Trajectory estimation model for a solid body with an irregular shape undergoing extremely high aerodynamic forces

Abstract

A generalized (6DOF) model for evaluating fragment trajectory elements is defined, which incorporates a novel model for estimating the projected surface of the body and novel model for estimating aerodynamic force and moment. This 6DOF model is developed on the basis of differential equations of the center of mass motion and movement around the center of mass (currently no known model incorporates movement of the body around its center of mass), and can model the parameters that play an essential role in movement of the bodies with irregular shape through the atmosphere. In our model the basic parameters (i.e. body dimensions) can be arbitrarily changed in the initial part of the analysis, and based on their values and values of initial kinematic parameters (initial velocity, position, orientation), trajectories can be determined (as well as other parameters: velocities, orientation) in a relatively short amount of time.
The calculation of the complete trajectory of the fragments can be used in a number of applications: the analysis of the effects of the fragments (i.e. the safety analysis of the location of the ammunition depots, due to the potential explosion of the projectile) or in the estimation of a danger zones when demining larger quantities of the munition. Also, from the point of view of the parameters of the lethal zone of HE projectiles, it is generally important to estimate the trajectory of the fragments in the range up to 50m, so this model can be used to model such a scenario also. This model could also be potentially used wherever there is a need to calculate flight mechanics parameters of irregularly shaped bodies. Generalized (6DOF) model for estimation of an irregularly shaped body trajectory is implemented in a computer program, written in MatLab. Based on the model, the trajectory calculations were performed for the complete trajectory and for shorter distances to the center of the explosion, with varied geometric-inertial parameters and initial kinematic conditions for the given fragment.