Function behavior of a gas-operated accelerator for kinetic energy projectiles

The test facility - presented here - was designed and constructed in order to make investigations on the load case 'airplane crash'. The facility consists mainly of the accelerator on a rail track, an abutment, a control centre, and a measuring-bunker.To perform a test the two parts of the accelerator - a compression chamber and an expansion tube (diameter 613 mm) - are strongly connected after the projectile has been inserted into the tube. The chamber - closed by a steel membrane - is filled with a mixture of methane and compressed air. The mixture is ignited and expands. The membrane opens and the projectile is accelerated. The velocity range can be varied between 80 and 300 m/s.The reinforced concrete slabs that are impacted during the main test series have the dimensions of 6.00 m by 6.50 m and a maximum thickness of 90 cm. During the test the slab hangs at a cross beam so that there is no friction between the specimen and the abutment. (orig.)