Energy Accounting During and Following Impact of Reactive Metal and Metal-Composite Projectiles

Results from experiments designed to measure kinetic plus chemical energy during impact of reactive material projectiles and of steel projectiles are presented.  The reactive material projectiles are fabricated to enable launch from a rifled barrel, achieving spin stabilization.  Fabrication methods and reactive material composition to achieve maximum energy release are discussed.  A vented chamber calorimeter (wall-mounted pressure gauges) equipped with a force gauge-mounted impact anvil and a suite of optical diagnostics is used to measure the tradeoff between impact kinetic energy and chemical energy during 1 km/second impact and reaction of the spin-stabilized reactive material projectiles and equal density steel projectiles. Imaging pyrometry is used to measure temperatures during and following impact of steel and of reactive material projectiles.  Wavelength resolved emission spectroscopy is used to identify continuous and discrete emission in the visible spectral region. Fragment size distribution is measured using laser-illuminated Edgerton shadowgraphy.  Total energy delivered on target for each projectile type is discussed.