Experimental Methods for Aircraft Design Qualifications in an Exploding Warhead Environment.

Abstract

Abstract : An experimental program was performed to investigate the effect of high-velocity fragments alone and coupled with a blast pressure to determine whether accurate simulation testing of aircraft fuel tanks in a near-miss exploding warheadenvironment must include the blast threat. A series of tests was conducted to synchronize the fragments and blast pressure loading. Experiments were then conducted using a simulated fuel tank which included replaceable front and rear walls. The fuel tank, empty and full of water, was tested with five steel rectangular prism fragments alone, and the combination of the same fragments with a blast pressure wave of similar magnitude and duration as would be generated by an exploding warhead. Four types of aluminum front panels were tested using two types of aluminum and two thicknesses of each. The rear panel used on the full tank tests was the same for all these tests. The report presents the complete experimental program, a description of the test facilities, the simulation techniques and the instrumentation used in the program. Structural damage of the test panels are depicted by photographs of each panel. The results indicate that the addition of blast pressure can definitely enhance the fragment damage to the panels, particularly with an empty fuel tank. (Author)