EXPERIMENTAL IMPACTS ABOVE 10 KM S

In the proceedings of the last symposium, recent work on a technique f or launching small projectiles to hypervelocities above 10 km/s using an inhibited shaped charge was presented [1]. In the interim, experime nts have been conducted using the inhibited shaped charge to launch al uminum, nickel, and molybdenum projectiles. This paper presents the re sults of the impact tests, as well as discusses the shaped charge desi gn modifications for the nickel and molybdenum launchers. Radiographs are presented of the impacting projectiles, as are post test photograp hs of various targets. The data are unique in that they represent low L/D projectile impacts into both monolithic blocks and spaced plates a t velocities above 10 km/s. The aluminum projectiles are being launche d at 11.25+/-0.20 km/s, the molybdenum projectiles at 11.72+/-0.10 km/ s, and the nickel projectiles at 10.81+/-0.10 km/s.