Computational characterization of three-stage gun flier plate launch

In three-stage gun experimental situations, a flier-plate can be launched using graded-density impact of stationary target plates. In such cases, the launch plate's velocity and state can be obtained from highly resolved computational simulations of the launch of the flier plate. The computational tools used for simulation must be validated for such a use by comparing predictions of launch plate velocity with measurements of the flier from experiments dedicated to such a measurement. This work reports the results of several simulations of the launch of Ti6-Al-4V plates at velocities from 7 km/s to 11 km/s. The experimental configuration for measurements of flier-plate velocity is briefly described. The computed velocity of the flier is compared to velocity interferometer measurements. Excellent agreement is noted. Calculational results can therefore be used if the velocity and state of a launch plate can not be measured simultaneously with experimental measurements of a target