Conventional Projectiles Research Articles

The wounding potential of assault rifles: analysis of the dimensions of entrance and exit wounds and comparison with conventional handguns. A multicentric study.

The appearance of agunshot wound (GSW) is greatly influenced by the velocity of the projectile, where high-velocity projectiles (HVPs) are defined as ballistic agents reaching a muzzle velocity of > 600 m/s fired from assault rifles. The aim of the study is to present and explain the differences in the dimensions of entrance and exit wounds between the most used handguns and assault rifles and to propose a predictor of HVP, i.e., the ratio of exit and entrance wounds (EX/ENR). The surface area of entrance and exit GSWs and the EX/ENR were calculated. 66perforating GSWs produced by NATO FMJ 7.62 × 52 mm and 5.56 × 42 mm fired from assault rifles were assigned to the HVP, while 64 lesions produced by conventional projectiles fired from revolvers and semi-automatic pistols were assigned to the low-velocity projectile (LVP) group. The dimensions of the exit wounds of the HVP group were significantly higher when compared to the LVP group (95% CI 0.9886-2.423, p < 0.05). The HVP group showed significantly higher values for the EX/ENR when compared to the LVP group (95% CI 2.617-7.173, p < 0.05). The evaluation of the EX/ENR can be considered an adequate tool to assess the type of weapon involved and to roughly estimate the associated wounding mechanisms, which can guide both the physician in the management and treatment of the patients affected by GSW, and the forensic pathologist in crime investigation.

Axial force coefficient of APFSDS projectile

&#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; Armor-piercing ammunition is primarily used to combat against heavy armored targets (tanks), but targets can be light armored vehicles, aircraft, warehouse, structures, etc. It has been shown that the most effective type of anti-tank ammunition in the world is the APFSDS ammunition (Armor Piercing Fin Stabilized Discarding Sabot). The APFSDS projectile flies to the target and with his kinetic energy acts on the target, that is, penetrates through armor and disables the tank and his crew. Since the projectile destroys target with his kinetic energy, then it is necessary for the projectile to have the high impact velocity.&#x0D; The decrease in the velocity of a projectile, during flight, is mainly influenced by aerodynamic forces. The most dominant is the axial force due to the laid trajectory of the projectile. By knowing the axial force (axial force coefficient), it is possible to predict the impact velocity of the projectile, by external ballistic calculation, in function of the distance of the target, and to define the maximum effective range from the aspect of terminal ballistics.&#x0D; In this paper two models will be presented for predicting axial force (the axial force coefficient) of an APFSDS projectile after discarding sabot. The first model is defined in STANAG 4655 Ed.1. This model is used to predict the axial force coefficient for all types of conventional projectiles. The second model for predicting the axial force coefficient of an APFSDS projectile, which is presented in the paper, is the CFD-model (Computed Fluid Dynamics).&#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D;

Theoretical Model of Radial Scattering Velocity of Fragments of the Reactive Core PELE Projectile

PELE projectile is a new type of armor-piercing warhead and has a more obvious fragmentation effect, which solves the problem of insufficient after-effects of conventional armor-piercing projectiles. Reactive material is a new type of energetic material, which has some characteristics similar to the traditional explosives but has better mechanical properties. Reactive material is insensitive under normal conditions, and it can release huge energy under external impact loading. This paper hopes to study the application of reactive materials to the inner core of PELE projectiles to further improve the fragmentation effect of PELE projectiles. The fragmentation effect of PELE projectile is mainly reflected in the radial scattering velocity of fragments after it perforates the target plate. In this paper, three energy sources for the radial scattering of fragments were obtained by analyzing the penetration process of PELE projectile, that is, the axial kinetic energy of outer casing, the radial compression potential energy generated by the inner core to the outer casing, and the chemical energy released by the reactive core material. Based on the simplification and assumptions, the theoretical model of radial scattering velocity of fragments of the reactive core PELE projectile was established. In addition, numerical simulations were carried out to verify the theoretical model. The results show that the numerical simulation results are in good agreement with the theoretical calculation results, which indicates that the model established in this paper is scientific and reasonable. The reactive core PELE projectile has a more significant fragmentation effect, which further enhances the comprehensive damage power of traditional PELE projectile. The theoretical model established in this paper can quickly assess the power of reactive core PELE projectile’s fragmentation effect, which can be used to provide guidance and reference for engineering application.

