INSTRUMENTATION OF TRIBOELECTRIC EFFECTS ON PROJECTILES

Abstract

Triboelectric phenomena occurs when static electricity accumulates on the surfaces of flying projectiles due to friction of air contaminants on the aerodynamic projectile surfaces. The sequence of events that create this phenomena indicate that as the projectile flies through the denser atmosphere, electric charges are transferred from the surface of the flying projectiles to the dust as a result of the collision with the atmospheric air stream. In the development of highly static sensitive electronic circuitry used in timing and fuzing, the need to know how the charge builds up has warranted the investigation of the triboelectric affects during flight. This paper will discuss the method of instrumentation used, the pre-flight test results obtained during dynamic wind tunnel tests, and the instrumentation system used to perform the triboelectric measurements.