Parametric Study of Active Counter Impulse Rocket System

Abstract

IED threats and especially severe blast under combat vehicles are extremely hazardous scenarios, which might occur while performing operational duties. Analyzing armored vehicles structure behavior and limitations undergoing severe blast event show that there are cases when the structure itself sustains the damage and severe plastic deformation, while the passengers may be badly injured as the transferred blast impulse causes high vertical acceleration to the vehicle, resulting in high injury levels to the crew members, especially to their spines. This asymmetry between possible survivability of the structure and poor survivability of the crew, in some cases, is hardly addressed. Plasan R&D team investigates an innovative reactive system, linear rocket motor (LRMâ„¢) counter blast system, designed to detect the underbelly explosion and apply a counter-impulse within a short delay (~10ms). Parametric study, including small-scale sample and rocket motors, was conducted with a specially designed rig and a Mine Impulse Pendulum (MIP). The MIP velocity utilizing Counterblast Impulse System was reduced by up to 35% compared with a reference test performed without the LRMâ„¢ system. The same conclusion was achieved analyzing numerical simulation of a full combat platform with incorporated LRMâ„¢ system. The article presents the methodology for concept validation, describes the test equipment and the test procedure. It is also reviews the simulation work that was done prior to the tests. The discussion about the results includes test data analysis, which was done, based on different measurement methods.