Treatment of a Penetrating Intraorbital Injury by Rubber Projectile

Penetrating injuries caused by rubber projectiles are classified as low-velocity injuries. When the midface is affected, these can cause fractures, eye injuries, and even blindness. Unlike conventional projectiles, the removal of rubber projectiles involving the orbit and correction of associated fractures are mandatory for preventing infection and anophthalmic orbit syndrome, which is characterized by enophthalmos of the prosthesis, superior sulcus depression, and lower eyelid ptosis. This article aims to describe a case of penetrating injury by rubber projectile, associated with the removal and late reconstruction of the orbital walls, and to show the results obtained.

Experimental Observations on Dynamic Response of Selected Transparent Armor Materials

Structural transparent material systems are critical for many military and civilian applications. Transparent armor systems can consist of a wide variety of glass laminate assemblies with polymeric bonding interfaces and backing as well as the inclusion of polycrystalline ceramic (AlON, spinel) and single crystals (sapphire) as front facing materials. Over the last 20 years as the threats have escalated and become more varied, the challenges for rapidly developing optimized threat specific transparent armor packages have become extremely complex. Ultimate failure of structural ceramics in impact events is a function of the temporal and spatial interaction of the macro-stresses at the macro-, micro- and nano-structural scale, including elastic and inelastic (plastic) deformation, crack nucleation, damage evolution and resulting failure from the macro-scale (top down) and/or from the nano-scale (bottom up). In order to accelerate the development of validated design and predictive performance models, a systematic series of experimental investigations have been carried out on various non-crystalline ceramics (glass), single crystal (sapphire) and polycrystalline ceramics (AlON). The Edge-on Impact (EOI) test coupled with a high-speed Cranz-Schardin film camera has been extensively used on a variety of monolithic and laminated glasses, AlON and crystallographically controlled sapphire single crystals to visualize and quantify stress wave, crack and damage propagation. A modified Kolsky bar technique instrumented with a high speed digital camera has been utilized in an unconfined and confined test sample mode to examine the dynamic deformation and failure of AlON undergoing uniaxial, high strain rate compression. Real time photography has clearly demonstrated the critical influence of defects and post mortem characterization of fragments resulting from these tests have revealed the influence of micro-deformational twining and cleavage down to the nano-scale. Finally, a brief summary of work using ultra-high-speed photography of the impact of conventional projectiles on glass and AlON will be presented. These experimental results will be absolutely critical to help evolve and validate existing models used in computer codes to simulate the impact performance of brittle materials.

혼합형 고체추진제의 RAP(Rocket Assisted Projectile) 적용연구

120 mm 박격포탄 중 RAP탄에 사용된 혼합형 고체로켓추진제의 조성 및 탄 형상을 설계하여 탄에 적용된 추진기관의 성능을 분석하고, 해당 성능에 관련하여 외탄도 성능을 비교함으로서 일련의 탄 성능 개량의 절차와 과정을 수행하였다. 혼합형 추진제의 기본적인 특성을 위해, 성능해석과 더불어 추진기관의 지상연소시험을 수행하여 분석하고, 탄의 발사시험으로 기존 탄에 비해 70% 사거리 연장에 대한 성능을 얻을 수 있었다. The technical procedure of an enhancement of a 120 mm rocket assisted projectile has here addressed by analyzing the ballistic performance with several the solid rocket propellants and shell designs. The performance was evaluated by aero-ballistic analyses and static ground tests of the rocket motor. Consequently, firing tests showed that one of tested models gave about 70% of extended range compared with conventional projectiles.

