Design of a projectile for impact testing

VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland has studied missile (projectile) impacts against various targets to provide data for the calibration and verification of impact models of a loading scenario where an aircraft impacts against a nuclear power plant. Missiles used in the previous tests have been cylindrical aluminium and steel pipes. The subject of this thesis is to develop a more structurally complex airplane-like missile. The objective is to produce an impact loading transient with a changing loading area resembling full scale aircraft impact. In the thesis studies concerning airplane impact are discussed, Riera's method of determining impact loads is presented and impact loads of an airplane are calculated against a rigid target. Using dimensional analysis it is determined whether the missile structure can be designed scalable so that missile impact can be used to make assumptions of full scale impact. The missile is designed and verified to be suitable for experimental testing. Analytical impact calculations indicate that the impact force and area are in agreement with the objectives. Similarity with full scale aircraft impact is not fully obtained. Although the experimental results are not directly scalable, the missile will be useful in experimental impact testing against reinforced concrete walls. The missile provides a good basis for further missile developmen