically simulated, the rockets’ deflection in the penetration process is analysed, and the effects of the weak connecting structure on the warhead’s structural integrity are evaluated according to the deformation of the warhead tail. The oblique penetration test of free-flight rocket is designed, and the simulation results under low impact velocities are verified. The research shows that the influence of the length of the weak connecting structure on the tail deformation of the warhead varies at different impact velocities. It is better to use direct connection between the engine and the warhead at high impact velocities, and the weak connecting structure performs better at low impact velocities.