Behind Armor Blast (BAB) caused by shaped charges

Steel targets were shot by shaped charges. Instead of using conventional copper liners, in this test series liners made of aluminium and magnesium were used. The jet velocities ranged from 5 to 7 mm/μs. Behind the steel target a large Behind Armor Blast (BAB) - effect occurred. The measurement of this BAB was carried out by pressure and temperature probes located at different positions. Another measured parameter was the hole size in a thin aluminium witness plate mounted 1 meter behind the steel target. For a better understanding of the physical phenomena responsible for this strong BAB effect, hypervelocity impact tests with conventional spherical projectiles were carried out. These tests were conducted on a two-stage light gas gun using Al and Mg projectiles at the same impact velocity as in the shaped charge tests. The target consisted of a thin steel plate, followed by a thin aluminium witness plate. The first tests showed comparable BAB effects. The experimental test set-up, results and interpretation of the results are reported.

Analytical solution and parameter estimation of projectile dynamics

For the determination of the pitch, yaw, and roll characteristics of conventional projectiles an approach is presented that allows fast estimation of the projectile parameters from test data. To avoid numerical integration and the corresponding integration errors and convergence problems, an analytical solution of the six-degree-offreedom differential equations of motion is introduced. Here, instead of time, the arc length of the flight path is taken as the independent variable. Also, linear aerodynamics without Magnus effects is assumed. The projectile parameters are determined by minimizing the squared sum of the differences between the measured and the simulated trajectory using a nongradient direct search method. As an example, yaw-card measurements from tests with KE rods (high-kinetic-energy projectiles) are analyzed. It is shown that the main aerodynamic coefficients can be extracted from these data. In addition, it is possible to identify the size and the location of the muzzle jump as well as the jump due to sabot separation.

Properties of skyrmions of large baryon number

Using a mixture of analytic and numerical techniques, the authors calculate the properties of skyrmions pertaining to large baryon number N. They find a closed-form approximation for the soliton profile and generate approximate expressions for the skyrmion RMS radius and energy, from which energy densities for large N may be estimated. The results indicate that for N>13 these densities reach twice the value for a single nucleon and for very large N they rise as N12/. Thus the skyrmion supports energy densities of sufficient magnitude to provide the conditions for the creation of a quark-gluon plasma at nucleon numbers low enough to achieve this condition with conventional nuclear projectiles and targets.

A ballistic similitude design criterion for artillery projectiles

Introduction T Note describes the analytically derived and experimentally verified ballistic similitude design criterion (BSDC) that was used to guide development of the M753 8-in. artillery-fired atomic projectile (AFAP) as a ballistically similar counterpart of the M65Q rocket-assisted (RA) 8-in. conventional high-explosive (HE) projectile. Large differences in internal configuration between an AfcAP and a conventional HE projectile of identical shape make it impossible to adjust all mass properties to match. Therefore, a BSDC was required to define the mass properties that must be matched. This BSDC, which is applicable to projectiles of identical external shape like the M753 and M650 (Fig. 1), also can be used to ballistically match conventional projectiles that carry different payloads. An AFAP meets Army ballistic similitude requirements with a conventional base projectile if its mean point of impact falls within the region about the conventional projectile mean impact point (Fig. 2) when the projectiles are fired with identical propelling charges at conditions that can differ only by small differences in quadrant elevation (QE) and azimuth angles. A U.S. Army ballistic similitude definition establishes the corrections that are allowed to determine these differences. The corrections for the M753 were determined from data obtained during a ballistic similitude verification test conducted at Yuma Proving Ground (YPG), Arizona, during fall 1979. The small range probable error (RPE) and deflection probable error (DPE) components of the M650 precision error, listed in Fig. 2 for maximum and minimum values of range and deflection, indicate how restrictive the ballistic similitude requirement is.