SCALE MODEL PENETRATOR INSTRUMENTATION AND TESTING

Abstract

Sandia National Laboratories Telemetry Technology Development Division has designed and fielded earth and ice penetrator instrumentation recorders for many years. Recently we developed a miniature, reusable, transient-event recorder for use in scale model penetration tests. The miniature size of the recorder permits testing of penetrators as small as 4 inches in outside diameter by 20 inches in length. The recorder can survive and record shock environments exceeding 4,000 times the acceleration of gravity (gs). Typical applications are rock, soil, and ice penetration tests launched from a gas gun developed by Advanced Projects Division III. Typical impact velocities range from 600 to 1,000 feet per second.